v_p_w, Actually, it would appear the no overnight backpack camping area is rather extensive according to the National Geographic Trials Illustrated Maps. South of TM it extends to within 1/4 mile around the north side of Lower Cathedral Lake, south of Unicorn Peak, south of Elizabeth Lake, and down Lyell Canyon within 1/2 mile of the Evelyn Lake trail. With the exception of the specific backpaby tomdisco - General Discussion
Ron, After some careful thought I've revised the hike schedule to accomodate realities of my age, altitude adjustment and distances I may not be up to. Hoffman has been dropped entirely. The first day will be the short hike to Gaylor and Granite Lakes. Follow-up will be the 2-nighter in the Glen Aulin area w/ Waterwheel Falls which will be my lowest altitude trek. The toughest day will be Caby tomdisco - General Discussion
Thank you for the clarification. Jimby tomdisco - General Discussion
Guess it behooves us to request a parking permit for all overnighters. Another item I spotted on the PDF of regulations was no camping within 4 miles of any trailhead. That does not affect me in any way but it's one I was not aware of. Jimby tomdisco - General Discussion
I'm experiencing a little confusion regarding parking in the general Lembert Dome area. As I understand it Lembert Dome parking lot is the one closest to Soda Springs, Wilderness Center parking lot is south of Tioga Road directly opposite Lembert Dome, and Dog Lake parking lot is halfway between the Wilderness Center and the Toulumne Lodge parking lot. The park website for Trailhead quota infoby tomdisco - General Discussion
Time for a toll booth on the Happy Isles trail? Backpacker's-----------------------------FREE Day hikers------------------------------$15.00 Fuel sur-charge--------------------$ 2.00 Maintenance sur-charge---------$ 5.00 Cell tower sur-charge------------$ 6.00 Laptop hook-up charge----------$ 5.00 Box lunch delivery-----------------$13.00 Medical stations----by tomdisco - General Discussion
Bill, Prior to our Yosemite trip in June I bought a pair of Merrill Vibram sole air cushion light hikers and broke them in on local hikes near home. I was pleased that there were no blisters and I used a single pair of REI expensive hiking socks. I don't know how these shoes and socks will hold up to a 40-lb pack and was thinking a pair of backpacking boots would be needed for next year for grby tomdisco - General Discussion
y_p_w, Given the choice between TM backpacker's campground and Lee Vining, I would take the motel. As far as Yosemite Valley is concerned I will not be in that portion of the park at all for this trip. Everything will be done from the Mono Lake/Tioga Road end. For years we always did the valley, saw the same sites, and climbed Vernal & Nevada Falls. In June my wife and I did this agaiby tomdisco - General Discussion
Bill, I'm well aware that a 2,050' climb to the 10,850' summit of Hoffman on the first day may not be to smart for a 64-year old, no matter how good a shape I think I might be in. My thinking was that if I don't get that out of the way the first day that I may not want to at all later. The last 2 days in the park are designated for day hikes. Considerations are North Dome/Indian Rock, Sby tomdisco - General Discussion
Ron, I hear you on distances. Unfortunately, I live about 500' above sea leavel in NC so nearly anything in the way of serious hiking in Yosemite is a challenge. I'll be operating out of Lee Vining and summiting Mt. Hoffman is planned for my first day on a Sunday followed by the 2-nighter in the Glen Aulin area. Pacing myself and proper hydration are absolute priorities. At my age after thoby tomdisco - General Discussion
More cables? Come one; come all. Bring all your neighbors. Make sure it's a weekend w/ threatening weather. Get started at 10AM. Beat your brains out on a liesurely 16-mile RT stroll up a 4,436' traffic jam. Wear flip-flops. Please--no food or water. Manic depressives--cut your trip miles in half! Optional items: Umbrellas and lightening arresters. Whoopee! Couldn't resist. Jimby tomdisco - General Discussion
Another Albert Einstien quote: "The difference between genius and stupidity is that genius has its limits"! Jimby tomdisco - General Discussion
O.K., guys. I've already heard enough to change my plans regarding HSC's. The trip to Waterwheel Falls will be on a Glen Aulin pass-through permit instead of Glen Aulin itself. I'll camp somewhere within a mile one way or another to avoid the idiots. As for the 3-nighter, I've replanned my first 2 nights for camping about 1.2 miles beyond both Sunrise and Merced Lake. This also reduces the aby tomdisco - General Discussion
Thanks, Jon. The 3-nighter I've planned just makes Sunrise, Merced and Vogelsang logical destinations for each day but I would like to stay flexible. The toughest part of that circle trip will be Merced Lake to Boothe Lake near Vogelsang, 9.5 miles and essentially all uphill. I may stay at Sunrise and Merced but have to allow for the possibility of running out of steam before Boothe Lake. Thby tomdisco - General Discussion
For the Yosemite high country backpacking veterans what is your preference? Do you plan your trips around use of the High Sierra backpacker's campsites when possible or do you prefer the privacy and solitude of your own off-trail sites? Also, are bear intrusions far less likely away from the High Sierra sites? I'm planning on some overnighters next July near Glen Aulin, Sunrise, Merced, and Voby tomdisco - General Discussion
There you go, Jon. The man found it actually has a name and a very appropriate one at that. It's 200' below Lembert Dome. Jimby tomdisco - General Discussion
jdamscroder, Sorry to pick on you; just could not resist regarding Tuolumne Meadows. When looking north the meadow is behind the sharp points of Cathedral and Echo peaks and a couple thousand feet lower in elevation. As for the weekend crowds on Half Dome it appears this is a prime example of our parks being loved to death. I agree there are just too many people up there at one time, some ofby tomdisco - General Discussion
He probably thinks Tuolumne Meadows is the grassy area in Yosemite Valley! Should we really burst his bubble? Jimby tomdisco - General Discussion
Jon, I'm not sure what dome you are referring to unless it's the one on the north side of Lembert that you can access from the trail just before coming out of the woods. You look that way from the edge of the woods and see a sheet of granite covered with lots of erratics left by the last glaicer. Looking down on it from the top of Lembert makes the end of it look like a dome. We used the traby tomdisco - General Discussion
This is a minor point regarding Lembert Dome but still worth knowing if you have never been up there. Don't make the same mistake I did in July. Having nobody else in sight to tell me the way I ended up climbing the top portion of the dome from the same direction as the trail out of the woods. Turns out that's the steepest way to go! One should traverse around the left (eastern) side just belby tomdisco - General Discussion
Couldn't help see some references to Tenaya Canyon. Other than officially recognized trails such as Mirror Lake and the Snow Creek Falls trail southwest of Mt. Watkins, National Geographic "Trails Illustrated Map" has a warning about Tenaya Canyon. It says, "Hiking in Tenaya Canyon is dangerous and strongly discouraged". On somebody's photos posted on another site I could sby tomdisco - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Mike, Actually, I would hope to plan my pack well enough not to have to rely on any extras at all. I thought I might take advantage of additional snacks if available (if I was feeling food greedy) but perhaps this would be a good time to trim the old waistline. Jimby tomdisco - General Discussion
Mike, My stove is a very old Bluet S 200 that uses the standard 4" high gas cylinders still available today. If there are indeed such supplies available in Lee Vining that's certainly the way I will go. Thanks for the info. Jimby tomdisco - General Discussion
In the trail book "Hiking Yosemite National Park" there are references to emergency supplies and snacks available at places like Glen Aulin, Sunrise, Merced Lake and Vogelsang at posted hours. I am unable to find any link to what these posted hours may be from any Yosemite website. Anybody know? Thanks. Jimby tomdisco - General Discussion
Sorry to place this question here but it's pertinant to a planned Yosemite trip next year. Does anyone know if airlines have prohibitions regarding backpacker's small gas cylinders on checked baggage? I'll be flying into Reno and using Lee Vining as a base for Tioga Road trailheads. I don't want to have to search for a gas cylinder in a small town nor do I want to drive all the way to the stoby tomdisco - General Discussion