Your permit will dictate which trail you must take heading into the lakes (you should have either "Young Lakes via Glen Aulin Trail" (the "west" trail) or "Young Lakes via Dog Lake" (the "east" trail) trail to be able to camp at Young Lakes on your first day. I'd recommend taking the "other" trail on your way out--they are both nice.by basilbop - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
"They went a-boating on a lake with no name... because when the boating don't count no one remembers your name... La la - la - la la *sigh* *sigh*" #notbitterby basilbop - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
My understanding is that you must camp in the backpacker's campgrounds that are next to the HSCs when camping near (within a mile of?) them. I also didn't think it was allowed to camp in the closed HSCs themselves, but perhaps this has changed. There will be numerous impacted camp sites at the backpackers' campgrounds near the HSCs, as well as signs identifying their location, so I don't thinkby basilbop - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
You can park just off the Tioga Road along the Yosemite Creek Campground road, before the closed gate--but the gate is closed so you can't park any closer to the campground. There's usually ample parking there, although I suspect some of it may be used by people trying to find parking to hike to Pate Valley since White Wolf is closed. (Also, if you start there, you probably should have a Lukensby basilbop - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
As of 6/28/2020, there was no snow on the trail along the upper part of the Rafferty Creek trail to Tuolumne Pass, nor any to the (closed) Vogelsang High Sierra Camp and beyond to Vogelsang Pass. Have a safe and fun trip!by basilbop - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
As of last weekend there's still snow in the headwaters of Yosemite Creek and the tributaries are still flowing. My guess is it'll still have some flow in August, but there could be dry stretches where it disappears under sand. You should be able to find water anywhere there are granite pool--such as upstream of the bridge above the falls.by basilbop - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
I'm heading to that general area this weekend and will try to remember to post a conditions update when I return on Monday. Based on the previous three weeks' trips (it's good to be back!), I don't think you'll have any problem with snow or creek crossings from Tuolumne to Vogelsang--except perhaps a few sections on the traverse above Boothe Lake. Unfortunately "Choo Choo Ridge" bby basilbop - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
Perhaps related to this earthquake (centered on Owens Lake)? https://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/eventpage/ci39493944/executive?utm_medium=email&utm_source=ENS&utm_campaign=realtimeby basilbop - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
All day-use entry into Yosemite requires a reservation--this is true even if you are driving through the park. The cost is less if you have one of the passes, but a reservation is required. The reservation is good for seven days, but you have to enter on the first day to get your parking pass. There are many signs along the roads leading to the park indicating that reservations are required foby basilbop - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
According to the CDEC website, I think the snowpack for the Central Sierra went from about 51% to 64% of April 1 average since April 1. Still a dry year, but not as bad as it was looking around mid-March.by basilbop - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Quotechick-on Luckily Yosemite has about 20 other "High Routes" Only 20? The nice thing about Yosemite (and SEKI, and everything in between... or pretty much anything between the two Kennedy Meadows) is that almost any line you draw on a map that goes by any number of places that look like they would be interesting is 1) a do-able "high route" and 2) will most likely be inby basilbop - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
From what I can tell this sub-part of the Merced River Plan was open for comment for only the week of 05/21/2019 - 05/28/2019, and there were no meetings or other materials. I'm wondering if anyone got any notifications about this. I suspect 1 week is the minimum allowable comment period, and no attempt was made to gather any public comment beyond whatever bare minimum notification is legally rby basilbop - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
QuotePerformance reviews of Philadelphia-based Aramark corroborate complaints that visitors have increasingly had about food, campground reservations and, most extensively, shuttle service at one of the nation’s busiest and most venerated national parks. I'm not saying Aramark's performance has been spectacular, but you can't pin campground reservations on them... That would be the current rby basilbop - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Thanks for the report! Yeah, one thing that's odd about Yosemite is that there are many named lakes that are so-so (by Yosemite standards), but many unnamed and/or off-trail lakes that are spectacular. This somewhat reflects the early history of the area: most of the modern trails were once patrol routes for the cavalry to chase out illegal sheepherders, so they tend to be horse-friendly and leby basilbop - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
California specifically avoids having the same number shared across in-state Interstate, US, and California highways. CA 180 (otherwise known as the Kings Canyon highway) is one unfortunately-chosen CA highway number since it prevents the use of I-180 for a spur/connector off I-80 (such as for the oddly-numbered I-238...).by basilbop - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Quotelonelugger […] I found the fastest route and easiest is the 120, to the 6, to the 95 through Tonopah is the fastest. "The 120"? While in winter "the 395" extends as far north as Mammoth Lakes, no part of 120 (or 6) is ever south of the Nor Cal/So Cal freeway article discontinuity line... (95 isn't even in California, so "the 95" probably exists only as somby basilbop - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Actually... the app supports the option of downloading the data (including the base map) for offline use, which somewhat impressed me, not because it would be that hard, but simply because the app developers thought of that use case. It's not a replacement for something like Gaia, but it will work when Google Maps doesn't.by basilbop - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Yes, but the well-known ones tend to fill up regularly since, well, they are well-known--and they certainly don't need any more publicity. And, the Rim Fire has impacted many of the nicer dispersed sites--either due to downed trees, still-standing dead trees ("widow makers", or current logging/cleanup operations. What we ended up doing is spending an afternoon driving around the NF roaby basilbop - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Happy Birthday JKW! I've enjoyed the "recovery" hikes and trips, well, except for the silly "eights is zero if there is one" rule... *sigh* You should take a month off and break in the new foot doing hikes around the Sierra. Just tell me where, when, and how much pizza/nuggets/BBQ to bring :-)by basilbop - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
When we did the Cold Canyon road pre-Fergusson fire, there were numerous large trees across it, and plenty more sick/dead ones waiting to fall. But, there were also long stretches w/o any significant interruptions. (The road south of the ridge to the abandoned mining complex was very clear and may be worth checking out, assuming it's open to bicycles....) The Cold Canyon road will definitely bby basilbop - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
I suspect that given that there are still flood warnings in the valley due to high water, they won't allow rafting until the water level drops a good bit. More specifically, per this page, the gage at Pohono Bridge must be below 7' at 8:00 am for rafting to be allowed. (You'll also need a PFD if the river is above 4' at 8:00am.)by basilbop - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
From past experience, I can say they sometimes groom the GP road after dark--probably to take advantage of the lack of skiers. JKW and I watched the groomer go past the Taft Point trailhead at night from Sentinel Dome. And the park service and/or concessionaire do keep a few snowmobiles in the Badger area.by basilbop - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
QuoteFatFlatlander Amazing that you can see all the way across the park to Mt. Conness from that location. 40+ miles laterally and 2+ miles vertically! I suppose it helps that the sight line roughly parallels the Tuolumne River and especially the Grand Canyon of the Tuolumne. On one clear afternoon I was able to see Mt. Conness from the Westley rest area, which is just south of the I-580/I-5by basilbop - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Two things: 1) You don't remove the back seats to sleep in a Honda Element--you remove the front headrests, fold the front seats all the way back, then recline the rear seats all the way back. A decent sleeping pad on top helps a bit with the unevenness. 2) While there are campgrounds along 140 outside the park, some may be closed: https://yosemitenews.info/forum/read.php?3,93112. The oneby basilbop - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
The Snow Creek Trail, the JMT, or the (closed) Tioga Road are the “usual” routes from the west. A few years ago we entered from Smith Meadow and reached Tuolumne Meadows via the GCT and returned via Snow Creek—but there was only 6-8” max of snow on the ground. We passed a hiker in Glen Aulin who was doing the same loop the other way.by basilbop - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
The turnout comment is strange since what they did last year was convert one of the two lanes of Northside Drive to a parking area while closing most of the turnouts along both Northside and Southside Drive.by basilbop - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
I'm not aware of any set tracks in the Crane Flat area, just marked ski trails. I think a few people ski the road all the way to Tuolumne Meadows/Lee Vining, but not enough for it to be reliably set. Still, the closed Tioga Road might make for a nice, short overnight trip to Gin Flat, and you could return via the old road for some variation or more advanced skiing (or, more realistically, dealiby basilbop - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
I don't think the rail fence at Devil's Elbow will be mentioned in the Greene book--it is fairly recent, perhaps in the last 15-20 years. I think it was built simply to prevent erosion of the riverbank due to foot traffic; I also remember a picnic area there (and one south of Northside Drive, perhaps near Eagle Creek--I remember JKW and I did homework in college while parked there...) It'sby basilbop - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
I think the $$$$ is a reaction to Andrew Skurka's commercialization of Steve Roper's High Route--and creating new "High Routes"; e.g. by selling topographic maps, "databooks", and even guided trips: https://andrewskurka.com/adventures/sierra-high-route/ Curiously, Skurka claims: QuoteWhen I first hiked the Sierra High Route there was no official or unofficial Mapset oby basilbop - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
"Tenacious tape: for when you want to have a more sophisticated look than duct (or 🦆?) tape... or when you are clumsy at getting into inflatable boats, especially along rocky shores." Also good for repairing umbrellas, I hear...by basilbop - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion