Summary: Spent 3 nights at Lower Ottoway Lake. Scrambled up Red Peak & Merced Peak. ~38 miles, +7.1K Elevation. I headed out for my annual solo Yosemite hike. I camped on the west shore of Lower Ottoway. I spent 4 days fishing, hiking, scrambling, and getting to know the area. It was a bit smokey due to the wildfires, but not enough to stop me. Although I was inspired by Bob Burd's douby gkam2 - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
I headed out for the long drive Thursday after work to make it over Mono Lake by midnight. Slept in the car and picked up my permit at the visitors center at 8am Friday. I made it on the trail at the Rush Creek trailhead by 9am. The hike out was long and uphill. The map said 7 miles and 3K ft elevation gain, but my lungs were saying otherwise. Going straight up to 10K feel from sea level iby gkam2 - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
Banner Peak - Summit October 28th, 2017 This trip started about 3 years ago with when I first saw a picture of Banner Peak from the mouth of Thousand Island Lake. "Most picturesque peak in the Sierras," they say, "Easy climb up Mt. Ritter & Banner Peak, easily can do both in a day." It lay on the bucket list for some time. After doing Florence this past 2017 summer,by gkam2 - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
Previous trip report from an early July summit w/ route https://yosemitenews.info/forum/read.php?17,89942,89942#msg-89942 Without snow the saddle looks fine. Thanks for that picture from the ridge chick-on With snow (which there probably won't be) here is what it looks like up the saddleby gkam2 - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
TL;RD Day 1: Yosemite Valley to Florence Lake - 9 Hours ~20 Miles Day 2: Florence Lake to Mount Florence - 9 Hours ~3 Miles? Day 3: Florence Lake to the Valley - 7 Hours ~20 Miles Hey! Ever since I got the view of Mount Florence from Mount Clark, I've been itching to try it out. I used Bob Burd's trip reports for most of my route finding. Mosquitoes were annoying, but not a huge problem. Mby gkam2 - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
Hey everyone! I remember seeing some information around cross country skiing from the crane flat gas station up to Tenaya lake. I can't seem to find it anymore. Has any one done this? information on the topic? Looks to be about 31 miles one way. Suggestions on best place to park for two nights to do this? Probably ground snow conditions on the road? Am I making this up and mixing it uby gkam2 - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
Took these two last weekend around Merced Lake area. Really good looking color.by gkam2 - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Quoteedg Respect. That is quite a long haul. I really want to climb Mt. Clark, but that ridge is still a bit more airy than I'm comfotable with. Any idea how it compares to the arete on the south side of the summit? Nope, but I can tell you that there were definitely a couple tricky moves. Couple pieces of protection were placed up there as well for people that wanted to repel down a bit.by gkam2 - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
I've been trying to do Mt. Clark as a day trip for a while now. I tried it twice two years ago but didn't know what I was getting into. Tried it once more this year and failed due to timing restrictions. I was shocked when one of my friends said he wanted to try and do it. I suggested that we do a two day trip and he was persistent on a day trip. I gave him all of the necessary precautions and waby gkam2 - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Thanks! Here is another photo from that morning. http://i.imgur.com/klaYVxt.jpgby gkam2 - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Most of the questions I asked recently have been building up for this trip. Thanks for the advice and knowledge. Had a wonderful time in the valley July 1st - July 5th. Wasn't nearly as crowded as I thought it would be. Warm weather but we chilled out in the river when it got too bad. Here is a quick recap of what we did: Monday - Alcove Swing Totally nuts. This swing is on another level of wby gkam2 - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Both ways would be fun. But since were staying in upper pines I imagine us leaving early from our site, hiking a while to get over to the lake, put down a towel and relax on the beach and get in the water a bit, get a hitch back to the valley and light up the bbq. More relaxing progression I suppose. I'm pretty sure I'll just try and flag someone down. I mean it can't be thattttt hard right?by gkam2 - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Hello! I got lucky with campsites and booked upper pines next week M-F. I want to hike to Tenaya Lake from the Valley one of the days. In terms of getting back, the bus schedule didn't offer much help. I could be reading it wrong but it seems like YARTS last trip from the meadows is noon. Although do-able...I think I'd rather hang out on the beach for a bit. http://www.yarts.com/schedule/2013/by gkam2 - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
I have a family member who is doing some finishing touches on a booklet that she is putting together of our relatives going to the Valley in 1916. I was stumped on these locations and I was hoping you could help me out a little. http://imgur.com/a/mHITs I am really curious about 3 and 6by gkam2 - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
I just got a site for the week of the 4th of July and I was wondering about any of the festivities that will be going on in the Valley. I plan on day hiking all day and coming back looking for an event. I'm sure I could find out the "ranger sponsored" events but I was hoping to find the local insight as to things going on at the Ahwahnee or some of the other fun events going on. Anyby gkam2 - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rJh1wpIcyRg Had to post that for the title. Next trip is planned for a solstice celebration.by gkam2 - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Yeah I came from the valley. I could have done it from tioga but I didn't want to spend another hour driving over there. I also had my bike in the back of the car and I wanted the option to ride around the valley a little if traffic was bad.by gkam2 - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Hello! Hope everyone is doing well. I wanted to do a day trip this weekend and I chose to do Clouds Rest but to mix it up I left San Jose at 8pm got on the trail head at 12 and watched the sunrise on Clouds rest. It took 5hr15min up and 4hr down. Wasn't that packed but still the large half dome crowd. I was the only one up at the top and didn't see anyone on the trail between the clouds rest hby gkam2 - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
whoops I mean the one before the carby gkam2 - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
I came across these pictures in a book that my Grandma had made for the family. She is pretty into genealogy and prints us out books of what was going on with our family back when. I guess it makes sense now why I love Yosemite. Most of the pictures were family with trees in the background but I tried to pull some of common sites for you guys. Is the last one taken from Sierra Point?by gkam2 - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
I just took a trip over to Europe and I made sure that Interlaken was going to be one of my stops. I happen to make it to Zurich on their Swiss Days (which was fun) but I was most excited to see the mountains Interlaken and the trains had to bring me to. The first day of hiking the weather was pretty lousy so I didn't get that many pictures. I've heard the expression that the Alps are like the Siby gkam2 - General Discussion
Closed for other reasons. It looked like some construction was going on. Up until the bridge there was no snow at all and totally clear.by gkam2 - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Others have already mentioned but...I went up there on April 5th with a first timer. The bathroom and sink were closed down but the trail was fine. Pretty chilly during the day unless your movin around. Mist trail was closed.by gkam2 - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Thats awesome news. Congratulations. I got a pct long distance permit when they opened and I made sure to pay the $15 to get the whitney permit in there as well. I'm shooting for a june 15th date plus or minus 3 days or so. good luck!by gkam2 - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
That would be interesting to hear the ice moving along there. In the picture that you posted, do the grooves form from the start? or does the ice freeze flat and then warmer wind melts the grooves down?by gkam2 - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
I went up there yesterday for a day trip. Not a cloud in the sky. Original plan was to do Ragged Peak but opted for hanging out at Delaney Meadows (I think/hope that is what it was), Dog Lake. After I saw the ice skating videos I knew I had to head over to Tenaya. I could have brought beach stuff it was so nice out. Couple questions for you guys though... What are the white circles in the ice?by gkam2 - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
I hate to throw this up on the main thread and have to have to many people see it when I just need a simple answer. Came across this hiking around in Yosemite one day and I was wondering if someone could give me more detail on what it is. Thanks guysby gkam2 - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Nope didn't get to sleep except for a little on the car ride back. The quick day trips can be rough but usually all I can affordby gkam2 - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Thanks szalkowski I ended up making the trip Friday/Saturday. Did the old leave la 10pm start hiking at 230am and take off around 1pm back to la. The snow was a little bit of a problem but it was a good trip none the less. Didn't do a summit however but it was the first time in the area and definitely a good time. too bad this one is a little blurryby gkam2 - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Hey Guys, I am planning a nice little day trip to the University Peak/Pass, Bradley, Center Peak area for Oct 14th. Do you know of good sites that I could get current conditions up there? If it doesn't snow between now and then what do you think it'll be like up there? Thanks http://www.google.com/maps?ll=36.735239,-118.348804&spn=0.030438,0.082397&t=p&z=15&vpsrc=6by gkam2 - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion