Yeah, the jmt and Ireland Lake trail jct is a popular spot for people and bears alike, not unlike the Clouds Rest and jmt jct. Definitely lock the canister if you're putting down in either spot.by KC - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Got a Bearikade 7 or so years ago and ain't going back. Do need to throw some lube on the o-rings. Torque is getting tight on the fasteners.by KC - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Depends on how you feel like sleeping--greasy or not. Just keep the sunscreen in your canister and you're good.by KC - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Water Wheels is pretty great but I don't think it's worth missing that extra day in the Valley, especially for folks who have never been to Yosemite. It will give you time to go up to Glacier and maybe do a hike up Sentinel and out to Taft, etc.by KC - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Count me in as a vote for poles too. Thought they looked silly, oh, maybe ten or so years ago. Then I got a pair. Leave them in my car and don't leave home without them. This is especially the case if I'm going cross country and down steep hills. They've saved my bacon a couple times on scrabble and scree.by KC - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Excellent. Sounds like it may be a short season for the skeeters if you did not see any around the lakes.by KC - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
I spent a good deal of my life thinking I was immune too, that is until a good cross country escapade near Santa Barbara proved to me otherwise. Seriously though, if you do any foothills hiking east of Sacramento or in the Bay Area, the stuff seems like the only plant growing at times. It's pretty tough to avoid in certain areas. A method I use--and this is faith talking here not science--by KC - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Little north of Yosemite I know, but in the Tahoe region the snow line seems to be at about 9000 feet, but hardly with the kind of coverage you'd like to see for early June. I saw a tiny patch in the shade on my way up Red Mountain last weekend, but not a lick on top (about 8000 feet). As for the skeeters, they're definitely ready to start making friends. I had a nice cloud around me for aby KC - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Vote for the above too, but want to mention Carson-Iceberg and Emigrant in the case you want a couple other options to look at. Tons of loop opportunities in Carson-Iceberg.by KC - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Used a small Prolite for a longtime then decided to revisit my youth and invested in a small Ridgerest a few years back. At $20 or so you can't beat the price for the weight (9 oz) unless you go with blue foam or get a stellar deal somewhere. It is a bit bulky though. Yeah--and how is that pad that Mammut pad to sleep on?by KC - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Used to take it home all the time from SF. Just take it, it's nice.by KC - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
HORSFARMby KC - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
You guys are influencing me again. May have to give some trail shoes another shot. Way to help me spend some cash!by KC - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
I just can't shake my good 'ole Asolo Fugitive boots. In fact, as I was climbing up the terrible loose rock, steep, screed-up trail on the east side of Signal Peak near Emigrant Gap this weekend, I couldn't help but wonder how people could handle it in anything but boots. You guys ever wish you had boots when on crappy to non-existent trails?by KC - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
I second the Red Peak Pass loop suggestion. If you want to get a little of the "main" Yosemite highlights you could always start at Glacier Point, go up Illilouette, over to Ottoway Lakes, over the pass, then down the Merced River canyon. Take JMT or Nevada Falls trails to the Valley and hitch a ride or take Panorama trail back.by KC - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Superfeet, green ones, but everyone's feet are different.by KC - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
It ain't Little Lake, but it's an awesome lookin' cupcake.by KC - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
It's good to know everyone's generally human around here. Sometimes I get amazed reading about people going out for a week with a 10 lb pack and flip flops. Might as well ditch any comforts at all and go with the 'ole skinnin' knife, cigarettes, and loin cloth at that point. That said I'd be thrilled with a 20 pound pack for a weeks excursion.by KC - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Over 50 lbs sounds like pure awfulness. Haven't done that in a longtime and don't really want to do it again. I happily started around 40 on 5-6 day trips about 6-7 years ago but settled down between 30-35, which I was thrilled with, for about 5 or so. Perhaps it's having a kid now, age, or both, but the last couple years I've trimmed things down and settled at 30 and below for weekend to weekby KC - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
I just carried a little over 2O lbs for a weekend trip and was thrilled. I have a nasty habit of throwing things together at the last minute--food is a real killer here--which inevitably leads to carrying more weight than necessary. This time I made sure I did not do that and really liked the results. If I pick up a new shelter--solomid or otherwise--things will be even lighter. I carry a Sby KC - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Oh man, I hope that wasn't me laughing at you because I know I've done that and found myself climbing in my tent not too long after. Actually, there was a guy in a long bug net type thing--sort of ponchoish--at May Lake one time. It wasn't too long after I laughed at him that I was sitting in my tent, sweating my behind off, thinking "I've got to get me one of those."by KC - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Thank you guys for the great input. And oh man that pic is great to see since I finally went up Watkins last week and I am looking at going with the solomid. Only real concern is the skeeters but I typically get eaten anyway in July unless I spend evenings in my tent--which I absolutely do not do. Anyone just use a bug bivy?by KC - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
You could just start at GP and hitch a ride when you get to tunnel view.by KC - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
I realize this topic doesn't have to do with trail conditions, but I want some input from people who hike where I hike. At any rate, I typically use a small one-man tent in the Sierras but am thinking of giving a bivy a try. Saw a guy snuggled in a little spot next to one of the rims in a bivy a few years ago and I've been wanting to go for it ever since. Big concerns are the skeeters and condby KC - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Wasn't in Tuolumne, but the only place I saw skeetos last weekend was in the Valley. There were none on Snow Creek where we camped.by KC - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Awesome pics. Gotta get there.by KC - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
That area still has a lot of snow on it. You are much braver than me to tackle it through snow and rain. I did the pass a few years ago and it's still one of my all time favorite Yosemite trips.by KC - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Awesome looking trip but beware the nice established camp sites at the JMT/CR junction. That is, unless you like large furry friends visiting.by KC - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Only skeeters I saw were a couple in the Valley. It's still getting too cold at night above 6000 feet for them, thankfully. On the other hand, it got cold camping up on Snow Creek Friday. Wish I'd have paid a bit more attention to the forecast. Got some speckles of snow on the way to Watkins.by KC - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion