On our last trip into the eastern High Sierra, we found ourselves camped at a lovely lake at about 10,000 feet that had all the amenities, minus one: the water in the lake wasn't as crystal clear as we'd come to expect. And since we were using a filter to pump our water, we've learned that sediment or algae in the water can plug up the filter, and make pumping more difficult or even impossibby balzaccom - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Here's the full trip report: Our trip left the eastern side of the Sierra, on the Rush Creek trailhead near Silver lake along the June Lake loop south of Yosemite and Tioga Pass. That's the view of from the Silver Lake campground above. Since we were leaving Rush Creek trailhead, and it’s a steep climb, we wanted to make sure we got an early start. But that was not to be. Ouby balzaccom - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
I'd add Gaylor Lakes to this list, and Cathedral Lakes and pass.by balzaccom - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
It's been a tough year for us to get out--I've been having knee problems, and our schedules haven't worked out. But we're just back from five days wandering around Rush Creek to Ediza and back... Here are a few photos: Banner from the top of Island Pass ALtha Lake in early morning Shadow Creek Views The rest are on Picasa: https://picasaweb.google.com/balzaccom/Backpacby balzaccom - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
I think one of the biggest issues in all of our wilderness use discussions is exactly this: how do you keep the wilderness as pure as possible, and still make sure you have enough opportunities for lots of different people and uses---because if only a tiny segment of the population values these areas, they will fall under attach...and we won't have the votes to stop it. Not an easy dilemma tby balzaccom - General Discussion
Yes, it is worth it. There are nice trout in these rivers, although they get more pressure than some of the more isolated parts of the park.by balzaccom - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
I agree, We figure on 2 miles an hour on the trail. We rarely exceed one MPH off trailby balzaccom - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Bear tracks in the road on the way to Heart Lake During our recent trip to Lassen, we decided to take a hike outside the park to a small lake to the West called Heart Lake. We'd read about both the lake and the hike in a few places, and were really looking forward to the experience. Of course, since there were two routes to the lake, we decided to try for the slightly morby balzaccom - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Technically, the park includes Sierra, Cascade, and Great Basin ecosystems...it's where all three meet.by balzaccom - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
This park is a favorite of ours, and we spent many a summer vacation here with the kids when we were car camping. We went back this last weekend with our company, so that everyone could enjoy this great park. And we did enjoy it! Major hikes included the trail up Manzanita Creek on the first evening...a wonderful seven miles up towards Lassen Peak and a series of meadows, and with vieby balzaccom - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
When we did this section last year we saw only one other group between Granite Creek and Isberg Pass. But when we returned past the lakes on the western part of our loop--Rutherford, Lillian, Anne, etc, --we saw lots and lots of people. I guess if you are in that area, unless you are interested in a longer hike, those lakes are going to be more attractive.by balzaccom - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
I travel quite a lot for business (just about to go over 1,000,000 miles on United this year) and I am just back from a week in Northern Italy, in the wine region of Franciacorta. It's a pretty scenic area, as you can see from this photo from the driveway of my hotel... So why mention it here? Because Franciacorta is in the lake region nears the Alps, and I even managed to get in a hikeby balzaccom - General Discussion
I wonder if the staff from Fee Collections had any pointed conversations with the two women....or asked for a higher fee!by balzaccom - General Discussion
Given that there is no weekend this year for the fourth, it might be easier. Just an FYI...we've NEVER had a problem finding a campsite during the week. We just get there early in the morning, and take what's available--which may be Hodgdon Meadow, Porcupine Flat, etc. Don't arrive Friday afternoon of a three day weekend and expect to find a site....but if you plan ahead, and arrive early in tby balzaccom - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
I took this shot with my Blackberry through a friend's telescope here in Napa. And with the annular exclipse earlier this year, it's been a good astronomy show in 2012! the odd blue light on the right is an optical effect...by balzaccom - General Discussion
I would add two more things to watch. 1. dehydration. Humidity up there is about 0, so please keep the little one hydrated. This is really important, and easy to overlook with all the other stuff you have to worry about. 2. The UV radiation up there is also intense. Keep him/her totally covered up and lathered up with sunscreen. That new skin burns in an instant up there.by balzaccom - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
You mean like the link in my signature? Good idea. :^) Or you can go to the destinations page, and explore all the hikes in this area: https://sites.google.com/site/backpackthesierra/home/destinations/hikes-by-highway/g-highway-120-tioga-passby balzaccom - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Try the next one---Elizabeth Lake. There is a trail up to that one that pretty much continues all the way over the ridge, and then over to Nelson Lake...where it is legal to camp! There's a post on our website about itby balzaccom - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Since I am an enthusiastic amateur astronomer, I drove up to a wide spot in the road between Red Bluff and Lassen so that I could watch the moon eat the sun...and have a little sun left over. There were a few other hardy souls who braved the 96 degree heat, some with telescopes, others with welding glasses. I used a couple of solar filters from my telescope making days to cut down on the iby balzaccom - General Discussion
Thanks. Does that mean you live around there? Whereabouts?by balzaccom - General Discussion
Normally by this time of year, we would have done at least one or two backpacking trips into the Sierra. And this year, with the lower snow levels, we had plans to really hit the mountains early and often. But those plans have been put on hold.About two months ago we were idly scanning the real estate ads for Tuolumne County...and the next thing you know, we found ourselves buying a cabinby balzaccom - General Discussion
Have you ever noticed this? The minute a story comes out about someone who needs rescuing in the mountains, the internet message boards are filled with people who never, ever make that mistake, and here’s why. These posters are quick to point out all the things they do right, and how smart they really are about all this. OK, fine. We’re not so sure. In our experience, most disasby balzaccom - General Discussion
And if you sleep during the day, and hike at night, there aren't so many people on the trails !by balzaccom - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
North Dome as a day hike from Porcupine Flat. Beautiful hike, great scenery and views of the Valley and Half Dome. Read about it on our website.by balzaccom - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
I agree. It always seems like a good idea to cover a lot of ground so that you can see things. But once you get out there, we find that it's more fun to have some time to get off the trail, poke around in those areas that other people don't get a chance to see, etc. That means keeping days to under about ten miles, so that we have time to explore, or adding a rest day in the middle somewherby balzaccom - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Isn't it Roads End?by balzaccom - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
a couple of options Easy: Sentinel Beach---walk along the river until you see fewer people. You have views of the Valley, and the river nearby Harder: 1/4 mile up the Snow Creek Falls trail. You get above the treeline, and the views open up. Very few people take this trail in the middle of the day, for good reason. It's a steep hot climb to the top. More strenuous: The base of Rby balzaccom - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Quotechicagocwright Very tough hike tonight, especially a work night. 5 miles roundtrip with 3,500 foot gain. This was also my first hike with no snow. It was very steep, used hands a lot, and had some Class II scrambling. Ran into my first moose while hiking tonight as well. We were concerned about the small dog (Lucy) that frequently shows up in my pictures. She harassed the moose for aby balzaccom - General Discussion
My daughter hated camping too. Then she went away to college. When she came home, she asked if she could borrow our car and gear to go camping with her friends. Turned out she didn't hate camping. She just hated us!by balzaccom - General Discussion
Ha! Absolutely! And I ride a road bike....but you are right, if I really wanted to go faster, I would lost weight on my body, not on my bike!by balzaccom - General Discussion