To respond to David, with all due respect, I've always followed the adage, "Hike your own hike." I hike at fast pace and take few breaks because I enjoy doing it that way. It's a challenge for me to best times I had 20 years ago when I was in my 20's. If people wish to hike slowly, pause, reflect, take photos, all the more power to them. I don't question their pace or their purpose,by Ulysses61 - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
I think by far the most scenic way is to park your car at Cathedral Lake trailhead and then go up to Sunrise, then walk on the JMT, down the Mist Trail and end up in Happy Isles. It's 21 miles one way, but only about 2500 elevation gain in this direction. I do this hike several times a year, overnight at Curry Village and then hike back the next day. The second day's elevation gain is substanby Ulysses61 - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
The chances of Yosemite being closed are virtually nil. While in a store on Friday, I heard the guy sitting in for Rush Limbaugh telling listeners that the US might "sell off Yellowstone." All of that is ridiculous and absurd. Yosemite is not going to close whether the debt ceiling is raised or not.by Ulysses61 - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
The people who are so selfish and ignorant as to leave bird feeders out in bear country are the ones who should be hazed and shot in the butt with a stun gun. The bears would not be attracted to these human domiciles if they were closing their windows and not having human food outside. I hope to God this poor bear doesn't have to be destroyed because of the imbecilic actions of a few people.by Ulysses61 - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
I would safely say I am obsessed with Yosemite. I first visited as an 18 year old to hike in the 1980's and since 1988, I have spent almost every weekend from July to Nov (or Oct, depending on the snow), ever since. I have missed the occasional weekend due to fatigue or illness, but in 23 years, I have spent at least 30 days a year inside the park, every year except two years, when I had a brokenby Ulysses61 - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Two guys were selling Half Dome permits today outside the Mobil Gas Station on 395 in Lee Vining. This is where the Whoa Nellie cafe is located. I couldn't believe it! They just were standing there brazenly asking $50 for one permit. I didn't see anyone stopping to buy them.by Ulysses61 - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
I attempted to hike Ten Lakes this morning. I was surprised to see the parking lot on the other side of the trailhead closed, and there were no cars in the Ten Lakes parking lot. This is unhead of in July. Sadly, I got 1.05 miles onto the trail and began encountering snow... lots of it. There were footprints of people who have traversed the snow banks, but then there were large sections of basby Ulysses61 - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Thanks for the advice! I called Jeff, who was indeed very helpful. All the lakes are still frozen solid, no hiking yet.by Ulysses61 - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
The permit system weeds out people tremendously. So many of the unprepared people I have seen on the Half Dome trail were European or Asian tourists who had absolutely no idea what they were getting themselves into. But there were plenty of Americans too who were woefully unprepared as well. I have always gathered many or most just decide on a whim to hike Half Dome and set out clueless. Withoutby Ulysses61 - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Actually, the Reagan adminstration briefly flirted with the idea of erecting a type of funicular to the bottom of the Grand Canyon, an idea with I regard as sacreligious in the extreme. About Half Dome: I've hiked it probably 25 times in my life and I've never understood the obsession mostly unprepared people have to do it. There are better views from other summits (North Dome and Clouds Rest)by Ulysses61 - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Does anyone have any info on whether this trail is passable yet? I stopped at the Mono Lake Visitors Center and they had no updates. The trail begins a few miles from Conway summit on 395 and winds into Yosemite after 6 miles. Thanks in advance.by Ulysses61 - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
I'm glad you cancelled because it snowed in the High Country last night and snowed last night and this morning in the mountains above Mammoth. I was at 10,000 feet this morning above Big Pine and it snowed 2 inches and was 22 degrees.by Ulysses61 - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
I talked to the plow guy yesterday. They are plowing Coldwater this week, I saw the plowing in the Lake George campground. According to what the plow fellow told me, the campgrounds will be open Saturday for the 4th of July weekend. The camp hosts are in place in 2 of the closed campgrounds already, putting up the "reserved" tags on various camping spots, Snow everywhere, but I guess itby Ulysses61 - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
I drove yesterday from the Ranger Station on Tioga to Crane Flat and then turned around. In 30 years of being in Yosemite in late June, I have never seen snow like this. In fact, never anything close to this! The tent store is still not open, Touloume campground looks totslly flooded and I checked the stream crossing at Tenaya at Sunrise... I would not attempt it. There were no cars at the Mono Pby Ulysses61 - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Bruins, I am in Mammoth now and walked the 1.4 miles from the entrance of Coldwater to the Duck Pass trailhead. I was only able to go about 3/4 mile before encountering fairly heavy snow and also areas of deep water, so I turned around. I've hiked in Mammoth every year since 1992 and I have never seen snow this heavy in late June!by Ulysses61 - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Thank God they apparently were not killed, this is great news. Last year as I pulling out of the Sunrise trailhead parking lot, a yearling ran right out in front of my car. I was only driving about 10 MPH because I was just leaving, but I did graze the little fellow. My heart was in my throat and I felt sick to my stomach. Luckily, he seemed stunned and scampered to the side of the road. I waiby Ulysses61 - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Becca, I will be in the High Country all next week and will report back to you on conditions for North Dome.by Ulysses61 - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
My favorite hike in the high country is Clouds Rest, hands down. For my money, it has the best view in Yosemite, far superior to Half Dome. My second favorite is Youngs Lakes, that's 13 miles and beautiful. Third place is Ten Lakes. This is usually seen as a backpack, but I hike 12 miles in and turn around. Ten Lakes is the lake where I most often see bears. Last year I saw three bears in oby Ulysses61 - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
QuoteWho's in a hurry on Tioga Road I have to plead guilty on this but I feel I have somewhat of an excuse. I drive up every weekend from the LA area to Yosemite to hike from June-November. So I have 2 days to hike and 320 miles to drive home on Sunday. I do speed on Tioga (barely, maybe 5-10 miles over), but I do speed on 395. I always get at least 2 tickets a year on 395 in the summer and fby Ulysses61 - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Going up to Duck Pass will not be possible. You can't access the trailhead because Coldwater is closed and there is no way that campground is opening by next week. The snow there was heavy in the campground, you can't drive in and the Duck Pass trailhead is about 2 miles from the beginning of Coldwater. I'm sorry I can't answer your question about the exact tenting conditions at lower Twin Lakby Ulysses61 - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Twin Lakes campground IS open, just upper TL is closed. Conditions not the best... patches of snow in shady places.by Ulysses61 - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Forget it. Sorry to be the bearer of bad tidings, but I spent the last 4 days in Mammoth. You can't access Coldwater Campground at all (snow), thus no access to Duck Pass. Lake McDonald, Upper Twin Lakes are also closed.by Ulysses61 - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
I actually think the best thing to eat at the Whoa Nellie is their chocolate cake, which is right underneath the cash register. However, one piece will run will the egregious price of $9.00! Their potato salad is also excellent and only $2.50.by Ulysses61 - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
You can forget hiking in the high country of Yosemite June 11-18. Tioga Road probably won't even be open and the trails with be buried in snow. That would include Clouds Rest, Youngs Lake, 10 Lakes Basin and anything out of Sunrise. You can hike on the Valley Floor... the Four Mile Trail is the gold standard of hikes there, IMO.by Ulysses61 - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
I've never, ever seen a wet crossing of Tenaya Lake in late August. And I usually hike Clouds Rest 3-4 times every August for may decades. You'll just have the stones and a dry bed.by Ulysses61 - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
In addition, as this sad article points out, conditions this Spring are especially dangerous: http://www.modbee.com/2011/05/16/1691287/2-die-in-yosemite-accidents.html Depending on the wind, a big hazard on the Mist Trail in high water years is that the spray from the falls which can temporarily blind a person. Such a tragic story.by Ulysses61 - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
CWS, I can hopefully answer your questions and allay your fears. I have hiked the Mist Trail at least 100 times in my life, in all sorts of conditions. I've hiked it with headlamps at 2:00 am and descended it many times on a Labor Day weekend when the trail was crammed with non-hikers who were sightseeing. The Mist Trail does have ropes in places, towards the top and also towards the botby Ulysses61 - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
The last time I saw Cathedral Lakes passable in mid-June was 1999. I would not do this unless you're experienced with snow conditions. There will be clear sections on the trail in the first mile, up the stone steps and there will be large clearing on the JMT above Upper Cathedral lakes (probably), but lots of this trail is in shade before the first stream crossing at apprx. 30 mins. Don't wantby Ulysses61 - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Obviously I know they always plow the road, they've been plowing it for 100 years. My point stands, if there is no more snowfall in May, the road should open in early to mid June. Epic snowfalls don't necessarily determine the opening date, LATE snow more determines that. Mark, I can't answer your question. I have never hiked Pohono in June, always wait till October.by Ulysses61 - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
"...will make it a very, very short summer season." Not necessarily at all. I have seen previous epic snowfall years where Tioga opened the first week in June. I have seen dry years where there happened to be a fairly large snowstorm in May which delayed the opening till late June. Assuming there is no additional snow, I see no reason why Tioga wouldn't open mid-June by the latest. Nby Ulysses61 - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion