Thanks for that, I'll look into alt airports as well. Flight schedules to the smaller cities aren't always as good, and I'm trying to use points rather than dollars to fly. I drove 395 this past summer, YNP up to Tahoe, mostly at night so didn't get much scenery. Good thoughts.by JRinGeorgia - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
@Chick-on, No never done Amtrak to/from YNP, it definitely does look like a pain. I'm hoping to avoid car rental costs for a vehicle that will be used for about 2 days and parked for 8, though I agree if I did have a car that widens my options and I could/would use it more. If the rates are good I'll do the car. Tanks for the suggestions, I a-peach-iate it.by JRinGeorgia - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
@snorkus, nope not me, never tried HD, that's for the upcoming trip. Even then, I don't plan to need a HD reservation, I'll have a wilderness permit and appropriate itinerary.by JRinGeorgia - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Wow, lots of great feedback everyone, thanks! @Basilpop: 4 Mile up to SD might be ambitious. It's hard for me to gauge -- I've seen people report that just the 4 Mile killed them, and others who say they breezed through. There was one guy, on here or TripAdvisor don't remember which, who if I recall correctly claimed to go up 4 Mile to top of SD, then all the way down Panorama+Mist to Happyby JRinGeorgia - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Hi all, some of you have seen me poking around here and soaking up all the info, before and after my trip to Yosemite this past summer. Thanks again for all the help with that trip. Well I've been bitten by the bug and want (need?) to get back Yosemite. This past summer with my daughter was day hikes and motel rooms, I'm currently sketching out a return for July 2013 solo backpacking. I wouldby JRinGeorgia - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
I started reading this thread and my heart sank -- so glad for the happy ending. And another shout-out for the under-appreciated search and rescue team and support.by JRinGeorgia - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Here is a good review of many of the dayhikes: http://www.yosemitehikes.com/by JRinGeorgia - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Here's the phone number and website info, best to contact them directly: (209) 372-4386 http://www.yosemitepark.com/rafting.aspxby JRinGeorgia - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
I was on the Mist May 31, all we got was lightly misted. Had a rain jacket and raincover for the backpack, never even pulled them out. Had cameras in my hip belt open-mesh pockets and they were fine. That was 3.5 weeks ago so the flow now will be even less. Here's a brief video from our trip:by JRinGeorgia - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Thanks Chick-On, that's the first view of the actual spur trail I've seen, and that definitely is not where we were. Looks like the spot we found is after the true PP (coming up from Illilouette Fall). I'll let you be the judge if it was nicer, that incline down to the edge certainly was more dangerous so if anyone wants to try what we did, go slowly. Are you officially naming the spot we fouby JRinGeorgia - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Hi all, completed my 4-day visit to Yosemite on 6/1, my daughter and I had a truly amazing time. Thanks again to everyone here for the great advice and insights that helped us to make the most of our visit. We hiked the Panorama+Mist trail (one-way, down from GP to Valley) and I was looking for the elusive Panorama Point. We did find an amazing overlook, but from the descrips I have read of PPby JRinGeorgia - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
It isn't much help now, but for future reference I once read of a helpful tip that I have done: make the first image on your memory card a "sign" with your name and phone numbers. I typed up such a "sign" on my computer screen and then took a photo of it. This camera belongs to: _____, home number, cell number, reward if found and returned. Hope you get your camera and pby JRinGeorgia - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Calavaras and plawrence, thanks again so much for the tip on parking at the service road to reach Sentinel Dome. Just returned from our Yosemite trip, had a great time, and this "secret spot" was really easy to find. The service road has a gate across it, so if you are looking for it then it's very easy to find. It's right on that big curve back to the right shown on the map. Another hiby JRinGeorgia - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Wow. Definitely will do that, thanks for the tip! Quotechick-onyou will probably see a abuse trail there.Sorry, what? Is this how I will see where to turn off the trail for it?by JRinGeorgia - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Thanks for the feedback. Hmmm, day 2 doesn't seem as rushed to me, but maybe I need to reconsider. As to why not spend more time in Mariposa Grove, my thinking is that because we then will miss something else we want to do. Only so much time, have to make trade-offs. I also think my daughter could saturate on the trees, and right as the elevation starts to climb. Which is another thought about thby JRinGeorgia - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
@LBFam: glad this was helpful to you too, have a great time. @plawrence: More excellent tips! And I'm really laughing -- would you believe that I already had searched for Costo stores along our travel route and had this one written into the margin of our itinerary. I told you I'm a planner :-) But I had done that thinking about trail mix and such, never thought about gas that's a great idea. Iby JRinGeorgia - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Thanks again everyone, I am a "planner" and like to know lots of details about places I visit, I feel doing so helps maximize the whole experience, and you all are giving me lots of great tips and advice that will help me in that process. Actually many of the tips you are offering I already have come across, but no worries from this end -- I would much rather hear a good tip twice thanby JRinGeorgia - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Thanks. Yes I was thinking clockwise because this will be a late afternoon hike (afterwards hanging out at GP for picnic dinner, sunset, stargazing), and I don't think we want to be coming back from TP to the trailhead through the forest if it's starting to get dark so thinking to start rather than end that way.... Otherwise why would clockwise vs. counter matter? Folks obviously have preferenby JRinGeorgia - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Thanks everyone, great replies so far. I had a feeling that the segment of Pohono between SD and TP would offer good scenery and such, while I read that the trailhead-to-TP in particular is forested and less "interesting" (I know, depends on your definition of "interesting", but...). Yes I have been lurking here already, this is a great forum, seems many "insiders"by JRinGeorgia - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Hi everyone, upcoming first trip to Yosemite (end of May) and looking for a bit of guidance on the "best" way to do Sentinel Dome and Taft Point. Most trail guides I have read say SD and TP are a 2.2 mi roundtrip; this is deceiving because it seems that each one is 2.2 mi r/t from the shared trailhead. So, it would be 4.4 mi to do both as a pair of back-to-back loops both starting aby JRinGeorgia - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Excellent, thanks. I'll be there in about 4 weeks and plan to do both Panorama to Mist (down) and also Sentinel Dome + Taft Pt (different day). The dirt parking lot will save us a good bit of horizontal distance, appreciate the tip!by JRinGeorgia - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
QuoteCalaverasIf you know the special place to park you can cut the hike to Sentinel Dome in half.Would you mind sharing that "special place to park"? Thanks.by JRinGeorgia - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion