I'm tentatively planning a trip the first week in May. I know it's still cold at night then. I've stayed in the Curry Village unheated tent cabins the first week in October and know how cold those are. What I'm wondering is if Housekeeping is about "as cold" as Curry Village or if it is any warmer due to not being quite as close to the granite walls of Curry. I'm guessing there's probabby JohnC - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
I was there last Sunday through Wednesday. Here are a few pics from then... The Fern Spring turnout is visible in this photo... El Cap Meadow... Also in El Cap Meadow... Cook's Meadow with the moon rising Monday evening...by JohnC - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Beautiful. Thanks for sharing.by JohnC - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
I'll be going Sunday for a previously planned trip. Was hoping for some valley color (still am) but now hoping for some snow capped mountain top shots. Especially from Glacier Point and Sentinel Dome.by JohnC - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Quoteplawrence QuoteJustKeepWalking Also, the Yosemite announcement says " Previous fee increases have had no negative effect on visitation levels." Then WRT to what Lawrence said above.. did the mix of people change (picnic areas not as used), if the absolute visitation rates didn't? I guess it depends on what NPS means by "no negative effect". Maybe they view less peoby JohnC - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
QuoteJustKeepWalking Thanks! Especially liked the Convict Lake shot. Amazing colors and patterns in the rock set off by the tree colors. Sigh... lovely... Thanks. That's exactly what I liked about the shot too.by JohnC - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Need to hold off two more weeks.by JohnC - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
A few photos from last weekend's trip... OK, maybe not Fall colors...but Mono Lake at sunset... Convict Lake... Silver Lake...by JohnC - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Quoteeeek I doubt they will be working on the weekend. That would be my thought too. But I thought I recall them sometimes working on the weekend in the park.by JohnC - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Quoteeeek On Tuesday October 14 roads crews will begin crack sealing on Glacier Point road starting at Chinquapin and moving east. This work will consist of pouring a melted rubberized asphalt material into cracks in the roadway and will help to prevent water infiltration and help prevent potholes and other roadway problems. Any idea how long this will last or if they work on Sunday? I'm goingby JohnC - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Quoteeeek June Lake was stunning today. That's what the hotel lady said two days ago when I booked. Glad to hear it wasn't just a sales pitch. :-) But a couple of web sites have also confirmed the same. I'm really looking forward. Also have another Yosemite trip planned Nov 2-5. Hoping to maybe catch some different colors around the valley.by JohnC - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Quoteeeek QuoteDaveAKA "golden geezer" pass. For those that remember the Golden Eagle pass? I remember friends having them. How is the senior pass different from the old Golden Eagle pass? Other than I'd rather be called a golden eagle than a senior.by JohnC - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Thanks for everybody sharing here. Saturday I'll be leaving for a trip up 395 and staying around June Lake. I made a fall colors trip last year when the park closure forced me to change my plans. I mostly visited from Bishop to Bodie and points between. The beauty and the colors were stunning. I've been looking forward to this year's trip since I got home last year.by JohnC - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
On my trip this year in June, I became eligible the day I rolled into the park. (Not a coincidence ) One of the best buys I've ever made. Sweeeeet!by JohnC - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
QuoteJustKeepWalking Good for you for making a wise choice! The mountain will still be there. Come back and try again when conditions are more amenable. Once you get the idea of the route, maybe try again and challenge yourself with more difficult conditions. Build up to it. And as Chick-on said, thanks for coming back to report on your trip. I never get tired of seeing those beautiful places!by JohnC - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
QuoteKatyAnderson Nice shots! Thank you.by JohnC - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Here's a few more... Near the Happy Isles Nature Center Olmsted Point Coming back down the Mist Trail Almost Tunnel Viewby JohnC - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Quotechick-on QuoteJohnC Quotechick-on Maybe people don't realize... You share... I share... You ask for advice... you come back and say how it went. (even if you didn't went) Tanks For Sharon! I'm confused. Were you looking for more feedback or detail? I'd be happy to share but don't want to bore anybody. Most of you here are hard core back country people. Me, I stay in a hotel/condby JohnC - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Quotechick-on Maybe people don't realize... You share... I share... You ask for advice... you come back and say how it went. (even if you didn't went) Tanks For Sharon! I'm confused. Were you looking for more feedback or detail? I'd be happy to share but don't want to bore anybody. Most of you here are hard core back country people. Me, I stay in a hotel/condo/tent cabin and run withby JohnC - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Quotecmon4day Nice photos. Wish I was there! Thank you.by JohnC - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Well, I've returned and somewhat recovered from my trip. I didn't go anywhere you all haven't been but thought I would share a few pics. Near the base of Lower Yosemite Falls Not exactly a sunset, but it was a rather colorful post sunset sky from Sentinel Dome. From the trailhead at May Lake. From off the Mist Trail at the photographer's rock. I hiked down the 4 Mile Trailby JohnC - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Quoteeeek QuoteJohnCMy only other experience with bees was when they unfortunately colonized a beam outside my house. The queen had found her way between a wood beam and the brick that had been later laid over it. There were mass quantities of bees congregating on a beam extending from the roof. When I called someone to deal with them he really stirred them up. I've never seen such a mass quantitby JohnC - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
QuoteCalaveras They've been there for a year. The only reason they'd be there for so long is if there was a queen present. Honey bees don't congregate like that for no reason. A brief review of Google search results indicates that the short growing season at 8000' puts a lot of stress on a hive so it may be small and not very robust. A lack of a large swarm doesn't mean there is no hive. I beliby JohnC - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Hmm, I used that bathroom last week and noticed a few bees in it. I didn't see a hives worth but I was quick about my business and careful not to let any land on my, uh, exposed parts. I also noticed a few more just outside when I was leaving.by JohnC - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
QuoteDavidSenesac meadow = grass = wet = mosquito love it One very key bit of wisdom of many I could add is during squeeter season DO NOT belong to the massive army whose uniform is t-shirt and shorts Agreed. I've been here since Sunday. Swatted a lot of skeeters but haven't found any bites yet. Arms and legs fully covered as well as head, neck, and ears. So far, so good. :-)by JohnC - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Great photos! Thanks for sharing.by JohnC - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
Quotehikerchick395 13 May 2014 hike to the Diving Board. That is a photo-bombing swift in the upper left corner. Beautiful! Thanks for sharing.by JohnC - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
Keep an eye on the weather. A chance of thunderstorms Sun-Tue are starting to creep into the forecast. Whatever you do, be safe. QuoteALSO EXPECT A SLIGHT CHANCE FOR SIERRA NEVADA THUNDERSTORMS THIS WEEKEND...MAINLY FROM YOSEMITE TO JUST NORTH OF KINGS CANYON. HAVE EVEN ADDED SLIGHT CHANCE POPS FOR THIS AREA FOR MON AND TUE AFTERNOON NOAA Yosemite Valley Forecastby JohnC - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
Quotettilley The May Lake Road wasn't open, I saw plenty of cars parked at May Lake Road along the Tioga Road coming back Monday. Hoffmann's south-facing side (as seen from the road) has only streaks of snow across the top. More snow on the north side. Thanks for the update. It sounds like the trail should be in pretty good shape relative to visibility and lack of snow. I do hope they open tby JohnC - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
Quotechick-on Doh! Nuts! Sorry, dang, I can't believe Bearproof isn't giving me poo about "First Week in June" For whatever reason... I thought you were going this last Sunday. Sorry. Unfortunately I cannot tell you if they opened the road or not... but I would guess that someone in the 9 million people I saw coming into the park when I left on Sunday could. I didn't drive as farby JohnC - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra