Quoteplawrence Quotechick-on Mr. JimDisco after Mule Pass: With such a happy smiling face, you must have snapped this photo right after Jim finished enjoying one of your delicious Twinkies (or was it a Cloud Cake?). Quotechick-on Bunch more ear: https://picasaweb.google.com/yosemite.chick.on/SlideSpilla Thanks for the photos. Glad you still had clear skies at times at least on soby tomdisco - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
Tedbay, Sorry you asked? No sympathy here either.by tomdisco - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
On 8/22 Chick-on, Basilbop, JustKeepWalking, Catalonian Burro, and myself entered The Robinson Creek trailhead at Twin Lakes to do a general loop route down Slide Canyon, a few days in the Smedberg/Rodgers/Benson area, and then exit via Peavy Pass, Kerrick Canyon, and Peeler Lake. Our 1st night was spent just above Crown Lake where we caught a slight hint of smoke in the evening. When we beganby tomdisco - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Sure, snow and ice move the smallest erratics around a bit but that's a natural process. Most erratics, left untouched, are pretty much where they dropped out of the last retreating glacier 15,000 years ago. They should not be moved, stacked, or placed in rings large (primitive Stonehenge) or small (fire rings). One can take particular pleasure passing through a cluster of erratics, knowing thby tomdisco - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Sort of like year round frost heaves.by tomdisco - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
QuoteTechieSteve Great pics. They remind me of my time there last month. Love the Mono Lake shot, fantastic. I was a bit gutted to have missed Dana on my recent visit. I was on Gibbs, and wanted to traverse to Dana, but was too tired, and a couple of hours behind schedule. I'll get it one day! What are people's thoughts on trail markers like that? Part of me wishes they weren't there.by tomdisco - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Quotemrcondron Everything one might to know about black bears: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_black_bear Mike, I've been there also and I guess the answer is that black bears just come in all shapes whether it makes sense or not. All I've personally seen are the black skinny ones with long snouts. The first time I see one of those big lumbering cinnamon bears with the fat jowls pretby tomdisco - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Perhaps Dave could pipe in on this conversation. His work experience in the park may offer some insight regarding the widely varying shapes of bears in Yosemite. I just don't see how they can all be lumped into the same category of bears.by tomdisco - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
I know much has been said regarding the black bears of California but one thing that has always been a mystery to me is the wide variation of their appearance, and I'm not referring to color. It's their size and shape. The article attached to eeek's post shows a very large cinnamon colored sow with a wide face. She has the characteristic build and appearance of a small grizzly! Others I've seby tomdisco - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
I think Ken's suggestion would be very practical for attracting attention. The probability of a fire getting out of hand is no greater than it's ever been. The several thousand fire rings in Yosemite are testament to that. The probability of the smoke being noticed is very high, even before anyone realizes somebody is in need of a rescue.by tomdisco - General Discussion
Thanks for great trip report and photos. Looks like a really cool area.by tomdisco - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Katy, I have this on my list for next year and was intrigued by the lack of green growth up there. Reminds me of an astronaut's description of the Moon, "magnificent desolation".by tomdisco - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Yes, I need to visit Yosemite once a month to lick my insomnia.by tomdisco - General Discussion
Steve, Thanks for summing up your experience. Newbies considering backpacking Yosemite for the first time should take to heart your comment regarding scale, height, distances, and altitude effects. You are right. Everything looks so much easier on a map or Google Earth but once you get out there,---whooeey! Regarding soups, I'm doing something slightly different this year. A couple of myby tomdisco - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
QuoteHikingMano Thanks Jim! I thought I would be chomping at the bit to take off on side trips, but it was really just enjoyable to take it all in gradually and hang out with my buddy. Really glad I was able to take my time on my first trip there. Well, just got permit confirmations for Ten Lakes with the GF later this month and another GCT run from WW to TM in Sept., very stoked! We willby tomdisco - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
How did a lake in California ever get called Moose Lake? Did California ever have moose?by tomdisco - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
HikingMano, You did something on this trip many of us fail to do sometimes. You actually took your time up the Grand Canyon and stopped to smell the flowers. Way to go! Jimby tomdisco - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Quoteparklover It is not about the money made or lost but the fact that the parties that sued want less amenities in the park, less lodging and less people. Yes, but money rules.by tomdisco - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Thanks very much for posting photos of your hike. Loved the mystical grotto--neglected to check that out 2 years ago when passing by. Wow! Have not seen an external frame backpack in years.by tomdisco - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Steve, Thank you very much for sharing. Jimby tomdisco - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Every year in our subdivision folks observe fawns seemingly abandoned by the does and get concerned about what to do with them. We have to tell them every year, "nothing--leave them alone". The does frequently "park" their fawns while they go off to forage and always return to retrieve them.by tomdisco - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Quotechick-on You no read her first line? TH is the key. (Isberg) Nope. Me no read first line. Duh!by tomdisco - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Katy, Which trailhead did you enter on in the Sierra Nat'l Forest? Jimby tomdisco - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Mom, You are not expected to file trip reports but they sure are welcome, no matter where you go. A picture is as good as 60,000 words.by tomdisco - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Those lakes at the top of Lyle Creek going up to Rodgers Peak is on my list.by tomdisco - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
We do have a separate discussion forum on this site specifically for photography advice. Most folks might find what they need by scanning through some of those posts.by tomdisco - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Steve, are you unable to see the Milky Way in the UK because of light pollution where you live?by tomdisco - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
As chick-on says, just follow the creek below Echo Lake for approximately one mile. If you are about 150'-200' from the stream you will run right into the Echo Creek trail exactly where it makes a sharp 90 degree turn to the south.by tomdisco - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Quoteparklover Thanks for posting. I miss the beauty of the east coast but not the bugs and humidity. I just got back from doing some trail maintenance this morning in North Carolina. It was only 80 degrees (low for this time of year) but the humidity did a number on me.by tomdisco - General Discussion
Glad to hear you had a terrific trip. Perhaps by the time your child reaches her late teens she will be ready for through hiking the Pacific Crest Trail! It's great that she is getting introduced to this at such an early age.by tomdisco - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion