Thanks for the reply. I was under the impression that there was plenty of snow (even at Crane Flat elevation) before this recent sequence of storms. I was thinking that skiing in set tracks would be both easier for a beginner as well as more indicative of the hopeful future trip up GP Road to GP itself. In addition to Tahoe-Donner, I'll look around Kirkwood/Carson Pass as suggested.by ags - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
i'm looking at a short (2-day) trip to the Sierra for some XC skiing. My goal is to introduce a non-skier (neither XC nor downhill) and have it be a pleasant experience. This could be a step towards creating enough comfort, experience and confidence to get out to Glacier Point with a stay at the "lodge" overnight. That breaks the out-and-back into two days, making it more approachable.by ags - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Yes, you're right. All that (and more) is covered by the "garbage" category. I suppose I just have an extra-refined sensitivity to TP. 'Nuff said... don't want to detract from a nicely-worded homage to aspects of the SHR that may otherwise be missed. BTW, lest I one day be called a poser, in full disclosure I have not been on any segment of the SHR... yet.by ags - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
@basilbop @JKW you forgot to mention the TPby ags - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
Yup, that pretty much is it. If not comfortable with this suggest alternate plans - or turn around.by ags - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
Crossed it in July 2018. See hereby ags - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
Happy Birthday Basilbop! Thanks for all the great trip reports and inspiration. Hopefully the harassment from the Pink One will subside by 51... Probably not thoughby ags - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Looks great! SEKI or YOSE?by ags - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Very cool. Congratulations! But there's so much more to do... SEKI, east side, Emigrant, Desolation...by ags - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
We just returned from the east side as well this weekend, and since 108/Sonora Pass was (finally) open, we opted to head back that way despite it being longer. It was just tragic. I snapped some shots along the way but yours will likely be better. Dardanelles was totally destroyed, with only water heaters and chimneys and such remaining. There was a crew there harvesting timber (for safety I pby ags - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
What a great trip. We did (almost) that same trip last year (after the big snow season) in reverse direction. Instead of camping at (any) Golden Trout Lake, we opted for an (unplanned) stop at Lower Honeymoon Lake (loved it). Despite doing a bit of research, we ended up going over exactly the route over Carol Col that was discouraged. The snow was still deep and I never did find the sign for Cby ags - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
Does anyone have information about smoke in the Cherry Lake/Cherry Creek area? I've looked at the InciWeb pages. Camp Mather is shown as unhealthy air quality. While Hetch Hetchy is closed, I'm not sure if that is due to poor air quality, or more about access with 120 closed at Buck Meadow. Thanks.by ags - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Yes, Happy Birthday JKW. Thanks for all your contributions. It has been a pleasure to meet you IRL. Keep enjoying the Sierra!by ags - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
We were caught in the deluge on Saturday at Virginia Lakes. We went to Lundy Lake on Sunday and planned to hike up to the 20 Lakes basin. When we learned of the slide, I was hoping that you weren't stranded. All I could think of to help was stopping back at the "general store" on our way out in case you were stuck there. Our Plan B was a hike to May Lundy Mine. We finished just beforby ags - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
So anyone that had driven all the way in and parked at the Lundy TH would have his/her car stranded there until the slide is cleared? Yikes!by ags - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
I couldn't find the referenced picture, but the oracle (wikipedia) has this to say: QuoteHistory The Black Bridge was built in 1928. As motorized vehicles could not access the construction site, humans and mules transported the 122 tons in materials down the nine miles of trail. Walking single file, 42 Havasupai tribesmen carried the one-ton, 550-foot suspension cables.[1] I suppose 50 lbs/by ags - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
Thanks for the info. Lots of great places on the east side too.by ags - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
In between "big hikes" this summer we still need a fix of the Sierra; we plan to visit for just the weekend and enjoy some low-stress day hikes. We never planned on visiting The Valley itself (too crowded) - and with the Ferguson Fire raging all the more reason to avoid that area. We planned to be in the high country (Tuolumne Meadows area) and thought we'd maybe hike a bunch of domes:by ags - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
Executive Summary: the bridge spanning the Tuolumne River in Pate Valley is in a state of disrepair. It may or may not be suitable for you. It is unclear when it may be restored. Scroll down for pictures and description of our experience crossing. We did make it across OK. We finally were able to put together a 7/6 day/night hike around Hetch Hetchy over July 4th week. It was great fun and welby ags - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
All are very nice, but the last picture is really beautiful. Nice posting.by ags - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
Need picture of sign...by ags - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
Thanks for that link, I hadn't found that document. I skimmed it and find that my statement above (while "squishy" was not correct. The doc you linked is dated 2003. One table indicates that Cow Meadow dam was no longer in existence at that time (hence it was to be rebuilt, rather than repaired, as all others (designated in the finding to be maintained)). So I'm interested in a picby ags - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Quotechick-on Have you seen this book? Leighton's High Sierra Check Dam Legacy: A Photographic Journal? ... Yup - that's how I finally answered one of the first burning questions I had after our first trip to the Emigrant (Y-Meadow, to be exact): "What the heck is this dam doing here? There's no grazing and even so it's way too big as a water source for cattle. There is not now, norby ags - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
That looks "very doable"... this year is so different from last year. Thought we might go up this past weekend if other plans didn't work out - but they did. So it is now in the to-do queue as a potential warm-down after a long loop next week. Yet another lesson in what happens when one presents a poorly-formed question. :-) Thanks!by ags - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
Does anyone have pictures of the dam and/or "lake" at Cow Meadow? I'm not sure when it was breached/removed, but I believe it wasn't very long ago - in the past 5 years maybe? It seems to have been a relatively shallow height (especially compared to Emigrant Lake or Y-Meadow). I'm curious to see before & after (I have "after" pix) and wonder how the rest of the check damsby ags - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Has anyone attempted the trial/scramble up Mt. Dana yet this year?by ags - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
if you hike Gaylor Lakes you can extend and go to the old mining sites. There are some ruins/buildings and prospects (with old mining equipment) scattered around - if you like that kind of thing. It's marked on most decent maps of the park. Also, Granite Lakes are really beautiful, though I would not be surprised if they are not at least partially under ice. Not sure of the snow conditions thoughby ags - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
Nice post, thanks. I hope I'll still be adventuring in the Sierra in my 70's and beyond...by ags - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
QuoteYosemrick REI's anniversary sale doesn't have HM on sale so I'm looking for recommendations on the other vendors dehydrated meals. Not sure if it's still the case, but last time we bought MH from REI, off-sale, there was an offer whereby if you purchase 8 or more MH meals, you get 10% off. Good luck, good hiking!by ags - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion