The trailhead from Meeks Bay looks like it might make heading for these lakes a reasonable day-ski for novice bc skiers like myself. Except for possible avalanches on those 1000 foot slopes early on in the hike. Otherwise, it looks on the map like pretty gradual elevation gain the whole way. Since I'm looking to cover miles rather than ski big bowls, this is the kind of trail I'm interested in.by hegel - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Yes that basin looks fantastic even from the trail. It looks like there may be some benches to the left of Lyell that 'might' connect up to the basin; was following the stream brushy or pretty easy? the only thing about that basin is, you hope for no lightning! I don't think that I could keep up with your hiking pace. From Isberg TH to the pass is a pretty good climb.by hegel - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Katy: so from Isberg you followed the "high route" trail to the Lyell fork--just after a 1,000 foot 'down'--and followed it upstream to the basin there...correct? Or did you leave from the other Lyell fork in Lyell canyon? sorry, I'm terrible with topography. (and I'm at lunch at work with just a little time.) I'm hoping that you did the first alternative; it's somethin I've always wanby hegel - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Gotta say I love the Scout. (That's the shorter version of the Weekender.) It's so much more packable than the Weekender. I can do six day hikes with the Scout. Yes, it's the same diameter but it really fits much better--horizontally, with room to spare on either side for socks, hats, etc,--in my pack.by hegel - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
I picked up a Patagonia lightweight travel pack--11 0z., 26 liters--and like it a lot. It's big enough to carry a sleeping bag, pad, and bivy sack, plus a down jacket. I bought it to use for winter day snowshoe/skis, but it's great in other seasons as well. It has a top lid and side pockets for water bottles or other things. No structure but comfortable for light weights, or my winter emergencby hegel - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Personally I love my hiking poles. Make me into a four footed animal. Well, make me four footed. They take a bit of time to get used to, and to learn how to use them. But they definitely can take stress off knees and other joints, especially on the downhills. And they're brilliant for stream crossings. Many people prefet flip lock locking mechanisms over twist lock. Also, lighter weight is goby hegel - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Sun Precautions make an excellent neck drape hat. It's designed for sun but works great for mosquitos and flies. They make a large neck drape that can be "zipped up" to cover all the way up to your nose with velcro attachments; or you can let it hang loose but still cover your ears and neck. I just modified a Sunday Afternoon hat to allow me attach this neck drape to their wide briby hegel - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
My idea was always to go into Bench Canyon just up from Stevenson Meadows, where the trail joins the outlet river/creek from Blue Lake, go to Blue Lake then over to Harriet Lake, then find the trail to Isberg. Did you go to Bench Canyon from Twin Island Lakes? That's pretty impressive. I'm good up to class three, maybe. Also, my route finding abilities are sketchy. Following the outlet from Bby hegel - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Thanks for all the info.; you have been more than kind. Isberg trailhead is the same one that I used years ago to go over Hemlock Crossing bridge and then north to where the trail ends. This must be the Stevenson trail. ( I'm at lunch at work. ) I did it early in the season and saw only two other people. It was a bit hard to follow at times but not bad. Best bear hang tree ever at the end. I remby hegel - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Chick-On: the Fernandez TH loop, OR the Isberg TH loop, look pretty good. As luck woud have it, my Yosemite map has a big "Campgrounds in Yosemite NP" block right over what would be the road into the trailheads to these loops. Also, the trailheads themselves are obscured. It looks like there are two possible routes: 1.) Isberg pass, Red peak, Merced, Fernandez, car. And 2.) goinby hegel - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Thanks everybody for your great responses!by hegel - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
plawrence: they don't want to cook, just go to sleep. I'll google the Forest Service campgrounds, or if you know of one near the park entrance, that would help. I'm with you, I like something a bit more 'official' but my friends are, um, cheap. (Also they're from Washington State/Alaska where pulling off on a side road and sleeping are maybe more common.) Groveland has a motel with inexpensiveby hegel - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Two of my friends are leaving tonight for Yosemite. They're going after work and want to just pull over and camp, probably put up a tent, near Big Oak flat entrance. I was thinking that maybe they could do this around Buck Meadows. Anyone have a suggestion? They don't want to pay anything.by hegel - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
I lucked out in buying a "used" (worn once) Eddie Bauer Whittaker down jacket with, I think, 850 fill for very cheap. Very light and very very warm. Two weeks ago in coldish weather I brought this jacket and a Western Mountaineering down vest that I've had forever. This duo is toasty and light! Hard to fit under a shell, though. That Stoic Hadron jacket looks pretty great. I goes oby hegel - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
+1 on the Starbucks Via!by hegel - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Yeah, just when you think you've got the latest and greatest....along comes something new. But as you say, all this recent gear is the cat's cockadoodle do, or something. I'm an old guy too, and I sure hope the Old Dude is using one of these newer mattresses, because what a difference!by hegel - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Seems like inflatable pad people are either neo-air or exped users. I've had good luck with exped over the years, so that's my choice. I use the symnat ul7 and it's great. Two years with no issues, but get the schnozzle for sure! Pure beauty--and it works as a waterproof liner for your pack. Last week in Yosemite backcountry temperatures at night were in the mid 20's, and my synmat was fine.by hegel - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
I almost never carry water--it's abundant in the Sierra. (O.K. this year may be slightly different). AND I'm very cautious about dehydration. So I drink a lot of water while hiking and in camp, but never need to carry. Last week I watched a group of young, fit hikers unload their packs in camp. Two of them were carrying a gallon or so EACH of water--at the end of their hike. And almost every steby hegel - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
It's a five hour drive from my home to Tuolumne Meadows. Audio books really help pass the time. This one looks good.by hegel - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
I think that there was more going on here than just Muir being dissappointed in Emerson's response to the trees. Emerson was quite old when he came. Muir was the younger upstart. Muir had more of a scientific bent than Emerson, the transcendentalist. Note Muir's somewhat dismissive remark in this essay about Emerson's philosophy. Muir was always the scientist when out and about--remember thatby hegel - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Were those Hexamid tents, and how are you liking them? Oh, great trip too.by hegel - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Get 'er done. The small local communities around Yosemite can use a break. It's been a bad couple of years. Maybe sequester funds that hurt business in downtown D.C. Shoe on the other foot.by hegel - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
That was a pretty good dump. Looks heavy and wet? Glad that you rode it out snug in your tent. Always beautiful the day after...except, dang, now you've got to hike out! Another great thing about this trip is the lack of technical terrain, even in snow, except maybe a short section on the switchbacks around Bunnell Point, if I have that right. (I'm terrible with names). You know, the switchbaby hegel - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
I'm recovering from a hernia surgery or I'd be up on this trip right about now as well (kind of an annual thing for me). Sweet! Can't wait to see your pictures. (I rarely make it to Emeric day hiking from Echo Valley or Merced Lake.)by hegel - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
I can get six days of food in my Weekender if I carry the first night's dinner and lunch. Also, if you repackage freeze dried dinners, it helps. I personnaly think that going with a rented weekender is a good idea, or buy one if you can. They have a steep asking price but will literally last a lifetime.by hegel - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Bikes don't crap on the trails; they're not allowed on trails. They would seem to be far down on the list of issues. I understand that you're saying it's legal issues driving this plan. Hmmmm. On further reflection, banning horse trains from the Valley to the top of Nevada Falls would greatly improve the experience for everyone . The .elderly who can't walk this trail might lose out--but how mby hegel - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
O.K. so I wasn't at this meeting and am just reading about the proposals in today's Chronicle and here. (3.22.13). I try to take a Zen-ish approach to the Valley: appreciate the beauty, ignore the concessions. The Valley pays for what I love most; that is, the higher country. Call me bourgoise, but I like having blowdowns cleared by trail crews, for example. I like bridges over impossibleby hegel - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
There just doesn't seem to be much snow up there! Looks like a very early start to the three-seasons. (Yeah, I know, pictures are deceiving, but still...) (and of course I'm extrapolating from this picture what the higher country might look like.)by hegel - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
chick-on: good point about exposure time on the old photos. I hadn't thought about that. As to the recapturing of the old roads: I was thinking that the wilderness was coming back in her own terms; liesurely, assuredly, where a hundred years is the equivelent of our just getting up out of bed. You can see the mat of leaves covering the road; the beginnings of bushes; trees fallen across theby hegel - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
A bit strenuous, but: Day 1: mist trail to echo valley. Day 2: dayhike the trail up towards Vogelsang. You get to see Lake Merced up close and, better, from above; plus the Clark Range, invisible otherwise. Also great views of Half Dome. And best of all, the cascading falls coming from Vogelsang. Return to your already pitched campsite. Day 3: depending on how you feel, the high trail back, oby hegel - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion