Thank you so much for all the ideas. We stayed on a wonderful granite slab below Burro before starting the Mule ascent. It was near Piute Creek with a breeze and wonderful views of Sawtooth and other peaks. Thanks- hope to do a full trip report soon. Resting my feet....by lilagray - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
Thank you for all the great replies. I have been "off-line" so just getting to them now. I think the side trips sound great but unfortunately we have work commitments that keep us limited to the five total days. Retirement can't come too soon... but I digress... It sounds like we have multiple options so we will see how the energy is once we crest Burro and if we want to continueby lilagray - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
We are heading up Matterhorn Canyon the first week of July and we are trying to decide where to stay on our 4th night...we are looking at somewhere between Burro Pass and Crown Lake. Does anyone want to chime in with their experience? Also if you have been in the area do you recommend staying in between Burro and Mule Pass or pushing over Mule to stay on the other side like the Crown lake area...by lilagray - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
The guy I spoke to this morning said there were chain restrictions up there today....by lilagray - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Any way to get an update on this? Phone number to call?by lilagray - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Is that from the same location? If it is, then that is amazing the lack of water let alone snow from the same spot---by lilagray - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Thanks for the ideas-by lilagray - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Hello, Heading to Yosemite in the morning for two nights of bliss. We are planning to get some snow shoeing in with the current storm dropping some fresh powder. We are going to spend most of our time out of Badger but were thinking of exploring something off of 120 on the way in before getting to the valley. I called to see if they got snow up in the Crane Flat area (since I have some snow shby lilagray - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
These are amazing! Thank you for posting-by lilagray - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
This was very interesting! I had no idea about any of it--by lilagray - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
I went snow shoeing out to Dewey Point on Sunday and there was better coverage than I was expecting. Also a lot of people!by lilagray - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
I was there on Sunday 2/16 and there was a small fall which the sun hit perfectly as it went down. I am sure on big water years it is spectacular. I have never been in Yosemite for the correct timing of horsetail falls so it was fun to get a glimpse of the magic. Many photographers were there with the BIG cameras. I was surprised how many people and that they closed a lane for parking. I recommby lilagray - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Ok... I can't be the only one wondering... Where is Chick-on??? I know he must be taking advantage of this shut down in Yosemite. Must have gone in at some secret location and had the place all to himself. I guess he probably won't tell either...by lilagray - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Thank you so much to all for the responses! (Yes, I realized that I could do it by hand and I do know how but agree that if the tool is out there why not use it). I will check out the two sites for future use but for now a BIG thank you to chick-on for providing the info that I was curious about! What a gu-ru Thanks again and happy hiking~ agrayby lilagray - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
We posted a mosquito report on High Sierra Topix but basically~ they were fine for almost the entire trail. Even Ten Lakes where we heard they were awful from a ranger the day we left were not bad by the time we got there (four days later). I must admit that we do not hang out after dusk- we are dinner- bed all before sunset types so consider that. The only really tough areas were around McGee Laby lilagray - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
We just returned yesterday from that loop. Did it on the five days but it would be lovely to take more time. It seems like you got a lot of good responses. There are some good looking camp sites on the way down to Pate Valley with awesome views of Hetch Hetchy. There are also a lot of good sites as you start to climb up toward the falls so you could take your time along there. There are so manyby lilagray - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Has anyone ever figured out the total elevation gain and loss for the Grand Canyon of the Tuolumne loop? If not, is there a good website or something that calculates it for you? I know the big plunges and climbs but am curious when you add up all the ups and downs what the total would be. Thanks for any help~ Seems like there must be a site out there where you can plug in the loop and geby lilagray - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Amazing 5 day loop through the canyon; first night in Pate Valley where the conditions were hot but the river was perfect. Bugs minimal - snakes...none. Bear...one crossing the trail. Second night at the base of Waterwheel Falls...lots pool dipping on the way to keep the body temp down. Amazing views, incredible experience. The climb through McGee Lake had a lot skeeter activity! Third niby lilagray - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Heading out on the Grand Canyon loop and wanted to hear from any recent hikers on what the conditions are like...skeeters, trail conditions and waterfalls?? What's happening out there? Leaving mid-week - Thank youby lilagray - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Ok thanks- glad you could verify by my bad description (I was planning to have the photos attached so the wording made sense). Also thanks for the tip about posting photos... I just can't see opening another email account to post photos once in awhile. Oh well. I love to see all the photos that you and others post~by lilagray - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Just came back from a great weekend in Yosemite. Spent one night up on North Dome (we climbed snow creek in the 100+ degree temps- yikes) and it was amazing. Being that close to half dome with such a unique view was out of this world. We thought we were not going to get the great evening light because of the storm clouds that rushed in around 5pm but just in time for sunset the clouds broke and wby lilagray - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Wapama Falls has yet to meet our eyes... but there was something about the multiple cascades and rush of water in Chilnualna that had me more impressed than the several times hiking yosemite falls. The long drop is very impressive of course, but the five or six drops throughout the chilnualna got our attention!by lilagray - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
We just got back from an impromptu trip to the Wawona side of the park which we have not visited often. We did the hike up to the chilnualna falls and they were spectacular... in fact I am trying to rack my brain as to which other falls in Yosemite are more inpressive. It might have just been the right timing with snow melt and a warm weekend and a great trip. I guess we were were both just feeliby lilagray - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Thanks so much- that is just what I was wondering. I am looking forward to it~by lilagray - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Hello... Is it possible to spend a night on top of north dome? Or near there? Last fall I went for the day hike loop and while passing north dome thought it would make a great place for a sunset and sunrise... so has anyone done that? Is a permit required? Thanks for any info~by lilagray - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
I was up on North Dome last Saturday (10/27) and saw three people up on half dome. Confirmed with binoculars. It had snowed three days prior.There was quite a bit of visable snow on half dome at the time. I was surprised even though I have heard that people climb up when the cables are down.by lilagray - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Just wanted to thank those that offered advice on the North Dome day hike. Went up Yosemite Falls Trail at dawn, lunched at N Dome at 1pm; down the Snow Creek switchbacks (Walters Wiggles number 2) and back at camp by 6:15. Enjoyed a lot of solitude on the hike, great weather, some snow still on the ground on the back side of Indian Rock. Would do it again in a heart beat.by lilagray - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Thank you for the response wherever! Are the switchbacks similar in difficulty to heading up yosemite falls? Do you recommend going in the opposite direction? Thanks!by lilagray - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Does anyone have any information or experience with day hiking to North Dome as a loop. We are thinking we would start via Yosemite Falls Trail and return via Snow Creek. We realize that this is MILEAGE & ELEVATION but this is what works for us. How much time to allow? Best direction? Anyone? Thank youby lilagray - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion