You're very welcome, parklover. These first 2 of the 5 reports cover fairly well-known destinations, although they are in an isolated area of the park and don't receive heavy visitation. But these do both make for great destinations with minimal hiking. The final 3 reports will cover hiking destinations to mostly undocumented areas. The second report from my trip to see the 2016 Superblooby SteveHall - General Discussion
Thanks for the article. I hadn't heard about any of these. Most of the same issues come up every year, with slight variations. I'm wondering how long it will take someone to publish a Death in Death Valley book similar to the Death in Yosemite book.by SteveHall - General Discussion
Being that I have noticed quite a bit of interest in Death Valley by various forum members here, I thought I would go ahead and share my new 2016 Death Valley Superbloom reports with you as they are released. I had a chance to visit Death Valley during the peak of the Superbloom back in February. In order to get the best photography and experience the most variety of wildflowers, I visited andby SteveHall - General Discussion
I recently returned from hiking in Maui and Molokai, so I thought I should go ahead and publish the full report of the Napau Trail and Naulu Trail loop hike (as I referenced in my post above). This is another good hike for those visiting the Big Island. Napau Trail & Naulu Trail (Hawaii Volcanoes NP) -- http://www.panamintcity.com/hawaii/bigisland/napautrail.htmlby SteveHall - General Discussion
Balzaccom, I'm not too keen on the Through-Granite Canyons loop, otherwise I'd recommend it under my backpacking destinations on my Recommended DV Hikes page. I suppose it's a good extremely easy loop hike for those who have never hiked in the Owlsheads. It's just that the scenery is so much better in the surrounding canyons. I think my backpacking suggestion to do Sand Canyon to Owl Lake (camby SteveHall - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
Hey balzaccom, I just looked through your full set of pictures and noticed you did indeed see some Desert Five-Spots and quite a variety of other wildflowers. I see you've done quite a few of the better known canyons in the park with good narrows and scenery. I would definitely suggest going into Funeral Slot Canyon next time. The ranger was right that it can be a bit tricky to find, but ifby SteveHall - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
Nice job on your trip, balzaccom. You put together an excellent Death Valley trip. Not sure if you noticed, but there are three major natural bridges in Sidewinder Canyon (one each in the three "official" slots). That's also a good canyon to see Desert Five-Spots in the upper main canyon. Here is a special database page that I created showing Death Valley's major natural bridges:by SteveHall - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
Hey David, I looked over your pictures. You got a nice variety of wildflowers and really searched out some nice areas. My drive to DV is 10 hours one-way. So it's not exactly convenient to take short trips down there. This last time out, I flew into McCarran and rented a car for 3 days to save time.by SteveHall - General Discussion
I was just there last weekend and got some great pictures. Don't have any new reports written up as-of-yet, but the new header image on my web site shows the Superbloom below Ashford Peak. The Ashford Peak area was definitely not in decline yet, but probably soon. http://www.panamintcity.com/by SteveHall - General Discussion
The old west townsite of Hill Valley from Back to the Future part III Swimming in the Rainbow Pool and watching nuts jump off the rocks (often dangerously) Waiting in long lines at the entrance gate sometimesby SteveHall - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Very nice pictures. Looks amazing. I was at that same area 4 weeks ago and there were only a few patches of Desert Gold showing on the small hills near Ashford Mill. We also found some in the Owlsheads when we did our hike of the Smoke Tree Slots a few miles to the south.by SteveHall - General Discussion
That was adorable. Thanks for posting it.by SteveHall - General Discussion
That's a terrible and costly development for the Scotty's Castle area. The flooding will definitely impact hiking plans this upcoming hiking season (which for me is usually Nov to May).by SteveHall - General Discussion
Thanks for the tip, wherever. You're absolutely right and hopefully everyone considering this hike will take your good advice into account.by SteveHall - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
I finally got around to completing my in-depth report on our hike to the Diving Board. This is my fifth report on Yosemite and the first one I've done in the past three years (too busy hiking other places). Special thanks to chick-on for his help and willingness to share critical information to make the hike a success. I hope you enjoy the report and photos. Yosemite Diving Board trip reporby SteveHall - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Thanks to chick-on's extensive knowledge of the area, I recently completed a very successful hike to the Diving Board via the zero exposure route. I should have a full trip report written up within a week or so and I will post it here.by SteveHall - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
y_p_w, The only standard accepted hikes in DV in the summer are Wildrose Peak and Telescope Peak. I've done a few other high elevation summer peak hikes there, but these days I stay away because it's just not enjoyable to hike in 90F+ heat all day.by SteveHall - General Discussion
Hey parklover, As it turns out I'm going to be hiking in Goblin in a couple days with a forecast of the low 90s. Planning to start early and hopefully be out of there by 11 or 12:noon. Can't imagine trying to hike those slot canyons in 105 but at least there is some shade in there.by SteveHall - General Discussion
Sounds like they were fortunate. Short summer hikes down in the valley need to be over by 9am or earlier, not started at that time. Or better off, not done at all. I can't believe they were trying to hike in 120.by SteveHall - General Discussion
Interesting information. When I read the topic title, I thought for sure that was going to mean less services, not more. I generally stay out of the park between early June and late October.by SteveHall - General Discussion
I did a massive amount of research before my trip a few months ago and came up with this as the best hike on the Big Island. It truly delivered and was an amazing day hike (but would have been better as a backpacking trip). Waimanu Valley (Muliwai Trail) -- http://www.panamintcity.com/hawaii/bigisland/waimanuvalley.html I did a second hike there, but haven't yet finished up the trip reporby SteveHall - General Discussion
Hey chick-on, just found the report you were referencing. So I take it there is zero exposure if the LYV to Lost Lake route is followed correctly? I had gotten caught up looking at the Diving Board route options discussion one year ago on here which showed the routes out of the Emerald Pool area. That route appears well documented. Not sure if it is doable though at this time of year.by SteveHall - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
Thanks for the report, basilbop. Looks like I will be following in your footsteps once again (as with the Kalalau Trail and then the Big Island).by SteveHall - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
Thank you, Sierra Miguel. So looking at those charts, on a normal year like 2011, the flow might have been too high to cross in mid-June? Whereas, in this year, it is probably safe to cross even right now? I have a hard time figuring out which level is the danger zone in looking at those charts.by SteveHall - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
That's right, chick-on, I was referring to coming out at the dam parking area. That last section of the hike has the waterfalls which swept some hikers to their death a few years back. So I want to make sure that the very end is safe to get across and I wouldn't get stuck backtracking for endless miles. I think we will do this backpack in mid-June if all agree it will be clear by that time.by SteveHall - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
Thanks for sharing this story, eeek. I hadn't heard about it until you posted it. Kind of an odd place to get trapped as it is so heavily traveled. Nearby hikers must have been able to hear him screaming for help.by SteveHall - General Discussion
Thanks for the update. I'll be there in a couple weeks so I will check out the improvements.by SteveHall - General Discussion
I purchased some Bear Spray from the large hotel's sporting shop which is at Lake Louise. We just carried that with us everywhere. One other really good hike which I researched but didn't carry out was Sentinel Pass out of nearby Moraine Lake. That hike sometimes requires groups of four due to the bear activity. If you don't have four, there is a sign where you must stop and wait at for somby SteveHall - General Discussion
Glad the site was able to help you with your trips, ttilley.by SteveHall - General Discussion
I've got 3 suggestions for hikes in this area which you might find helpful. I've got trip reports written on all of them. And they were all fantastic. But there are many more options. The hikes are: Plain of Six Glaciers, Bow Glacier Falls, and the Berg Lake Trail in Mount Robson.by SteveHall - General Discussion