Quotebalzaccom I'm afraid I wouldn't get a passing grade....grin Not so balz...actually not bad....B- (lol). Maybe the teacher in me but...all your colors are too close in value...(mostly using only middle values). Try adding some harsh darks...makes the whites pop!by markskor - General Discussion
Water colors usually done back at home, but... sketchbook (pencils and pen-n-ink) always carried....just a few more from this summer 2016 -by markskor - General Discussion
Nice work there too Balz! Been doing watercolors for years...(tough medium to master)... taught high school art too (until they dropped the art department), Agreed, a good way to stay Sierra connected during the winter months.. Employee housing in back of TM store...area fondly known to employees as Club Med.by markskor - General Discussion
Slaved away in the Tuolumne Store all last summer, but found time to visit Matthes Crest and North Dome - watercolor/ pen n ink.by markskor - General Discussion
I am sorry my "entitled" comment offended you. You obviously seem the experienced backpacker, one who cares about the wilderness, LNT, and the need to obey the posted rules...Kudos! Respectfully though, your question offended me. You say you are going somewhere where bear cans are a required carry if staying overnight. As GRinGeorgia stated - The regulations are crystal clear. Your qby markskor - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
Sigh...(entitled?) - Thoughts - There is no reason that you can't put other items inside either bear can, along with your food... Stove, headlamp, clothes... anything just to fill the bear can up and thus not take up valuable (small) pack space. For me, the only difference between a week-long trip and one that is shorter, is the amount of food carried. Pack accordingly. Tests have shown a Yosby markskor - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
South Yosemite? 20 - 25 miles? Suggest Beasore Drive (North at Globe Rock), up to Chiquito Creek TH, (7235). Easy 7 miles to visit the Chains...(BTW, good fishing Lower and Middle) and perhaps, x-country over to Breeze (route starts between Middle and Upper). Dynamic scenery at relatively lower elevation...downhill on the way home too.by markskor - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
Quotebalzaccom Well, I am going to suggest that stove fuel, DEET, and coffee also matter. Markskor---has Aramark's management been made fully aware of these issues? Yes - daily. The trouble seems to be that Aramark is clueless concerning Yosemite's vast hiker population...a bit out of their comfort zone. FYI, both the PCT and JMT diverge from Tuolumne Meadows...a hiker nexus. Maybe it jusby markskor - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Spent all summer working the Tuolumne Meadows store...just got back/ TM closed this week. Thoughts: Aramark (not hiker-friendly yet) seems a bit clueless about what hikers need. Maybe this is due to the fact that the old concessionaires, DNC, did not make the transition easy (withheld all past records due to the name conundrum thing...), and thus Aramark had no past figures to compare thingsby markskor - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
To add... TM Grill closed for season yesterday - 9/25... TM Store closed for season today - noon - 9/26by markskor - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Always a great trip - anytime - Water is down but great holes for swimming. Suggest starting out from White Wolf as reversed (starting out TM), that 4,000 feet climb in 4 miles out of Pate westward kinda sucks. Many rattlesnake sightings reported down there all summer. Ticks can also be a bit problematic.by markskor - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
Great trip, but in August, two factors to consider: Due to summer heat, elevation to gain, and no trees, the 2,000 foot climb up out of Silver Lake TH can be a real grind...interesting relics and lots of water (Rush Creek), but hot and slow going...suggest coming down instead - much easier. However... From Tuolumne, they are implementing a Donahue Pass quota system this year - caused by ovby markskor - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
To add, when I spoke with the transportation kiosk guy this morning - (the one behind the big Village market)...he said this bus has not yet started up, (not even in his Daily book!)... but he searched further, found a separate memo... had prices but no times mentioned. Could all be contingent on the water being turned on at/opening of the TM campground ~ June 10.by markskor - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
Just now returned Tuolumne and Valley...sad news - The last year's "free" hiker bus (Valley - TM) will cost $14.50/pp - one way. YARTS is much cheaper. The local TM shuttle (Olmsted Point - TM store) will now have a nominal fee attached also. No price announced yet. The Valley shuttle buses - Valley loop - now only runs every 20 minutes...lots of disgruntled riders/ crowds on each sby markskor - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
Many different strategies seen - FYI, hate to backtrack too. This is what worked for us. My thoughts are that you have little to worry about from 2-legged visitors...everybody up there has their own load to haul/ain't taking on any more additional weight. However, what you do have to be concerned about is all the 4-legged highwaymen, vermin big and small, (plus those damn steller's jays too.)by markskor - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
Still heaps of snow at 10,500 and above...Saddlebag still covered as of 2 days ago; road up still snow covered too. Pretty good snow for walking in the AM, not so much afternoons. As for your proposed hike...a long ways to slog if gate is still closed at 120.Once backside Saddlebag, going over the pass is relatively easy until the steep waterfall section - a little dicey there... a few tricky sby markskor - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
Just a thought if coming in 120 - Tioga Pass. YARTS from Lee Vining to Tuolumne Meadows - (3x a day summer) - $3.by markskor - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Store "scheduled" to open this Friday, weather permitting. Biggest problem is the water - or lack there of. Water scheduled to be working on June 10...the same date as the campground opening date. Those legitimate backpackers with permits are allowed to stay BP camp, all others not yet..by markskor - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
QuoteFranklyn I have a wilderness permit on Fathers Day weekend, what are the chances that there will be space in the backpackers camp when I arrive? I have never seen the BP camp full...always room for 1 more...somewhere. FYI, you do not get your own site, or your own bearbox in the Valley BP. There have been nights where every available flat spot will be occupied. Rangers come through about 6by markskor - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
Quotehotrod4x5 I assume they'll bring in generators to keep the refrigerators at the stores and restaurants going? Probably to keep the cash registers going strong too.by markskor - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Sort of in the middle here - wash my down bag after every 500 bag-nights, whether it needs it or not. Washing a good down bag - WM? - many possible disasters/ soaps to use/ drying hassles... Here in Mammoth, I went down to Mammoth Mountaineering (the best gear shop in town) - asked them who does their rental bag cleaning/ who they trust... experience counts. Go there. Cost me $25 and aby markskor - General Discussion
Great article - thanks. Interesting though - " He climbed above the falls, attracted by a dome of granite towering 13,600 feet over the valley. Today it bears his name, Mt. Starr King." It must have shrunk some over the years - as Mt. Starr King today only a bit above 9,000 ft elevation...Delaware North take its cut?by markskor - General Discussion
The closest permit office to the starting trailhead controls the permits for that trailhead. For example - One hiker gets in line early - 3:00 AM, first in line at the Valley Permit office. He is looking for a "Next Day" permit, starting somewhere out of Tuolumne Meadows. Someone else gets in line at 10:40 AM at the Tuolumne Permit office...same request. (FYI, Next Day permits go ouby markskor - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
Art in Yosemite? With all the bad news recently, a big shout out here to the Yosemite Art center, Valley, in the Village...(just south of the big store.) BTW, no name change. http://www.yosemiteconservancy.org/yosemite-art-center World famous artists, (changes weekly, see posted artist schedule) -http://www.yosemiteconservancy.org/sites/default/files/useruploads/2016_arts_schedule_final.pdby markskor - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
"We would like to do something out of Tuolumne Meadows but alas... the JMT folks have booked out all of the permits in advance." No, they only booked the 60% advance reservable permits. 40% are still designated as "next day"...still wide open. Factor in all those reserved "no shows"...usually 10 - 20%, and that leaves over half the quota slots still available.by markskor - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
Question about Curry cafeteria (or whatever its called for now)... Has it gone back to the buffet-style breakfast of years past?by markskor - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Not knowing anything about Jeremy Jacobs and the Delaware North's GreenPath® environmental stewardship program... It would appear that a compromise has been made - the Jacobs name to be forever associated/ on a Yosemite landmark - in exchange for $22 million in 1993 dollars...the cost DNC had to pay back then. If true, seems like a fair resolution?by markskor - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
The high freeway overpass section - Highway 4, from 99 to 5 French Camp Rd cutoff...stopping for fresh produce at the local farm shacks Waiting for that long 120 left turn light, outside Escalon...cheapest gas The high derrick timber mill complex...thousands of stacked trees Crossing the Don Pedro Reservoir bridge Moccasin and Early Intake Hardin Flat - (describes my ex GF) The three tunneby markskor - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
While in full agreement that this makes no sense, however... Back in 1993 DNC was "obligated" to then purchase these rights (names - Ahwahnee, Curry, Wawona, etc) as a codicil to the contract in order to take over the concessions. IIRC, it cost them ~$20 million in 1993 dollars - and they paid up. This is not much different/ basically the same as today's takeover concession process excby markskor - General Discussion
Just wanted to say thanks again for this discussion! Other than my regular hiking buddy, (BTW, a truly despicable lout and will gladly trade him for one of yours?)... have met very few who carry, (or even appreciate having) a raft along on their backcountry travels. Prolly explains why we have not crossed trails, as I (we) too regularly eschew the well-traveled paths, but have yet to encounter anby markskor - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra