Well, I'll make it there someday I'm sure. When we went to Sequoia, we drove up the General's Highway and camped at the Lodgepole campground, and took some hikes including up to Heather Lake. It was very pretty, but it doesn't have the grandeur and drama of Yosemite. The trees are very impressive there.by Bob Weaver - General Discussion
Cool thanks. The town of Idylwild, California is sometimes called "The Yosemite of the South" because there is a large rock there (Tahquitz Peak) popular with rock climbers and the mountain is forested and it snows there. But it doesn't even begin to compare with Yosemite, in my opinion, as far as scenery goes. It's as if you took a tiny, insignificant sample of Yosemite and dropped itby Bob Weaver - General Discussion
I've been wanting to go to Kings Canyon for years but so far have only made it to Sequoia. From pictures it appears that the Cedar Grove and Zumwalt Meadows area of Kings Canyon is sort of like a miniature Yosemite Valley but with not as many waterfalls.by Bob Weaver - General Discussion
It reminds me a lot of Muir Woods National Monument.by Bob Weaver - General Discussion
Wow - what a photoby Bob Weaver - General Discussion
One possible plan would be: Arrive Friday on the 120 (Big Oak Flat entrance). Get a campsite at the Crane Flat campground. There is a gas station and store at Crane Flat with friendly, helpful employees. Eat your dinner while it's still light in the Tuolumne Grove of sequoias which is right nearby. Next day spend most of the day in Yosemite Valley, and for the sunset drive up to Glacier Point. Dby Bob Weaver - General Discussion
These are all good suggestions. Since you are coming into the park on the 120, you could take the 1-mile hike to the Tuolumne Grove and then not have to drive all the way to the southern end of the park to the Mariposa Grove, if you want to walk through a grove of sequoia trees. For detailed information on each specific hike, that would help you choose which hikes you want to take, you may waby Bob Weaver - General Discussion
There's another tread active in this forum right now about camping at Tuolumne Meadows. It's hard to say whether you can get a space on a walk-in basis, but you might call and see what the availability is like. It is a large campground with something like 300+ sites. There is a free shuttle bus in the Tuolumne Meadows area, which has a total 12 stops, with Olmstead Point at one end and Tulolumneby Bob Weaver - General Discussion
The roads are good in Yosemite but it is almost entirely mountain driving (endless curve after curve after curve). There is no gas station in Yosemite Valley so you have to plan carefully. There are gas stations at Wawona and Crane Flat, but the price is approximatly 50 cents per gallon higher than in the towns just outside the park. You can see quite a bit of the park if you go to Mariposa Groveby Bob Weaver - General Discussion
That's funny because we drove that road on June 3 and I don't remember it being in bad condition or any potholes or "rough spots" on the road. Too bad about the closing of that restroom at Chinquapin because that is the best-located restroom I've ever seen at any park. You always arrive at it just as you are seriously consdiering pulling over to water a tree.by Bob Weaver - General Discussion
OK, here's my signage. HALF DOME TRAILHEAD Please follow all instructions carefully. ---- Step 1. Don't. The end. ---- Views of the waterfalls are superior at Glacier Point and Wasburn Point, which you can drive to. Unobstructed 360-degree views of the Sierras can be had at Sentinel Dome, which requires only a 1-mile hike with only a 300-foot elevation gain. While you're hereby Bob Weaver - General Discussion
Silly me... I keep forgetting this is the 17th century. Thanks for the reminder.by Bob Weaver - General Discussion
Wouldn't you think that if they can make it to the flat area before the bottom of the cables, they are probably fit enough to do the cables? The "staircase from hell" part right before that is pretty grueling and if they can make it up that, then rest before starting the cables, they should probably be able to handle the cables, from a fitness standpoint. That would be a pretty good tesby Bob Weaver - General Discussion
If you download the high-resolution version from earthobservatory you can even spot portions of Tioga Road.by Bob Weaver - General Discussion
I couldn't even get a signal in Oakhurst unless I went to the 4th floor of the hotel (T-mobile). So I didn't even try in the park...by Bob Weaver - General Discussion
Thanks for contributing to the positive friendly atmosphere.by Bob Weaver - General Discussion
Something I've been wondering after reading all these stories about Half Dome: how are these 911 calls being made? I thought there was no cell phone service in Yosemite.by Bob Weaver - General Discussion
Obviously there's only so much you can do to warn people. But it seems to me that the signage is a little remiss. They should have a warning sign at the beginning of the Mist Trail, so that people don't get all the way up to the start of the cables to realize they're unprepared. At the very least I would have a sign with a list of requirements for Half Dome, stating that you must wear hiking bootby Bob Weaver - General Discussion
Not even one Grand Canyon view included?by Bob Weaver - General Discussion
We were at Yellowstone Sept 26 through 29 last year, and Saturday the 28th was a free day there, and it was far more crowded than any other day. I'm surprised that the $25 (which Yellowstone/Grand Teton charges) makes such a big difference in how many people go, since it costs so much to get to that area in the first place and stay in motels, etc. What does the extra $25 mean when you already speby Bob Weaver - General Discussion
The park should enlist the aid of climbing experts to come up with a detailed sign, to post at the beginning of the Mist Trail and again at the base of the cables, on exactly what clothing, equipment, water and supplies are required to make the ascent and exactly how to ascend the cables safely. From what I can tell the only warning signs are those regarding lightning, and that's just one of manyby Bob Weaver - General Discussion
Go to: http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/IOTD/view.php?id=38800 Here's another: http://www.flickr.com/photos/x180/95259250/by Bob Weaver - General Discussion
It would be nice if people would donate the $20 anyway, to help the park out.by Bob Weaver - General Discussion
What's interesting to me is how much of it actually is bare granite.by Bob Weaver - General Discussion
Why would somebody want to go up Half Dome on a cloudy day in the first place? What view could you get? A view of gray clouds. By the way, the marmots that are sometimes seen on the top of Half Dome - do they live there all year or do they climb up? How do they get up there?by Bob Weaver - General Discussion
It will be argued over endlessly, until the day comes when (hopefully not) there is a catastrophic incident when parties who are 100% innocent are affected by parties at fault. For example, a person falling from the top of the cables knocks down other people who were obeying all rules and were properly prepared, and they all come down like a set of dominoes. Then the park service will have to doby Bob Weaver - General Discussion
Either they should eliminate the cables completely, preventing unqualified and unequipped people from attempting the climb, or else build something stable and secure, similar to the masonry stairway on Moro Rock in Sequoia National Park. Two masonry stairways, one up and one down, with non-metallic guardrails, and even safety nets every 30 feet to catch anyone that falls outside the railing. Eithby Bob Weaver - General Discussion
Thanks... that's good to know, would make a fun hike someday. I'm sure the waterfall is very picturesque with the peak in the background.by Bob Weaver - General Discussion
Thanks for the information. That helps a lot. On the Google Maps "terrain view" it is labeled Tenaya Creek, coming out of the lower Cathedral Lake and then skirting around Pywiack Dome, then it merges with another creek that comes off of Medlicott Dome, then is Tenaya Creek emptying into Tenaya Lake. The waterfall must be on one of those 2 creeks that merge. The one that comes from Medlby Bob Weaver - General Discussion