Mike, The pond in that picture was actually between the SF of Cathedral and the two ponds I mentioned. Right around the 9716 mark on the USGS maps. In this instance the picture was actually better than the real thing... sorta.. The pond itself was stagnant and brownish... with the reflections it looks so delightful... It is one of the pictures I actually have hanging in my house... Theby bill-e-g - General Discussion
If you look closely you will see 2 very small ponds before the switchbacks down to the May Lake Trail Jct. Those ponds are at about 9750ft. The camping there is very nice with just awesome views of Mt. Conness. It's a spot I'll go back to again, it was just so nice. I've been there twice, once in early july and once in late Sept. There was water aplenty both times. (still some snow in early Jby bill-e-g - General Discussion
Righto... I completely forgot about the "wild horses"... And I wanna know what River he boated down with a log. I do know this... if my butt was in the river I'd be toast... I can barely handle fording a river in the spring before my feet are in excruciating pain... My guess was that he was north of Kings Canyon... Anyway, dunno if anyone out there watches Survivor... some old ladby bill-e-g - General Discussion
Bear's "Sierra Nevada" episode was particularily LAME! "I'm lost... let's me jumpy on this log and float down the river..." and "I'm lost... I want to get down there... let me slide down this granite slope..." Ridiculous(ly stupid)by bill-e-g - General Discussion
No way there is any cell coverage at Red Devil. You might as well leave it in the car in nearly all of Yosemite. I'm fairly certain that it is self registration everywhere on the 28th so who know if he even talked to anyone. It certainly was (self reg) at Wawona and Big Oak. I've done Chiquito Pass/Post Peak/Red Peak/Merced Pass and back in late October... it ALL DEPENDS on the weather. ..by bill-e-g - General Discussion
Couldn't agree more Mike. A storm was 100% coming in on Halloween. Even my crazy self stayed away that weekend.by bill-e-g - General Discussion
3 Days: To be more explicit: Day 1: Drive to Happy Isles->Snow Creek->Olmsted->Tenaya Lake->camp Day 2: camp->Cathedral Lakes->Sunrise HSC->camp Day 3: camp->Nevada->Vernal->Happy Isles->Drive Home There is alot of snow on the north facing slopes. Alot more than what I expected... Here's a bunch more if you want to peek: <http://picasaweb.goby bill-e-g - General Discussion
When I did Roads End to Mt. Whitney and back this year Roads End was DESOLATE on Tues before Labor Day. When I got back on Saturday the place was an absolute ZOO! Every single campground on the way out was Full. Gas was ridonkulous and it was Labor Day... Even so I saw only a handful of people coming out from Lake Reflection. (took the trail south of the river) Also, nearly everyone I talby bill-e-g - General Discussion
You can put it if you really want. It seems everyone is already hibernating..by bill-e-g - General Discussion
You really don't need to copy everything I write. Just state that you have the BV350 and love it. I love the little itty bitty tiny bare boxer. Its 1lb 12oz and works a treat for me when I run around for 3 days. Others may hate it. The BV IMO are too big. I WANT something this small to fit in my smaller pack... the opening is 6 inches. I don't buy Mountain House type food so my caveman haby bill-e-g - General Discussion
Yes. Up Snow Creek to Olmsted to Tenaya Lake to Cathedral Lakes TH. (jumped on the road close to Olmsted and walked road to Sunrise TH) 1st night camped about 1/2 between Tenaya and TM. Took JMT from Cathedral Lakes TH down to Nevda Falls. and then Mist to Valley Floor. 2nd night camped south of Sunrise HSC at 9700 ft. 2nd day was difficult at best. Almost full snow because of the north faby bill-e-g - General Discussion
I have only seen the Garcia rented at Yosemite. Of course I could be wrong since I've never rented one. Own the Garcia (old and new), Ursuck (no mis-spelling here), and Bare Boxer. The Ursuck (ok, Ursack) .. used to be allowed, but what a piece of poo. If you really do have a bear come across it, it WILL grab it. On the VERY FIRST time I used it a Lyell Canyon bear put a bunch of holes in it aby bill-e-g - General Discussion
This was Saturday... Ok, so there was alot more snow than what I thought there would be... Anywhere from 6 inches to 2 feet all the way from Tenaya Lake to Sunrise High Sierra Camp.by bill-e-g - General Discussion
The color around Smith Station / Groveland Ranger Station on 120 was pretty incredible on Sunday... And with all the snow and the warming the waterfalls are spectacular again... plenty of mist on the mist trail... Post Edited (11-17-08 07:24)by bill-e-g - General Discussion
Since you did it to me: >>I think your hours are off Um, I don't think so for the summer. >>I'm pretty sure that Happy Isles or Glacier Point to Little Yosemite Valley is a trailhead that no other permit station would dare try Um..., ah..., that is what they did.... Glacier Point. >>The $5 reservation fee isn't bad I ain't talking about the reservation fee... Just to getby bill-e-g - General Discussion
1 more thing with the priority scheme. Say you want 10 Lakes and you show up at Tuolumne. TM opens at 7am and Big Oak opens at 8am. They are not suppose to even give you a 10 Lakes permit until 8am since Big Oak doesn't open until 8 and there could be people waiting there... However, your experience may vary as they don't always call to the "priority" office either. (we've run intby bill-e-g - General Discussion
You can get a permit from any wilderness station for any trailhead. Period. Yes, there is priority... they will call and ask if someone is waiting in line for the trailhead you are asking for. The nps.gov site really is chock full of info. Ten Lakes has priority for the Tioga Rd. (big oak entrance). Here is the info right from the nps.gov/yose site: "Permits are also available at any perby bill-e-g - General Discussion
Dear Mr. President, Please take the Ledge Trail on your bike. Damn, why is this necessary?!?! There are plenty of trails to ride bikes on. Just look a little bit and find them. Is it possible for the park manager to take the wilderness designation off of the area around a trail so that a bike can go on it? I hope not. Also, I hate when they write articles like this because itby bill-e-g - General Discussion
Little visited Bear Valley Lake. Worth every bit of effort. This was last Tuesday. Post Edited (10-11-08 07:03)by bill-e-g - General Discussion
We've had this discussion before. Can I say "I told you so"? >I've never ever needed a parking permit for Yosemite. >Ok, maybe in the Valley. Never anywhere else.by bill-e-g - General Discussion
The guy in LYV is undoubtedly coming back from dropping some delicious lemonaide off at Merced HSC. Dude, if you are going crap all over the trails can you at least bring some cold cervas too?!?!? Well, I guess at least it's not as bad as Kennedy Poopfilled Meadows. Ahh... Benson and the sound of cowbells in the dead of night... Sweet Dreamsby bill-e-g - General Discussion
Ok, here is another one... Ranger/Snow Cabin at Lake Vernon up Falls Creek to Jack Main Canyon. Seriously, noone out there knows any others? As they say... It's all gone horribly quiet.by bill-e-g - General Discussion
I think it's kinda like when you really like a girl you will go to great extremes to see her. Done it many times. Mt. Dana, Clouds Rest, Wawona Grove/Chilnualna Falls, Valley Hikes/Taft Pt./Sentinal Dome. Heck, one time last year I had my full pack... hiked 15 miles... still only 3pm... only 5 miles to car... late October... hiked back to car and drove back home to the wife.. So ended up doiby bill-e-g - General Discussion
It's approx. 3 1/2 miles the way they went. Their route is south of Saddlebag so no boat ride is available.by bill-e-g - General Discussion
You pass a pond and then a creek approx 4 miles from the TH. Clouds is approx 2 1/4 miles beyond this point. No water after the creek.by bill-e-g - General Discussion
Here's Mike getting to top of Clouds Rest. Tenaya Lake in background... and, o wow, you can almost see TM! (yes, another dig on that "silly" HD article) Also, on this trip we got snowed on and someone didn't bring a tent. (hint, he is in the picture)by bill-e-g - General Discussion
Frank, The Valley isn't as enclosed as you think. The bears are anything but trapped there. They can easily walk up Indian Canyon or up past Rockslides, etc. If walk the old Big Oak Flat road you will probably encounter one.. there are a huge number of Black Oaks in that area.. Anywhere where there is a large concentration of people there continues to be problem bears. This is a human proby bill-e-g - General Discussion
I forgot how much complete and utter crap is on YouTube. Thanks, now I have something to do at work today.by bill-e-g - General Discussion
All 3 of those creeks will have "some" water. i.e. enough for you to fill up your water bottles... some small pools at least... If you are hiking up Yosemite Creek and then up the trail.. (the old Tioga Rd to Porc Flat...) be aware that that trail is not maintained. I would recommend hiking back to the North Dome TH whichever way you like and beg for a ride. Since you are finishingby bill-e-g - General Discussion