just off another business call... so back to backpacking thoughts... MTR's resupply info page says they offer free 24-hour charging. Quote How about charging the batteries of all my toys? No problem. Most of the season we have 24-hour power, 120 volts AC, just like your house has. Bring your charger for your camera, phone, iPod, whatever. No charge for a charge.by JustKeepWalking - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
No need to talk me into the SHR! After my first couple of tastes of the SHR years ago, I'm still wanting to do more! I would have slowed you guys up some (even if I hadn't been recovering from my ankle injury), but really wanted to do the trip last year. Basilbop and I were just talking this morning how though the JMT is awesome, we probably want to finish the bits of the SHR we haven't done yet.by JustKeepWalking - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
A small duck here and there when an official trail is sketchy... Okay. Frankly, even in Yosemite with trails getting faint over rocky areas or in lush zones, if you pay attention, you can find trace of the trail ahead. You just need to stop and look. Blazes on trees, cut logs along trails, flattened grass... there are many signs. Part of the fun of hiking is finding the way, I think. (Know how toby JustKeepWalking - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Woo hoo! Congrats on clearing the first hurdle! I'm sure all of us here will help you as much as we can. Planning and prepping for a big hike is definitely part of the fun, I think. I don't think using the forum is cheating any more than reading a book. You are wisely utilizing the resources at hand! The Expedition should work easily for you with a resupply at MTR. Are you going to buy or reby JustKeepWalking - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Yup, 10.8V is too much for the Pixo... too bad. I haven't seen anything else that might help you, but honestly I stopped looking when I tripped over this and the specs indicated it would take care of our needs. Maybe someone else knows of another device? BTW - the "ship yourself a charged battery" trick worked well for me in the past... if that helps any... Good luck and I hope aby JustKeepWalking - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Great! Did Lower Lewis Lake have an easy granite shoreline to enter the water? When I can be picky, I prefer to walk in on granite rather than muddy, grassy shoreline... Loved the big expanses of granite! And yah, lots of times, gotta make the call to cut hike short enough so we have enough left for the hike out, drive home to the Bay Area. The mountains aren't going anywhere quickly, gottby JustKeepWalking - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Which *exact* battery do you have? Might work with the Pixo C-USB universal charger. Check out their documentation. (Link added to Pixo doc. Mostly German, but enough English.) I received the Pixo today, charged 4 AAA Sanyo eneloops (2 at a time) and am currently charging a Sony NEX battery. After that I'm going to do a Panasonic Lumix. Though we don't take it much anymore, will try the Canon 5Dby JustKeepWalking - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Eggscellent! Thank you for the lovely photos!!! And so glad you guys had a great time! How can you not? Interesting to hear you never saw the Valley before in daylight. It's stunning. We avoided it during high season for a number of years, too many people we said... But a few years ago, started camping again. And I have adjusted my attitude a bit towards the crowds. I try to see the good sideby JustKeepWalking - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
You probably know about these resources, but just in case: If you like books: Elizabeth Wenk's John Muir Trail book was extremely popular back when we planned our trips. We ripped out the section pertaining to our direction and carried that. Now, you can get it in Kindle format. Tom Harrison Map Pack (Amazon) Too bad International Mapping hasn't made an app based on that map pack, as itby JustKeepWalking - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Been meaning to thank you, too! Great shots! Good on you for taking that variation on where to stay! Woo hoo! BTW, over the last few weeks, been seeing a lot of pics of Half Dome cables for a variety of reasons... Before/after lottery shots are what get me. We did it a long while ago, pre-lottery, cables were packed. We couldn't get down *inside* the cables and went down on the outside (away fby JustKeepWalking - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
+1 to that! The wilderness should be just that, wild, with as little visible impact from humans as possible. Leaving rock piles... don't get me started. We were knocking down piles on the Ten Lakes trail Sunday on the way home. They serve no useful purpose. The trail was obvious! What part of Leave No Trace is hard to understand? Sigh... I used to think it was ignorance, people just didn't knby JustKeepWalking - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
OMG, next year, several of my friends want to do the JMT. It's been a few years since I did it, and before I finished it, I told myself I wanted to do it again.. Usually on longer trips, it takes a few days before I think I wanna go right back... Anyway, my friends and I have been scheming.. Might actually do it again myself next year! 14 days sounds perfectly reasonable to me. I just went baby JustKeepWalking - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Don't forget it takes time to drive up and down the May Lake road...Overall, I'll throw my vote in for option 1 (all cars Dog Lake, take shuttle to ML TH), as well. Gives you lots of options when you get out.by JustKeepWalking - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
I tried to get a reply out yesterday, but site went down. Short version: I use my phone all the time in a variety of conditions, and around critters like parrots and kids. It's been dunked in water numerous times (from tubs to rivers). I've used it in rain, snow and muddy situations. I use my phone ALL the time: as my GPS and reference tool (books, maps, guides, lists, notes, etc) in the backcby JustKeepWalking - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Early on Suntactics had issues, IIRC. Might be okay now, but we're happy with our GoalZeros for now (don't need to do an iPad), charging the battery as we do is working out. Solar JOOS, btw, died on us. (bad idea to have battery with panel - too hot). Might try them sometime. Anyone with first-hand experience with both? Attachment loops on GoalZero 3.5 allow me to put it on top of my pack easilyby JustKeepWalking - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Funny you should ask... Lots of friends interested recently in our kit. For the past year + we have been using the Goal Zero Nomad 3.5 panel that used to come only in a kit. Friends who went with us on my birthday hike were interested in getting the unit after seeing how we used it. It adds a little weight, but it's very handy. We were finding it wasn't on the GoalZero website anymore, so I caby JustKeepWalking - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Funny you mention Mountain House... Not that I've tried ALL the other flavors of ALL the other brands, but Mountain House has been my favorite for a number of years now. Many years prior, I hated it... but now (after reformulation, from what I recall), the meals really work for me. I often order them from REI online to get the selection of flavors I want when the entire line goes on sale. Andby JustKeepWalking - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Okay, so we kinda found out how much info can be crammed into a thread before it starts choking up browsers.. Picking up where we left off... QuoteHikingMano I did, "Thru dayhike GCT" showed up on my 'To Do' list as a result! I figured crossing Register would be dicey when the water's flowing. Didn't see many "easy" crossing spots, though I didn't look too hard when wby JustKeepWalking - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
GREAT stuff! Have been wanting to explore that area since a week section of SHR that went through Bench Canyon, past Blue Lake, over Blue Lake pass. So much around there, but getting to it trickier for us right now with limited time... Maybe next year! About the smoke... was it hard to breathe? burning sensation? looked heavy at times... hm. can make for very interesting scenery, smoke has boby JustKeepWalking - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
I was wondering how friendly he was.. It certainly seemed he was letting you get some really great shots.. The one looked like he was looking right at you. How fabulous! What a treat for you! Did you see our TR from 2011? If Register was any worse, wouldn't have attempted to cross it. The little trickle of a waterfall that is so idyllic in your shots was raging.. Quite the difference throughouby JustKeepWalking - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Been meaning to reply and thank you for your trip report! I lost two attempts the past few days...bit busy here. Look - loved the pics, love the story of the canyon, the super-mellow waterfalls and pools.. Last time we went through, it was raging water, and a totally different place... quite different! Which is why I don't mind returning to favorite haunts... always something different... LOVED tby JustKeepWalking - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
I thank the folks who fought these road proposals over the years. I shudder to think of the impacts if any one of them had been built...by JustKeepWalking - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Sounds perfect to me!!! Have a fabulous trip and write it up!!! I'm thankful for all the time and effort people put into sharing their experiences. The stories are the way to give back to those who share their knowledge and advice, and I'm sensing people are getting that better now... At least I'm hoping so... Happy trails!by JustKeepWalking - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Quoteatomicmonkey After spending a majority of my life in the Rockies, I am quickly coming to the conclusion that the Sierra is a very special place. Basilbop grew up in Colorado, hiking and backpacking in the Rockies. I met him at school here in California. He told me about the Rockies, I took him to Yosemite. In 25+ years of being together, he's never once tried to get me to go live in Coloraby JustKeepWalking - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Quotechick-on Yeah, I tried and tried and tired... but wife just wouldn't bite on the trip. Truly, *I* understand!!! For me, after a couple of years of being stymied by injuries, I'm just super happy to get back to the mountains... but I was sure as heck going to do what I wanted to do on my birthday! As much as I'd have loved to have you join us, I fully supported your wife's choice! You're aby JustKeepWalking - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
It really was great! As I grow up, even though I love my toys... I love having and sharing great experiences more... And thanks for the birthday wishes, plawrence!by JustKeepWalking - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
The flies we've encountered in the Sierra were definitely flies, not gnats. A ranger in Kings Canyon called them "face flies." They did not bite, but would fly or crawl into every accessible orifice! Drove me crazy for miles heading into Road's end after a week out... What a miserable finish... Have always kept a headnet on me since... We've had less annoying encounters with flies inby JustKeepWalking - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
When I asked myself at different points along the trip: "Is there anyplace else I'd rather be right now?" My answer was always no. I was right where I *should* be. Where I *wanted* to be. I love Moose. I've missed Moose. I love the area around Moose. I love the friends who carved out the time from their busy schedules to spend 3 to 4 days with us in the mountains! Folks, I want to pby JustKeepWalking - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Awesome! Thanks! My kind of country! LOVE LOVE LOVE! More, please and thank you!by JustKeepWalking - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
I like words, and I think words can paint beautiful pictures, too.. TechieSteve's trip report had great pics, but they wouldn't have told the story about how he felt during the trip. I especially liked reading about how he overcame internal struggles and fears. I think most can relate to those.. It's each person's unique little story about their particular trip, that particular time... I've goby JustKeepWalking - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion