Oops, while the spur trail to Garnet Lake from the River Trail is on the Inyo Forest Service website as not suggested for stock, it may not be appropriate for me. Some people's photos make it look like a hands and feet steep climb. It's unmarked? Anyone here ever done that.by Mom - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Thanks to everyone for the information. After being denied by Yosemite for a fourth straight day, I went through the recreation.gov and saw that there was plenty of availability for my dates for the River Trail. I got a person on the phone to answer my questions on the first ring, the system's email confirmation came back immediately. It's much better than the Yosemite system, all online, noby Mom - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Yes. Too bad they don't have an option to email the request for a wilderness permit. I'm becoming a regular at the fax machine at Staples. The cross-country designation confused me too. My party is 4 people. It looks like the only trailhead option for my route is John Muir Trail north of Devil's Postpile. Doesn't seem to matter where you start, Red's or Agnew. Am I reading that correctby Mom - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Yes, every day. My fax is first in at 5pm. But I think they bundle all the faxes received after hours (5pm until 7:30am) and then put them in some sort of lottery. So there's no advantage to being the first to fax in at 5pm. I will keep on faxing. Do you have to know someone at the Yosemite Conservancy or be a donor to get preference? Yes, I am that cynical.by Mom - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Which wilderness permit system is best - the one for Yosemite or the one run by recreation.gov for Inyo National Forest. It seems to me that the internet system for the Inyo National Forest is more efficient and easier to use. I have been disappointed for three days straight trying to get a wilderness permit for the JMT between Lyell Canyon and Red's Meadow. Yes, I know this is probably thby Mom - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
They make mistakes. Just yesterday I received a wilderness permit for 2, when I clearly stated on the form that the minimum number for the trip was 4. I called and the gal at the desk acknowledged the mistake, but ooops, too late to fix it. All the permits for that day for that trailhead were taken. So I am waiting to hear today to see if I can get my second choice day.by Mom - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Did you attend? What are the plans for the Merced Lake HSC? Last summer, a ranger I talked to was very concerned that it would be closed based on this plan.by Mom - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
What I am saying is that the NPS needs to have a consistent standard for what they are doing regarding the Merced River plan and the Tuolumne River plan. If the standard is not vital to the visitor experience, obviously a very squishy standard, then all activities not related to scenery viewing, hiking or wildlife viewing activities should be axed. If the skating rink takes up space that coby Mom - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
If they are trying to increase visitation in winter, ie by having special events at the Ahwahnee then why get rid of the ice rink? Skating as a winter experience is not 'vital' but having wine tastings and Bracebridge dinners is? If 'not a vital visitor experience' is the criteria, then why have the swimming pools at Curry and the lodge? That's not a 'vital visitor experience' either sincby Mom - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Is adding a stogie or hair to the Smiley Face rock near Twin Bridges okay? ha. I've done that a few times. Come to think of it the eyes and nose aren't natural either.by Mom - General Discussion
I was in Yosemite over New Year's and I haven't had a chance to weigh in on this yet. I can see how raft rentals and horseback trips adversely affect the river. Did the plan spell out how bike rentals were affecting the Merced adversely? The shuttles are too crowded in summer and getting people to explore the valley without their cars would make bikes a good alternative. People who driveby Mom - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
The Yosemite coyotes always look fatter than the ones around here who have to hunt for puppies and kittens. The Yosemite coyotes are smart. There were two along the road one time. One stood in the middle of the road to stop a line of cars. The other one then approached all the car windows begging.by Mom - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
I've never climbed Half Dome and I never will. The idea that if I lose my footing or my grip I would die, is just not appealing to me. But I thought that the Merced River Canyon with its cascades and pools was THE most beautiful hike of the entire High Sierra Loop (and extensions, since that portion to the valley is not really part of the HS loop).by Mom - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
It's possible but....the views of the Merced River Canyon and the cascades are so gorgeous and there are great places with flat rocks for sunning, having a snack, cooling off your feet...why rush it. I am not a fast hiker. By the time breakfast was finished at Merced Lake HSC (slow service that day), we left camp at 9am. Got to Curry at 6pm. We did not do Half Dome. It's 14 miles w/o Halby Mom - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
I hiked to Sunrise HSC last year with a small bottle of wine to have with dinner. Felt a little bad as everyone else was drinking water.by Mom - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
I first saw what the cables to the top of Half Dome looked like on his show. Also LeConte Falls. I heard last night on the news that he donated all the shows to Chapman University and they will make them available online.by Mom - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Dolly Madison is a Hostess brand, sooooo..... Little Debbies are pretty good.by Mom - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
QuoteThe Other Tom Quotechick-on I'll state perhaps the obvious. And you can kick me if you want. Call the full 168 days ahead of the day you want.... and be prepared to call the next day... and the next... or limit your adders (i.e. go with 3 instead of 7) Good Luck Lyell Canyon is one of the most popular THs Q-rect. Try another trailhead. We wanted Lyell this past summer. Had toby Mom - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Well, word got around and now our group has expanded from 3 to 6 or 7. I see that Lyell Canyon has 24 reservable spots. Is it going to be difficult to get 6 or 7 spots for a Monday start in August?by Mom - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Oh, I am aware of all of this. We are only going perhaps three nights. Tuolumne to Reds or Agnew Meadows. For the last several summers I have hiked the High Sierra Camps and do that easily. Now I want to expand the areas of the park I can access. And the two friends I am going with are experienced backpackers. When I said I was 'new' to this, I meant in getting a wilderness permit, which yby Mom - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
How many days in advance can you pick up the permit? I wouldn't pick mine up the day I planned to start hiking, but a day or two before.by Mom - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
I am a complete newbie at this. My friends and I are thinking of hiking the JMT from Tuolumne to Red's Meadow next summer. I know that I can reserve the spots by fax 168 days in advance. I know they go quickly. Once I have the reservation, can I pick up the permit a couple of days before at the Tuolumne Wilderness Center? Do I have to get in that line that starts forming at 5am? Is it easieby Mom - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Nice website. Thanks for the tip.by Mom - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
I'd love to do some fall color day hikes in the Sierra (Eastern or Western). Any suggestions?by Mom - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
I got the email notice but I learned more from the most recent news articles. The man had stayed in Tuolumne Meadows, Vogelsang, Merced Lake and Sunrise. He had a mild case, recovered on his own and didn't see a doctor until the news reports about hanta virus in Yosemite came out.by Mom - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Now the LA Times and Reuters are reporting that a third visitor has died and eight are infected. And while seven of those infected stayed at Curry Village, an eighth did a multiple day High Sierra Camp visit in July. I couldn't find any information on which HSCamps. My friends and I stayed at several HSCamps in July and so I would be very interested if anyone can find any information on whby Mom - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Cats wouldn't last one night in Curry Village. The coyotes would be on them like the new Curry Village buffet.by Mom - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Out of curiousity, I logged onto the Curry Village reservations website. Plenty of availability. Not a word about hantavirus.by Mom - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Which makes the washing of the bedding even more important. It might help to keep mice out of the cabins if they banned all food from the cabins. People put their food in the bear boxes at night, but during the day, you know people are snacking in the cabins, dropping crumbs which lure in the mice.by Mom - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
I wonder how often the blankets, pillows and comforters are washed. While the mice wouldn't be able to climb up the metal frames of the cots, the bedding falls on the floor picks up the mice dropping dust and is put back on the bed where we breathe it in all night.by Mom - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion