Donniese, I prefer Asolo light hikers. They have the mid-height sides for added stability but are not too heavy. REI sells them as well as other sights. The exact model name has likely changed since I purchased. I think REI has a sale on right now for the women's Tacoma boot. Hiking boots are a personal thing. Some people prefer heavy weight, some middle weight, some light weight, and someby tomdisco - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
Since we live in Maine throughout the summer we got a little more information about this hiker. Despite the fact she was an accomplished hiker she unfortunately had no sense of direction and would not have been helped by a compass. The concept of East-West-North-South or reading maps was alien to her. She always hiked with her husband or other friends and relied on them for directional issues.by tomdisco - General Discussion
Hi there JustKeepWalking, Thank you. I had not been to the website for so long I had to look up my password! Had to pass on reading several thousand messages. As I just PM'd to chick-on, still wishing I could be out there. Jimby tomdisco - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
Hey there! I'm very late to the party but "Happy Birthday" anyway. Great hiking memories. Jimby tomdisco - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
My understanding is that this is a video on fire making in a survival situation only. I watched the video but did not see any suggestion regarding breaking the law in national parks. Where was that reference? I personally am against any fires in the back country but if you absolutely have to make one to keep from freezing to death then do what you have to do. Jimby tomdisco - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
Air drops over fires have got to be one of the scariest types of flying I can imagine. Large aircraft need a lot of safety space working down low, slow, and heavy. The erratic thermals updrafts coming from below have got to be hair raising. Some aircraft flying this low also have an annoying and distracting automatic PA announcement repeatively reminding the pilot to deploy landing gear becausby tomdisco - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Quoteplawrence Quotetomdisco Thanks for the trip report. Jim You're ALIVE!!! Glad to have you back, Jim. You've been away from this board too long! . I'm an alien with an unusual hibernation period. Jimby tomdisco - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
As you can tell, I've been away from the forums for a long time. I do think of you folks all the time and I'm trying to catch up on all of your travels this year. Chick-on, I'll pass on any kind of pink tee; have not earned it. My hiking of late has just been day hikes in Maine. Jimby tomdisco - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
Somebody borrow my tent when I wasn't looking? Jimby tomdisco - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
I know this is a February topic but I'd like to chime in. Humans have no more claim to a long existence than other forms of life on Earth. Remember, 99.99% of all life on Earth is now extinct! Why should we be any different, especially considering our inclination for violence, overpopulation, dwindling food supply, pollution of air and water, plus depletion of our natural resources. If you reby tomdisco - General Discussion
Thanks for the trip report. Jimby tomdisco - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
Long ago I beleive I started a rumor about earning a T-shirt form chick-on if you made it to Table Lake. At least, I think it was my idea. Maybe not? Anyway it seems the rumor morphed into realty. Love it! It's just that, well, it's pink! Now I don't want one.by tomdisco - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
It was mentioned there was some doubt that Sunrise could be used as an exit trailhead. You should be able to exit at any trailhead. Not sure why Sunrise would be any exception.by tomdisco - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
Quotemrcondron I'll answer these for him. Table Lake Any trip with me as I can be trying enough to be an adventure. Ahh, the famed Table Lake. Chick-on will provide a free Table Lake t-shirt to any hiker who can prove they were there. Really!by tomdisco - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
Just a note regarding the smaller 4-legged mammals. Many of them have learned to become beggars because they look so cute and people like to feed them. This is actually killing them because they spend their summer begging for food rather than storing it for the winter. When winter comes they starve to death. You probably know this but just in case, please don't feed the animals. Also, if youby tomdisco - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Charlene, Regarding maps, I'm very partial to the Nat Geo Trails Illustrated Maps. They have one for all of Yosemite, #206. That one is O.K. for a total overview but not detailed enough for the hiking trails. This same map is broken down into four sectional maps more appropriate for backpacking. They are waterproof and tear resistant. They are called: #306 Yosemite SW - Yosemite Valley &aby tomdisco - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
Happy Holidays from North Carolina and Maine (I claim both).by tomdisco - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Happy Birthday to dah Perret. Although I don't frequently comment on them I do read all your trip reports and just pretend I'm there trying to keep up. It's a pleasure.by tomdisco - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
No hold at T-Minus 4 minutes? No downrange incursions? No multiple weather delays? No scrub for 24-hours? Amazing! NASA, take notice.by tomdisco - General Discussion
Steve, Your higher up view reminded me of our view of Crater Lake many years ago during a brief snow storm. Never saw a damned thing! Anyway, thanks for the report. Jimby tomdisco - General Discussion
I think we're talking football.by tomdisco - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
Quotecalipidder Buy the pack last. If you buy a pack that has too much space, you'll find things (i.e. unneeded weight) to fill that space. If you buy a pack that's too small, you'll be out of luck. Figure out the rest of your gear and how much space you need, then try on packs with the same amount of weight packed in them, walk around the store for a while, find out what works best. I like thby tomdisco - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
Thank you for your efforts in bringing this vandalism into the public and legal venues. I really hope her eventual punishment will be doled out by a creative judge. The list of possibilities are tantalizing. Jimby tomdisco - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
David, I agree there should be some reasonable indicator of a trailhead. The first time I did that one I wondered around and eventually crossed the trickle of a stream either above or below the actually crossing (don't recall which) and then eventually stumbled onto the trail. Jimby tomdisco - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
I shuddered a bit when I saw L on Inspiration Point. When I was young that sort of hanging out would be normal for me. In recent years I've become fearful being right next to shear drop-offs. Never thought this frequent tree climber as a kid would ever have such a fear of heights. I'm envious. Jimby tomdisco - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
As a former pilot I can only imagine the fear and respect these fire fighting pilots have to have for this kind of flying. Flying low in mountainous locations is always dangerous due to unseen normal updrafts and downdrafts caused by wind passing over the area. Adding the severe updrafts caused by fire to this mix makes for a sometimes violent and unpredictable ride in frequent poor visibilityby tomdisco - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Quotemarkskor Quoteyosemitedawn None of us want to see it but ...may well continue since the concessionaire continues to rent rafts. With all due respect I disagree. Public opinion also disagrees - an uproar raged when the Merced River plan/ YNP/ Delaware North tried to stop the renting of rafts and bicycles at Curry Village last year. Curry halts its raft rentals when the river gets too lowby tomdisco - General Discussion
Elementary, my dear Watson!by tomdisco - General Discussion
Quotetanngrisnir3 Wonder if he's an Alaskan? With the amount of rocks there to dodge, his STOL skills must be insane, or he used up the rest of his luck in life. The plane looks like a Piper Cherokee. In any event, during an emergency landing a pilot using full flaps can put a small plane like that down in a relatively short distance at around 40 knots or slightly less. Once on the ground theby tomdisco - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Quotechick-on Haul it out? Cover it up with rocks? Leave it be? On same trip we came across another "Indian crop circle". I entered the circle and was enlightened. (unfortunately after entering the circle I found myself crop dusted for the rest of the trip) How can you sleep downhill?by tomdisco - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion