I meant to post this (bear information) after returning from a (great) trip roaming around the area between Tioga Rd and the north rim of Yosemite Valley. When getting our permit at BOF entrance, we had the usual discussion with the "permit ranger". I still have no idea how they decide who needs the full Spanish Inquisition (no one expects the Spanish Inquisition) and who doesn't. Weby ags - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
So when you left West Fork of CC heading up to Bourland Meadow, did you follow the stream (outflow) from Bear Meadow, or were you further north? It seems the route from Bourland Meadow down to the first creek is straightforward, with no challenges or excessively steep terrain. The route from that unnamed creek to WF is the one where it's hard to tell from the topo map what the best route would beby ags - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
@caeiro: Where did you enter?by ags - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Thanks for the link to the TR from Bourland Meadow. I wish there was more detail on how they got down to WF CC. They seem to have found a use trail all the way from the parking lot to WF CC (in 2012). If I can find that it would be easy, but I'm not counting on it. I guess I can poke around for the best place over Cherry Ridge. If it doesn't look feasible then I can continue heading south, rouby ags - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
After a fun (but challenging) trip up Cherry Creek in 2013, I'm doing final planning of the 2014 version. Last year I went in at Shingle Springs, which is not an option this year due to Rim Fire closures. My current plans are to enter at the parking lot Southwest of Bourland Meadow. I'm looking for experience/advice on how to get from there to CC above chockstone. (getting past Flintstone above Cby ags - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Not firsthand knowledge, but IIRC a ranger I spoke to (when was trying to learn about the status of Shingle Springs TH this season) said a car (s?) burnt a the trailhead during the fire. I may have misunderstood. The fire is terrible, but I won't miss the brush from the TH down to the granite. I think it was regrowth after an earlier fire (I was told that too).by ags - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
Several years ago I entered at Sunrise, past CR, up Half Dome, down to the Merced, wandering around a bit, back up to Cathedral Peak/Lakes and out at Tioga. Spend the first night on the north slope of CR. Dry camp, but spectacular views to the the north and east. Plenty of relatively flat, open space, no people. Next morning broke camp and had breakfast at the top of CR, all alone. Highly recommeby ags - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
@QITNL your public service announcement is quite right. What I found surprising was that I found a route (it wasn't very difficult) that had few areas where loose rock would be a problem. Your advice is important notwithstanding. @Torero14 sorry, no pictures this day. Just a quick day trip.by ags - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
I've hiked from the valley floor to Rainbow View on OBOFR. Great hike. I've never gone beyond Rainbow View, but would like to do so. Researching the rest of the old road, and looking at a current map, I expected it would continue from Rainbow View across Fireplace Ck, Coyote Ck (perhaps Cascade Ck if far enough to the north/uphill) and eventually meet with the current road to Tamarack Flat Campgrby ags - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Took a quick trip out to the valley this past weekend. With little time available, took a quick hike to Sierra Point. Great views of all four falls running mightily. Didn't see anyone on the way up/down Sierra Point. Compared to the last time I was up that trail (about 3.5 years ago) it seems to have improved. Not sure if it is informal maintenance by users, or just more usage making the trail mby ags - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Glad you pointed this out. I hadn't thought about it (until mentioned separately in a PM). I looked at the USFS site and see that it is indeed closed. Are these roads closed due to risk of falling standing deadwood from the Rim Fire? Does this mean that Cherry Lake could be inaccessible for the entire season? That will make a lot of watersport enthusiasts unhappy. Any other ideas on how toby ags - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
"Cherry Bomb" - problem #2: I found the route from Flintstone (away from CCC, to the granite apron and then up and over the top to the east of the granite dome elev. 6458) to the relatively flat area with three ponds. I first tried continuing along without climbing the steep wall to the east. Brush was very thick (perhaps a fire the previous year?) - so thick I had to use a machete to gby ags - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Wow, I'm not sure what happened. My post is getting long so I'll separate the "first fall" issue from the "cherry bomb" issue. "First Fall": Yes, that's the fall. I spent an hour first trying to find a way up the steep slope downstream of the falls and further away from the creek, thinking I could get to the top of the granite that way. I could not. I don't specifby ags - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Just checked. No pictures of either "challenge". I suppose I was too focused on finding a route and managing risk that I didn't think to document that part of the journey. If I could find the post from Chick-on with the GPS track that might help.by ags - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Last year we discovered the beauty of Cherry Creek Canyon (before the Rim Fire). We benefitted from information found here (lurking). We'd like to return, and want to improve on our previous adventure, hence this first post. Despite some challenges, it remains one of the most beautiful hikes we've ever experienced. We entered at Shingle Springs, down the brush to the creek, eventually to Lordby ags - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion