Had to watch those nasty pink crocs dangle from the back of Dan's pack for the whole trip. Understand the passion for "leave no trace" and will consider myself more enlightened for our next outing.... Randyby BigR - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
I have no issue with people expressing their beliefs and opinions. Free exchange is how we grow. We looked at Bernice lake side trip pretty hard. My oldest did not train for the trip and was suffering quite a bit. So we set it aside for family unity and will save it for the next trip. Just finished a trip with my wife to Glacier. What a wonderful place that was. Regardless, folks here hby BigR - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Wow, interesting perspective on the building of the cairns. As I understand the original Inuit intent was to signal to the lonely traveler/hunter that in the vast wilderness that he was not alone. We viewed it as a positive affirming action. Maybe unnecessary today but I still get a smile whenever I see one. Randyby BigR - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Our trip was planned for 6 days Thursday - Travel Friday - TM to Merced Saturday - Merced Sunday - Merced to Vogelsang Monday - Vogelsang to TM Tuesday - Travel Friday we arrived in Merced near 6pm, cold tired and hungry. Our second camp set up went very well. With many large trees in the camp, we had a nice dry site. We strung clothesline and tried to dry our gear. We had asked the fby BigR - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Daniel and I shared a 3 man tent. 6.2 lbs if I remember right. We split the load. Matt already had a 2 man and it was 3.5 ish.by BigR - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Son 1 arrived Noon had no luggage and waited. Son 2 and I arrived (walked off plane) with three checked bags at 1pm. Boys waited on the bags and I hoofed it quickly over to the 8th floor. Had no wait at the National counter (3 folks ended up waiting behind me). Boys had luggage and we're waiting for me to drive up with the car. Pulled out of the garage at 1:30 on the dot.by BigR - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Sorry for the way late trip report but have been a bit busy with work and additional travel (Glacier NP and Appalachicola fishing trip) We had 3 folks coming from two cities with 4 total flights. You guys all weighed in on how long it would take us to get to the permit station at BOF. We also got some sage advice to have a back-up plan. Behold the second leg out of Chicago had a series of 8amby BigR - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
mbear, We just return from our HS loop (TM to Sunrise to Merced to Vogelsang to TM). My 23 YO son has known AMS at about 7800 feet. He was perscribed Diamox, began with 1 pill a day 3 days in advance of the trip and 2 pills per day on the trip. He did great with no symptoms whatsoever. He had no side effects. Hand swelling is not uncommon when walking or hiking. Here in the south it happenby BigR - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
I called it "entitlement". I have raised my children to work hard and earn what they want or need. Many parents want to hand their children everything so they don't "have to go thrugh what I did". But isn't that the point? To work hard and struggle and reap the rewards of the hard work? Parent want to be friends with their kids. I want mine to be respectful first, to know thby BigR - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Many thanks to you all who have helped make our trip planning enjoyable and well informed. The great folks here have helped with..... - San Jose to BOF travel and times - Meal planning - Water filters - Camp sites - Route planning - Permit process We leave Thursday evening after flying from NC and Miami. We loop counter clockwise from Cathedral via CR to Merced and Vogelsang exby BigR - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
What a glorious picture. Congrats to you for make lifetime memories for/with your daughter. We're going a slightly different route to Merced. Rather than backtrack from CR thru Sunrise HSC to the HSC route to Merced, we going to take the trail (un-named) that spurs east just about a .7 mile north of the CR summit, heads south, crosses the JMT, then rejoins the HCS Merced route near Echo Valleby BigR - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Apologies for newbie-ness.... what's "use trail"? I assume it's a non-hiking trail that folks have used enought to get off trail so that it is visible and obvious? Also, if I have the right location, then i think we want to be closer to CR so the trip to Merced the following day is shorter. We're think a bit below CR summit nearer the trail junction heading south toward Merced. Randby BigR - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Dang, that's a beautiful site. We hope to pass there about noon so maybe the site will be open. Right or left side of the trail heading up to CR? Randyby BigR - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Jayabrams, where was your campsite? We'll be in that same area in 2 weeks and would like a good camp site recommmendation. We'll be hiking from Cathedral to Cloud's Rest then on to Merced HSC. Randyby BigR - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Will be worth it to pack a fly rod for a 5 day trip on the HSC loop? We'll be back packing it and cooking our own meals. We do expect to have some down time near Cathedral, Merced, and Vogelsang, Can we catch and consume? Suggestions welcome. Randyby BigR - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
An Inuksuk village (rock statuettes) from Jasper in Calgary. Randyby BigR - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Jim, we're practically neighbors. Where abouts in Raleigh? My sons and i are heading out for 5 nites in August on a backpack trip. Randyby BigR - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Water is the most critical item. If you are fit enough to do a 8 hours hike, then you could feasibly do it without food. However, I typically take what I'd normally have for any other lunch. 1 sandwich, fruit, chocolate. I'd also pack 2 small snacks to enjoy when you rest; GORP is great, fruit is good. A nice sharp cheddar and apple make a terrific snack. Pack whatever would add to the enjoymentby BigR - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Thanks to all the kind folks here for their terrific insights. We're tidying up our plan for our back country trip. We're departing to Cathedral lakes and exiting Lyell Canyon. Reminder, we arrive late afternoon of our travel day (Thursday) and have to hike in the same day. Where is the best place to legally leave our car? Randyby BigR - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Almost, thanks for the great thoughts. Will certainly try some of suggestions, especially about dehydrating the rice.... Randyby BigR - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Thanks Katy. Babybel's are nice. PB is a good suggestion too. Was way too restricted on lunch ideas. Randyby BigR - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Thanks Basil, we'll leave the extra JB's behind and use one for the boil and dump. Randyby BigR - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Too funny. We will leave homage to the great web-cam hamming Chick-on and clues to the cache during our travels.... Even if you find then in 2013, I'm sure they'll still be fresh. Randyby BigR - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Now that we've had the very lively and informative discussion on water filters (thank you), I'm working our meal planning and packing for our August loop of the high Sierra. We're a party of three tall fit guys (51, 25, and 23 yo) and will be doing 8-12 miles daily. Any tip, tricks, suggestions for our meals? We have a bear vault 5000 and will carry jet boil stoves. We'll have to campby BigR - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Seem to be missing the crack in the moon........by BigR - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Thanks for the great tips. Google maps sent me on 84 up to I-580 at Isabel Avenue. Is there any advantage of going east of Livermore and joining 580 at Altamont Pass Road (or later east?) We're actually arriving on 2 flights (Raleigh and Miami) with the earlier flight at 11am. So I do plan to have the rental car ready when the 11:45 flight lands and he collects his baggage. Big 5 is a ?? store? Gby BigR - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Chick-on, we have Jet Boil stoves and would happy to drop a few twinkies back in the box along with the leftover fuel. We will be taking 120 so if there is a easy stop that would work as well. I'm hoping for a 12:30 airport depature and a 3:30 total transit time to BOF. Looking for a 6pm trailhead departure and an 8pm camp set-up at Cathedral Lakes. Long first day but the joy getting into Yosby BigR - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Not from Yosemite, but wonderful nontheless. Mrs B and I took a trip north of the border to Banff. here's our favorite from a hike to Lake O'hara in 4" of new snow on Sept 19, 2008 (our 25 anniversary trip). If you've not been there, terrific wonderful place to visit.by BigR - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
I'm doing the San Jose Airport to BOF on Aug 16. Will be racing the clock to get our permit before closing (flight lands 11:45). One of the kind fellers here did say it takes him 3:20 zooming in the wee hours of the AM to get to BOF. Google maps has it at 2:42 for 137 miles. Randyby BigR - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Woot, 3rd time is the charm. Hike in the Banff, Lake O'Hara on the trail to Abbot Hut. Mrs B in the blue. 4" snow that morning, September 19th.by BigR - Photography advice, critiques and tutorials