Quoteeeek QuotechicagocwrightMy father has run into a group (in Fresno) that insists water filtration is not necessary for hiking Mt. Whitney. Thoughts? How many people hike that trail and how many restrooms are there? umm no restrooms...by chicagocwright - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
QuoteUlysses61 Chicago, hydration is even more important hiking Whitney than a marathon. I can't emphasize this enough. When running marathons, I'll usually drink 15-18 ounces of water an hour. Over 4 hours that isn't that much. But Whitney will take you 8 hours+ and drinking 24 ounces an hour will help your performance and your recovery. It's good you're coming from a running background and won'by chicagocwright - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
The hydrate idea I have down from my marathon experience and understand its importance. The altitude acclimation is tougher. I will only have time for altitude at a couple nights. And unfortunately, even though there is big time elevation gain on hikes in Alaska for the most part they are not high elevation. Thanks for the encouragement.by chicagocwright - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Quoteeeek Quotechicagocwright best pizza west of Chicago. You must be comparing it to 1360 North Ashland. Such an insult to the fine establishment of Curry Pizza Deck!by chicagocwright - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
This is all propaganda against the Curry Village Pizza Deck by opponents who would rather shut it down. Denying access to this wonderful pizza would be a travesty but the propaganda machine is hard to fight against. Now we are faced with the new challenges of threats from health inspectors and the authoritarian Health Department with unproven food poisoning allegations. Friends of Curry Pizzaby chicagocwright - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
My father and I won the Mt. Whitney permit lottery! We hike on Friday, August 31. Flights from Anchorage to Ontario, CA are suprisingly affordable. As soon as some of this snow melts I can start training! Even though there is a TON of hiking available, I haven't ran across any high elevation hikes yet for acclimation. The mountains right next to Anchorage are only 4-6,000 feet I think.by chicagocwright - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Quotetanngrisnir3 Quotechicagocwright Quoteeeek The Pizza Deck (indoor seating available) will open at 5:00 p.m. with regular hours of operation for the season of Mon-Fri 5-9 p.m. and Sat-Sun 12-9 p.m. I just ate lunch here in Alaska but all of a sudden am hungry again! Curry Pizza Deck rocks! Curry pizza is the best. Degnan's sucks! I am looking for the "Like" button...by chicagocwright - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Quoteeeek The Pizza Deck (indoor seating available) will open at 5:00 p.m. with regular hours of operation for the season of Mon-Fri 5-9 p.m. and Sat-Sun 12-9 p.m. I just ate lunch here in Alaska but all of a sudden am hungry again! Curry Pizza Deck rocks!by chicagocwright - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
QuoteFirstTimeInThePark I called YARTS and they said they won't be running any service over Hwy 120 and the pass during May. Just to reiterate: The road may not be open at all in May to any traffic.by chicagocwright - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Tenaya Lake, Clouds Rest, Half Dome, Happy Isles Trip Report Trip Questions and Pictures of Crossing Wow a question I can help with! Last year I did a very similar trip although much later in the year. I couldn't have done my trip in Mid-May. In fact, several folks here and my parents gave pictures of the Trailhead creek crossing at the beginning of the trip and it was a swamp that neeby chicagocwright - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
All this talk about safe water crossings has me looking again at my planned Crow Pass hike in the Chugach Mountains just next to Anchorage. I'll be posting pictures soon. The river crossing is serious business and seems to me the toughest part of the 22 mile hike.by chicagocwright - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
All this talk about safe water crossings has me looking again at my planned Crow Pass hike in the Chugach Mountains just next to Anchorage. I'll be posting pictures soon. The river crossing is serious business and seems to me the toughest part of the 22 mile hike.by chicagocwright - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Quotechick-on Please for the love of Chick-on ... you do not need bear bells in Yosemite. Find out how many people have been attacked and/or killed by black bears in Yosemite. (hint: it's < 1) Yes, but you might need those bells for the killer deer!by chicagocwright - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
What time? (Now I am just more irritated...)by chicagocwright - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
I think the point your missing is that big rock that everyone sees when they visit Yosemite is Half Dome. The view from the big rock really isn't the point. It is the idea that for the rest of your life you can look at that rock and remember that you made it! Same for Whitney. And here is a couple competing pictures. August 23, 2011 Mid-Afternoon No Clouds in the Sky. Every time I thinkby chicagocwright - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Quotettilley I just did one trip there, camped at the Brooks Camp campground, then backpacked in Valley of 10000 Smokes, then camped in the campground some more. Did it myself, no guide, no tour. 1) If you want to stay in the campground during the prime times, expect to call on the minute as soon as reservations open. Expect to be on hold a long time (not sure if they moved this to the interneby chicagocwright - General Discussion
Not this year. This year I've only got one trip for the Lower 48. And that is a Mt. Whitney hike and hopefully summit with my father. I can't postpone that!by chicagocwright - General Discussion
And by the way, I am serious about the Tenaya hike. Last year's experience was awesome. But I have to finish that canyon some day!by chicagocwright - General Discussion
About a year ago I had a argument with a group of guys (city dwellers) regarding which tool is more useful against a charging bear: bear spray vs. large caliber handgun. (It was part of my discussion about my pending Clouds Rest/Half Dome hike and they were convinced that as a solo hiker I was going to be eaten by a bear. In the end, I had to tell them both spray and handguns are illegal in Yoby chicagocwright - General Discussion
I'd love to give the Pink Chicken a guided tour of somewhere in Alaska. Give me a summer to learn the ropes! (And as Eeek noted, let's bring some Bear Spray!) And maybe I'll join you to finish Tenaya Canyon one day. And make it down Pywiack without ropes!by chicagocwright - General Discussion
I'm particularly interested in your Katmai hiking trips. Were they connected to a tour? I'm trying to figure out how much stuff I'll be able to do with my own, how much requires "guides", and how expensive it will all be--even for someone living in Alaska. I know it will be much easier to figure this all out after I am there and talking to locals.by chicagocwright - General Discussion
I've visited Alaska in the summer once a couple summers ago and hit a couple of those awesome National Parks. I can't wait to explore more! Sitting directly next to Anchorage is a State Park with an amazing trail system. I'm hoping for a network of hikers or a forum that is a minimal fraction as helpful as everyone here to learn the ropes there!by chicagocwright - General Discussion
Well after almost 17 years of living in Chicago I will be relocating to Anchorage at the end of next month. Unfortunately, this will mean less trips and hiking in Yosemite for a little while (although I am still counting on the Mt. Whitney hike with my father this summer). But don't feel too sorry for me, the little I know of the hiking available in Alaska is amazing. Is this the right pagby chicagocwright - General Discussion
I suppose a chocolate roach would be edible. But eating cidadas every 17 years in Chicago is great. They taste just like nuts. The wings are a bit troublesome though.by chicagocwright - General Discussion
When I was on the cables in the early afternoon ALL BY MYSELF in the middle of August on a cloudless Yosemite day I could not fathom that Yosemite may take away the opportunity. Yes I have seen the pictures of the ants crawling up the cables. But there has to be a better and more imaginative answer then severely restricting the numbers who can climb across the board. If hikers are simply williby chicagocwright - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
I don't know about everyone else but I think it is time for Parklover to go camping and for Ryan to wash his truck.by chicagocwright - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Quotetanngrisnir3 And remember, the best pizza in the entire park is in Curry Village. Anyone who says any differntly is likely either a North Korean spy or some troublemaker. There is no LIKE button here but there should be for this post! SaveCurryPizzaby chicagocwright - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Quoteplawrence Quoterobinjayp The valley wasn't crowded really, it is just that the limited services that were open made it frustrating. That's the annoying thing about visiting Yosemite Valley during the offseason – very limited dining options. And it's usually too cold to have a nice picnic outdoors. More frustrating is that Degnan's Loft IS OPEN during the off-season, but ONLY for Parkby chicagocwright - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
I'm betting there was a "little" bit of patience involved in that shot. Based on the sitting shot, trying to wait them out to take flight. It's keeping the camera poised and ready that is tough. Great shot!by chicagocwright - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Did they install water taps on the Grand Canyon trails?by chicagocwright - General Discussion