As a part of my commitment to do more trail work in the Amador District of the El Dorado National Forest (just South of Tahoe) I spent a day hiking and cleaning up the trail to and from Lake Margaret. This is a popular trail, partly because it is almost walking distance from the Kirkwood resort...so lots of visitors take advantage. And it's an easy hike. I met one family of five doing the traiby balzaccom - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
Nice to see you back here, Eeek. I was beginning to worry about you...by balzaccom - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Most of you know that I spend a few days, or sometimes weeks, doing volunteer work in the National Forests. I've done this in the Mokelumne Wilderness, the Sierra National Forest, and Desolation Wilderness, and I've never had a bad day. But enough about me. This is about you. Are you interested in joining a crew of really great people who take the time to pay back some of the pleasure they finby balzaccom - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
I keep going back for more... I'm just back from a four-day trip into Desolation Wilderness, but this time I started at the Glen Alpine Trailhead, near Fallen Leaf Lake, and worked on the Tahoe Basin section of the wilderness. Gosh, is it beautiful. We set up a base camp at Suzie's lake, about four and a half miles in, and then worked on eliminating illegal campsites and fire rings, all tby balzaccom - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
I've met a lot of really interesting people as I work as a volunteer in the Desolation Wilderness. One large group of a few adults and lots of kids got my attention recently. I suggested that they split up to avoid falling foul of the regulations, which limit groups to twelve or smaller. They had no problem with that, and quickly set off on two separate trails. But I noted that the kids were nby balzaccom - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
More trail work that is, this time hiking out of Wright's Lake to Grouse, Hemlock and Smith Lakes. As usual, the goal was to pick up trash, clean up the trail, and remove any fire rings that might have been built. Well, there was no trash, really. I did pick up a small plastic Sutter Home White Zinfandel bottle that someone probably dropped, and a few bits of micro-trash, but that was aboutby balzaccom - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
A wonderful artist! Sorry that I will miss this!by balzaccom - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Other Tom has it right, although I have seen a few people hang them about shoulder high on a tree limb. That's a nice way to keep them clean, and accessible, unless the tree is dripping sap...!by balzaccom - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
We got to thinking on our last trip...and that's always a reason for concern. But here are a few tips we'll share. Not that we, personally, have ever done these things, but.... 1. It is always easier to lift up your pack when you are not standing on the hip belt. 2. It's easier to cook on your gas stove when you remember to bring the fuel. 3. In a pinch, last year's campfire permit canby balzaccom - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
M was kind enough to join me on a short trip down the Mok Canyon, to see where I had done a lot of trail work over the past few years. It's an isolated area, and I knew we wouldn't see many people. As it turned out, we saw nobody until the last mile hiking out, when we met two day-hikers. The canyon itself was all ours. This is a rough trail---M managed to take a couple of detours during thby balzaccom - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
Well, at least a chipmunk ate my permit on my trip to Twin Lakes. Pretty funny, really. Not so much for another group, who got sent back out to the trailhead. What knuckleheads. You can read the details here--complete with photo of damaged permit: www.backpackthesierra.com/post/honest-mr-ranger-a-chipmunk-ate-my-permitby balzaccom - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
Here's an update: I spent another two days in Desolation Wilderness, taking out a few more campfire rings, knocking down some more camp furniture, picking up some more trash, and generally trying to Leave Less Trace than there was before. If you're interested in exactly what that means, there are more details (and more photos) here; https://www.backpackthesierra.com/post/volunteer-trail-workby balzaccom - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
Now that I am an official part of the volunteer team for the Desolation Wilderness, I am supposed to spend a few days actually doing something there--as if I needed a reason to spend more time in the mountains! So I spent that last two days hiking up to Maud and Gertrude Lakes, cleaning up the trails as I want. I made sure that campsites were regulation size, shape and location, and even spentby balzaccom - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
UPDATE; I spoke to Garmin's customer service department. Very nice guy, very efficient. And he told me they are aware of this issue, and it is a top priority with them. But he has no timeline for when it will be fixed, and based on their own troubleshooting message boards, it's been going on for at least three weeks. He told me there is nothing he can do. He suggested that I try a differeby balzaccom - General Discussion
Quoteeeek QuotebalzaccomWe're recovered from a bout with COVID, more or less, but it turns out that hiking up to 10,000 feet may be more than we were ready for. For me COVID (January 2020) caused my muscles to waste away. Got so bad my knees would buckle and I'd fall down. Fortunately I started getting my muscles back after getting the vaccine. Still can't walk very well, but it has improved.by balzaccom - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
Anybody ever had any trouble trying to register a Garmin device with their website? Apparently there's an issue. When I fill out the form correctly I get this message: "The user object contains invalid values." And in checking their Q&A, they are aware of the problem, because lots of people have reported it, and don't have a fix--at least not one that's simple and effective. Tby balzaccom - General Discussion
We just got back from a few days in the Sierra, and it wasn't all roses. We're recovered from a bout with COVID, more or less, but it turns out that hiking up to 10,000 feet may be more than we were ready for. We made it, but that's about it. McGee Creek, on the east side of the Sierra near Lake Crowley, lived up to its billing as a beautiful area. And we dodged the smoke of the Oak Fire thby balzaccom - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
Nice story, and a way to get back at all the wildlife that eats our garden produce the day before it's perfectly ripe!by balzaccom - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
The third book in my mysteries series set in the Sierra Nevada is out! Holes in the Ground pays homage to mining history of the foothills, and brings back Ranger Dan Courtwright and his best friend, Sheriff Cal Healey. As the back cover notes: “The hikers passing through the Emigrant Wilderness on the Pacific Crest Trail may or may not be who they say they are. With trail names, who can tell? Bby balzaccom - General Discussion
Sounds like a grand trip--including the drive to Seattle!by balzaccom - General Discussion
You can often rent these from some outdoor suppliersby balzaccom - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
We've seen them on Crabtree Road, just before you get to the Aspen Meadows pack station. That's off 108 by Pinecrest. I wouldn't call it prime viewing--the most marmots I've ever seen in the Sierra are Mt Hoffman in Yosemite, the top of Mt Dana in Yosemite, and the eastern end of Lake Thomas Edison. None of those are on your route...they all require a fair bit of hiking--or boating!by balzaccom - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Another perspective on social media and the outdoors: www.theguardian.com/travel/2022/jul/07/instagram-hiking-tags-geotags-great-outdoorsby balzaccom - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
We're just back from ten sunny days (out of twelve) in Alaska: We started with a couple of sunny days in Vancouver...and then on to the Inside Passage: On the second day, we were in Ketchikan, where we kayaked out to the Tatoosh Islands amid glorious sunny weather. Bald eagles were everywhere out here, and we loved how close we could get to the shore…the vertical walls and gentle seasby balzaccom - General Discussion
Thanks Jay. I look forward to reading your trip report about this one---and how the mosquitoes were!by balzaccom - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
I haven't heard of any rodent/marmot issues at Sunrise. That's not a guarantee....just what I've heard. Mosquitoes should begin to ease off this year in July ..but bring bug dope and head nets just in case. They are part of the experience.by balzaccom - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
Hi Spencer Remember that you need to camp at least 200 feet from water. You'll find many, many campsites on this route.. and in general, the fishing is better lower in the canyon than up by Glen Aulin, if only because there is less pressure there. Side canyons sometimes have both more private campsites and better fishing. I would suggest camping below Glen Aulin--there are many sites, asby balzaccom - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
BE careful with that term, Geezer. If "inverse internet" becomes a catch phrase, it might "catch" on, and then.... Well, you know. grin. Thanks for the comments. It is still possible to get solitude in the mountains. I think we're all grateful for that.by balzaccom - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
We have had some discussions recently (including with our own JKW here) about the wisdom of posting all of our trip reports--especially the ones that point people to those out of the way corners that have yet to be discovered by the great social media masses. Fair enough. We can certainly share their concern that every secret corner will someday be mobbed by a multitude seeking a selfie. So wby balzaccom - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
Please spread the word so that we can catch these jacka$$es https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/roughly-30-sites-vandalized-covered-in-spray-paint-at-yosemite-national-park/ar-AAYnMTg?ocid=msedgntp&cvid=e7765fac02ee44c7823568fd334c6720by balzaccom - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion