Great TR, thanks for posting. We visited any may have even overlapped with your crew briefly. We left BP at about 9 AM Sunday 1/15 and reached DP about 11, via (new) GPR and Dewey Ridge Trail. I saw an encampment on the high point west of DP proper, and almost went up. But I felt uncomfortable intruding (even if it had been you) but I'm pretty sure it wasn't because they had tents. We wentby ags - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
I think we were blocking the xc-route...by ags - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
I've been "on the cables" (when up on the stanchions) and observed some people using harnesses and 'biners to clip onto the cables - sometimes even two sets, one always clipped on even when passing the stanchions or other obstacles to moving the 'biner along the cable. I've also witnessed someone that clearly should not have been attempting the climb, and for no reason other than extremby ags - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Now that there looks like some snow... :-)by ags - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
1) We will have fun. 2) We will be safe. 3) We may be sore... We'll start with just Dewey (ridge route - at least on the way out). Would you suggest going out "new" or old GP Road to get to the trail north to Dewey? My guess is that it's hard to say, and probably depends on current conditions: I'd bet OGPR is nicer, but "new" GPR is groomed and easier, particularly if theby ags - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
OK, so I will try to not get too aggressive with this trip so SO may join me for the next one. I think we'll start at BP (ski area) and head east on OGPR to the "real" BP, then north along ridge to DP. Depending on how that goes, maybe visit Crocker and Stanford - is there a trail? On the return, again depending on how the ridge route went, head back same way or the meadow route, anby ags - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
Quotebasilbop Funny thing... I remember someone making fun of me for hours in Upper Basin while my day-glo satellite-viz pack cover was deployed... Funny thing II: I even heard from a member of the party how the teasing was relentless. And I noted that both members of the party were themselves sporting said sat-viz kit. Funny thing III: both SO and I are now proud owners of sat-vis kit ourselby ags - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
I still have to figure out how to post pictures so I can share a TR from a great summer adventure on the Benson Loop. Would not have happened, and would not have been such a spectacular success (notwithstanding the torrential rain (in the middle of a drought) and sleet storm) without the generosity of those sharing on this forum. I hope to pay it back/forward for others. Until then, I thought I'dby ags - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
We will be there! Have new (snow)shoes. Have a room in Oakhurst. Have a plan. The TRs and pictures from others have really motivated me to make this happen. Question (recommendation?): what do you prefer when snowshoeing: hiking boots or winter (think furry warm Sorels) boots? While the Sorels are comfy-warm, they weigh a ton and are huge. My regular hikers (old-school full-ankle style, not thby ags - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
Seems like there is new snow falling. Hope at Dewey elevation. I'm thinking we'll head out from BP, maybe up to the top of the lift and to Tempo Dome, then back, or north across the road to Dewey. Then if we like it, Stanford. Or just up from BP directly to Dewey. I guess we'll see how it looks when we get there... I originally thought it might be fun to get to Chilnualna Falls (I've never beeby ags - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
Hmm. Maybe Dewey, and if it goes well, continue west towards Crocker, Stanford? Old Inspiration Point? Is there any viewpoint from the south rim where one can see Silver Strand Falls (or the other (unnamed) falls to the east of Stanford Pt)? From the other post you linked, maybe extend the BP moonlight loop with an excursion to Temp/Tempo/Temple Dome? The link I found is here: https://mappingsby ags - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
I've researched previous posts asking about snowshoe recommendations. I was ready to pull the trigger on MSR Lightning Ascent (25" for me, 25" women's (narrower) for SO). Seems like a solid, standard, tested design. No sales currently to be found, unfortunately. On a last page of snowshoe reviews that I found, someone mentioned the TSL Symbioz Elite. I found it and it seems to be a radiby ags - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
QuoteNot quite The Geezer, but getting there ... All this assumes that the lower elevations in the park get more snow this winter - right now the Badger Pass ski area looks like a sheet of ice and mud as a result of this weekend's rain. Yes. I was thinking of maybe going this weekend (1/14-15) but unless there is a lot of snow this week, it seems it would not be ideal snowshoeing conditions. Sucby ags - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
So this is the first step in what I hope will be progression towards backpacking/camping in Yosemite (and elsewhere) in the heart of winter. Being able to get out year-round would be great. I have no experience winter camping, but am very comfortable in wilderness for week+ during the warmer months. I'm pretty confident that it will be something that I enjoy; my SO is not so sure. I'd like toby ags - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
I've wondered about this. If it were possible to just pick up a cable (like a rope) one could use it hand-over-hand to just walk up. That would be about as safe as going up normally. But those cables are thick, and I bet they are heavy - really heavy, perhaps too heavy to barely budge off the granite. Did you even try to pick them up? I presume they just lie on the granite, with the stanchions slby ags - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Thanks for the replies. I have a Panasonic Lumix P&S (ZS40). It has aperture & shutter control (which I haven't used much) but I don't think it supports anything like 30 second exposures. I'm pretty sure (because of price point) that it's got a pretty lousy, small and noisy sensor. I can always try it though - I always bring it with me in the backcountry (I guess I'm a dinosaur that haby ags - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
Any info on the equipment & technique necessary for such a shot? Does this require a DSLR or can it be done with a mid-line point-and-shoot? Regardless, those pictures are really beautiful, in more than one way.by ags - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
@ chick-on Not to take away from the impressive artistry here - but what? how? Really?! How did you name that peak? I was just there this summer and had no clue. Truly remarkable...by ags - General Discussion
Great accomplishment. Great pictures. Great report. Congratulations and thanks for the post. It occurs to me that your elevation gain on this trip is roughly the same as hiking out of the Grand Canyon... twice!by ags - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
@LVRAY I thought I remembered "somebody" (some publication, I believe from NPS but I could be wrong) making a lot of noise about "be sure to not exceed your limits when hiking the Grand Canyon. Bring plenty of water. Helicopter rescues are expensive...". This was from before the NPS installed drinking fountains along the Kaibob Trail... From here: http://kaibab.org/kaibby ags - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Off the topic of "idiot or not" - I'm wondering about the trail closure (closures in general - and enforceability of the closures). I thought at one time that I had read official commentary that seemed contradictory, but then I had decided might not be after further consideration. I believe that the NPS can close an area to protect wildlife - for instance, when eagles/peregrines areby ags - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Not sure if you have also thought about the need for permits. Since it hasn't been mentioned yet I'll point that out. (of course, you need to have a plan before you can apply for the permits - but you may want to consider the difficulty of permits so you'll have backup plans just in case). Permits now required for walking up the cables at Half Dome. I think you are OK to stop at the sub-dome (befby ags - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
Right. I didn't believe you were literally "done" with YOSE. And I feel privileged to be able to visit SEKI - it's great. I just can't easily explain why, or even describe what it is about YOSE (at this point) that makes it my "preferred place". (although I'd have to say that includes Emigrant too)by ags - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
A belated Happy Birthday bb. Thanks for all the great reports. May you have more miles ahead of you than behind (in whatever mountain range you choose).by ags - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Great TR. Thanks for posting. Two questions: 1) What's the trick to posting pictures since the changes (earlier this year?) 2) Where is Lost Bear Meadow? I've found most all other references on the CalTopo maps online, but not Lost Bear. Edit: Never mind, found it. Just west of Horizon Ridge. Not far from Bridalveil CG. In the area where a few trails (Bridalveil CG, Deer Camp/Turner Meadowby ags - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
I am not eloquent enough to say succinctly the impact of this - of you, of your endeavors and sharing and encouragement of others and respect for the wilderness. So instead... Congratulations!by ags - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
I think I get it. Kinda'. I'm still not nearly done with YOSE. But I've been to SEKI and it's great too. The giant trees are... giant. Awesome (appropriate use of the word, not the now common use). Maybe something like "spiritual"? Or inspirational, thought-provoking, centering - putting oneself in context with the longevity/proportion/meaning of it all? Anyway, I've had some greaby ags - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
Great TR. Thanks for posting. I need to get to that area in any season. I've hiked past that area en route to some other destination, never thinking to explore the area more fully, closer to the trailhead. Is the lack of a trail enough to discourage most people, or does the short distance to the TH override that advantage? Is it correct that this route is no longer possible (without a shuttle)by ags - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
Did you ski, hike (boots) or snowshoe? Looks pretty.by ags - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
Quotelilagray... Enjoyed a nice dinner of thai wrap and potatoe/curry sambosa from our local Gloria wrap guru. Too much info?... No, not enough info.:-) Is this previously prepared (ready to eat) or a freeze-dried meal that you assemble on the trail? Where do you source it from? Sounds interesting. Your trip sounds like fun, good for you making choices that helped you enjoy it the most. Cloby ags - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra