Thanks! I can remember my dad driving us down the road from the Tuolumne Grove parking lot to the Hodgdon Meadow Campground... but I don't think we had the auto guide! If we did, don't remember (nothing new there..) I recall it was a one-way drive.. and there were many people walking it too! Slow going. That said, I'm glad it's just a trail now.by JustKeepWalking - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
Quotechick-on Let's just say LNT is just not in everyone's vernacular. Ain't that the truth! I'm sick of the proliferation of rock piles and fire rings. We should leave each area as untouched as possible so the next person visiting gets the same wilderness experience.by JustKeepWalking - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
Quoteeeek Quotechick-onOld Dood would literally run AFTER the bears when they would saunter into a camp. That's what I do. Been mock-charged many times. They back down when it doesn't work. I'm not big, but I act big and I've chased plenty of bears away. Mostly in the Valley campgrounds. Rarely have seen them in the backcountry. Worst "remote" incident was a bear making the rounds aby JustKeepWalking - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
QuoteBilko ivvgg, I did this route in late July 2011 which was after a snowy winter, there were patches of snow over Red Peak Pass but passable with care. Just be careful with navigation, I was lazy and followed some foot prints that took me way off track. You may also want to consider the Backpackers Campsite next to the Merced Lake Hi Sierra Camp, I know its next to the tent cabins howeveby JustKeepWalking - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
Quoteiivvgg "flip back over to the JMT on the southern side of the Merced to avoid crowds headed up the mist trail" Correct me if I'm wrong, folks, but I think something got overlooked here. @Schmeid is talking about the pack-animals-only trail. There is only one trail up to the footbridge over the Merced. It is pretty wide, though. iivvgg - i think you understood Schmeid. Scmeiby JustKeepWalking - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
You are most welcome! I adore helping you and Chick-on out with shuttles while I'm recovering! You two have done so much to enable me to see and enjoy the Sierra!by JustKeepWalking - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
Quotebackpackingdad The High Sierra Camps loop is my top-of-the-bucket list trip. My time is limited by work, so I only have 4 backpacking days. Background: Basilbop and I have hit the camps innumerable times for many years as guests and then as backpackers. We have done the loop (not including White Wolf) in two days several times, and a weird lollipop starting at White Wolf and going up thby JustKeepWalking - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
You were there Saturday??? Our friends went to Mist Falls on Sunday, but I was out and about when they left camp, and I haven't heard their story yet... I'm working on getting back out there tomorrow. Saturday the guys did Sphinx Creek towards Avalanche Pass... Did you by chance find a camera at the Road's End parking lot, near the trailhead for the River Trail? or beyond? There was a bby JustKeepWalking - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
Thanks for the update on trail conditions! Very nice when people come back with reports! Hope u have more fun trips!by JustKeepWalking - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
Sorry didn't reply sooner... That's our Big Agnes Slater UL 3+, which isn't on their website anymore... We like it for winter. No mesh, so warmer and keeps spindrift out. Large vestibule handy...by JustKeepWalking - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
I stupidly bumped my phone which was on a tripod just before the real action, so I couldn't level it in time... sorry about that! Turn up the volume if you aren't using headphones. Then cracking and noise as it is going over was neat.. then BOOM! By the time the trip was over, we barely noticed the booms! Lotsa work going on to remove the dangerous trees from front country areas and backcoby JustKeepWalking - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
When I was looking at the scene in real life, I thought it looked like a painting! It was lovely! No filters on the pic! Sometimes I wish the Chick-on had more of a filter, but honestly, he usually keeps us laughing! Lots of fun ! Huge thanks to both the guys for enabling me to backpack. My foot is not fully recovered and I couldn't do much, but they took what weight hey could from me, andby JustKeepWalking - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
For me... I often have to wade through creeks that are *well* over my ankle/calf, and knee! Mid-thigh is not unusual. No gaiter is going to keep water out of my shoes. Waders might, but.. i'm not gonna wear them. So... If I'm worried about my feet getting cold and general "spring" conditions, I've probably brought my waterproof mids... which means I need to change into my crocs foby JustKeepWalking - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
Sorry for delay, v busy preparing for weekend.. again. We r gonna try to get into Kings Canyonn proper this weekend. Basilbop, Mrcondron, Chick-on and I will hopefully be joined by my friend and her two young daughters. Because of the foot, I'm "forced" to car camp and do little day hikes. I've also enjoyed helping the guys (basilbop and chick-on) get their TQ done! Much of Chicby JustKeepWalking - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
This weekend I could make it out with my naked eye pretty easily! It's amazing.by JustKeepWalking - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
Thank you for these pics!!! So glad u each get shots of the other during the day! Helps with pur spective!by JustKeepWalking - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
How I wish I could have gone with uou guys, but I was super happy I could help you with the shuttles to enable some fun trips with limited time. Absolutely love the trees and the pics of "booping".. very gentle taps.. saying hi! Was with u guys in spirit! And was fun to be on the radio with you while waiting for you on Moro rock! What a perfect time to be there! Reminds me Iby JustKeepWalking - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
Still amazing to me how BIG HD is in the pic!!! Was fun!!! But dang, my allergies.... fields of hay or whatever... yikes.....by JustKeepWalking - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
Loved it!! Bummed right now as I recover and rest my foot.. So *love* seeing the pics of the snow!! Thank you!!!by JustKeepWalking - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
IIRC, last shutdown of the park meant no walking into the park from any boundary. No backpacking or any other form of recreation was allowed. Tioga Road was open only to allow passage to the other side. No stopping to take pictures. Everyone out. Very frustrating. (Apologies for brevity, using phone.)by JustKeepWalking - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
You really need to read this if considering Rainbow View: http://yosemitenews.info/forum/read.php?17,88235by JustKeepWalking - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
Quotechick-on I'll do one: "This sun rises in this direction"by JustKeepWalking - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
Quoteimchauncy QuoteJustKeepWalking The desire to summit HD has put more pressure on certain trailheads. Kinda peeves me, because there is more you an do from that trailhead than just head to LYV. Sigh. I agree with you, there's a fair amount more to Yosemite than Half Dome The kids have asked to hike it, and as it's their first backpacking trip, we're letting them dictate the destination. Weby JustKeepWalking - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
Quoteimchauncy Thanks for your response. We can -- and have done -- 3000' elevation gains. We've hiked all many areas of Yosemite, as well as Sequoia, Glacier, etc, and I've day-hiked Half-Dome. But this will be my 12 yo daughter's first backpacking trip. She's day-hiked Cloud's Rest, and hiked out of Sperry Chalet in Glacier NP (15+ miles plus elevation), so she can do the work, but I'd likeby JustKeepWalking - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
Makes me want to scream. Though I haven't encountered an illegal snowmobiler... I have seen the following with my own eyes. Most more than once! Illegal fire rings... Drones in the parks... Dogs on the trails... Bicycles on the trails... Motorcycles on the trails, parked in meadows... (actually saw this last year!!!! There was a "Now entering Yosemite Wilderness" signby JustKeepWalking - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
QuoteDCHook Two more quick trail questions: You didn't mention heading up Half Dome Trail or Clouds Rest from LYV -- even part way. Are these just not advisable given the conditions in mid-May? Regarding this: > O... if backpack go up JMT to Clark Pt. from there depends on closures. This would be a day hike though, right? You're talking about heading up JMT from the valley to Clarkby JustKeepWalking - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
Welcome, imchauncy! First - have you EVER been to Yosemite before? The Sierra? Do you understand the terrain? I find it hard, personally, to make recommendations to an individual or particular group without knowing their abilities (e.g. Does a 2-3000' elevation gain day concern you?), their desires, their past experiences. Your plan B compared with your plan A (aside from crossing the Ilby JustKeepWalking - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
I truly enjoyed the trip... and marking off the various loops we did on my TQ map! So much still to do though.. shucky darn!by JustKeepWalking - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
Wow. That more than I'm interested in taking on! Hope went well!!!by JustKeepWalking - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Some Thoughts. Deadfall and debris - As we expected, there was a lot of deadfall to work around. Reports given to the wilderness office and to us directly from those we met fresh off the trail or heading out on it... no one mentioned the deadfall, they all fussed about the water crossings... Water Crossing tips - The water crossings were my biggest concern going into the trip. I've gone thrby JustKeepWalking - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra