Quoteplawrence The pricing for lodging and at restaurants where SKY HIGH though compared to prices of lodging and restaurants outside the park though. Is this accurate, at least the lodgings part? Yosemite (Valley) Lodge rooms are approximately ~$250/night, compared to Yosemite View (El Portal,~$220), Westgate (Buck Meadows, ~$210), Rush Creek (BOF entrance, ~$215-$270), or Evergreen (Hetch Heby basilbop - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
This website has a transcript from Paulides: http://www.websleuths.com/forums/showthread.php?277743-CA-Stacy-Arras-14-Yosemite-National-Park-17-Jul-1981 This again sounds like the "lake" was easily visible from camp--suggesting a flooded (lower) Long Meadow, not Sunrise Lakes. Maybe there was a recent thunderstorm that created a temporary lake/flooding in the meadow? But, it'sby basilbop - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
This description from the Facebook page is, well, interesting: QuoteStacy rode into an area of Yosemite with her father and 6 others where they reached a cluster of cabins, where people could rest up overnight. The group tied the horses and some of them went into the cabins to freshen up. After getting changed into different clothes Stacy left her cabin with the intention of photographing theby basilbop - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
I'd also add that a poncho may not be ideal for cross-country/bushwhacking-type hikes and, well, you know the gang I hike with and their love of "delicious shrubbery". If you really want to consolidate, you might consider something like the Six Moon Designs Gatewood Cape--poncho/pack cover and shelter all in one. JRInGeorgia had one when he was JRInYosemite.by basilbop - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
Isn't that the remains of the Mirror Lake dam behind/upstream from this unnamed pool? #nottherealmirrorlake #wasntboated #doesntcount #notbitter #headingtomastadomeby basilbop - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Happy birthday, JKW! Thanks for all the great trips--and all the wonderful years we have had together! Good luck completing TrailQuest! What you are not getting for your birthday: Mirror Lake. Not boated, didn't count. Sorry :-(by basilbop - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
I've seen "Mono Pass (north)" vs. "Mono Pass (south)" used when there might be confusion. Other fun re-used Sierra placenames: Junction Meadow, Kennedy Meadows, Summit Lake, Twin Lakes, and Swamp Lake.by basilbop - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
You could take YARTS from the Valley to Crane Flat, but that leaves a few miles to the Merced Grove area--either a hitchhike, a road walk, or perhaps one of the old logging roads/trails in the area. Or, you could visit the nearby Tuolumne Grove instead, which is much closer to Crane Flat. One problem is the YARTS schedule seems to indicate that the bus leaves the Valley at 5:00pm, but if youby basilbop - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
This sounds like the "Horse Meadow Road" that went from Leavitt Lake to a few tungsten mines in the Emigrant--one near Twin Lakes and the others near Snow Lake (see p. 53 here--there is also a picture of the mill located near Twin Lakes). The sliver of land between Yosemite and the rest of the Emigrant was not part of the wilderness until 1984 in part due to these claims, none of whichby basilbop - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
Whew! The new names seem to have resulted in a drop of -20% in visitation over last year, so it's clear what value the old ones had. Majestic, indeed!by basilbop - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Thanks for posting--great pictures and write-up! And it was great to have met you and your wife at the parking lot! JKW is currently back in the mountains, so I'll let her post about crossing between the Cockscomb and Echo Peaks with snow. Did you boat Budd or Echo? Because if so you're one or two-up on a certain pink bird in the Great Yosemite Lakes Boat-a-Thon. Oh, and for other Suby basilbop - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
The main advantage of the cozy is that the contents stay warmer, so the hydration time is shorter. You can make a cozy out of any insulated material--I use mylar-coated "bubblewrap" that's intended for insulating ducts and weighs very little. You can buy a huge roll of it at a hardware store. But, if you're careful about spills, you could use your hat, jacket, or sleeping bag as a coby basilbop - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Quoteags QuoteJustKeepWalking I used quilt, had to keep it tucked, but I have quilt wings to make this easier. What are "quilt wings"? Small extensions of nylon (no insulation) attached to the sides of the quilt that can be tucked in/under to keep drafts out. With JRB these are attached using the "Omni-tape" ("Velcro" that is along the sides of the quilt:by basilbop - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
I think that "Red Cascade" would be an appropriate name--in contrast with nearby "White Cascade" and to reflect the red-hued rocks in the area. Or "Pink Cascade", for obvious reasons.by basilbop - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
Perhaps mountain mahogany (Cercocarpus parvifolius), which probably won't be found around 8500' near Yosemite, but in the Golden Trout closer to the eastern side, chaparral plants may range that high. Pinyon Pine would be consistent with a drier setting.by basilbop - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
It's a fine day hike. Even if you can't make it all the way to Glen Aulin, there's a lot of good stuff to see along the way even if you have to turn back early. If you're new to the Tuolumne area, I'd skip the Murphy Creek trail--there's some interesting stuff along it, but it stays mostly in the forest. The Glen Aulin trail has much more trailside scenery. Also, don't worry about beingby basilbop - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
Quotechick-on and Stick N Fedders with a "basilblop spoonful" ... If it fits on a spoon, and I end up full (nom nom!), it's a spoonful. And if I'm "cooking" and "doing dishes" I get to clean out the bowl :-)by basilbop - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
Quotechick-on Eye could eat Twikies fur dinner. That's more chicken with dumplings, spaghetti, or crème brulee for the rest of us!by basilbop - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
...and would any location in Yosemite be in their delivery zoneby basilbop - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
The sun was still up when I arrived late Friday at the trailhead. I had heard from the advance party on the radio that they had found a nice campsite. The first bit of the hike was snow-free, then I entered a section where the coverage was nearly 100%. The snow was firm enough that snowshoes were not needed... but I did manage to break one of my trekking poles in the firm snow. Closeby basilbop - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
QuotePineCone Very nice, thank you for sharing! A few questions: -What type of critter is that which met an unfortunate demise? We think it was a coyote. Our theory is it starved to death trying to escape the jungle we were thrashing through. QuotePineCone -What the heck is that goop in the bowl in the 2nd last photo?! Crème brulee (Backpacker's Pantry). Actually not bad at all.by basilbop - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
The Park Service had warned that Yosemite would be very crowded Memorial Day Weekend, so we chose to follow the not-quite-a-path much less traveled. The spring grasses were still bright green and wildflowers were near peak bloom. The forecast had called for a chance of thunderstorms all weekend. We had to settle for smaller waterfalls than those that the Yosemite Valley crowdby basilbop - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
Quoteags 1) I've been contemplating upgrading from my BearVaults to the Bearakades. They are pricey for sure. Is the benefit lighter weight by comparison or is there more? 2) Are those REI Half Dome tents (for winter trips)? I have the Quarter Dome for warmer weather and enjoy it. Great value IMO (although there are lighter one available, the footprint doesn't fit our sleeping pads). 3) Do yoby basilbop - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
JKW and the bird had left on Friday to take advantage of the recent opening of the Tioga Road. Around noon on Friday they called me to let me know where they were camped; OD and I would join them Saturday. A cold but dry storm was forecast to come in that evening, so it perhaps shouldn't have been surprising that the Park Service closed Tioga Road at 8:00 Friday evening, a news item I was ableby basilbop - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
Quotechick-on (my car got impounded by rangers on Friday the 20th) (we didn't leave til the 22nd so they must have brought it back... it was at the TH where we left it on Sunday) Maybe they were trying to return it to its natural habitat? Catch and release?by basilbop - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
The bit between 2 and 3 is an old (rail) road. However, from 3 to 4 it is mostly a trail--you'll pick up a (rail) road again maybe 1/4 mile north of the falls. When OD, JKW, and I did it a few months ago it seemed mostly clear of brush--but then again we had maybe 80% snow coverage then. I wouldn't be surprised if you hit some brush where the trail crosses Alder Creek--roughly where the trby basilbop - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
...this will make it slightly more challenging for OD and me to meet up with JKW and the bird tomorrow :-(by basilbop - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
It sounds like this unfortunate incident happened here; there is a smallish campsite near the top of the falls, not far from where I was standing when I took this picture: As always, slick granite and fast-moving water make a dangerous combination. And, as always, be careful!by basilbop - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
We did a few other shorter hikes while in Ireland. Here are some pictures from them: Muckross Lake Ross Castle and Island Kenmare Road Gap of Dunloe True story: we learned a few days later while climbing Carrauntoohil the second time that apparently this cottage is very popular among photographers. I didn't know this when we were in Black Valley so all I got were a fewby basilbop - General Discussion
The forecast for our final full day in Ireland was unlike all our other days: it called for a fair amount of sun and no rain. We decided to take advantage of this bounty by heading back into the mountains and attempting a new route up Carrauntoohil. Since our favorite was Heavenly Gates, it only made sense to check out O’Shea’s Gully—Brother O’Shea’s Gully for the locals--which sharby basilbop - General Discussion