The Moon is Waxing Gibbous (86% of Full)
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Very interesting information. The graph showed a precipitous decline since 1995 which corresponds with the first of the baby boomer generation turning 50.
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Mom
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General Discussion I feel very safe in Yosemite. The tent cabins at Tuolumne have no locks, but I've never had anything taken. Last week I had lots of groceries and wine in a bear box for a week, and nothing was lifted.
But I wouldn't hike in some national parks. I used to like going to Big Bend. Now with all the drug running, I wouldn't feel safe. Same for Organ Pipe. And like the previous poster, I woul
by
Mom
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General Discussion Those 'purists' would deny a backcountry experience to an entire demographic. The majority of backpackers are in their twenties. Those going to the HSCs are typically 45 to 60. When I was in my twenties, I was working like crazy to establish my career. In my thirties, I had children. You cannot hike many miles with little ones. Now in my 50's I can finally take trips like this. The NPS is
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Mom
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General Discussion I knew about this camp also but I didn't count it because it is so close to the road (3/4 mile). All the others are a good half-day or day hike from any roads. I suppose May Lake is close to the road being only 1.3 miles away, but it's part of the loop.
I looked at the websites for the chalets at Glacier and for LeConte. They both look interesting but you just can't beat the scenery at Yo
by
Mom
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General Discussion Thanks, parklover. That's exactly the sort of information I was looking for. The Glacier chalets sound great.
by
Mom
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General Discussion I love the High Sierra Camp experience in Yosemite so I was trying to think of other national parks that might have something similar. I can think of Bear Paw Meadows in Sequoia and Phantom Ranch at the Grand Canyon.
Anywhere else?
by
Mom
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General Discussion Just got back from a week in Yosemite.
I ended up hiking up from the Cathedral Lakes trailhead and down by way of the Sunrise Lakes and Tenaya. I prefer doing steep switchbacks going down. The weather was perfect that day. No mosquitos at all. There were lovely stands of tall lupine in the meadows near Cathedral Pass, but the meadow at Sunrise had few wildflowers. It was cold at the Hi
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Mom
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Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion Thanks for the advice. I am not crazy about those cobblestone switchbacks having done the ones between Vogelsang and Merced Lake last year. I will post a trip report when I return. In addition to Sunrise, I am also going to Glen Aulin and May Lake next week.
by
Mom
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Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion I got lucky and got a spot at the Sunrise HSC on Monday. I had planned on taking the route from Tenaya but the woman at the High Sierra Camp desk said that was the harder route. She advised taking the trail from Cathedral Lakes.
Which trail has the better views?
How deep is the creek crossing at the Tenaya Lake outlet these dry days?
I've been as far as Cathedral Lakes, but I would li
by
Mom
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Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion There has been years of litigation over banning snowmobiles from Yellowstone due to the noise, but yet loud motorcycles are allowed. I really do not understand why they are not banned from National parks.
As for getting rid of other things, my criteria would be to eliminate any non-unique building that could be duplicated outside the valley. zion's visitor center is outside it's valley. seq
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Mom
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Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion If I ruled the NPS, I would remove some of the lodging from Yosemite Valley starting with the Housekeeping Camp. I'd remove some of the employee and concession employee housing. I'd cut the size of Curry Village. It seems to me that they have added more tent cabins and another bathhouse recently. I would keep the Ahwahnee. It really is beautiful and is compact and unobstrusive.
I'd also
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Mom
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Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion If your baby is crawling, the stove is the biggest hazard. And if the baby needs to eat in the middle of the night, you will have to get the food from the bearbox in the parking lot, feed the child and then take it back to the bear box.
by
Mom
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Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion There could be a few problems for an infant. First, it could be quite cold at night. Bring plenty of warm wraps. Second, no food can be kept in the tent cabins due to the bears. Lastly, the wood burning stove could be a hazard for a baby, the metal gets really hot when a fire is going. If he/she is crawling be extra careful around the stove.
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Mom
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Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion We entered the Valley Saturday morning. I would not have called it uncrowded at all. The crowds just re-confirmed our resolve to avoid the Valley and stick to the high country.
If the NPS really wants to improve traffic in the Valley they must run more shuttle buses and the buses must run at regular intervals. The buses around Happy Isles were packed to the gills.
The shuttle system c
by
Mom
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Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion We had a completely different experience. Our plans to go to TML on Saturday morning were cancelled because (at the time) the Tioga Road was closed. By the time it opened we had made reservations elsewhere for Saturday night. But Sunday and Monday were gloriously beautiful days in Tuolumne.
We hiked up to May Lake (the road to May Lake was still closed). There were large patches of deep
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Mom
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Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion The May Lake Trailhead is a bit west of Tenaya Lake at Snow Creek, correct? I understand that the parking area is down an old, broken up road. Is this road passable? I don't have 4 wheel drive or high clearance. Is there a better route?
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Mom
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Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion Wow. Those photos were beautiful. I'm well aware of the skeeters. We were swarmed by the nasty things last August on the way up to Vogelsang. I've got my head netting packed and ready. I prefer to wear long sleeves and long pants rather than wear repellant.
On another topic: Food.
Anybody know if the general store and the grill will be open on Memorial Day weekend?
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Mom
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Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion I was thinking about Lyell Canyon. Is there any 'destination' spot?
I was also thinking about the trail to May Lake from Tioga Road and maybe beyond.
Anyway, I'm so glad I enjoy this site, otherwise I would have missed the opening of TML. Thanks.
by
Mom
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Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion Thanks for the heads up on the opening of the Tuolumne Meadows Lodge. We'll be there Memorial Day weekend also. Can't wait.
I'm open for trail suggestions. Here are the one's I've done:
Cathedral Lakes
Lembert Dome
Dog Lake
Elizabeth Lake
Rafferty Creek to Vogelsang
And in July, I'm doing the High Sierra Loop to Glen Aulin and May Lake
So any suggestions? Something without too m
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Mom
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Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion I would go for somewhere you would more likely be totally alone. I'd go off trail into the meadow just past Twin Bridges in Tuolumne. Find a nice patch of lupine and a place to sit near the Tuolumne River in the sunshine. Take a small carafe of wine. It's not too far to walk after an early dinner at the TML. As a woman, I wouldn't want a proposal to be interrupted by other hikers, car noise,
by
Mom
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Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion Thanks for all the good suggestions. I can't get another night at GA. I called and begged but it is full. So I will get an early start, hike down to Le Conte and back to GA for my one night stay there. I've heard that the TML to GA is the easiest stretch of the HSC loop. Then I hike to May Lake for another night and then back to Tuolumne Meadows.
You guys are right that I am going to
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Mom
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Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion The total itinerary is short. Just TML to GA, to ML and back to TML. I'm not worried at all about being burned out on the trip to GA. If anything, I'm wondering if we'll get there at noon wandering how to spend the next few hours.
Thanks for all the advice. I read the books and look at the maps but they don't tell the full story and the difficulty of a trip/trail is so subjective.
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Mom
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Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion