eeek wrote: > Weekend before last the crowds seemed light and I noticed more > tents than usual in the Valley campgrounds. > I hope you're right. Memorial Day Weekend was an utter zoo, the worst I'd ever seen it.by bpnjensen - General Discussion
The hiker's parking lot is *about* halfway between Curry Village and Happy Isles, which means it is not far from either one. If you are willing to hike up Half Dome, the 2,000 horizontal feet or so between the lot and Happy Isles won't matter much. Parking there at 5:30 AM and hiking would be an ideal way to start. Regarding taking your bikes - for this short hop it would not be worthwhile - bby bpnjensen - General Discussion
As an alternative, one could also take the train from Oakland to Merced or Fresno and then bus into the park. It would not need to be a tour perse if you wanted to freelance the trip. Right now, I don't think a full size bus can get through on 140 at the slide, so Fresno might be only option, unless there is a small YARTS bus that could get you from Mariposa into the Valley. Then, however, youby bpnjensen - General Discussion
Sierrafan wrote: > You told him you were staying at the campground, and he > specifically told you that you'd have to pay? I'd have raised > a stink about that... I don't mind paying a small fee for a shower that I am not otherwise paying for (upkeep isn't free, after all) - but $5? That seems steep.by bpnjensen - General Discussion
Lucrativ wrote: > that has always been there . i think it was meant to be THE > (mist-trail/JMT) trail , but a blunder happened of some kind . > rule of thumb : follow the pavement . > ??? It really starts to switchback up that steep mountainside...it certainly would not go anywhere near the base of Vernal Fall. My first impression was it it might be a trail to Grizzly Peak or anby bpnjensen - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
Hi - after walking up and down the JMT/Mist Trail for decades, the other day I noticed the remnants of a broad trail, with substantial retaining-wall rockwork, that left the portion of the JMT near the crest of the initial 0.75-mile climb (across from Illillouette Fall) just before it drops down to the Vernal Fall Bridge. This was a surprise to me, but hopefully not to others here. I followed iby bpnjensen - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
Hi, Steve - did you use the Horse Trail to access the pathway up the gorge?by bpnjensen - General Discussion
In general, I try to go slow, certainly no faster than the speed limit, and when visibility is poor or there appears to be a significant risk of hitting an animal, slower than the limit. This is a national park, for heaven's sake - it isn't the Indy 500 or the Autobahn, where there's nothing to enjoy but other cars. I let people go by as often as feasible, if they are in a hurry - but I don't nby bpnjensen - General Discussion
I was there in January - before the major snowfalls. It was slightly snowy, but otherwise easy enough to navigate. I expect to visit again in a couple of weeks, hopefully with some new recruits :-)by bpnjensen - General Discussion
y_p_w wrote: > bpnjensen wrote: > > > These problems do not occur in areas with better ventilation > > overall. I can see why Zion Canyon would experience this, > and > > why the Teton campsites would not *usually* have this > problem. > > Well - the program at the Watchman campground was in an > amphitheater set up in the campground. I suppose a narrowby bpnjensen - General Discussion
y_p_w wrote: > The problem with Yosemite is that it's just too crowded. It > might be better in some areas where the density of campgrounds > isn't as high as the Pines Campgrounds. This is part of the problem, to be sure, but the topography and meterology of the Valley is as big an issue. The evening comes, and diluting breezes tend to shut down - the generally westerly airflow, cby bpnjensen - General Discussion
eeek wrote: > I really like that area: > > > > > It is really beautiful, I love camping there. A little dangerous, though - there are quite a few fishlines and fishhooks leftover and lying around - watch out if you go barefoot into the creek!by bpnjensen - General Discussion
Did we not once hear that the Plan was to remove some bridges across the Merced, including this one? I recall that I was horrified at the time, and I am glad that they are doing improvements instead of removal.by bpnjensen - General Discussion
Guess it takes a lot of words to do a lot of damage ):-(by bpnjensen - General Discussion
There are also some nice trips to be had out of the Chilnualna Falls trailhead on Memorial Day or thereabouts. It's a good early-season area, very pretty, although it takes a day to get to the expansive scenery. Buena Vista Lake and Peak is a nice second-day target, and then you can ad-hoc as you like. Chilnualna Falls itself is gorgeous in May.by bpnjensen - General Discussion
That's really a shame. Can't replace a thing like that. :-(by bpnjensen - General Discussion
wbmyosemite wrote: > In addition to Lucrativ's excellent recommendation of the Taft > Point Hike, if the Glacier Point Road is open, another easy and > scenic hike is Sentinel Dome. There are some great views from > the top and it is a relatively easy hike and not too far. Plus > you can use the same parking area for Taft Point. Here is a > link to information about the hikeby bpnjensen - General Discussion
y_p_w wrote: > eeek wrote: > > > >but one paparazzi-wannabee... > > > > The first time I went to Yellowsone I found myself quite > > rapdily disgusted at the antics of many of the photographers. > > Especially the ones with their big, giant white Canon > telescope > > lenses that still felt they had to molet the elk to get a > shot. > >by bpnjensen - General Discussion
Lucrativ wrote: > valley floor...snow creek trail to north dome...yosemite falls > ... eagle peak ...el cap ..... and back down yosemite falls > trail to valley Do you have a feel for how long this hike is? ;-) At least you can take the shuttle bus the last 1.5 miles if you get tired at the end! Make sure you do this on June 21!by bpnjensen - General Discussion
y_p_w wrote: > I have heard of cases in Yellowstone where there are grizzlies > with cubs that don't seem to be raiding campsites and hang > around areas with people. The rangers know which bears these > are and I've heard that depending on the situation they'll let > people get closer to them than their normal recommendations > (100 yds I think). It's still a matter oby bpnjensen - General Discussion
Are you referring to a camping reservation? Right now, most of the Valley campsites are booked for the period you want to visit, especially the weekend - there are other options nearby, or you could go on a daily basis to the camping reservation booth at Ciurry Village to see if there have been any cancellations. Sort of a hassle, but Yosemite Valley is a super-popular place to camp...by bpnjensen - General Discussion
ryandasan wrote: > Myself and two friends are heading to Yosemite for the first > time on May 1 for 4 days. We're all in decent shape and are > fairly experienced hikers. We're wrestling with where to spend > our time. We'd prefer to do 1 long loop (thinking only 9 or 10 > mile a day) instead of several day hikes. We're also trying to > balance finding a trail that's not ovby bpnjensen - General Discussion
Shining_smiling wrote: > hi folks.. > > i m planing to book a tent in Curry Village- April last week.. > I was not sure if i would need Heated or non heated tents.. Its > the first time i trying out tents.. What do u guys suggest? Bring plenty of your own bedding, be prepared for chilly nights, and an unheated cabin ought to be fine. I have camped there many times in March andby bpnjensen - General Discussion
Hikes that are not frequently mentioned, but that are really excellent when taken on their own terms, are the Valley floor hikes. They involve walking over a combination of old paved and dirt trails, only gentle ups and downs, and they take you to views that are by turns spectacular and intimate. Here you find a beautiful oak-strewn meadow by the river, there a view of a giant waterfall; here aby bpnjensen - General Discussion
Nice bear pictures! The cubs are great!by bpnjensen - General Discussion
eeek wrote: > The El Capitan Shuttle has begun limited service from the > Visitor's Center and Camp 4 to the El Capitan Picnic Area. > Service operates daily every thirty minutes from 9:00 to 6:00. > > After the construction is completed along Northside Drive, the > Shuttle will expand to include the remaining stops at the > cross-over and the four mile trail head. >by bpnjensen - General Discussion
Here is another option - it may be worth your while to try a few days in Sequioa National Park, about 4 hours south of Yosemite, and then a few days at Yosemite to finish up. Walking through the giant trees and flower strewn-meadows, seeing Crystal Cave, watching deer and bear and huge pileated woodpeckers in the forest, and walking the gentle glacial valley extending from the Lodgepole Campgrouby bpnjensen - General Discussion
How long will you be in the park? Hodgdon Meadow and Wawona are still showing some campsites midweek during July - check this link: http://yosemitesites.com/camping/reservations/California/Yosemite/21 They are only a 40-minute ride from the Valley. Be aware that Bridalveil Creek will become available at some point, and there are other first-come first-served campsites in Tuolumne Meadows, aby bpnjensen - General Discussion
bgreen414 wrote: > 1. Mariposa Grove -- Will the road still be closed by the third > week in April? If so, will walking the road entail hiking > through a lot of snow? Not sure - it depends on the snow amount and whether it gets plowed. I would not count on it. Hiking on the road at this point in time should not be bad - it is a gentle grade and the snow will probably be mostly, ifby bpnjensen - General Discussion
Don't listen to Vince, he's a grump ;-) Just enjoy his photo! The stretch between top of the falls and Eagle Peak is largely wooded. At first you walk along Yosemite Creek above the fall, which is pleasant, then veer westward into the forest, where you remain until about 500-1,000 feet before you reach the summit (which comes upon you without much warning). Not many expansive views between toby bpnjensen - General Discussion