WE have pictures of Chilnualna from this hike, but that's in winter. And as per the post, we didn't make it to see the top of the falls--which is where they finally come into view. Here's the link to the Picasa page for that hike: https://picasaweb.google.com/balzaccom/Wawona2009#5311041672880098482 We have also done the hike in the summer (a VERY different experience) but didn't have aby balzaccom - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
There are times on the trail when it is important to recognize when you are at Fishhook. We once climbed up to the top of Chilnualna Falls in Yosemite in the winter. The trail was covered in snow, but we were fine until we got to with about 100 feet of seeing the top of the falls. Because at this point the trail had three feet of powdery snow on it, and followed a narrow ledge along a 500 footby balzaccom - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
I like the icicle at right...by balzaccom - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Hooray!by balzaccom - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Chick-on--Have you been up to the top of Fairview?by balzaccom - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Another way to look at it: you lose three degrees of temperature for every 1,000 feet you gain in elevation. If you are camping 4,000 higher than Yosemite Valley, you can take those temps and subtract 12 degrees. Or you can see what the weather is going to do and make the decision a few days before you start. We use 20 degree bags most of the time...and often sleep with them open andby balzaccom - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Quotechick-on Uh... uh... sorry to tell you this... but you tried going up Fairview. Your picture there... that's Fairview... and on the left... Mariuolumne and Drug... and on the right-ish is Lamb. Here's Mariuolumne from 2 weekends ago: http://yosemitenews.info/forum/read.php?3,48319,50147#msg-50147 HA! Of course you're right bill...as usual. thanksby balzaccom - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
With the three-day weekend and still no snow in the Sierra, we made tracks for Yosemite for one last adventure before the snows come. So Sunday found us in Tuolumne Meadows in bright sunshine and temperatures that were just about freezing. We parked at the Pothole Dome parking lot and strapped on a day pack. The route was a cross country trek to Mariuolumne Dome and, with luck, up toby balzaccom - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Nothing to see here. Keep moving along.... And the rest of this hike is here: https://picasaweb.google.com/balzaccom/YosemiteDayHikes09#by balzaccom - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
OK guys--post OFFICIALLY EDITED to insist that people stay on the OFFICIAL TRAILS in the meadows. To clarify our own hike---we were actualy on the trail to Sentinel Beach when we had our picnic...and the Valley to ourselves.by balzaccom - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Fair comment, Chick-on...although there are TRAILS in those meadows. And people generally don't use themby balzaccom - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
I'm sure lots of people have favorite spots where they can get away from the crowds---even in some of the busier parts of the Sierra. So I thought I would get the topic started with these notes. They're from our website on destinations... And now for something really different. Do you want to find a quiet spot away from the crowds? First of all, take just about any backpacking trip; pby balzaccom - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
A very sad story...by balzaccom - General Discussion
Yep--76 and 77 were the last big drought years in California. Made a huge impact on the wine business, among other things !by balzaccom - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
I figure that we hiked for about 90 minutes or so to get to within about 300 yards of the falls. It might have taken another 15 minutes to get there. But it was getting dark...and we had an anniversary dinner to eat. Plus, that terrain isn't exactly like a trail. Yeah, we had headlamps, but buchwhacking through that kind of talus jumble in the dark is not fun. Would we go back? Maby balzaccom - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Just back from a few days on the trail in Yosemite and the Carson Iceberg Wilderness. It was pretty amazing. Temps in the 50's and even 60's during the day, and dropping down to only about 30 at night. Trails were open, creeks were running (sometimes under ice, but still, there was water everywhere) and we had three really good days in the Sierra. Carson-Iceberg we went to Boulder Lake---by balzaccom - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
That's a great photo. Thanks for posting it.by balzaccom - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
You know the problem. You are hiking along the trail, happy in your pace, and bit by bit you mind starts to wander...and the next thing you know, you are humming a little tune. In most cases, it's not a tune you would normally choose, and there are people who go to great measures to get rid of these so-called earworms. As a musician, I have a different approach. I embrace the idea, but I gby balzaccom - General Discussion
On our hike up to the top of Stag’s Leap last week, we had a bit of a misadventure. The problem was, we didn’t know how much of a misadventure until more recently. We followed the use trail, and it climbed straight up to the top of the ridge, then clambered over every single rock and hummock on the top of the ridge. That made for great view of the scenery, but we got a little tired of the cby balzaccom - General Discussion
OK--I'll add a couple more that are more scenic: Laurel Creek above Thomas Edison: And a photo from the north side of Isberg Pass, looking south at the whole dang Sierra.. And lest we forget the good times: here are mosquitoes at 10,000 feet, way off trail and nowhere near a lake or stream, in Yosemite in Augustby balzaccom - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
This is our all-time favorite trailhead map. No question where you are -- the map identifies your location perfectly. It just doesn't show anything else! (This was at the Granite Creek Trailhead in the Ansel Adams Wildernessby balzaccom - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
This weekend we visited the Oakland Museum of California to see their exhibit on John Muir and the Sierra Nevada. It's a great exhibit; one that allows you to explore Muir and his writings, teachings, and impact on America. What's not to like? But there's more--the exhibit also draws attention to some of the current heirs to Muir's philiosphy: those fighting the good fight to preserve ourby balzaccom - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
What fun! That dog is having the time of its life!by balzaccom - General Discussion
Just curious. Is anyone planning to take some of the leftovers from tomorrow's grand meal and dehydrate them? If you put them in the freezer, they should be fine next summer....and it would make for an interesting meal on the trail...by balzaccom - General Discussion
We already have some of those from REI...and actually, we like them pretty much. They sure fit in the outside pockets of our pack better than the Gatorade bottles we used to use....by balzaccom - General Discussion
A business trip took me to NYC this last weekend. That's always a reason for celebration because I get to visit our oldest daughter there. And her law firm can get free tickets to many museums, including the Museum of Modern Art. We're big fans. While I had a few extra minutes, I wandered through the gift shop there, and found some very cool items that belong in any backpackers backby balzaccom - General Discussion
One more thing you might consider--we leave the display on our camera in the OFF position. No need to keep it on. And that seems to more than double our battery life.by balzaccom - General Discussion
No bubbles burst at all....but people without blogs? I did ask them for a list of the 100, so let's see what they sayby balzaccom - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
We were delighted to get the news today that we've been honored as one of the top 100 backpacking sites on the web--which is pretty darn cool. Here's the official wording: "Each year, Justbackpacksonline spends weeks reading and ranking hiking, backpacking, and camping blogs to determine who has the best content, advice, and ideas in the Bloggosphere.... we believe that you have provenby balzaccom - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
The Bay and Delta were changed enormously during the Gold Rush through the sediment created by hydraulic mining, as well. Massive amounts of sediment basically filled in the Delta and all of San Pablo Bay...by balzaccom - General Discussion