New Yosemite Nature Notes. Beautiful videography and interesting as always!by buster - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
You guys are forgetting White Wolf, it was originally a High Sierra Camp too, but also it is called a Lodge now too. I don't think it is part of this discussion as none of the trail signs refer to it as a HSC or at least any of the signs that I recall. I assume the renaming was done to avoid confusion between a drive-in facility and a hike-in facility, but I wonder the exact date. Interestinby buster - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
The asphalt makes sense when it is there for certain trails, but when it is not maintained and starts to degraded it makes the trail far worse. Sections of the 4 (or really 4.8) mile trail are good examples of that. But I would think the JMT to the vernal foot bridge would be maintained as it is the busiest trail in the park by far. At least it isn't the promenade to lower yosemite falls.by buster - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Maybe this goes under Yosemite in the Snow, but here are some shots. Here is the valley early in the morning after a storm and before the sun melted the snow off of all the trees and rocks. Here was a memorial day hike to Taft Pt a few years back https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-d0FcUM2D4j0/Tm5ybxFVqGI/AAAAAAAAFSs/N67WmrAfptU/s640/Taft%252520Point%252520-%252520Memorial%252520Dayby buster - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Been there a few times, last time last year in April. It doesn't take too long to get up there, about an hour or so. Pretty straight forward, just parallel the creek drainage mostly. It's a little steep and sometimes slick from all the leaves on the ground. It gets a little bush-whacky at times, especially near the base, but nothing too bad. Park either at the far end of El Cap Meadow or theby buster - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Nice photos!by buster - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
1. As chick-on mentioned, with bear cans, bears aren't really much of an issue. At that particular location before the canister regulations went into effect (2004 if I remember correctly) there was a bear cable there. Subsequently many people camped there. So combination of a lot of people camping there & ineffective food storage caused a lot of bear activity there. I guess the old storiby buster - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
The National Public Lands Day also corresponds to the annual Yosemite Facelift. I don't think they have made a formal announcement yet but it starts Wednesday Sept 21st and ends Sunday Sept 25. For more info you can visit http://yosemiteclimbing.org/ Also, if you volunteer for a day you get a Public Lands Fee waiver that is valid for all public lands, or at least they did last year. Always aby buster - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
It could possibly not dry up this year, though I think that mostly depends if we have an early season storm. Anyone know if that has happened before? The big snow years of 1998 and 1983 would be my guesses if it has.by buster - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
True, the HSC's are 'Potential Wilderness' as defined by the California Wilderness Act of 1984. The actual wilderness act of 1964, which the Cal Wild Act is based upon, doesn't mention potential wilderness at all so the camps are in a bit of a gray area. Potential wilderness isn't really defined in the California Wilderness Act either, though they are supposed to be managed as wilderness 'as prby buster - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
From the park compendium, http://www.nps.gov/yose/parkmgmt/upload/compendium.pdf page 5 Except for Administrative Activities, Visiting Hours: Yosemite National Park is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week except for the Hetch Hetchy area as described below: 36 CFR § 1.5(a)(1); 36 CFR § 1.5(f) Hetch Hetchy Operating hours: The Hetch Hetchy security gates will be open to vehicle, bicby buster - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
QuoteMom No, I would not want to take a pack trip. One of the pleasures of hiking to the HSCamps is the peace and tranquilty of the hike either alone or in small groups. Stopping where and when you want and not having everything so predetermined. I loved my HSC trip and I plan to do a similar trip next year. How do you think your food & supplies gets to the HSC's now? On stock. Being oby buster - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
An option for people generally unable for whatever reason to enjoy the backcountry via backpacking would be a stock supported trip. The stock carry all the food and supplies and even the rider. The guides can setup the camp and cook as well. The only differences I see from the HSC's would be the lack of toilets/showers but otherwise mostly the same comforts. I see an added benefit that they wby buster - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Here is the one at the base of Ribbon Fall, sorry it is not a good picture: James Cassidy is the memorialized. From Death in Yosemite, died September 1, 1986 aged 40, was solo scramble-climbing down when a companion heard a rockslide and he fell 600ft off a cliff. The stranded companion was rescued 28 hours later. And I agree, unauthorized plaques should be removed.by buster - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
The old incline had two bends in it, at the top and at the bottom, otherwise it was straight. The upper part of the incline is really steep, I would estimate greater than 50°. This winter/spring would be a great time to hike the old incline as a lot of the dense brush should be burnt away. The time I hiked it I literally had to crawl a few sections to get through all the thick brush. There iby buster - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
No, I haven't necessarily seen a plaque on a mountain before. On Mt Ansel Adams there is a memorial of sorts for Ansel Adams. At the base of Ribbon Falls there is a plaque/board for someone who died there. I have a picture of it somewhere, I'll try to find it when I get back home.by buster - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Quotechick-on John S. Christopher - 1949-1969 Is memorialized on the mountain. Who was this person and why is he memorialized on the Summit of Clark with a plaque? He is not in the Death in Yosemite book so it appears he did not die on the mountain or in Yosemite. I checked with a friend who works in Yosemite who went to the research library and wasn't able to find anything. So it isn'by buster - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Interesting you say that they get a lot of money for trail upkeep, as the condition of the trails are at times are terrible on the HSC loop. I hardly ever see trail crew working on those sections of trail. Not implying that you are misstating the facts, just wondering where the money is going. Also, a not well known fact is that the NPS is responsible for all the water and sewage at the campsby buster - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion