QuoteKC Just went here last weekend ... It has got spectacular granite, great vistas, and Disneyland like crowds in areas... Like other wilderness areas many visitors complain about being too crowded, at Desolation one can often goes a surprisingly short ways from popular trails and lakeshores and find utterly pristine conditions where one is unlikely to see other people. And that includes theby DavidSenesac - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Quotegrant1 If you cross the creek before Eagle Lake and stay just right of the steep canyon there is a use trail that leads to Grouse Lakes.Look close, it cuts thru the otherwise impassable manzanita. Much appreciate that unexpected tip. Looking at the topo, satellite photo, and Google Earth, I concluded going directly up from Eagle Lake looked too brushy to even think about hauling up a baby DavidSenesac - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Quotettilley Up to Phipps Pass isn't cross-country, it's a trail. Middle Velma is nice, I was there last year. Indeed the horse trail goes from the west end of MV but from where I will camp about the east end, it will be less tedious to simply climb directly north and intersect the trail not too far west of Phipps Pass.by DavidSenesac - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
A very deep and interesting lake canyon indeed. Was just looking at topos and Google Earth for that area yesterday for a future trip after a wetter winter. Will probably enter via the Bayview trailhead and camp the first night at Middle Velma where I've been before in order to work Sierra juniper subjects. Next day will crosscountry up to Phipps Pass and down to Rubicon Lake and stay therby DavidSenesac - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
The noted Rainbow Pool along SR120 is a fine place for jumping, diving into water though on warm weekend days there will be quite a crowd. Good spot for show offs. Highest jumps or 20 feet with several spots 10 to 15 feet. Early summer has a unique slide over the falls though water will be rather cool then. Lots of youtube videos, just search. In the backcountry for serious cliff jumby DavidSenesac - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Damselflies and dragonflies have gotten fat and are smiling.by DavidSenesac - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Learn to do it manually using a 7.5 minute USGS topo like everyone had to before recent years. Most people should be able figure out what to do by just making simple sense of maps. Not rocket science at all. Does not take long to add up a list of vertical feet ups and downs. One learns a skill that can be used during hikes instead of only at home looking at some computer screen. I chart all myby DavidSenesac - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Actually the high country receives a fair amount of very loud booms naturally each summer. Its called THUNDER. So the probability of causing avalanches due loud sound even from a jet is probably low. Most of the talus fields in the high country only move during larger earthquakes or after really heavy periods of lubricating rains like well into Mexican Monsoon cycles. Boulders break off cby DavidSenesac - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
QuoteYury QuoteDavidSenesacHere are two nylon shells I actually bought online: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0037KPY38/ref=oh_details_o05_s00_i00?ie=UTF8&psc=1 http://www.amazon.com/Kariban-Unlined-Windbreaker-Navy-XL/dp/B003H8NIV0/ref=sr_1_1?s=apparel&ie=UTF8&qid=1371231470&sr=1-1&keywords=Kariban+Unlined.David, How breathable are these jackets? Not breathableby DavidSenesac - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
I've seen a few over the years having fun navigating low in SEKI canyons. The best one was somewhat less than two decades ago in Kings Canyon while two of us were camped at the canyon brink below the east end of the Mt Bago ridge above Lower Vidette Meadow with imposing East Vidette right across the canyon. On a dayhike nearby I was crawling about on steep slopes of the south facing side of thaby DavidSenesac - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Dangerous area due to many granite cliffs and class 3/4 steep slabs but there is a class 2 route if one carefully navigates by having done topo homework. chick-on figured it out without have to do his chicken flying. One does not have to traverse the ridge top. Probably go back there some June of a bigger winter.by DavidSenesac - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Here are two nylon shells I actually bought online: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0037KPY38/ref=oh_details_o05_s00_i00?ie=UTF8&psc=1 http://www.amazon.com/Kariban-Unlined-Windbreaker-Navy-XL/dp/B003H8NIV0/ref=sr_1_1?s=apparel&ie=UTF8&qid=1371231470&sr=1-1&keywords=Kariban+Unlined+Windbreaker While carrying a backpack, I often wear them without anything underneathby DavidSenesac - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
QuoteJustKeepWalking.... I have tried Permethrin on my clothes, seemed to work for a few years, but the last few years, I was getting eaten like mad through my clothes (we always treated with the Sawyer spray, no change in clothes/application treatment, not sure why such a difference... The prime mistake significant numbers of mountain visitors in mosquito season make is wearing the wrong clothby DavidSenesac - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
As someone that began visiting the Valley decades ago, I have always seen it in talus areas which pretty much are below all cliff areas. Even though trails and roads avoid talus, climbers have always had to climb there way up through boulders and quickly learn to be aware of it. I'd expect the main reason one does not see it at more central areas of The Valley is because people are all over thosby DavidSenesac - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
A good link and discussion on the subject: http://www.nationalparkstraveler.com/2013/05/npca-npha-want-national-park-service-raise-entrance-fees-parks23391 Snippet from: http://finance.yahoo.com/news/seniors-pay-more-national-park-184600327.html Even doubling the senior rate for a lifetime pass wouldn't come close to the $153 million budget gap that the National Park Service faces thaby DavidSenesac - General Discussion
Quotechicagocwright ... But bites are simply unavoidable....The question is how to relieve the itch after a bite. Home remedies? Creams? Biting the bite? Etc. Looking for everyone's best ideas. Every summer some people claim they always get bitten regardless of what they do or apply. And then there are responders like this person that don't get bitten. Full battle gear covering up one's bby DavidSenesac - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Agree with chick-on. Asking who uses a sleeping pad is likely to show near 100% except for a few unfamiliar newbies. One can of course sleep without a pad however anyone doing so will notice sleeping on hard surfaces as are most often encountered camping and backpacking, inside even the most expensive sleeping bags, is rather unpleasant over hours to the human body, especially we softee modernby DavidSenesac - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Best view of Clouds Rest slopes. Although Half Dome is close much like from North Dome, the face on view doesn't appeal to me as much as further west like from Eagle Peak. Need to carry in water if planning to camp there and would not want to be there if breezy. Most efficient route from highway starts where you noted on a trail, but for anyone with topo map skills before too long just makinby DavidSenesac - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Quotetomdisco ...And your age? I could easily carry 50 pounds in my 20's but those days are long gone. used to watch The Lone Ranger 2005: 2012: http://www.davidsenesac.com/MinnowCr/minnowcr_3.htmlby DavidSenesac - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
The rest of you are just a bunch of wimps. My carrying weight last August for our Silver Divide 9-day trip was 66 pounds and will be about the same this year on our 9-day July trip over Sawtooth Pass. About 8 pounds less than was typical just a few years ago. My camera gear and daypack I dayhike with is often over 30#. Note I currently am 66" 138#.by DavidSenesac - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/total_forecast/getprod.php?prod=SFOAFDHNX&wfo=mtr&version=0by DavidSenesac - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
From a Minnesota TV station website that indicates why he went over the railing: Search crews had found his backpack on Sunday at the top of the waterfall. His camera was not in the pack.by DavidSenesac - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Total numbers mean little unless they are broken down. The main problem within our parks has always been a matter of budgeting. If the difference is mostly traffic citations then it means little without explanation. Large numbers of drivers are always annoyingly speeding whenver I'm in the park, impatiently tailgating anyone in front of them. Thus simply increasing or decreasing that enforcby DavidSenesac - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Anyone been to Laurel Lake the last few years? I've been there a few times but that was decades ago and am wondering about its current bear population? Certainly still some though much less than before? Actually would like to see some and capture videos on my Canon SX130. Also wondering how its rainbow trout population has held up? Might be heading there as a warmup trip this summerby DavidSenesac - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Why not break that awkward trip into 3 shorter efficient trips? Do you really want to drop way down into the Merced Canyon and then climb back up to Cathedral Pass? Bunnel Cascade with wimpy flows this droughty year are not likely to be that interesting. One can day hike there and back anytime from Happy Isles in the Valley and see much more in the way of whitewater along the whole trail. Oby DavidSenesac - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Any parents bringing their children to that area ought to impress on them on the way up the trail to never duck under the metal bars at the destination to get near the water even if they see other foolish visitors doing so. The bedrock in that area is so water smoothed that when wet is often impossible for even an athletic adult to grab onto anything at the edge especially once moving towards tby DavidSenesac - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
The video seems to show the family of 9 year old kid. One has to wonder if they allowed their kid to play near the water on the wrong side of the bars?by DavidSenesac - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
If as you related you are really interested in not visiting areas in the wilderness where you will see many other people then you ought to ignore above suggestions of Half Dome, Clouds Rest, Glacier Point, Little Yosemite Valley, and most valley trailheads. Only mrcondron's suggestions would likely have few or no others. It is true Snow creek might have few visitors but that is because it is anby DavidSenesac - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Yup dirt road into Monument of the Gods several dirt roads about the Mexican Hat formation along the San Juan River are all open BLM lands with few visitors. April and May when plants are green is the best times of year in that area.by DavidSenesac - General Discussion
QuoteHitech I’m trying to put a trip together for my “out of shape” son. I’m hoping to find something that he will find interesting and motivate him to get in better shape and give him a love of nature. Some reasonable suggestions except that you cannot afford to select anything but sure gold else your son is likely to never want to try it again. Much like the husband or boyfrienby DavidSenesac - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion