Oh man, I'm going to be in New Zealand from late October until November 12th, and the eclipse happens on the 13th. Oh well, I'd have to go a couple hundred miles north of the North Island to see it 100% and I'd rather spend all the time on the South Island anyways, where it would only be about 60% and not as impressive as the annular one I saw from my front yard in May.by mbear - General Discussion
That just sucks when you have to turn around and do a hike back that you're no longer motivated for (other than self-preservation) while your body feels really awful. I was so pissed when it happened to me I couldn't bear to even look out the windows on the YARTS ride down to the valley from TM after. I guess we'll both have to be extremely careful with how we acclimate when doing trips to thoseby mbear - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
cjoz, what kind of dosage do you take? 125 mg twice a day? I have heard the side effects start really kicking in when people take 250mg all at once. I'm definitely not ready to give up high altitude hiking after one bad trip, though next time I'll be cautious and stay maybe 3 nights at TM at 8600 feet and maybe a week in the backcountry sleeping 9500 feet and below before getting into the 10000+by mbear - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Quotetomdisco mbear, Another thing you mentioned was swelling hands. Have you ever experienced that before while backpacking or day hiking? I used to have that happen all the time simply due to my hands swinging back and forth for a long period of time. As soon as I got into the use of trekking poles the problem went away because the hangs were now closer to heart level. The swelling handby mbear - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Didn't get a lot of good pics, but here are a few I liked Mount Lewis. This looked incredible at sunset, but my camera isn't so good in low-light conditions so you gotta look at the midday pic instead! Is this part of Kuna Crest? Kuna Peak Rodgers, Lyell, and Maclure with Helen Lake and Spillway Lake in the foreground Looking down Bloody Canyon at Upper Sardine and Mono Lby mbear - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
I guess I'm wondering if this is something I'm likely to be stuck with at this kind of elevation in the future, or if that two strikes I had against me (sick earlier in the month, bad allergic reaction camping in an area with high winds) contributed strongly to it happening. I know I'm asking way too much here, but I'd like to hear if anyone else has dealt with this. I was talking with a guy whoby mbear - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
I almost didn't want to write this trip report, since it turned out such a disaster when I had big plans of doing 3 weeks in Yosemite and the Ansel Adams Wilderness. Early last month I got what seemed like a mild respiratory infection, but decided against seeing a doctor since I didn't have a fever, chills, or anything like that. A couple of weeks before my scheduled trip to the park I was feeby mbear - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Don't know why I didn't look to Google Earth; it confirms that peak is indeed Rodgers.by mbear - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Yeah, it looks like Rodgers from looking at topos online. I had originally thought it was Ritter (and didn't have a map for the Lyell area since I wasn't hiking there) since the top of Ritter kind of looks like that. But now I remember it only looks like that from the east, and you can't see any connecting ridge to the Minarets. Thanks.by mbear - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Took this about 10 days ago from partway up the south side of Gibbs, and was wondering what the leftmost peak is just peeking above the ridge: is it Rodgers or Ritter (or something else entirely)? thanksby mbear - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
I just ended up experiencing HAPE while camping at Mono Pass a couple of days ago. I descended immediately and headed home once I noticed the chest tightness, fluid in lungs, dry cough, and lethargy at rest, knowing this isn't something to play with. It wrecked my trip plans completely, but by acting quickly I was able to safely get down with my gear without needing to have SAR called in for me.by mbear - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
QuoteMom I love the High Sierra Camp experience in Yosemite so I was trying to think of other national parks that might have something similar. I can think of Bear Paw Meadows in Sequoia and Phantom Ranch at the Grand Canyon. Anywhere else? In researching a winter trip to New Zealand (our winter, not theirs!) I saw lots of their great treks like Routeburn, Caples, Milford, etc. have afforby mbear - General Discussion
It's just not as safe in the backcountry as it is at home when I can wash them in boiling water in the sink instead.by mbear - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
I personally would never flag a DNC reservation being resold though, since those are bought at market value unlike the NPS campsites.by mbear - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Tran probably saw it as competition. He always flagged our posts last year when we'd put PSA's up showing that ID was required for check-ins.by mbear - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
http://sfbay.craigslist.org/sfc/for/3157032686.htmlby mbear - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
QuoteBlue Moon The NPS is not "forced' to use volunteer camp hosts. It's a practical application. Volunteer Camp Hosts have been an integral part of the NPS for 30 plus years. Ask NPS, they will tell you they could not operate without them. Volunteers "volunteer" for 2-6 month stints in the park. They are there 24/7 in the campgrounds. Rangers are "required" to liveby mbear - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Quoteplawrence Quotembear In case anyone knows, is there a big markup on stuff like fuel canisters (the 8oz MSR cans are like $6 here in Tx) and batteries? The last time I checked, not a big markup. They sell fuel basically at the MSRP (manufacturer suggested retail price) with no additional markup or discount. Here in California, the price of fuel at the non-sale REI price was only sliby mbear - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
QuoteUlysses61 Cantwait, I just wanted to make sure you want to do Clouds Rest as an overnighter? Because as someone else said, it's very easy as a day hike. There's only 2,000 elevation gain. The vast majority of people do this out of Sunrise, this would be a 13 mile hike. It's far longer and much more elevation gain if you do it out of Happy Isles. Great views from th top, however. IMO, theby mbear - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
QuoteDave Thanks. Most of us work very hard to make sure everyone has a nice visit. Low pay, hard work, but one fantastic benefit - we get to work in Yosemite. It's amazing how understaffed the park seems to be. Getting a phone call in to ask about the maps, batteries, fuel, etc. carried in the stores in the valley and TM has proved to be impossible today. Is it like that every day in the summeby mbear - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
QuotewebenjiThis is one of my favorite area of Yosemite and I am always surprised at the low foot traffic and lack of popularity with respect to the other trails... I'd imagine a 12,300 foot pass scares a lot of people off when Donahue is 11000. I know I'm going to be tempted to do a 5:00AM start with a headlamp on the day I go up it with a pack. That climb looks pretty brutal with a pack, a fuby mbear - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
I guess the view of the glacier on the north face below the Koip/Kuna saddle would be another thing in favor of Koip. Thanks for the input on the rock quality. Looking at a few pics from the pass I just assumed Parker was the easier of the two since in looks less steep.by mbear - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Which do you guys think is a better side-trip from Koip Peak Pass: Parker Peak and Mount Wood, or Koip Peak and Kuna Peak? Parker and Wood seem like they'd have better views of Mono Lake, but the B-24 wreckage in the saddle between Koip and Kuna sounds pretty interesting too. I can't imagine I'd want to do both sidetrips after coming up to Koip Peak Pass from Parker Pass with a pack on my back (Iby mbear - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
I wonder if there's much of a chance of seeing sky pilots early next month when going up to Koip Peak Pass.by mbear - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
QuoteMom Thanks for the advice. I am not crazy about those cobblestone switchbacks having done the ones between Vogelsang and Merced Lake last year. I will post a trip report when I return. In addition to Sunrise, I am also going to Glen Aulin and May Lake next week. I'll be looking forward to the report, since I'll be doing Glen Aulin->May Lake next month!by mbear - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Quoteeeek QuoteplawrenceAt the very least, the ranger should refuse to check-in the camper and let the camper scramble for some other first-come, first-serve campsite or one that's outside the park. If they're trying to build a case, that's not a good way to get the buyers to cooperate. I think it is. You can bet someone who got burned for $500 for his campsite for 5 nights and can't check inby mbear - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Quoteeeek QuotembearI just found out the Agnew Meadows Campground is closed for the entire summer, so I'm guessing the shuttle won't stop there It's a major trailhead. I'd be very surprised if the shuttle didn't stop there. You're right; I just called the Inyo NF and they said the trailhead is open and the shuttle is making stops there. Only the campground is closed.by mbear - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Quoteplawrence At the very least, the ranger should refuse to check-in the camper and let the camper scramble for some other first-come, first-serve campsite or one that's outside the park. Hopefully, they would pass a law or regulation where those who illegally purchase a campsite get fined too. . They should take their names and not let them camp in that campground that night. By giving tby mbear - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Quoteeeek QuotembearI just found out the Agnew Meadows Campground is closed for the entire summer, so I'm guessing the shuttle won't stop there It's a major trailhead. I'd be very surprised if the shuttle didn't stop there. I'll call them tomorrow and post what they say.by mbear - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Quoteh_lankford Do not even think about backtracking from Iceberg or Cecile to Shadow Lake to pick up the JMT and head to Reds Meadow. This is a low snow year, so the steep slope up from the east side of Iceberg to Cecile may be clear ( I do not know) but once you are at Cecile keep going . You can go either side. The east side is talus, but gets you to a visible trail at the south end of Cecby mbear - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion