and to think I was going to ask him if he wanted to part ways with one of his bags..by KevinD - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
Unbelievable...I never wake up after taking an afternoon nap on the trail hahahby KevinD - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
Yea I wanted to go all out on this bag since it will be the most used. Was looking at the Montbell Hugger 800 bags. They look pretty good but I couldn't find one with a comfort rating of 30. I'd like a 30 since we intend to use this bag down to maybe 25 (w/extra layers on). Anything lower, then we would switch to our 0 bags. The only Montbell 800s I found were either EN 23 or 40 Are they optimisby KevinD - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
Hey Folks! Well its that time of the year ! Gear upgrades ! The misses needs a new 3ish season bag and I was looking at the Sierra Designs Eleanor 700 30 bag. https://sierradesigns.com/eleanor-plus-700-2-season/ Anyone have any experience with Sierra Designs? I generally am a marmot fan but they dont have in stock the right temps I'm looking for (30F). It seems a tad bit heavier (2lbs 5 oby KevinD - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
Thanks for the insights! Will most likely do this route instead. Just gotta recover from pneumonia first -Kevinby KevinD - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
Hmmm I recognize the electric stuff in the background. I swear that sign wasn't up 2 weeks ago! Or maybe I need a better headlamp lol!by KevinD - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
It's still marked as Horses only. However, couldn't find such a sign at the start of the trail so I went for it (I did start my hike at 4:30am!). Seems like a lot of folks have been short cutting the trail as theres a lot of in-between shortcuts on the switch back sections. If I had known it was still a horse only trail (sign is at the JMT junction), I wouldn't have gone up it -Kevinby KevinD - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Were you able to top off the birthday trip with some pizza from Curry Half Dome village??by KevinD - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
+1!!! I've been testing out this little heat diffuser/simmer plate. Comes from MSR on their "military" version of the XGK.by KevinD - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
Haven't stayed at the Lodge but I did stay at Ruby's a few years back. It was a nice place, nothing too grand and pretty darn close to the gate I remember. Regarding Zion, I would definitely recommend checking out the Echo canyon area. You get here on the way up to observation point. It was gorgeous when I stopped by during winter. Also Hidden Canyon is a nice not too crowded hike thats nearbyby KevinD - General Discussion
Thats not too bad.... I tried making em in a stainless steel pot hahah. Gave up and went with an msr panby KevinD - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
Happy birthday! Hope you guys had a blast out there! -Kevinby KevinD - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
Other views from the top of the valley would be Dewey and Eagle Point (Yosemite falls th)!by KevinD - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
Hey Folks! Hope all is going well! Was just at Wawona this past weekend around the Chilnuana falls and loved it! Was considering going up it again this weekend and do a loop towards Alder Creek. Has anyone done this before? Does Mosquito creek really have mosquitoes!? Taking a friend who has never been backpacking so I'm hoping it's nice! If that doesn't work, I was considering either Chaby KevinD - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
With all the soggy patches, did you run into any skeeters??by KevinD - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
How large does a washer machine need to be to wash a 0 down bag? Thinking of doing it at home!by KevinD - General Discussion
I tend to wash my down bags after a year of use regardless of nights spent. Used to wash them myself but ended up just going down tot he local mountaineering shop (adventure 16) and fork over $15 for a nice wash. Takes about 10 days but I'm ok with that!by KevinD - General Discussion
After spending four days in the backcountry, I was craving some pizza from Curry! Tried following all the signs to Curry Village Getting close! What the bloody hell? Where did it go.... Shameby KevinD - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Wow looks great! Seems like a nice area to do when its not too warm yet and when the bugs bite! Thanks for sharing! -Kevinby KevinD - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
Hmm..seems like an interesting concept. Don't know if I'd get it though since I've been using my InReach to communicate with others in the backcountry (InReach to Inreach function)by KevinD - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
Thanks for the update! The western pinnacle trail area seems safe to do! Might go up that why. Haven't decided if I want to go further or just relax at cr for a few days and head back. All really depends on the conditionsby KevinD - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
Nice! How was the trip? Did you guys just do and out and back? The temperatures lately seem to be nice if the forecast is true. I'll be heading out there in late March and hope the snow isn't too slushy!by KevinD - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
Hey Folks! Just had a quick question regarding the Inyo NF permits. There's overnight and cross-country permits. According to the Inyo site, cross country is for offtrail travel IN national parks. So if I was still planning on going off trail in NON national parks, would I still apply for a cross country permit or overnight? Thanks! Kevinby KevinD - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
QuoteDavidSenesac The HST meetups have all been to difficult to reach multi day to remote off trail locations with loose minimal organized structure beyond a tentative meeting locale. Thus those attending often start, meet, and leave on different dates using different trailheads. The result is partial meet ups and or some missing the others, with not a lot of actual time together. There reallby KevinD - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
March is coming up and that means REI dividends! What will you guys be purchasing this time around? I personally didn't spend too much at REI this year (backcountry) so I'll probably just get another set of snow anchors/dead man bags. If there's more than expected, I was considering trying those collapsible sea to summit pots (2.8L) for snow melting.by KevinD - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
Phew I should be good! I'm only 145lbs without gear ahahby KevinD - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
Goodness gracious that sounds horrendous ahaha. Hopefully with the lowering temps it will be ok. You think my 25in w/ tails snowshoes should be ok? We are planning on night hiking it summit bid style.by KevinD - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
Can't wait to see thr photos! It seeked pretty warm that week. Was the snow slushy? Also did you just go up and back? Or was it a loop similar to chickon trip?by KevinD - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
I feel left out...what about those who drive from San Diego!! haha. I'll need to check out some of these places you guys posted. Looks like a road trip to SF is in line!by KevinD - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Ill have to check out this Cafe Diablo when I stop by Capitol Reef! For Zion, I have particularly enjoyed getting a post-hike meal at Mimi's cafe. Fulfilling breakfast! There's also a pretty good mexican place too across the street. If you need help getting some good prices on gear, just message me when you arrive here in Cali ! -Kevinby KevinD - General Discussion