I agree about Kibbie--only because I was once unable to get a permit because it was already booked. That's not "least popular." What about trailheads that will let you get into the backcountry, but are usually available all summer long? Mono Meadows, Nelson lake, and Budd Lake come to my mind...by balzaccom - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
OK, fine. Now we know whose side you are on! :^)by balzaccom - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
BTW, you'll find a photo of Shangri-La ( One highlight of that trip was coming across a small area we are told is called "Shangri-La", and is located along the creek about half-way to Vogelsang. It was a perfect swimming hole with three small waterfalls and a beach.) on our recent post about Nelson Lakes and beyond...by balzaccom - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
We always think of Nelson Lake as the back door to Yosemite’s High Country. That’s because when all the other trailhead quotas are full, you can almost always get a permit to Nelson Lake. It’s Tuolumne Meadows’ version of the Snow Creek Falls trail out of Yosemite Valley---only not so much work. Why is it always open? Because after you get to Lake Elizabeth, it will require aboutby balzaccom - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Wait. This is an article in a newspaper printed in LA? And they are worried that Yosemite is dangerous? please.by balzaccom - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Just back from four days out of TM (I will post a TR later) but all three rangers we met said it was the second worst season in history for SKeeters. And I will say that they were horrible at Nelson Lake and at Bernice Lake....and much worse than that at Reymann Lake.by balzaccom - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Nice! We (my wife, really) once forget the matches...lucklily I had a few in my fishing kit, and we stretched them carefully for a four day trip!by balzaccom - General Discussion
And the last photo sure isn't Yosemite Valley!by balzaccom - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Did you climb up to Conness from there? That's a great hike!by balzaccom - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
IN a related story...when we moved into our 1891 house, we were given a book about the family that built it. One of the chapters told the story of how, in the very early 1900's, they travel by WAGON from Napa to Yosemite to see the park, via the Big Oak Flat Road. Quite a charming read....and full of interesting notes about camping beside a river or bayou in the Central Valley. It took themby balzaccom - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Well--you either understand the scientific theory or you don't. And while I understand that the poster thought it was humorous....the knuckleheads we find in this country who choose to believe whatever they believe despite all scientific evidence to the contrary are pretty darn embarassing. It make you wonder where these peopIe went to school...I understand where eeeks frustration arises.. Tby balzaccom - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
I've sometimes found a sympathetic ranger who looks at the records, sees that I've been there many times before, and allows me to give the spiel back to him...which sanes time .by balzaccom - General Discussion
Man, I can just imagine the lines at Big Oak Flat for this one...by balzaccom - General Discussion
I agree with the idea of taking a filter, not bottles. If you are a minimalist and want to keep things simple for a single day's hike, you can also add 4 drops of household bleach to a liter of water and let it sit in your bottle for 30 minutes. You wll be safe from just about everything except cryptosporidium...which is not common in the High Sierra. But let's take your hike for example.by balzaccom - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
A few years ago, at the top of Chilnualna falls, a youth camp consellor had about six of his kids all soaking in the slick granite pools above the falls. At the time, (I was with a large group of hikers myself) I decided not to make a scene...and have felt bad about it ever since. Next time, I won't be quiet.by balzaccom - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
If you haven't heard from us for a while, there is a reason. We spent the last week cruising through Southeastern Alaska on a Holland American ship out of Seattle. And while the weather did NOT cooperate (we had rain and clouds every day in Alaska, and only saw the sun in Seattle and Victoria) the cruise was stil full of some great scenery and adventures. The first great view we got waby balzaccom - General Discussion
Just an FYI...Catching up now that we are back from rainy Alaska OUr website has a lot of hikes, all listed by state highway. So if you go to our side, click destinations, and then click Hwy 108, you'll see lots of options!by balzaccom - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Yep--you can do that. You could also do the same down the Snow Creek Falls trail.by balzaccom - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Quick! Cut out that zipper! It's extra weight!by balzaccom - General Discussion
You are right, Bill. But judging from what they hiked last time, I thought they were looking for a bit more adventure...and a few more miles. Taft Point Sentinel Dome is stunning...and you can always extend it to Dewey Point, which has the best view of all!by balzaccom - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
NOrth Dome from Porcupine Flat. It has some great views from Indian Ridge and North Dome...and is about ten miles total? A great hikeby balzaccom - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
BTW--Great topic. How nice to hear / read all these people saying such wonderful things about Yosemite...by balzaccom - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Love the park, don't love the crowds. So I tend to visit a couple/three times a year, and almost always out of season. Been there twice already this year...probably won't go back until fall. i still have a looonnng list of hikes I'd like to do and haven't done yet...and I've been to the park many, many times. But that doesn't mean I don't get up to the mountains...I'll spend this summer inby balzaccom - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
The most useful item in our backpack might be something we orignally thought was a complete waste of time. I was visiting the wine regions of Spain, and in the Rioja Alavesa they gave me a very simple little black nylon bag that wasn't much bigger than a single sheet of paper. The drawstrings on the bag not ony closed it up, but they attached to the corners and were long enough to serve as shouby balzaccom - General Discussion
This is great advice. Remember that the snow on Burro and Mule passes can also be pretty darn steep. I'd want an ice-ax to do Mule Pass right now...and the creek at the bottom is almost certainly going to need a snow bridge. There will be one....but be careful!by balzaccom - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
That's very helpful info! Thanksby balzaccom - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Once we started backpacking together, a few things became pretty clear. My wife tends to look down on the trail, exploring flowers, rocks, funghi and animal scat with great interest. And I tend to look up on the trail, trying to catch sight of peaks, passes, and possible a trout stream or lake. It makes us a pretty good combination on the trail. Between the two of us, we don't miss much!by balzaccom - General Discussion
How can you type with only one arm and one leg? Or did you not mean "literally?" :^)by balzaccom - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Since my wife is a chef, she is always looking for ways to keep our freeze dried dinners warm while they re-hydrate. We don't want to use gas to keep them bubbling, but we also don't want to them get cold. We've used towels, fleece....but I finally created this masterpiece out of some old foam sleeping mat scraps. And it works way better than anything else we've tried! The outer ring iby balzaccom - General Discussion
Here's a shot of Kerrick Canyon in a different season, just to give you a comparison: There are more on that site...from our Matterhorn Canyon tripby balzaccom - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion