The Moon is Waxing Gibbous (88% of Full)
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Hiking and Backpacking Advice, Trip Reports, Trip Planning
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Re: Tuolumne Meadows Campground Closing - Yesterday
I was there a couple of days ago. Heard the employees of the store say it was closing on the 19....and that they hoped to get it "decommissioned by the 23rd...by balzaccom - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Re: Toxic Algae Found At Yosemite - 4 days ago
Not new--but it shows up with warmer temperatures. With our climate changing, we can expect to see more of this...by balzaccom - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Re: California Condor Nestling #1111 Fledges at Zion National Park - 7 days ago
I have seen condors in Zion...absolutely amazing sight. And also in the Pinnacles...where I think they are easier to spot.by balzaccom - General Discussion
Re: What is Best Starting Day of the Week to Visit Yosemite for Camping? - 7 days ago
I voted for Monday, but Sunday is also good. Days to avoid are Fridays and Saturdays...and any long weekends.by balzaccom - General Discussion
Re: Answers to common questions regarding Forest Closure - 8 days ago
Just took a quick drive from my cabin above Sonora up Highway 108. Every NF road that has a gate on it was closed. Roads without fates we're posted that entry is restricted to those with a special permit. If your plans include anything in the National Forests in the Sierra, it's time to make new plans ..by balzaccom - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Re: New head of Yosemite - 9 days ago
Um. She's a thirty-five year veteran,. Not a thirty-five year old!by balzaccom - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Re: USDA Forest Service Temporarily Closing All California National Forests for Public Safety - 18 days ago
Yes indeed. And the trip we were going to take tomorrow is now no longer possible...by balzaccom - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Re: Algae blooms considered in mysterious death of family near Yosemite - 20 days ago
Whatever it was, it acted fast. Those people were only a couple of miles from the trailhead...by balzaccom - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Re: Lassen Volcanic National Park Closed Due to Dixie Fire - 23 days ago
Just so sad. Everything east of the highway through the park looks like it has burned: Bumpass Hell, Kings Creek Falls, Summit Lake, plus the whole eastern half of the park: Juniper Lake, Drakesbad, Horseshoe Lake....Caribou Wilderness...and a half a million other acres.by balzaccom - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Re: The Grand Tour: Yellowstone, Tetons, RMNP, and moree - 26 days ago
Nice. Hope you have a wonderful time.by balzaccom - General Discussion
Re: Gibbs Lake TR - 26 days ago
Not only was there water in Gibbs Creek (both outlet and inlet to Gibbs Lake) but there were at least two inlet streams into Kidney Lake with water...and a nice (if small) snowfield above one of them.by balzaccom - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
Gibbs Lake TR - 27 days ago
A trip report of our recent trip to Gibbs Lake. DAY ONE: With the smoke issues very much still up in the air (sorry!) but with the summer coming to a close, we decided to take a quick trip up to Gibbs Lake (east side, on the slopes of Mt. Gibbs—the boundary of Yosemite) for a few days of fishing, hiking, and poking around. The trailhead was easy enough to find—it’s the first right hanby balzaccom - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
Re: Trail crews maintain and improve trails for all - 27 days ago
I would encourage everyone to work on a trail crew. It's a great experience, and gives back to the trails we love. Plus, you get to spend time in the mountains with people who share your enthusiasm for them. Highly recommended.by balzaccom - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Re: Oversize Load Transport On Wawona Road Friday - 5 weeks ago
Are they bringing in more trees? 😝by balzaccom - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Re: advice sought on Ten Lakes route and bus - 5 weeks ago
In general, the bus will stop at any point along the road, as long as there is a place to pull out/over, and a hiker requests it in advance. I think White Wolf is still an option, if you are willing to hike the distance from the Tioga Road to the trailhead...by balzaccom - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
The Grand Tour: Yellowstone, Tetons, RMNP, and moree - 5 weeks ago
We are just back from a three week trip to the Ruby Mountains, Yellowstone, Grant Tetons, Rocky Mountain NP, and Dinosaur NM. Quite an adventure with some serious smoke in places, serious rain in others...and my sister's generous offer of a bedroom at her cabin in the YMCA camp in RMNP... And we were joined by both daughters and one boyfriend in Yellowstone--- The full trip report shouby balzaccom - General Discussion
Re: Mystery novel set in the Emigrant Wilderness - 2 months ago
Great news...my murder mystery set in the Sierra Nevada was just made a top pick by a leading hiking and backpacking website: https://www.outdoorsgenerations.com/best-outdoor-adventure-books/by balzaccom - General Discussion
Re: Yosemite Bear Facts — June 27-July 3, 2021 - 2 months ago
I have seen a bear run fast through the woods. Not something I would ever want to try and outrun. And in my day, I was reasonably fast.by balzaccom - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Buckeye Creek T-storms - 2 months ago
We’re back from a memorable trip up into Buckeye Canyon on the East Side of the Sierra, just north of Bridgeport. Memorable for torrential thunderstorms, infestations of ticks, and some absolutely great hiking. DAY ONE: The weather reports had been all over the map, from high temps to thunderstorms to perfect weather, so we plowed ahead and hoped for the best. We stopped for lunch at thby balzaccom - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
Re: Mystery novel set in the Emigrant Wilderness - 2 months ago
Good news! Printing more books today, so Amazon should have them for sale by Friday. Whew! https://www.amazon.com/Danger-Falling-Rocks-Paul-Wagner/dp/0984884963 Hope you can wait until then...by balzaccom - General Discussion
Re: Mystery novel set in the Emigrant Wilderness - 2 months ago
Apologies to those who are trying to buy the book through Amazon. The first copies sold out. We should have new copies available by July 1.by balzaccom - General Discussion
Re: Mystery novel set in the Emigrant Wilderness - 2 months ago
Just got a great review today! SASHA PAULSEN, Napa Register "Danger: Falling Rocks," clever and captivating, is greatly enriched by the setting Wagner creates in meticulous detail. He pulls readers along on a trail through the mountains, keenly observing a world in which the greatest threat, of course, is humans... An excellent excursion for armchair mountaineers, "Danger:by balzaccom - General Discussion
Re: Mystery novel set in the Emigrant Wilderness - 2 months ago
Thanks!. PM sent. next is scheduled for the fall.by balzaccom - General Discussion
Re: Hundreds of historic Scotty's Castle photographs published online - 3 months ago
. Gotta love autocorrect. Of course I could pay more attention before I hit the "post message" button ..but that would require me to think...by balzaccom - General Discussion
Re: Hundreds of historic Scotty's Castle photographs published online - 3 months ago
Lovely story. Thanks for posting, Week.by balzaccom - General Discussion
New Hoover permit system - 3 months ago
Got this in my email this morning....and it might help with the concern that a LOT of permits are being reserved, but maybe not used. Important Update for Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest Wilderness Permits All Humboldt-Toiyabe Wilderness permits will be available to print at home within 7 days of the entry date. Please check your recreation.gov account as your entry date approaches.by balzaccom - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Re: Mt. Hoffman - 3 months ago
I don't know why it might be closed, but a few years ago they changed that upper part from a use trail to a "real trail." We hiked it the day they completed the work, and they even had a ranger up there to inspect and gather responses. Frankly, it wasn't much better than a use trail, so maybe they've downgraded it again.by balzaccom - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
Re: Mystery novel set in the Emigrant Wilderness - 3 months ago
Thanks. It's been fun...by balzaccom - General Discussion
Mystery novel set in the Emigrant Wilderness - 3 months ago
I am delighted that Val de Grace books is releasing my series of mystery novels set in the High Sierra--first book is out June 15. here's what they say about it: Paul Wagner has combined his love of story-telling with his love of the Sierra to write a mystery novel, Danger: Falling Rocks, featuring ranger Dan Courtwright. It’s fun, exciting, and a great choice for summer reading, whether youby balzaccom - General Discussion
Kings Canyon Day Hikes - 3 months ago
Just back from five days of day-hiking in Kings Canyon, most of it out of Cedar Grove. We’d never really spent a few days just to focus on this area until now… We arrived the evening of Memorial Day, which meant that the crowds and had left, and the whole area had a rather subdued feeling to it. Sentinel Campground, except for one ugly incident (more on that below) was absolutely idyllicby balzaccom - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
