The "unnamed domes" between Pothole and Daff are the Cottage Domes, and Daff is the Dome Across From Fairview. The quickest way up Fairview is via the climbers trail directly from the road, skirt around the base to the right and up its backside. The quickest easy route to Medlicott and Mariuolumne is via the Cathedral Lakes fisherman's trail. It winds to the right of Medlicott anby QITNL - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Well, you could start here http://www.ticketmaster.com/camping/ or follow the money, but like I said, don't get me started.by QITNL - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Sorry to hear you all had problems this morning. I've always hated that website - don't get me started - its a lot more like TicketMaster than you may know. If it's any consolation, the Valley in the summer is a smoggy zoo. There are better places to go. That "RV only" thing with the sites in the last loop - ignore it. In my book, those are the only inhabitable sites in the Valleby QITNL - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
No more walk-ups - the "Daily Lottery" is a "Two Days in Advance Lottery." No more crush at the vistor center as it's also on-line or phone. My guess is this should curtail much of the scalping. It looks similar to the Whitney lottery and I don't see folks scalping many of those. I agree with the rain check idea, for such a big honking piece of granite in an area proneby QITNL - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
I'm sorry, I was just joking. I consider myself a stupid climber and make fun of other climbers a lot. The fewer calls we make to YOSAR the better, I sure hope I'll never have to call them myself. And thanks balzaccom, I know where you are coming from, I just figure it's better to err on the side of prudence.by QITNL - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Mr. Balzaccom - Your heart is in the right place... I don't want to bust your balls, step on your foot... but I don't like your Yosemite Meadows advice, either. I've seen your post on a few different forums this evening and I'm surprised nobody has commented on this elsewhere. I guess that makes us leaders. Before you leave that on the public record, I'd encourage you to edit that sectioby QITNL - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
I rarely eat out in the park, but when I do, I'm partial to the meatball sandwich at the Lodge. Good value. Obviously not in the park, but if you are doing the 120, the Priest Station Cafe at the top of Old Priest Grade is pretty nifty. Open late, great view, good prices. It's been in the hand of the Anker family since 1853, their ranks include some climbers. http://www.supertopo.com/cby QITNL - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Courtesy of supertopo:by QITNL - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Here are some of my photos from last weekend. If nothing else, they'll give you an idea of how frighteningly dry it is in the high country. Watkins Pinnacles: Tenaya Canyon, Pywiack Cascade: Natural Arch on Indian Ridge: Mt Hoffmann: Sentinel Dome, Basket Dome at sunset: Half Dome: I divided my shots into two groups, a lot more here: Mt Watkins Indian Rock (I'by QITNL - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Wow!by QITNL - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Here's the scary thing: there's no reason to be jealous. The backcountry is easily accessible right now. It's supposed to be winter, but it's a desert. Head up there. Maybe a little chilly, but not too bad. If we don't get a couple of good dumps over the next couple of months, we'll be drinking from ponds next summer. On the bright side, less skeeters. I'm also a big Bill King fan, gosh,by QITNL - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
+1 for Topo Maps. It works nice with the GPS on my hand-me-down 3gs. I don't use it as a primary navigation device, but it's great for scoping out routes in the tent, on the train, during boring business meetings and such. Maplets is another great map app, 3 bucks. http://www.mobilemaplets.com/ It doesn't serve up Topos, but rather the maps generated by other agencies: state parks, nationaby QITNL - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Hey - sorry to be a little slow to reply - nice to meet you, too! I had just donned my headlight - your tent totally caught me off guard - but why was my bear can blinking? That turned out to be your little campfire, of course. I try not to get in the face of fellow solo hikers, so sorry if I dashed off quick. It was nice to welcome a fellow wanderer Happy Christmas. As far as a home forby QITNL - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
OMG. I would have gone postal. Or perhaps given the impression that I was on the verge of such, prompting a ranger to hustle me out of there before I scare the tourons. I usually only resort to that trick in the summer. Time is money! Add: I've only had good experiences with the rangers I've met in the backcountry. Usually I'm the one who is full of questions. Why are you carrying a paby QITNL - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Temperatures were quite pleasant - too pleasant, really. Days were warm and sunny. Nights barely dipped below freezing, a good ten degrees higher than when I was at Lake Vernon two weeks ago and my water and contact lenses froze solid. Oops. I think it's actually somewhat warmer when you climb a couple thousand feet out of the Valley, particularly on the sunny sides of the canyons. All theby QITNL - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
This is where I was typing: An awesome little trip. I'll fill it in with a few more details and photos.by QITNL - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
You are correct: scribbled on each permit is "BoF" and "winter use only." There used to be a similar self-serve booth inside the Wilderness Center during the off-season. You would still need to wait until they opened. If now you have to stand in line, thanks for the warning. I err on the side of the paperwork, particularly when typing on on-line forums, but I've never sby QITNL - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Good write up. Glad to hear you opted for Upper Pines, legal camping. I was thinking of mentioning that by getting in late and out early, you can avoid paying, but I didn't really want to publicize that. For Wilderness Permits, check at the park entrances. For instance at Big Oak Flat, the forms are outside the office, unmanned, self-serve. I picked up a few extras so I can fill them outby QITNL - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
I'm a dozen yards from Point 6700, 4 bars on my cellphone. I always wanted to camp up here. Nice spot. Happy Christmas.by QITNL - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Saw this on SuperTaco: I'll see your Tenaya Lake and raise: Ice skating the Tuolumne River! http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=tO7Me2AClsYby QITNL - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
"...stay the night in LYV (hoping I can just sneak into the back of my camper shell rather than paying for a piece of dirt at Sunnyside Campground..." This part makes no sense to me. If you want to sleep in the back of your truck in the valley, pay for a site at Upper Pines, otherwise you face a hefty ticket and a rude awakening by rangers. Otherwise park outside the valley, forby QITNL - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
There was very little snow, frighteningly so, and little on the horizon. If you don't like snow, it should make for good hiking. There were a few fallen trees I stepped around but nothing dramatic.by QITNL - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
I spent a couple of nights at Lake Vernon last weekend. Two hundred yards past the dam and I had it all to myself. Short warm days and chilly nights. Strange that it's still sans snow, amazingly quiet, the only sound was the moaning ice. The only footprints I saw were mine, apart from deer and bear and a big cat. Wapama Rock Hetch Hetchy Dome Lake Vernon Tower Peak, Craig Pby QITNL - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Looks like it might be open again.by QITNL - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
I was able to get the reservations I wanted. The bidding didn't seem as fast and furious as last year and there still plenty of sites remaining. That's encouraging. There's a lot more verbiage in the booking process and the receipt, such as: **Resale or Auction of Advance Reservations is Prohibited. Advance reservations made through the national reservation service may not be advertised oby QITNL - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Good stuff!by QITNL - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Hetch Hetchy reopened last weekend. Tioga reopened at 3pm today.by QITNL - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Not necessarily my favorite, but my buddy snapped this on top of Isosceles Peak. That the peak at the left in ttilley's photo, looking back roughly at where he was.by QITNL - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
I like that description, but the hike up the creek is no longer that hard, thanks to some well-placed cables and ladders. The telephone line which runs from the Valley to the Tioga Road roughly follows the creek bed. You can find some photos and a brief description here: http://www.supertopo.com/climbing/thread.php?topic_id=1238987 http://www.qitnl.com/v/050210/ From the looks of the phoby QITNL - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion