I did the same, as an upgrade from an older version QDT2Plus. Only need room for 2 people, but our luxurious (but light) Nemo sleeping pads are 25" wide and most lightweight 2-person tents are too narrow, at least at the feet, to accommodate them. And this 3-person tent is lighter than our older style 2-person. This tent is very spacious for two people, but it can fit a bunch of stuff (inby ags - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Searched on this topic but didn't come up with what I'm looking for. Thought it may be a conversation with some value for others too, so here goes... I'm wondering if anyone can cite credible sources regarding safe/best practices for drinking water in the backcountry. I have not yet been sick from "bad water" - but I don't plan to push my luck. I always either filter or UV-sterilizeby ags - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
It's been 7 or more years, but my recollection when exploring above (NW) Emeric one day was that Lake 9637 is pretty swampy - not a great place to fish, swim or collect water. Others with more recent (or accurate memory of the) experience may disagree.by ags - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
Another enjoyable adventure and report. Thanks for posting.by ags - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
Happy Birthday JKW! It was great to meet you IRL, and I've appreciated your advice, insights and inspiration from your impressive list of backpacking adventures.by ags - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
I wanted to be clear that I've not tried them, just was sharing what I was learning during the research. I'm not surprised that the grip is less on steel cable than on rope. I am surprised that it would be much of a problem (delay) getting past the stanchions. I figured (but - didn't try it myself yet) that they could be kept somewhat loose and pushed up the cable (with your hand in a fist wraby ags - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
We have the old model QDT2. It's rectangular and something like 90" x 54". Our we-love-them-can-sleep-all-night-won't-consider-giving-them-up new Nemo Astro pads are 25-26" wide, so we can't use most 2P tents. Our QDT2 is still good, but it's pretty heavy and I've been looking for a 52" wide (at the head and feet) replacement that is lighter. Love the open screen for nighttimeby ags - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Adding a bit more color to the previous reply: * above all else, use your own judgement and be responsible for and accept the consequences. It's all you... * IMO, the cables are not *that steep* - meaning, simple hand-over-and (up and down) works fine for many people (on dry granite) * if I understand what you've described, realize that by always being clipped to the cable, you will preventby ags - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Thanks for the report and pictures. I have plans to be in this same area next weekend. Can you elaborate a bit on the "conditions beyond Burst Rock"? I planned to enter at Gianelli, head over Burst Rock (never been there, has been on my to-do list for a long time) to Y-Meadow, then cross country around Granite, Toejam, and Leopold Lakes. Is the road to Gianelli TH open? Is there sby ags - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
Knowing that we'd have plenty of water available the next day while hiking along the Illilouette, I used a Steripen to sterilize one liter of water before leaving Lower Merced. Compared to the water from the rest of the trip (which was taken from rushing streams and filtered with a Sawyer gravity filter) it was not good - so much so that I poured it out back into the lake. I think it was due to tby ags - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
Do you have a general idea where the crash site was? Accounts say the plane was partially submerged, but I thought I also saw some pictures somewhere of wreckage on shore. Those lakes were beautiful (including "unnamed lake" ) We're already planning a return trip from GP or MM if we can get a permit. The views must be spectacular in every direction. Think we could have walked tby ags - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
Didn't take notice of the gate, but when we drove by on the 8th there was one of those white plastic sandwich-board sign thingies in the middle of the WW road blocking the way.by ags - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
For some reason the area of Yosemite south of Glacier Point Road and north+west of Merced Pass has escaped our attention all these years. Realizing that late last year, we set plans in motion to rectify the situation. As our planned departure date approached, condition reports varied widely, and were generally indicating that snow - or more importantly, water crossings - would require that weby ags - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
Just back from 7 days in the backcountry with my new GFG down pillow and Exped UL air pillow. For me, this was an outstanding success. About 4 oz total weight and it was the first time pillow/head/neck comfort was not an issue all night (any night). Thanks for the recommendation.* *I have no affiliation with GFG, just sharing my own experience. Clearly not the right choice for everyone as iby ags - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Is this still the only way to add pictures to posts? I understand that it may be a conscious choice to reduce the amount of storage needed by offloading the many pictures posted (especially when replies copy them too). For those that don't store pictures in the (public) cloud it adds a few steps compared to drag-n-drop... Not complaining, just askingby ags - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Very cool. I need to go see that rock IRL. Thanks for the great pictures. Will post some from our adventure along BV Crest area.by ags - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
Now THATS information I can use. If I am ever disoriented, I'll just look for the giant pink bird... Looks like the chute/gully is NOT in my future this year. And where you took the picture is pretty much exactly where I was thinking we might cross. It's just a picture... and what counts is what it looks like when you're standing there looking at it... but it doesn't look too bad (from thisby ags - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
Roger that on the pix. We'll surveil and adapt to conditions. Wonder if we can get up on Horse Ridge on the "normal" route up the "ramp" from the west? (seems like (on YouTube) there is another route up a crack/chute that people seen to gravitate towards. Presumably more due south of Ostrander Lake. Not sure why it is so popular, but I bet it's not easy now) And down to theby ags - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
Great pics, thanks! I don't think I've seen the perspective you have in the one with a good length of both the Merced and Illilouette in one view. The Merced falls are so spectacular that I hadn't really thought (or seen) how they account for just a small fraction of the elevation loss from LYV to HI. I think you're right: there may still be snow in places in the Clark Range in September. I thby ags - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
Glad to see the road opening. Too bad there was such short notice - I'd have loved the opportunity to ride a bicycle from Crane Flat to the TP entrance. That must be an epic ride (without cars).by ags - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Wow! that's a lot of water. I don't recall seeing that much in Illilouette, ever. Thanks for the great pictures.by ags - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
Nope, we expect to traverse the ridges (Horse, BV, other?) not ascend (mountaineering) up the steep slopes. That presumes that we can find a gentle way up to begin the ascent, which from topo maps looks possible on when heading east/west-ish. We'll skip the crampons (always fun to play with, not fun to carry the extra 2 pounds all week...) and probably the Katoolahs too. By the time we get upby ags - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
Placed an order for the GFG down cover and an Exped UL pillow. Will try out various combinations and report back if there's interest (each has to find his/her own preferred solution). Thanks for the responses, I would have never found GFG otherwise.by ags - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
We've decided to stick to our "plan A" and head up Chilnuala Creek next week (1st week of July). Stream crossing dangers well noted and will be prudent. If we are able to get up towards Ostrander/Horse Ridge/Buena Vista we'll be at ~8-9k feet elevation. I had hoped to walk along the BV Crest to... who knows where? Most recent NPS reports available state that there is 3+ feet of snowby ags - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
+1 ^Thatby ags - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
I think I'll give the air/down combo a try. Once I knew what to look for I had better luck searching. Seems that air/down was covered on BPL a while ago. The GooseFeet/Exped UL solution may work. It looks like Exped decided to cut out GooseFeet by offering their own all-in-one down/air combo called the Exped DownPillow (compared to the Exped AirPillow line). I could even try a multi-use/lighby ags - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
With help from many here I've been able to dial in a great sleep system meeting my specific requirements. A Jacks R Better down quilt replacing my Marmot mummy bag was the start of this and it's worked out very well. The only thing unimproved (and not satisfactory) is a good pillow. I've tried the basic plastic-y blow-up ones; the air-filled with some kind of soft outer fabric; and the stuff sby ags - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
I remember reading the Bald Mtn TR when first posted (I recall it as a combination of TR and various levels of... critique?... by JKW of the shrubbery on the route :-). I thought that was because it was a chick-on xc route-finding extravaganza; it didn't occur to me that was actually when following the trail. I've been over Merced Pass and agree it's not challenging (unless the elevation causeby ags - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
And even the "fourth choice" MF Tuolumne route crosses MFT (at least once - can't tell if there's a bridge or not) It's hard to find a 5-7 day backcountry route with no water crossings...by ags - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
I did find that TR, but I think I misinterpreted it. It was clear that getting to the falls is fine, but beyond not so good. I suppose I should have taken that to say that (especially with the snowmelt that is likely to be happening with the higher temps now) any stream crossing (meaning even our bail-out route to the north) is likely to be impassible. Ugh.by ags - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra