Quoterecycling1991 From your description of your ability, you're in somewhat similar shape to me (or better). So I think you won't have problems going up Mt. Hoffman. That said, I have always spent one night at high elevation (Mammoth or Tuolumne meadows, which are both about 8000 ft), before hiking any of the trails off of 120. I live normally at sea level. I hiked Hoffman two years ago in Octoby JohnC - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
QuoteKatyAnderson A little late contributing to this thread. Here is May Lake all frozen over on the morning of May 15. That day it was balmy warm, the next few days got colder and some snow, and now it is warm again. More melting will certainly happen before you get there in early June, so not sure how helpful this photo is, but I had it so ... BTW when I was there the May Lake road was ploweby JohnC - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
Quotechick-on None of the campgrounds roads were open last weekend. Highly unlikely that May Lake Road (yes, that road).... it open this weekend. But, hey, it's possible. I wouldn't count on it though. The hike up is pretty straightforward ... go up... (seriously ... once u are on the plateau area... it's trivial ) Unfortunately... my guess is that the section near May Lake itself is holdby JohnC - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
Quotechick-on The road is closed (May Lake Road)... so u have to hike up that. There's a trail all the way to the top. It's maintained... but now it's probably covered in some snow. There is no talus to speak of. I can't recall how much snow was up there a couple weekends ago. With the warmer days... as long as u wait a wee bit before hiking up.. no special gear is required. Someone like Jby JohnC - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
QuoteThe Other Tom At what elevation have you hiked ? Where are you coming from ? Are you going to acclimate before your hike ? Elevation wise I hiked Mist Trail to Nevada Fall and down JMT a couple of years ago. (4-6K) Other than that I mostly hike recreationally between sea level and 1000 ft in SoCal. I'm familiar with general hiking safety. Just looking for some feedback that may be specifby JohnC - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
I'm planning to do a hike the first week of June with a backpack of camera gear. Never hiked at that elevation before. Any advice? Thanks.by JohnC - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
Quotequmqats If it's misty enough you're not going to have a chance, there's going to be droplets on the lens, all you can do is try to reduce them. Pull the camera out and do the initial setup with it with it in front of you with your back to the blowing mist, i.e. your back is getting wet from the mist, not the camera. Wait for a lull in the wind/mist and quickly turn around, compose the shotby JohnC - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Quoteparklover I will ask my husband if he has any suggestions since he has taken pictures in wet weather. Some CA schools get out during that week but it never gets that crowded the first week of June. If you start early in the morning, it will be even less crowded. Thank you. Yeah, I haven't figured out the time of day yet. I want to avoid the half sun, half shadow shots of the Fall. Andby JohnC - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Quoteparklover Currently, the predicted peak water flow is in mid May this year. It is supposed to rain and snow this week and who knows if any more or a larger storm will come in the next few weeks that will affect that prediction. Even if there are no more storms, it is not going to be dry on the Mist Trail by the first week of June and remember the wind does blow water onto the trail. Thaby JohnC - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
I'll be in Yosemite for a week starting June 1. Among other thing I plan to hike up the Mist Trail at least up to Vernal Fall. With such a dry winter I'm not sure what to expect in the way of "mist" along the hike. I'll also be carrying a dslr in a backpack. I plan to take it out and use it quite a bit but am not sure how to keep the lens dry enough not to ruin the photos. I can live wiby JohnC - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Thanks for those. I was up there last Sun/Tue myself. The clouds on Sunday were very beneficial for taking pictures. Wish they had stuck around the next couple of days as well.by JohnC - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Are you only looking for challenging hikes? I just decided to go up to see the fall colors along 395 between Bishop and Lee Vinning when my Yosemite trip got cancelled. Heading up Sunday for a couple of days. There's probably some available hikes but nothing like half dome.by JohnC - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
QuoteSierrafan QuoteJohnC Dave and Gary, thank you. I've never been in winter and my ideal plan would be to drive in right after the storm to see and photograph some snow on the ground and elsewhere, but to avoid having to mess with the chains. I do have chains and would be carrying them but hate the idea of messing with them. I don't use them on any regular basis. I was under the impression drivby JohnC - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Quotehighsierra1 JohnC-your reservation for tomorrow should have been canceled today and refunded. If you have any questions I am more than happy to help you after 230 pm tomorrow at the Curry Front Desk, 209-372-8333. Just know it may take a few days for you to see the refund back to your card. Trust me, on behalf of all of us here I wish you were arriving tomorrow, it's very surreal being hereby JohnC - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Quoteparklover QuoteJohnC QuoteDave Hopefully the park will be open by the time you want to come. This could drag on for some time. Anyway..... the best shots of Yosemite I've seen were just before, or just after, a storm. I have a picture, somewhere, of a cloud slamming into Half Dome. I have no doubt it will be open in the next 30 days or so. Probably well before any serious winter stormsby JohnC - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
QuoteDave Hopefully the park will be open by the time you want to come. This could drag on for some time. Anyway..... the best shots of Yosemite I've seen were just before, or just after, a storm. I have a picture, somewhere, of a cloud slamming into Half Dome. I have no doubt it will be open in the next 30 days or so. Probably well before any serious winter storms hit. I feel bad for the peby JohnC - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Thank you too all who have provided winter time info. I didn't realize that 49 from Oakhurst to Mariposa was such low elevation. For sure I will go that way. Chains will defintely be with me I just hate the thought of having to use them. :-) I've always wanted to get to the park for some nice winter shots but never really had a good plan. I still don't have any great plan other than to try and dby JohnC - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
QuoteDave QuoteJohnCWell, in the fall it's just 99 to 41 to the south entrance. But definitely not the winter route. My plan was to take 99 to Merced and then 140 east. I know it's longer I just figured it would quite possibly be a chain free drive all the way in and out by staying below 4000 feet. I think Oakhurst is already almost 6000 is it not?From Fresno to Mariposa is about the same distby JohnC - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
QuoteDave 140 is snow free most of the year. You shouldn't have a problem there. I assume you're taking 41 from Fresno, then 49 from Oakhurst, then 140 from Mariposa. That should be free of snow except for one, or two, big storms a year. You could also spend the night in Mariposa. Lots of nice hotels, places to eat, and some nice shops. Well, in the fall it's just 99 to 41 to the south entranceby JohnC - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Dave and Gary, thank you. I've never been in winter and my ideal plan would be to drive in right after the storm to see and photograph some snow on the ground and elsewhere, but to avoid having to mess with the chains. I do have chains and would be carrying them but hate the idea of messing with them. I don't use them on any regular basis. I was under the impression driving 140 would keep you preby JohnC - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
QuoteDave QuoteJohnCFunny, they didn't automatically cancel my reservation, they automatically charged me for it. My previous experinces dealing with DNC on the phone have been less than enjoyable. I'll just call my CC company and let them deal with it.Maybe they are just being hopeful this will be over by then. Well, I am too. But realistically it's too late for this to get resolved overnight.by JohnC - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Quoteplawrence QuoteJohnC Well, I didn't make the reservation until last Saturday. Initially there was only a hold on my card. Today I saw it actually processed as a charge. Your card likely only has a hold placed on your limit until the 7 day cancellation window passes. No, the "hold" which actually is a credit authorization is usually only for no more than three days (at the most)by JohnC - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Quoteplawrence QuoteJohnC Quoteparklover Go to this section of their website and it will explain about what is going on with the charges for reservations. You can either reschedule or get a refund. http://www.yosemitepark.com/government-shutdown-information.aspx Thanks. I find it humerous they think you can reschedule when you don't know when they will be open. LoL! QuoteIf you have anby JohnC - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Quoteparklover Go to this section of their website and it will explain about what is going on with the charges for reservations. You can either reschedule or get a refund. http://www.yosemitepark.com/government-shutdown-information.aspx Thanks. I find it humerous they think you can reschedule when you don't know when they will be open. LoL! QuoteIf you have an upcoming reservation and aby JohnC - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Well, DNC officially charged my card for a Sunday reservation. Come Sunday I will call my CC company and refuse the charge. That's BS.by JohnC - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
QuoteERICG The parks Bear poulation will not be happy. No "munchies" left behind by park visitors. Say what???by JohnC - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Guys, is there any chance we can keep this on topic and not on politics please? TIA.by JohnC - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
QuoteAndrewF The wide ones are panos. Amazingly, they were taken on a cell phone - a Galaxy S4. WOW! You take better photos with your phone than I do with my dslr.by JohnC - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Beautiful photos! Thanks for sharing. I like the wide angle view. Or were those panos? What size lens were you using for those shots? I especially like #1 and #2.by JohnC - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
QuoteMom No parking to 'recreate', ha. If perchance I were seen wandering in Tuolumne Meadows and stopped by a ranger, I'd just say I was answering the call of nature. That might get you in more trouble than just recreating.by JohnC - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion