Anybody know the status of the White Wolf backpackers camp? Is it permissible to camp there if the main campground is closed? Also, does YARTS stop at the White Wolf road entrance when the road is closed?by Dave_Ayers - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
The water level is moderate now and will drop more. Current flow is about 800 CFS (see https://waterdata.usgs.gov/ca/nwis/uv?11274790) at which level the Canyon is very passable. You may need to wade only in 2 places: slow spread out ankle deep flooding at Mattie Creek and the crossing of Register Creek below the fall which is probably knee deep about now and a simple (and fun) wade. Also theby Dave_Ayers - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
My main concern with doing that hike in August is heat in Pate Valley at only 4,000 feet. I'd plan to climb out of that area in the morning, the earlier the better, if you possibly can. In more typical years, the side waterfalls are low or gone by August, but this year they should still be good. The permit Ranger will surely warn you about possibly seeing rattlers in the lower canyon as well.by Dave_Ayers - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
Closure map is located at Rush Creek Closure Mapby Dave_Ayers - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
I carry a sit pad anyways (such as Therm-a-Rest Lite Seat). At night I put some well folded spare clothes in a pillow case (such as the Therm-a-Rest trekker case) and place the sit pad inside over the clothes. Allows for height adjustment both via air pressure and the amount of clothing inside. Comfy and don't get numb ear.by Dave_Ayers - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Quotetomdisco Wow! I knew Yosemite had a lot more snow melt this year but I'm astounded that the Glen Aulin aluminum bridge is impassable. No wonder stream crossings are such a challenge right now. The bridge over the Tuolumne River which has the metal side rails is in good shape, though some wading may need to be done past the north end. Various hikers have been across it and through that aby Dave_Ayers - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
If you camp at the JMT/CR junction, there are a couple sites perhaps 100 feet elevation above the junction from where you can see the back side of Half Dome. Scramble up the hillside NE of the junction and scout around, you should be able to find them. I like them better than the lower sites plus fewer folks go up there. Also, most folks get water near the junction. From the higher campsite,by Dave_Ayers - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
Quotergliebe Keep in mind the bridge over Morrison Creek into the Glen Aulin HSC collapsed ... I think you meant the bridge over Conness Creek.by Dave_Ayers - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
QuoteParis92 Wow. Isn't that bridge the only way into that camp? One can cross-country from the bridge over the Tuolumne River above Tuolumne Falls over to the GA HSC along the north side of the river. Also, Conness Creek is not too forbidding later in the season. One could probably find a safe alternative crossing or wade after the big runoff subsides.by Dave_Ayers - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
QuoteDCHook ... What would you guys have done? (Other than not solo hike in the late afternoon.) ... DC I've had several dozen black bear encounters. I would have gotten excited to see another bear. Reached for my camera and taken pictures. Made sure it knew of my presence (by making noise). Enjoyed watching the bear and observing it's behavior. If it continued to block my path for some tby Dave_Ayers - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
Just curious about the protocol here, not intending to be critical . Why start a new thread?by Dave_Ayers - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
It's listed as inside the park boundary, so yes, that is after the last motel along 140, the Yosemite View Lodge (YVL), if one is heading into the park. It's about about one mile east of the park boundary per articles in the Merced Sun Star and SierraStar. That would be about 1.5 mi past the YVL.by Dave_Ayers - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
"The El Portal Road (continuation of Highway 140 into Yosemite Valley from El Portal) is closed due to rockfall" per https://www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/conditions.htm .by Dave_Ayers - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Last year the Hiker's Bus came down in the afternoon/evening. I don't see the 2017 schedule posted yet, but that should be an option again. http://www.travelyosemite.com/things-to-do/guided-bus-tours/ . As for Uber, I've no experience with them, but their estimator web site shows rates for Yosemite ...by Dave_Ayers - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
It depends. IIRC (those that know for sure, please correct me if I've got it wrong), hunting is legal only in Wyoming (not other neighboring states) and as of an April 26 court decision. Wyoming has 3 zones. The zone which surrounds the park is the Trophy Game Zone. In that zone permits are required and hunting is subject to quotas. I speculate that successful hunters are required to reportby Dave_Ayers - General Discussion
I last crossed it the end of May in '13 which was a dry year. It was a simple wade then, perhaps a foot deep and the creek was near its upper erosion level. You're going one month later in a wet year which makes it hard to say. But I doubt it'll be much problem as that creek is not generally big or fast flowing at that crossing. I do think there's a good chance you'll need to wade vs. rock hoby Dave_Ayers - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
There are several campsites and campable spots along Illilouette Creek near the Mono Meadow/Buena Vista trail junction. You will likely find fewer people on the north side of the creek if that is your preference, but that might involve some heavy wading in mid-June this year. Just scout around along the creek near the junction, spots are pretty obvious. I think there are campable spots at theby Dave_Ayers - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
It looks like a re-post of an old OARS blog post (original at https://www.oars.com/blog/16-must-see-national-park-sights-this-year/). Which doesn't help explain what route they are talking about ...by Dave_Ayers - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
Its not steep or hard to find. It is east of the trail at one of the bends east of the Illilouette Creek trail junction. It does slope down some from the trail to the cliff edge which is perhaps ~15 yards from the trail. This unnerves some folks, especially those with a fear of heights. But to get a full view of the fall requires approaching within about 10 feet of the edge. One can get abouby Dave_Ayers - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
I hope that isn't a picture taken by a person while driving. Or by a person stopped in the middle of the road to take a picture either. Folks, please drive safely and drivers please pull all the way off the road and stop in a safe place to take pictures.by Dave_Ayers - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Cloud's Rest is at 9930 feet elevation. So you'd be talking about snow shoeing in ~10 foot snowpack. To say the least, it's not easy slogging uphill in deep snow with some sections of trail, especially the last bit just before Cloud's Rest, being quite steep switchbacks. And you may well be trying to find a trail that nobody else has been on since the last snowfall or even longer with ducks, bby Dave_Ayers - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
Quotecalberry Does anyone have the current status of this project, or is there a web site for tracking progress? ... Nothing beyond what is posted at https://www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/roadwork.htm and the detour map linked to that page.by Dave_Ayers - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Along the trail to the top of Yosemite Falls. You go past the Columbia Rock point, turn the corner and wow, there are the falls. See for instance http://www.yosemitehikes.com/yosemite-valley/lower-yosemite-falls/gallery-gosh.htm .by Dave_Ayers - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
It does say they'll stop at the North Lake Road junction which is about a 2 mile walk to/from the North Lake campground and TH. See http://www.estransit.com/routes-schedule/community-routes/bishop-creek-shuttle/ .by Dave_Ayers - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Quotesnorkus ... Will Glacier Point bus be going yet? ... Unlikely. See the past opening dates at https://www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/seasonal.htm . The '96-'15 median is mid-may and this heavy snow year will likely push it to late May. Similar story with the 4-mile trail. It didn't open until June in '10-'11 which were semi-heavy snow years (less than this year).by Dave_Ayers - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
Obviously a very inspirational person. There is a bunch of stuff including a video interview on the Modesto Bee site. (Royal lived in Modesto for many years.) His autobiography "To Be Brave" is a worthy read. 3 volumes of the planned 5 have been published. Perhaps the other two will come out posthumously.by Dave_Ayers - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Back when there was a railing, there would be plenty of folks hanging half way over. Now, very few are willing to go close. Not sure if that was a desired effect or not.by Dave_Ayers - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
Maybe I'm missing something. You can type "Panoramic Point" into Google Maps or go to the SEKI driving map at https://www.nps.gov/seki/planyourvisit/upload/SEKImap3_2015.pdf and see it east of the General Grant Grove.by Dave_Ayers - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
Yes, Capitol Reef along with Grand Staircase-Escalante and also Bryce could fill a week or more with excellent hiking and caynoneering. REI Adventures has a great week long day-hike trip there. My preference would be to do them in late April vs. June for cooler weather, but YMMV.by Dave_Ayers - General Discussion
Beautiful, from the 120 tunnel air shaft opening I presume.by Dave_Ayers - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra