I do both and can speak to snowshoers in the groomed track and skiiers in the snowshoe track. There are snowshoers that will trek in the groomed tracks without any notion of what they are doing. Sort of like feeding the animals. There are often signs at the trailhead advising snowshoers to stay out of the track. I've found this to be a big problem in the first 1/2 mile of a trailhead and notby mrcondron - General Discussion
The trail to Ostrander Lake is not groomed and would be pretty tough for a first ski. The Glacier Point Road trail on skis in the snow is nothing like driving it or even hiking it. It is a great first ski and I would recommend it over any off track trip.by mrcondron - General Discussion
Several ways to get started: 1. Go to REI and get a book on the matter. After learning a bit from the book go skiing with a friend that has done it before. 2. With wallet in hand go to Royal Gorge, rent gear there, and take a lesson. Royal Gorge has very easy groomed trails up through trails that can kill. (Jack's Jump for example) 3. Go to Badger Pass, rent gear there, and take a lessby mrcondron - General Discussion
I was at Estes Park in Colorado last fall and visited the elk herds during the rut. You don't even want to get close to those big boys. Post Edited (10-29-07 08:23)by mrcondron - General Discussion
The gas station is closed and will be for quite a while. Coming from the west you can see Half Dome at a distance from a turnout called Portal View on 120 as you head down into the valley. This will be after the point where 120 goes left at the gas staton and heads up to Tuolumne Meadows. Once you are in the valley you can see all the hot sights. If you choose to turn left at Crane Flat and cby mrcondron - General Discussion
120 is open and Glacier Point Road is open. I suspect they will be open for a couple of weeks yet. There is no overnight parking though. The color in the valley was pretty good yesterday, Tuesday, and the falling leaves on the Merced river made for some good shots. I'm not sure where in Yosemite Kennedy Meadows is. I know of a Kennedy Meadows off off 108 just east of the Sonora Pass thouby mrcondron - General Discussion
The weather should be fair and clear into the middle of next week after the weekend. I'm going to be going into the valley from Carson City on Tuesday and I'm expecting clear roads and sky. Post Edited (10-18-07 14:21)by mrcondron - General Discussion
From the Foresta/120 junction (trailhead parking available) to the valley floor is about 10-11 miles.by mrcondron - General Discussion
Laura, If you put a "<" directly in front of your URL and a ">" directly at the end of your URL it will be hot. Don't include the quotes though. Nice article. Thanks for posting it. Post Edited (10-11-07 14:07)by mrcondron - General Discussion
Some pics taken on Old Big Oak Flat Road: http://yosemitephotos.net/main.php?g2_itemId=2980 http://yosemitephotos.net/main.php?g2_itemId=2984 http://yosemitephotos.net/main.php?g2_itemId=2990 Post Edited (10-11-07 10:40)by mrcondron - General Discussion
Billy, What are you doing up so early?by mrcondron - General Discussion
It starts at the Hodgdon Meadow campground by the Big Oak Flat entrance station. It runs up past the Tuolumne Grove. This section may still be open to official vehicles but not private ones. You can hike this part but I'm not sure if there is anything of significance until the Tuolumne Grove. The next section of the Old Big Oak Flat Road starts at the entrance to Tamarack Flat campground abouby mrcondron - General Discussion
Hi Laura. You're welcome. I'm glad you got up to Indian Rock. It probably overlooked by most hikers as its uniqueness isn't touted much. Your picture taking rivals that of my hiking buddy. He shoots about 150 to 200 a day. What a joy it is though to get back to camp at the end of a long day and have all that recharging fluid available!by mrcondron - General Discussion
DEET also is not going to keep mosquitoes or ticks off of you but it will keep them from biting.by mrcondron - General Discussion
I do. He was stationed at Tioga for a number of years and then to Hetch Hetchy maybe five plus years ago. I recall that he died not too long after the transfer to Hetch Hetchy. He was quite a talker.by mrcondron - General Discussion
stanchion |ˈstan ch ən| noun an upright bar, post, or frame forming a support or barrier.by mrcondron - General Discussion
Laura, If you want to meet your parents at the lodge for drinks try this: Up Snow Creek, north around Indian Rock, the spur to Indian Rock and to check out the arch, south to North Dome, west to the Yosemite Creek trail, north one half mile to the Eagle Peak trail junction, west to the Eagle Peak spur, up Eagle Peak, (great views), back down to the Yosemite Creek trail, down the Yosemite Creekby mrcondron - General Discussion
All the trails are plain to see and the junctions are marked. Yosemite Creek has pools of water along the bed and the flow is about a garden hose turned on one half. The pools that are exposed to the sun are kind of green. I presume you plan to descend at Yosemite Falls trail. Mount Wadkins is a cake walk.by mrcondron - General Discussion
Laura, Follow the trail from Snow Creek around all the way around to North Dome. The east side of Basket Dome is sheer. Once you get to a spot where you can go east from the Snow Creek trail you will be better off just staying on the trail. Once you get to North Dome then the trip to Basket Dome is not so bad. Think about coming in from Tioga Road. Coming up from the valley and on to Northby mrcondron - General Discussion
Google "D70 sensor cleaning kit" and you will get more info than you want. I've cleaned a D70 sensor with the specially made swabs and cleaning solution and it is a snap but scary until you get into it..by mrcondron - General Discussion
I don't want to spoil the ending but the lake won.by mrcondron - General Discussion
The skree could eat your tires in short order.by mrcondron - General Discussion
It's south and between Vogelsang and Sunrise HSC's. I believe this lady was on a day hike to the Merced Lake area. I think she got confused and took the route to the Sunrise HSC which may have led her into the Echo Lake drainage.by mrcondron - General Discussion
Ham, If I were to do the hike with the purpose of just getting to Wawona and not trying to get a "wilderness experience" then I would consider hiking the Wawona Road while trying to hitchhike. The chances of getting a ride are good if you keep your ax or chainsaw out of sight. If hiking for the wilderness experience: Discovery View at the tunnel east along to Pohono Trail to the McGuby mrcondron - General Discussion
At that time of year you have to be prepared for snow or at least rain and below freezing nighttime temperatures. If you are thinking of going alone or do not have winter camping experience and the necessary winter hiking gear then I would urge you to not try making the hike from the valley to Wawona.by mrcondron - General Discussion
Todd, When you say "dry" do you mean that there is NO water anywhere or are there some pondlettes along the way?by mrcondron - General Discussion
Billy, Don't forget to mention the Solio Universal Hybrid Solar Charger and the three or four extra batteries you will be lugging down the JMT in September. (I've tried to shame him out of the TV thing but to no avail.)by mrcondron - General Discussion
Ah, but after skiing out to Glacier Point and back a nice hotel room is nice.by mrcondron - General Discussion
Serious hikers looking for long hikes.by mrcondron - General Discussion
Denise, Day hikes in no particular order or degree of difficulty: 1. Mount Dana from Tioga Pass entrance station 2. Lembert Dome at Tuolumne Meadows 3. Clouds Rest from Tanaya Lake 4. Merced Grove on Big Oak Flat Road near the Big Oak Flat entrance station 5. Glen Aulen and Cold Canyon from Tuolumne Meadows 6. Taft Point off Glacier Point Road 7. Mount Wadkins fromby mrcondron - General Discussion