Well, we didn't get the last-minute HD passes. I had decided that I was going to accept the COVID-19 risk and send the kids up, but no luck this time. Maybe next year. Will try some of the high-country hikes, unless the threat of thunderstorms is too high. Current forecast: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 11am.by recycling1991 - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Thank you all for the feedback. All very useful. I didn't think about the thunderstorms. The behavior explanation reminded me of my physical geography class. :-) It's good to remember that as some of my alternative hike ideas were Dana or Hoffman (assuming the snow level is not too high). I called and they said they snow level is 11,000 ft, so maybe Hoffman. (hoping to go to Lee Vining for a nighby recycling1991 - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
I HATE mosquitoes. Was bit by one on three spots on the back of my knee. I told my husband they show pictures of hell full of fire. They should show a place full of mosquitoes.by recycling1991 - General Discussion
Planning on being in the valley next Thursday (have reservations for Wed and Thursday night at the lodge). I am hoping to get a last minute half-dome permit and send my two teenagers (16,18) up to half-dome. While I've hiked half-dome a number of times in the past, I'm not in good enough shape to accompany them, and they've never done it. They're both physically fit. My concern is the weather.by recycling1991 - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Quotebasilbop And, while I'm generally in favor of restoring Yosemite to a more natural condition, I think in this case the park service has gone too far in trying to achieve an unattainable level of purity or perfection at the expense of common sense. The oak woodland they are trying to preserve is possibly no more natural than these Sequoias were; it's well-known that the Native Americans whoby recycling1991 - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
I totally agree with the article on the shuttle service. We were there in April and tried to take the shuttle around and it took forever getting places. After waiting more than 30 minutes the second time, and this was during regular day time hours, we decided to drive or walk (within the valley). This is one that's not complicated to get it right. Aramark is just choosing to maximize profits, givby recycling1991 - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
And I, who love marmots, didn't see a single one on my hike! Probably because it was October and they had all hit the sack ….by recycling1991 - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
Mount Dana's scenery is very rewarding. I hiked it once when I was younger and it took me 3 hours to the top and 2 to come down. We did rush down as it was October and the clouds were starting to build up. We spent the night before in Mammoth to acclimatize.by recycling1991 - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
Nice pictures! Did you see any marmots?by recycling1991 - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
Nicely's :-) Their fried chicken is good. Their salad was good too; crisply lettuce. Also great atmosphere. Other food items, you can skip. :-) I've never thought much of Whoa Nellie Deli. I don't get what's so special about it. Ya, Bridgeport is cute. I thought the motel that was across the street from Walker Burger had a done a nice job decorating their yard.by recycling1991 - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
I agree, River's Edge location is nice if you want to relax for a while and have time, and have a snack. I find it (for meals) a bit too pricey for the quality and service you get. We like to stay in Knights Ferry, so I've tried it a few times. Will have to check out this Hula's.by recycling1991 - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Had planned to eat at the Wolf Creek bar in Markleeville, but it's closed. So kept on driving towards our destination (Lee Vining). Stopped at a cute place in Walker, Walker Burger. Really pleasant gardens with plenty of shade, whimsical decorations, but the burgers were terrible. I'm not even sure if it was beef. And pricey. Pricey and bad is not a good combo. On the flip side, great hot dogby recycling1991 - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Yay!by recycling1991 - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Quotebuster Quoterecycling1991 We did have a fantastic time rafting the Merced three days ago, with experienced guides (with an outfitter), with many safety checks. They said it was class 3-4. I highly recommend it. I'm assuming that it was not in the valley and outside the park, starting in the El Portal area (Cedar Lodge)? Just wasn't explicitly clear in your statement Yes.by recycling1991 - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
We ended up driving to Hetch Hetchy, and hiked to Wapama Falls. The most water I have seen at the falls. I couldn't even make it to the bridge. The steps leading up to it seemed too dangerous to go up. Our kids had an awesome time on the water slide that's at the ~halfway point, and we enjoyed cooling off in the "pool". Also, first time driving both of these roads and enjoyed both vby recycling1991 - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
The OP probably is already in the valley, but in case others are wondering, left the valley today. When we drove in two days ago saw many signs no water sports/activities. I think it's still not allowed. We did have a fantastic time rafting the Merced three days ago, with experienced guides (with an outfitter), with many safety checks. They said it was class 3-4. I highly recommend it.by recycling1991 - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Is the pass open?by recycling1991 - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Thanks for the suggestions. Still not sure what we'll do .. maybe just go hike sentinel dome and Taft point.by recycling1991 - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
Next week we are spending two nights in Midpines before heading to the valley for two nights. The first day we are rafting the Merced. The second day (Thursday) I had initially thought we could go hike Hetch Hetchy and go to Wapama Falls (our friends that we're going with have never seen Hetch Hetchy), but then since I just booked our lodging at Midpines, it seems a bit out of the way to drive toby recycling1991 - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
QuoteFatFlatlander Woohoo... TWO! (Yeah, okay... still a few hundred behind several here, but you gotta celebrate the small victories!) Shaky pan from Saturday in the maelstrom with phone/glasses/EVERYTHING drenched: Brief splash zone video: https://youtu.be/QYQUiOkbf7w And one from above: Nice shots! I especially like the one from above. Glad you got to enjoy it.by recycling1991 - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Quotemarkskor Myself, like many above, too many times to count...mostly coming down from a 10+ day fishing adventure. Memorable though, the time my (now ex) wife joined me on my last leg of the Muir...TM to HI. As we were coming off the top Vernal Falls railing section, just before the rainbow area, some basshole decided to slap her on her ass as he passed by. (She did have a nice ass but thisby recycling1991 - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
QuoteFatFlatlander ::sigh:: Just once. Many years ago. To the top of Nevada Falls and back, Mist Trail both ways. Hope to double my total this weekend! Probably just to Vernal Falls, then Clark Point and back down the JMT this time. Hope you get to do it. Enjoy! The falls were amazing. The Merced was just roaring. Times when I don't plan on going to Nevada, I at least like to go to thby recycling1991 - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Last November I went on a futile search for marmots in the Tuolumne Meadows area (I think they're the cutest critters), only to read later that they hibernate from September/October to April/May. The easiest place I saw marmots was in Capitol Reef; so many of them, an unexpected treat.by recycling1991 - General Discussion
Interesting …. I find the JMT (back from either Nevada or Vernal) too long and too boring. The Clark point lookout area is nice I agree. Plus it has the monuments that I like to find. :-)by recycling1991 - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
~65 to 75 Top of Vernal is good enough for this survey. :-) I was hiking there on Sunday and thought about it … I think mine is somewhere in the 65-75 times, with half of that from the summer I worked in the park and hiked most days after work to the top of Vernal and back. If I was in the Valley and had the choice of only hiking one trail, it would be the mist trail.by recycling1991 - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Going off topic a bit... I don't know anything about the status of the road, but last year when we were driving there, we saw a sign about a "Geological Exhibit". We didn't find the exhibit, but thought perhaps Caltrans had a sense of humour, and the landslide was the exhibit. Anyway, I wrote Garry Hayes who writes the geology blog, and asked him about, and another item along 140. Hby recycling1991 - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Thank you for the feedback, although conflicting. I sure hope the old names come back.by recycling1991 - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Twenty+ years ago I wanted to have my wedding at the Ahwahnee, but decided against it for practical reasons. But since then I've always thought it would be fun to throw an anniversary party there. But I don't want to have a party at the Grand Majestic, nor invite folks to pizza at Half Dome Village. The old names have a special meaning for me. So..... Do folks think the issue will be resolvedby recycling1991 - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Good for LADWP. Anything else they'd like to take? ;-)by recycling1991 - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
https://www.uniondemocrat.com/localnews/7049605-151/out-there-backcountry-ventures-in-the-central-sierraby recycling1991 - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion