Quotechick-on Is it The 395? I'm a transplant. Still getting used to that bit... :-)by ags - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Quotehikerchick395 ...Yes locals insist...Saw-Bry-Nah. I've been reconditioning myself to pronounce it that way...because once having lived here for 1/2 your life, you can be considered a local. Well we visited Humphreys Basin last Labor Day (note: it was spectacular - I really love the east side too). Clearly the locals want to say "Sa-bry-nah". I figured I was in the wrong, and havby ags - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
@DavidSenesac that is a spectacular photo! I can't imagine what it would be like in person.by ags - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
Happy Birthday chick-on, and thanks for all the sharing and help. You are a positive influence and role model for appreciation and respect for wilderness.by ags - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
UTMB = Ultra Trail du Mont Blanc https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ultra-Trail_du_Mont-Blancby ags - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Kennedy Meadows too...by ags - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
Yes on mama bear teaching baby bear. I didn't think to ask if the "new" miscreant bear atop Snow Creek was a cub of the previous (destroyed) bear. An adult bear learning from another non-related bear is a different story, though since they are so intelligent and curious it would not surprise me. On sugar and tooth decay, I'll also point out that there is naturally occurring sugar inby ags - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
When picking up a wilderness permit at BOF entrance earlier this year, I ended up in an interesting discussion with the ranger on duty regarding Yosemite black bears. In particular, the bear at the top of Snow Creek that learned to throw canisters off the edge then collect the proceeds from the obliterated canister. The discussion began with me asking about that bear in particular, and if there iby ags - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Well, you've struck a raw nerve here (with me). I don't have first-hand or credible data on how long TP will last in various conditions - maybe I will conduct an experiment to be able to provide hard evidence based on first-hand observation. What I can say - based on personal observation - is that there is an abundance of very ugly, very visible, very intact TP where it does not belong.by ags - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
Nice TR, thanks for posting. It's a really nice area. We were in the Matthes area for 6 days in August, and it was spectacular! Glad we finally made it a point to get there, I don't know how I could have missed it for so long. And the Budd Cr. "trailhead" is a nice entry point. About 80% of our mileage was XC. There are probably some use trails that we could have found but I didn'by ags - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
I suppose it could be a tree. Not many up there (none right on the ridge that I saw). It would have to be a really strange tree/stump and/or lighting just the right way to make it look like that though. Unless it's bizarre lighting/angle, I can't even see how it could be a pile of rocks (human placed or naturally occurring). It's on a ridge west of North Lake (NW of Loch Leven) which is notby ags - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
Recently went up to Humphreys Basin, French Canyon, etc with mostly XC routes. On the way back down to Bishop, I noticed a strange figure on the southern ridge above the trail below between Loch Leven & Paiute Lake. At first I thought it was a hiker, but it is too big (and didn't move). What is this? Google has not been helpful, but probably because there are too many terms for a search: statby ags - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
Sigh. TP... I'm afraid that the causes of the lack of LNT awareness and/or adherence are manifold - not the least of which is big business/marketing/consumerism. Even ostensibly "green" good stewards of the planet (e.g. REI) are conflicted (at best). Ubiquitous advertising promulgates an ideal with (implicit if not explicit) messages and images that to enjoy the outdoors you need stuby ags - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
Nice TR, thanks for posting. Good for you for finding solitude, beauty and not having to work too hard for it. I envy the napping part... :-)by ags - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
Finally remembered how to link a photo... (above)by ags - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
I sleep with a Buff (lightweight - wife has the Polar version) in cold weather. Never thought of pulling it over my eyes. The light doesn't really bother me. I sleep like a log too. But I'll keep that in mind. Great idea, thanks.by ags - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
When we were there, in addition the the signs "you've just passed 10k' elevation - no campfires!" on trails (we were off-trail most of the time) there was also a ban on fires anywhere in the Inyo NF other than established campsites (i.e. car camping). Yet we found places where some rocket scientists decided that breaking a limb (with green needles) from a living tree to start a fire wasby ags - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
Wow! Admire your (collectively) dedication to make that happen. I am just beginning to appreciate how beautiful the east side is (Dusy, Humphreys, Evolution). Not YOSE, but beautiful in a different way. And no crowds... :-)by ags - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
I recall hearing of the pressure on pika habitat, linked to climate change. Luckily, they aren't all gone, even from the Sierra. Saw a few, and heard many more of the little critters between 10-12k' on the east side just last week. In addition to the altitude/temperature, I believe they also prefer very rough boulder fields. At least, that's the only places that I've ever seen them (not claby ags - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Just returned from another week on the east side (Humphreys Basin area). Still really like this new QD3 tent (even for just two people). One other observation/comparison to our previous, heavier QD2+ tent is its opaqueness. There was a full moon and when the clouds finally dissipated, the moonlight was so strong that it almost looked like day inside the tent. I woke up a few times during the nighby ags - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
We just returned from 6 days in the high country - Cathedral Peak area. All water crossings were fine. Mosquitos were variable from one place to the next, but more like what I'd expect in July than August. The South Fork fire (I believe) heavily impacted our trip -- when the wind blew from the south. For three days we had to deploy the tent rain fly for protection -- not from rain, but from thby ags - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
We made it up to the Matthes Crest area and spent a few days exploring. The crest is spectacular - and I did get a bit south -- just to the first large granite block -- but not very far. The ridge between MC & Cockscomb is fun and simple. We didn't get from MC to Echo Peaks; it looks like there is an obvious ledge below (south) of the ridge top itself, but it is still covered in snow, so we sby ags - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
Just back from 6 days in YOSE with the new QD3. Overall, I found it to be very good, with one major drawback. I'd actually call it a significant fail on REI's part, but can still recommend the tent. For two people it felt like being in the Taj Mahal. Lots of space and can sit up easily. Big vestibules. Fast & easy setup (even in the rain...). The one miss (fail) is that the rain fly doorsby ags - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Yeah - I thought about using Tyvek as a ground cover/footprint. Good stuff. The only thing that lacks are the nice grommets and clips that keep the entire setup together (footprint, tent & rain fly) at the corners. I went ahead and bought the official REI footprint. I'll weigh it and post. How much does the custom-fit Tyvek weigh for the QD3?by ags - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
I suspected as much :-) Here's the warning label I referred to. Apparently some people must be told not to bring fire inside...by ags - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
File is now unavailable...by ags - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Thanks for the replies. I followed the link above to see if I could find more information, but failed. My question is really more about safe water handling practices, not safe water. Let's presume that I filter all my drinking water. For cleaning, is it sufficient to rinse a container that contained unfiltered water (such as the one that I use to collect lake/stream water for filtering and conby ags - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
I will finally get to spend some time in the Tuolumne high country next week. There are so many peaks and ridges to choose from. The plan is to see how they look (after previewing with topo maps) and always allow turning back as a real option if uncomfortable. Matthes Crest looks exhilarating - and the entire length of it is undoubtably beyond my current skills and comfort level. See this videby ags - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
Yes, there is a "bypass trail" that will allow you to continue on your route without traversing the absolute top (the "spine" ) of the ridge along the Clouds Rest trail. I can't say whether or not you will be comfortable on it, but I can say that there definitely is less exposure and so likely less anxiety taking that segment. If you got past the steps on the subdome, my guesby ags - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
After setting up our new QD3, I cut off the enormous warning sewn into a seam. I read it and wondered "who needs to be told not to bring a stove, heater or campfire into the tent?" I guess now I know... :-)by ags - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion