Take two or three extra pairs of socks and a small towel. Take your boots off for stream crossings and go with just socks on which will give good non-slip footing. Wring your socks out after the crossing and hang them on your pack. Put on dry socks after drying your feet. Have a pair of Crocs or or other light boots for the end of the day. Having dry socks to put on is the main thing. Snoby mrcondron - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
Glacier Point. You'll find the rock with no trouble except not likely in the next two weeks due to lots-o-snow. Watch these snow pillows: http://cdec.water.ca.gov/snow/current/snow/pillowplots/TuolumneMerced.htmlby mrcondron - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Columbia Rock. Bit of a climb, great spot, not too many people, no snow even now, privacy will come and go. Snow Creek trail OK.by mrcondron - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
Dale, What can I say? Happy Birthday!!by mrcondron - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
If 120 has not opened by then you can be sure there is still lots of snow above the rim. Even if 120 IS open that doesn't mean the snow is gone in the Indian Rock area. Use this link to check the water content of the snow in the Tuoulmne watershed and when it gets down near zero inches of water then snow won't be a problem. Right now there is near 10 feet of snow all over the place with 60-7by mrcondron - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
The Snow Creek Trail should e free of snow from the valley to the rim then. Once you get to the rim there will probably be snow everywhere. It will be consolidated so easy traveling on snowshoes or even just micro-spikes. A good way to assess to snow conditions in that area at that time will be weather or not 120 has been cleared and open. I suspect 120 won't open until July so expect lots-o-by mrcondron - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
Well, that football guy's jersey showed up so maybe someone will see the sign hanging in a man cave somewhere and report it. People that take stuff like that can't keep it quiet for long.by mrcondron - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
I'm sure it is. Google "Half Dome form Turlock" and compare with the Tony Imoos pictire.by mrcondron - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
Quoteabetterpitchfork So a question to all you hiking and camping enthusiasts who are out there a lot more than I am: what precautions, if any, do you all take to lessen the chances of this happening to you? In developed areas, nothing. In the back country, check the trees, look for the way they are already leaning, camp in open areas. This year is a double whammy, lots or rain to loosen soilby mrcondron - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
I agree. Lots to see and close too.by mrcondron - General Discussion
Wild.Bill, Your route in May could be still heavily laden with snow. Creek crossings could be dicey. Chick-on could offer some advice on this. Get ready to get another permit reservation. There are lots of places to go where snow and water won't be a problem. The snow pack this year is a monster.by mrcondron - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
Right now there is about 65" of water content at the Tenaya Lake snow pillow. How long before the avalanche conditions clear at Olmsted Point? That's one of the main issues. Could be well into July.by mrcondron - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
I'm sorry bikers but when you are cruising a wilderness trail on a mountain bike you are not taking in the wilderness scenery, eyes down just trying to keep it between the ditches. Game cart??? What? To haul in 150 lbs of gear? We went through the wheelchair (motorized) argument a few years ago. Not just battery powered but gas engine powered, four wheeled to boot. In effect an ATV.by mrcondron - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Another option or two would be to start at Tamarack Creek Campground (hike in on the road) or start at the Tamarack Creek trailhead a little further east on 120. Tamarack Creek could be a roaring torrent and coming in from the north would allow you to cross it at the footbridge near the campground or at least at a flat area. I don't remember how big Wildcat Creek is.by mrcondron - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
Chickon and Bearproof are out there.by mrcondron - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
A special thanks to Chick-on for taking me to the park on my birthday and for lunch at the Awahnee. Quotechick-on HAPPY BIRTHDAY MIKE!by mrcondron - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Perhaps,"I have three bottles of Sierra Nevada beer in my beer can..." and I do want one.by mrcondron - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Bottom line: Sierra- long rugged mountain range Nevada - snowy There is no plural. There is no Sierra(s) Nevada(s) Mountain(s). Just The Sierra Nevada. I'm done with my pontificati. Ravioli Pringaliby mrcondron - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
QuoteDavidK42 OK, as a relative long-timer on this board, it just occured to me that I don't really know how OD & chick-on started hiking together. Did one of you get the other one interested? Did your paths just happen to cross? Did you meet over something other than hiking and then just discover the mutual interest? If that's a topic one or the both of you would rather not reveal on-lisby mrcondron - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Thank you everybody. It's heartwarming to get so many best wishes.by mrcondron - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Consider hiking to Rancheria Fall out of Hetch Hetchy. No snow due to southern exposure, pretty easy trail, great camping spots, lots of scenery, permit quota rarely full. I presume you will have a car.by mrcondron - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
REI has a clearence on Vasgue Breeze. Limited sizes though. I've been using this boot for the last couple of seasons and it fit like a glove and is water proofish. I need a higher top boot due to ankle rolls from time to time. (your joints get wobbly when you get older kids)by mrcondron - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
Especially the Mary Jane.by mrcondron - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
Yes.by mrcondron - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
You can park at Tunnel View in the upper lot which is a trail-head complete with bear lockers.by mrcondron - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
Happy Birthday Steve.by mrcondron - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Worst case is thigh deep and very cold. No current to worry about but the creek is wide.by mrcondron - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
Check the Badger web cam and decide. The cam at Sentinel Dome shows some in the trees there but that's at 8000'. Getting to Dewey would require hiking in from Chinquapin or Tunnel View. Actually if there is enough snow to shoe then hiking the old Glacier Point road bed from Chinquapin to Badger would be decent. That roadbed is a winter trail.by mrcondron - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Ho, Ho, Ho. Merry Christmas everyone. Thanks for all the trip reports and the many thanks given to those that write them.by mrcondron - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
I think Glacier Point Road is closed at Chinquapin so add a few more miles of hiking.by mrcondron - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra