My 2010 annual calendar is now available for free download at the below website. On my homepage at top right select the sub-page link: Tips, Tools, Information Page ...Free 2010 Calendar Then follow the obvious Chirstmas tree link to the 2010 calendar page. After downloading that file onto one's local drive, one can print out the calendar as instructed. This is the third year I've offereby DavidSenesac - General Discussion
Illegal aliens are a net blight on our country especially here in California. Would have preferred they spent more time behind bars to serve as an example of the seriousness of that crime against nature. The thought such wildflower seed harvesting is more than this one incident is troubling for this person that greatly values the natural beauty wildflowers bring to our national treasures. Appby DavidSenesac - General Discussion
Watched the first two hour segment also and as someone that has never studied history of the NP system, it was educational. I'm looking forward to the coming segments. One thing I did notice was there were some strangely unnatural colors to landscape and especially skies. These days his expensive video gear has to be digital that can easily color calibrate. Lots of skies were an odd cyan grby DavidSenesac - General Discussion
<Elmer Fudd> wabbitbushby DavidSenesac - General Discussion
I've never had the opportunity to experience fall leaf color in either the East or Rockies though as a photographer over the years have viewed the books, articles, and seen large gallery prints. Here in California I have been pursuing fall leaf color long before the current hordes in this Internet age even knew such existed. There is no doubt the East has far more tree species with showy fby DavidSenesac - General Discussion
When water is quite high it can be above the level of the ends of the bridge crossing midway between the SS TM trailhead and the GA HSC. Depending on how much that can be intimidating as the flow though not too deep may be strong. Also much of lower Glen Aulin can be under knee to thigh deep dark water below shady forest such that one has to stumble along where one thinks the trail might be foby DavidSenesac - General Discussion
Back to the original thread question, the southern Sierra Nevada has Yosemite, Kings Canyon, and Sequoia national parks with much of the surrounding areas wilderness. Although I doubt the current mix of national park, federal wilderness, and national forest lands will ever change, I would prefer some boundary changes. Yosemite should have included parts of Ritter Range from the earliest daysby DavidSenesac - General Discussion
Both of you are somewhat correct. I've had the set of California geological maps for many years and also picked up the USGS Devils Postpile 15' quad geological map. At least when those maps were made, the Ritter crest areas were considered Jurasic/Triasic metamorphosized volcanic rock and further to the east are bands of somewhat older metamorphosized sedimentary rock. The latter is especialby DavidSenesac - General Discussion
As a nearby south SF Bay resident for decades, I have visited Pinnacles several times over the years, climbed through its dark labyrinths, and hiked many of its trails. Although I believe its unique features, especially due to its geology, ought to be preserved as parkland, I don't think its physical and scenic assets quite rise to the level of what I consider a national park ought to. That saiby DavidSenesac - General Discussion
There's an off road vehicle use area just up the road on SR-108. Although most off road vehicle users are considerate and stay out of areas they are not allowed into, there have always been some that really dislike limitations on where they can go and could care less about ripping up sensitive areas as long as they don't get caught while leaving their calling cards of empty beer cans. Thus itby DavidSenesac - General Discussion
Indeed! e-RAT-icatedby DavidSenesac - General Discussion
By this third week of June between Bishop Creek and Mono basins there are places where one can find lower sagebrush elevation wildflowers though one has to do some hunting. The best flowers are often at the top of the lowest moraine hills. However by time July turns, some more significant displays increasingly occur up in lower canyons. For instance McGee Creek. David http://www.davidsby DavidSenesac - General Discussion
For crossing no deeper than a bit above the knee I've been using Wiggy's Light Weight Waders at $60 a pair down on this page: http://wiggys.com/category.cfm?category=3 Total weight including stuff bag that can be wadded up to softball size is 12 ounces. Intended for just occasional duty and not like trout fishing waders as much abrasive stream bottom use would be sure to cause leaks. Andby DavidSenesac - General Discussion
That's good news to me as that lake is unusual and special. I was last there with a bro in June of 2004, the summer after a fire wasted much of the forest along the trail. Years ago most backpackers I saw either camped on the south shore or along the bay on the southwest end. Both a bit too close to the lake edge. And some would illegally tent right beside the water on the narrow peninsulaby DavidSenesac - General Discussion
I like the fancier software, thankyou. In a week or so after our little community has read the post I'll change the two lake names to L Lake and K Lake. Back in the 80s I spent 2 or 3 MD holiday weekends at K Lake and we would always be the only backpackers on the east side of the lake after bushwhacking through the monkey zone. We returned once in the mid 90s and I noticed that route was beby DavidSenesac - General Discussion
One can always predict numbers of novices who have never backpacked early season, will return to destinations they visited in past seasons mid to late summer and be utterly surprised to see all the snow and frozen lakes. Happens every year. Even though they fight tromping through snow a quarter of the way, a few actually expect to see liquid water in Lower Cathedral Lake. Then reflecting on howby DavidSenesac - General Discussion
wbny, you sound like a great many people that spout their usual political tax positions. However you fail to grasp the utterly enormous hole we our currently in. If California has say 20 million taxpayers then $21B is about $1,000 for every one of us. As I noted, I'm all for some serious axing of programs. But that will not be anywhere close to enough. What they ought to do is a one time taby DavidSenesac - General Discussion
You are thinking small and don't see the real card Arnold plays. Arnold personally doesn't want to close the parks any more than you. And he knows that will not really happen though one can be sure some parks will close as government needs to cut back in all areas. However he knows that is one issue that will hit a sore nerve across a wide demographic of influential members of our population.by DavidSenesac - General Discussion
Quoteeeek The old freeze the fingers off while adjusting the camera routine! Yeah that is about it. As an old alpine skier that loves storm powder skiing, I'm pretty experienced working with gear in cold snowy conditions and have all the clothing. Like trying to install a pair of climbing skins on the bottom of one's ski's when the glue is due for renewal. I've got it all down for working myby DavidSenesac - General Discussion
I'm an old landscape photographer that like others had been trying over long years to capture an extraordinary image any of the famous icons in Yosemite Valley. With millions of others taking pictures there including a great many pro's, the chance of witnessing something that will stand out with the best was not something I ever expected but persistency finally came through. As I patiently stooby DavidSenesac - General Discussion
That's a very common species, elegant brodiae. Will see far more at lower elevation like Red Hills. With most people, it takes just one ignorant bout with poison oak to make enough of an impression that they avoid it like the plague the rest of their lives. And any real California kid brought up in rural areas learns what it look like and how to avoid it by sight. Note one can readily picby DavidSenesac - General Discussion
No one could deny the valley itself has some of the most impressive set of features on the planet and views from many locations are World Class. For instance Tunnel View or above at Glacier Point. Unfortunately many of those views are also rather crowded with people. One of my favorite valley locations that is also certain to be free of others though not the traffic noise is about the big taby DavidSenesac - General Discussion
Surprised no one has mentioned the greatest bloom in our lifetime of California poppies downstream from the park along the Merced River. That is the result of released key ashy nutrients from last summer's Telegraph Fire that burned areas north of the river from several miles west of Briceberg, eastward to a mile short of Fergusson Ridge (Where the rockslide occurred.). Each March there is aby DavidSenesac - General Discussion
... Post Edited (03-15-09 10:42)by DavidSenesac - General Discussion
A chance to add my two cents on a sore subject. I'm a light sleeper and even with earplugs often cannot stand staying in public campgrounds because of inconsiderate campers that are noisy beyond quiet hours. There are some people that once they start to sleep (often snorers haha) sleep soundly most all the night regardless of how noisy things are around them. Waking them up in fact is like waby DavidSenesac - General Discussion
Amazing! Somebody has been reading all my posts about that on various boards the last few years. Thaaaaaankkks Guys!by DavidSenesac - General Discussion
An up close direct view is easily reached by following the small stream due south of Olmsted Point and then above where it drops off into the canyon, traversing west onto a knob overlooking the canyon. In fact that is an excellent viewpoint looking all the way down Tenaya Canyon, viewing the profile of Mount Watson, and seeing the Clouds Rest wall. Some nice sierra junipers about that zone. Oby DavidSenesac - General Discussion
wbmyosemite >>>"So let me get this straight: You are so narcissistic and self-absorbed (redundant yes, but in your case worthy of the redundancy) to pull over your gas-guzzling RV to let 5 cars pass because you can't maintain 15mph going up a grade." You misunderstood my statement because it was terse. First I have never owned anything but small compact sedans, much less Rby DavidSenesac - General Discussion
eeek >>>"I've had a good number of people that went very slow (< 20 on curves) that floored it when I tried to pass. Too bad they never get ticketed for their illegal actions." Anvanho >>>"Yeah, whas'sup with that? That's happened to me too! A bit of road ownership issue for some folks maybe?" Yes some slow moving vehicles indeed do so. It is usuaby DavidSenesac - General Discussion
Well avanho I've driven SR-120 each year for decades and have seen my share of impatient drivers but your description is a rather overly dramatic rant. The numbers of considerate drives always outnumber those that are aggressive though one tends to notice the later. I do tend to think one is more apt to see such drivers on SR-120 within the park more often than outside the park for a few simpby DavidSenesac - General Discussion