Snow melting at 7,000 at Snow Creek, 9,000 above Lee Vining.by balzaccom - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
If you own one of these, you might want to get it fixed: https://www.msrgear.com/pot-recall.htmlby balzaccom - General Discussion
Another wonderful report, comkplete with great photos and even some etymology!by balzaccom - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
I often take Ramen noodles on short trips. I'm not sure I want to depend on them for massive amounts of nutrition, but they seem to work fairly well for me--expecially the ones that include curry, which haver a higher calorie count. I've also used Idaho brand potato soups--but they a take a bit more cooking. I try to avoid anything that needs long boiling, as it uses up my cooking gas too sooby balzaccom - General Discussion
Those are wonderful reports, written by wonderful people. I smile every time I read one!by balzaccom - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Great photo. I've been told that you can see something similar from I-5 near Patterson on a clear day, but I've never been there when it is that clear. sigh.by balzaccom - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Most years? Too deep snow? It's possible. And don't forget that except for last year, the previous years have been quite dry. As you note, it all depends on the weather between now and then!by balzaccom - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
I'm not a fan of either company. I remember the days of Delaware North all too well, and their attempt to extort millions of dollars for the Yosemite and Ahwanee names. The failure has to be in the contracts. These companies sign an agreement to provide services, but there are innumerable exit clauses that allow them to avoid providing said services--which they exploit to the max. And then thby balzaccom - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
If you don't know about this guy, you should: youtu.be/NWhbjTb59_M?feature=sharedby balzaccom - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
The person who posted this seems to have a pretty level-headed response to the whole situation, but I did love this line in his comments: I always have a bear bell,but I mute it when descending rocks because it is noisy.by balzaccom - General Discussion
Yes. If the road is open, and if the bus is running, you can ask the drive to let you off at the Mono Meadow trailhead.by balzaccom - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
https://www.backpackthesierra.com/post/renaming-is-for-the-birds American Ornithological Society proposes big changes!by balzaccom - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Vertical Exposure, the latest in my series of mysteries set in the High Sierra, is now out! You can find it at the usual places, including bookstores like Napa Bookmine and the Mountain Bookstore in Sonora, Amazon, and even in the ranger stations in the Stanislaus National Forest. When a legendary alpine climber leads a professional workshop on high-exposure Search and Rescue techniques, theby balzaccom - General Discussion
The original post contains this line: After evaluating and working closely with the National Park Service to look at all possible alternatives, it was determined that the beloved Vogelsang and Merced Lake camps will be suspended for the 2024 season, as operating them would’ve come with negative impacts on our Wilderness.by balzaccom - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
Meanwhile, State of California is addressing the issue of unused campsites: https://www.sfgate.com/california-parks/article/california-law-harsher-penalty-campsite-no-show-18418167.php Best news is that if you fail to use a campsite and fail to notify them about it, you won't be allowed to make future reservations until you resolve the issue. This should help!by balzaccom - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
That's a great hike for scouts. And kudos to you for taking them out there. Boy, that air looks clear! Thanks for giving us a look at one the best parts of the park during one of the best times of the year!by balzaccom - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
OK, I listened to the whole show, and am now less skeptical. A couple of other people were rescued that day. And yes, there is a "cave" on Half Dome: https://mrhalfdome.wordpress.com/2010/01/19/the-cave/by balzaccom - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
https://www.sfgate.com/yosemite/article/yosemite-court-house-crime-procedure-18355589.phpby balzaccom - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
My guess is that during the week you'd have no trouble at all.by balzaccom - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
Day One: We drove up from Napa and started hiking at Wrights Lake, where we took the Rockbound Trail. While most people use the Twin Lakes trailhead, Rockbound gets a lot less traffic, and there is almost always room to park. The Trail up to Maud Lake is only four miles, but we struggled as M seemed to be having trouble with the altitude. That rain the day before had really affected the landby balzaccom - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
This one is fun. I'm not a fan of most commercial promotions like this, but: https://www.outsideonline.com/outdoor-adventure/hiking-and-backpacking/naked-trails/by balzaccom - General Discussion
Yeah, although I think we did it to ourselves. We were so used to hiking in relative peace on the Camino Primitivo that we upped the pace a bit to get through the crows of the Camino Frances. And I think that extra effort put extra strain on what had been a fairly sustainable process. I know we hiked those last two days (except for the last two miles) at something like 3.5 miles an hour, a goodby balzaccom - General Discussion
Are you kidding? What a great post! I loved reading every bit of it... And yeah, Yosemite is an amazing place.by balzaccom - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
We are finished! We limped into Santiago amid hugs and celebrations. A wonderful adventure with a amazing daughter: https://www.backpackthesierra.com/post/day-fifteen-almost-a-disaster-and-santiago-and-the-field-of-starsby balzaccom - General Discussion
Two days to go: after 273km, we've only got 47 to go on the Camino Primitivo de Santiago with my daughter. And a birthday on the way! https://www.backpackthesierra.com/post/day-thirteenby balzaccom - General Discussion
Ten days in We're making progress on the Camino. You can read the latest news here: https://www.backpackthesierra.com/blog-1by balzaccom - General Discussion
Pouring rain and foaming boots. Day Six on the Camino: http://wix.to/Lg0pPyd?ref=2_cl If you have trouble with the link, just go here and follow the blog: https://www.backpackthesierra.com/by balzaccom - General Discussion
Latest update is day four...still trying to get our hydration right...but we're making progress: https://www.backpackthesierra.com/post/day-four.by balzaccom - General Discussion
Coolburn, I have to correct you here. There is not disagreement between Yosemite and all the other National Parks. Zion, Capitol Reef, SEKI, US Virgin Islands, and many others also prohibit the placement of cairns, and encourage hikers to remove artificially "balanced rocks" when they find them I do volunteer work for 3 national forests ( Eldorado, Sierra, and Stanislaus) and haveby balzaccom - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion