What David said. This was my first hike in Yosemite and while it's not the ideal time of year to do it (spring IMO), it won't disappoint. Tack on a few more miles and hit the area south east of Washburn if you go to Merced Lake. A layover on either end of the trip at LYV puts you in position to dayhike Half Dome or Clouds Rest as well. There's a spectacular campsite in the valley just west of Echby steelcup - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
Sorry it's just my horrible grammar, I meant: "Oh! Well that is cool!" (I had considered going up that way previously.)by steelcup - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
oh well that's cool. how was the dome just east of there from the trail above it looks like a cool spot? how bad was it to get up there?by steelcup - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
Gorgeous (for basilbop)by steelcup - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
My plan was to get to Hamilton too, but the first day was a wash in brutal traffic on the way up and I ended up staying at the campground since I wasn't sure what the trail would be like in the dark. Maybe I'll try again if this weather sticks around. I don't know how big of a fan I'd be over going through a couple of the spots between Bearpaw and the bridge if there was snow. Maybe it's notby steelcup - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
I had to google it to figure out what you were talking about. If they sell stuff to non-guests I'm going to be a nightmare for them next year. Is there a brownie quota?by steelcup - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
Made it up to Bearpaw via the High Sierra Trail just before new years. The trail was basically snow free. There was some deeper snow on the north side of the hill after crossing the bridge over the gorge, but I bet it all went away once you round the corner towards Hamilton Lakes, I wouldn't know as I turned around there. All the big creeks had plenty of running water, and the bigger drainagesby steelcup - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
I didn't even know there was a different kind of chemistry available? It's a Nikon Li-ion01 (the EN-EL15). As far as I know it's the only battery I can use for the camera I have. Though I think there's a big grip that might take AA's. Hmmmm edit: Thanks Parklover!by steelcup - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
Took a trip out to Washburn Lake (the gorge just past Washburn actually) and then down to SEKI over Thanksgiving. Weather was fantastic, lows in the low 30s each night. I had originally planned to head up to the Triple Peak Fork, but was out for 5 days and was unsure about a low % forecasted storm so I turned around past Washburn Lake. The switchbacks at Bunell were pretty much ice free. Tby steelcup - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
I expected more snow. This is not helping me in my debate as to whether or not to lug my 6lbs of snowshoes over thanksgiving.by steelcup - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
1) http://www.petzl.com/us/outdoor/verticality/anchors/anchor-accessories/rocpec-0by steelcup - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
Thanks Chick-on, a ton info here. It doesn't surprise me at all the regulations are to not leave food caches, the boxes at LYV are ridiculous enough as is. And the beer bottle in my freezer has now frozen twice and thawed completely once. Cans would explode I'm sure.by steelcup - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Well in the interest of stimulating internet discussion, is there a physical difference between the bear lockers at LYV/Merced Lake/Sunrise and the one at Snow Creek? When you talk about food being safe in the box, do you mean rodents getting in? Or the potential for someone to open the locker and leave it unlocked until an animal gets to it? Once the winter rangers have opened the shipping cby steelcup - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Can't get any clearer than that! Thanks Chick-on.by steelcup - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Yeah so do all the people leave their wine and cheese for the hut in just any of the bear boxes scattered around Tuolumne? Or is there 1 location in particular you're supposed to use?by steelcup - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
What's the story with the bear boxes in winter in the backcountry? Do people use the boxes to cache food for winter trips in places other than Snow Creek/Tuolumne? Are there any regulations or anything like that about labeling, storage, etc? I know I've read on this forum about the Snow Creek box filling up fast, what about Tuolumne, with the campground and all those bear boxes right there? I wouby steelcup - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Hmm. This is all it looked like in late dec last year. Ice like that on most of the switchbacks, then it cleared up, only one spot was "pay attention" though. So the spot between Lost Valley and (whatever the next valley is called) gets bad too? That's interesting. I only thought about it for a moment when I went through there trying to consider what it'd be like wby steelcup - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
It took me a sec to realize, that photo of the top of Nevada Falls you guys are ON the bridge? Ha! That's fantastic.by steelcup - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
How bad do the switchbacks themselves get with a lot of snow present? Is it just a snow slope? Last year 3-4 inches of ice was flowing over the trail at multiple points, but no snow. I only thought it was problematic in one spot near the top of the switchbacks. I wondered what it would be like this year, but when I got there it was all melting, (and I didn't check it out after it snowed). I was kby steelcup - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
I would ditch the air mattress, google 'air mattress winter camping' to read about why. I think you still want to use some closed cell foam under you if you're in a cot. If the ridge rest (just the foam one) is too pricy, I think just regular blue foam from wal mart works too. I'd probably double up the pads still. Those pads are great cause they can double as camp seats, it makes a HUGE differenby steelcup - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
I took a few more, but that was the best one I think. I had plans to do a lot more, but man it's tough to get the motivation to get out of your warm bag at night, walk somewhere in the dark, and stand around for long exposures. I kept putting it off until finally I just thought "it's really more of a summertime thing."by steelcup - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
I went up to LYV for a week earlier this month. Came down just before the big storm. I originally had big plans to try and go off trail to get on Clark's shoulder, and also maybe see if I could climb Mt. Florence, but I ended up finding every excuse possible to be lazy and just relax at LYV. Both probably would have been out of my league anyway. 3 days into the trip the first storm hit, it snoby steelcup - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
On my way out from my trip this year I considered extending my trip (I had been in LYV for a week) staying in Upper Pines for 3 more days. Everything in the valley was wet or dripping wet, it was sort of snowing, and 30 degrees. It seemed like there was potential for it to be like that for days on end. My thought process was this: Catch the first and last bus to Badger Pass each day. (theby steelcup - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
people rap straight down el cap every year. not sure what kind of gear they use but you can google it. its like thing you can (or could) pay to do. as far as rapping half dome people do portions of it all the time. its like 20 something pitches and i think all belays are bolted. people have rappelled down part or all of snake dike and even the cables too (instead of using the cables) but the peby steelcup - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
chick-on do you mean just half a mile past Nevada Falls where the trail splits to head to either side of LYV? i saw people set up in the dark there last new years or so, right at the split, like 2 feet from either trail.by steelcup - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Ahhhh thanks. That's fantastic information. I had assumed the self register forms at those locations required you to drop the permit in a box, but I guess now that I think about it, that wouldn't make any sense for a ranger wanting to check it.by steelcup - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
There should be self register from the trailheads in the valley in winter. Waiting till the office opens at 9am sucks.by steelcup - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Around new years.by steelcup - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
I think you missed the jokes.by steelcup - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
I was just going to buy a heavier tripod, but now you have me thinking that's not the best solution.by steelcup - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion