I'm in Carson City, NV right now and the smoke from these fires and a few here in NV is pretty severe.by mrcondron - General Discussion
Before it gets posted by some other source let me confirm that water will not work as fuel. Being of advanced years I forgot that I was rinsing with water a used ACT bottle for use as a denatured alcohol fuel bottle. I packed the bottle of water (18oz) and discovered at dinnertime at Peeler Lake that my cat stove wouldn't light. A quick sniff found that the fuel had no odor. This was day oneby mrcondron - General Discussion
A Light Snake Story My brother-in-law was going cross country from Kibbie Lake to Many Islands Lake a few years back when rattlers were seen quit a bit. On the way there is a rock fall that requires some crawling through and under some of the big chunks. He was well into the crawl when he heard the "Bzzzzzz" just overhead and slightly behind him. He quickly finished the trip throughby mrcondron - General Discussion
If you get bit in the back country say three days or so from the help that your hiking buddy went for your only choice is to lay there and survive or die. More than likely you will survive as a bite will usually only be fatal to a person that is very allergic to the venom. The snakes around the Yosemite area are very mellow and won't bite unless you actually step on them. I've put my foot doby mrcondron - General Discussion
There isn't a marked camping area. You just get to the junction and find a good place to pitch your tent. You would be able to get to the cables in an hour or so from the junction. You can get back to Tanaya Lake the same day you do Half Dome but spending one more night and taking two days might be more comfortable.by mrcondron - General Discussion
Picking up the permit the day before is the most sure way of getting one. As popular as the trip to HD via LYV is the permits disappear the day before. The rule is that you can get your permit 24hours in advance on the first-come-first-served basis. Coming in to Half Dame from Tanaya Lake is actually a bit easier than coming in form the valley floor plus you can knock off Clouds Rest at the sby mrcondron - General Discussion
Steel, You will have to get the permit for Little Yosemite Valley at the wilderness center on the valley floor if you plan to get to Half Dome from the valley floor. If you are in line at 8AM the day before you start your hike you should be able to get a permit as one half of the alloted permits are first come first served. You could also start your trip into Half Dome from Tanaya Lake via Clouby mrcondron - General Discussion
It was me. http://yosemitenews.info/forum/read.php?f=1&i=1749&t=1746 The peak to the left on the way to Clouds Rest from Tanaya Lake after the junction to Sunrise Lakes is Sunrise Mountain. The pool of water on the right after you have come down the slope from the Sunrise Lake junction is a seasonal pond. It can actually dry up as it might well do this year. There are many lakes in thby mrcondron - General Discussion
It's north of Pate Valley, west of Rodgers Canyon, and just east of Pleasant Valley. N37-58'59" W119-35'51"by mrcondron - General Discussion
This picture was taken in the morning but the lake was flat the evening before also.by mrcondron - General Discussion
Check this out. There are a few more pics of still water. All shots by Dale DeKeyser. http://yosemitephotos.net/main.php?g2_itemId=4527 Post Edited (07-11-07 17:59)by mrcondron - General Discussion
I think that only two people have died in the last few months and one guy got hung up at the saddle and was rescued. The woman that fell to her death went up when the cables were down and the conditions were icy. That was an invitation to fall on her part. Don't go up when the cables are down and don't go up when the granite is icy. Anybody giving the dangers a thought would not have attempteby mrcondron - General Discussion
I suspect that the last fatal fall from the cables had to do with a failure to focus on the hand-holds and footholds on the way up. Jubilation should be held in check until one is off the cables both going up and down. Focus is key in both directions especially when the cables are crowded. The other fatalities and the one near fatality in the recent months were due to gross error. Cables downby mrcondron - General Discussion
A Yosemite bear will go out on the branch the food is hanging on. It will then bounce the branch up and down and due to the mismatch in the counterbalanced bags weight one of the bags will start the downward journey as the other bag starts up. When the downward bag gets low enough the bear comes down the tree, opens the down bag, and lets the upper bag fall. This learning process took years buby mrcondron - General Discussion
Just got back from a trip to Young Lakes and we went up Mt Conness. There was plenty of water in the main courses. Still some large snow patches above 11K feet even with southern exposures. A lot of the little dribletts were dry though. Cold Canyon has a major creek running through it so there should be water in it even at the end of June and July. It is going to be a dry year in any event.by mrcondron - General Discussion
Even if the bear doesn't carry it off the food will probably pretty well chewed up. The is a kevlar rope that can be used to secure it to a tree. I don't think the bag has been approved for use in Yosemite.by mrcondron - General Discussion
Steve, I'm 64 and a pal and I are going to do the trail in August from TM to Bubbs Creek in Kings Canyon which is going to be about 170 miles in 16 days. There will be +4000 feet days and -4000 feet days. The whole trail is 225 miles or so. Even if one isn't in the best of shape it can be done if the mileage per day is kept low and say 30 days are available for the hike. The first part of thby mrcondron - General Discussion
Your bear can makes a good washing machine. Put the clothes and soap in it and shake. Rinse the same way. I don't think anybody would object to you doing your wash outside the sink room and dumping the gray water in a toilet or down the sink drain. I know I wouldn't.by mrcondron - General Discussion
You could run into patches of snow but nothing that will be trouble. The HSCs are all going to be open for business in two weeks and that indicates the trail around them are clear.by mrcondron - General Discussion
YPW, It doesn't matter if your clothes are scented from washing. The bears won't bother you. Actually I think it's more dangerous if during a long hike you start smelling like carrion.by mrcondron - General Discussion
Carolyn, If you are talking about the Saddlebag Lake off of highway 120 exiting Yosemite to the east then I would suggest a 2-3 day backpack trip to Upper McCabe Lake from Saddlebag Lake with perhaps on to Middle and Lower McCabe Lakes. Shepherd Crest by Upper McCabe Lake is quite a sight. You've probably been to Mono Lake but if not be sure to spend a day there. Alabama Hills at Lone Pine.by mrcondron - General Discussion
QH, There are definitely campsites at the junction of the Lyell Canyon portion of the JMT and the trail to Ireland Lake. The portion of the trail that heads up to Ireland where it is close to Ireland Creek is pretty steep but there is always somewhere to pitch a tent if you look around. If you have it in you then go all the way to Ireland. Ireland hasn't had anybody there the times I've pitchby mrcondron - General Discussion
If you look at the Half Dome Quad 7.5min topo in the extreme upper right corner where the "Half Dome Trail" heads north from the "John Muir Trail" you will see a "Spring" symbol. (little blue polliwog) at the end of a short spur trail. Good camping here, private, water from the spring (you will have to look for the pipe with the water coming out), and close to Halfby mrcondron - General Discussion
gthess, A couple of questions: When do you plan to do this trip? Snow and high water at that elevation at this time of year might have an impact. Are you sure you want to do 10-12 miles a day at that elevation with the ups and downs? Do you want to have a base camp and day hike? A suggested route that takes in a few good things: At 10-12 miles a day you could go from TM to Merceby mrcondron - General Discussion
Somehow this post got duplicated. See next post. Post Edited (06-09-07 19:37)by mrcondron - General Discussion
There are three or four great routes to take. The main piece of information needed is how many days you have to backpack your way down to the valley floor from TM.by mrcondron - General Discussion
Here's another tidbit. Giardia cysts sink. Lake water is less likely to get you than stream water. Deer are carriers as are beavers along with humans so the likelihood of cysts getting into streams is quit high. Unless you see the actual snow melting into your cup you stand a better chance of ingestion from a stream than from a lake. When water gets down to a large flow like the Merced eveby mrcondron - General Discussion
Getting sick from contamination on your hands is probably the single most likely cause. If you use poles and touch the pointy end you might pick something up from the horse droppings. Everything you touch has been touched by someone else. Avoid actually touching your food. Use the wrapper on bars, use a spoon or fork when eating, and if you drop something on the ground blow the dirt off beforby mrcondron - General Discussion
The four hour wait while these tablets work on killing crypto makes them almost usable for my tastes. I'll stick with my PUR Hiker.by mrcondron - General Discussion
Iodine tablets are not effective for killing the cryptosporidium cyst. Crypto is known to be in all water sources in the United States. Use a mechanical filter even if you treat your water with iodine.by mrcondron - General Discussion