A couple years ago in Zion I ran into a forum friend I know from an RV forum. They are avid hikers (well maybe more so his wife) and she was complaining about the trails or lack there of, not even sure what her specific complaint was now. Anyway, I suggested just walking along the river, why do you need a trail? So she hiked from the near the narrows all along the river, not really sure how far, eventually catching the shuttle and came back after experiencing some rain and wonderful hike she said.
Point is, get off the trails in our national parks! If you aren't sure how to use a map, etc. Then follow an obvious landmark like a river. Have fun and explore!
Maybe I am preaching to the choir here, I dunno.
The Moon is Waning Crescent (19% of Full)
Re: Don't be afraid to go off trail...
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September 12, 2011 01:05PM |
September 13, 2011 05:51PM |
September 13, 2011 08:27PM |
September 14, 2011 10:31AM |
September 14, 2011 02:54PM |
September 14, 2011 05:37PM |
Why would it be safer to go off trail with snow cover?
With significant snow cover you could get into trouble by busting thru snow bridges or poking thru snow next to downed trees.
Also with significant snow cover you'll have a hard time even getting to scree in Yosemite.
Snakes are not an issue. The Pacific Rattlesnake is not an aggressive snake. If they were you would hear of bites.
The only thing you ever hear is "I almost stepped on one". x1000
The comment w/r to not taking someone off trail that can't find up is funny. For someone like that the issue is the same...
you have to keep your eye on them all the time regardless of on trail or not.
I take the wifey off trail all the time. She follows and I know where she is all the time. I'll show her the map and explain
where we're going every so often. Worrying does you no good.
With significant snow cover you could get into trouble by busting thru snow bridges or poking thru snow next to downed trees.
Also with significant snow cover you'll have a hard time even getting to scree in Yosemite.
Snakes are not an issue. The Pacific Rattlesnake is not an aggressive snake. If they were you would hear of bites.
The only thing you ever hear is "I almost stepped on one". x1000
The comment w/r to not taking someone off trail that can't find up is funny. For someone like that the issue is the same...
you have to keep your eye on them all the time regardless of on trail or not.
I take the wifey off trail all the time. She follows and I know where she is all the time. I'll show her the map and explain
where we're going every so often. Worrying does you no good.
September 14, 2011 06:34PM |
September 14, 2011 07:19PM |
With all due respect to that...
cmon.
How many bites in the Sierra? Find another one.
How many PCTers? How many bites?
I ain't biting. It's overblown.
cmon.
How many bites in the Sierra? Find another one.
How many PCTers? How many bites?
I ain't biting. It's overblown.
September 14, 2011 07:27PM |
September 14, 2011 07:30PM |
Beyond the fact that I'm not buying it either...there's still the fact that the relevant issue is the relative risk of that versus snow-related hazards. How many people (mostly snowboarders, but still...) have drowned in tree wells in CA? Died in avalanches?
Here's a relatively recent snow bridge:
Here's a relatively recent snow bridge:
September 14, 2011 08:45PM |
Snow trumps snakes by an Avalanche. No contest.
Even though much is made of the Avalanche danger when plowing Tioga...
generally speaking a huge portion of the park has very little Av. danger.
Unless you start going at it from the east side.
IMO snow is the biggest issue when they open the road on a year like this
and people go in without enough experience and get in trouble.
People def. got lost this year... we just didn't hear about it much.
Even though much is made of the Avalanche danger when plowing Tioga...
generally speaking a huge portion of the park has very little Av. danger.
Unless you start going at it from the east side.
IMO snow is the biggest issue when they open the road on a year like this
and people go in without enough experience and get in trouble.
People def. got lost this year... we just didn't hear about it much.
September 14, 2011 07:31PM |
September 14, 2011 08:11PM |
Quote
mrcondron
I've put my foot down less than a foot away from one several times and all they do is rattle.
Coming down Snow Creek I put my foot down about an inch from the head of one curled up on the trail. He rattled. More recently, I wouldn't have even know this guy on San Jacinto was around if he hadn't rattled as I walked by:
http://yosemitephotos.net/main.php/v/trails/devils-slide/cr-dsc_1189.jpg.html
September 14, 2011 07:47PM |
September 14, 2011 08:35PM |
I'll believe that PERHAPS the bozo got bit when trying to move the snake.
But this statement throws a huge question mark into it:
"I have been backpacking in Yosemite for 22 years and this is the first time I have even seen a rattlesnake."
I can't tell you how many snakes I've seen. But it's a lot. And all over the park.
I've been buzzed at least twice this year. The last time was a guy in the manzanita
on the way down to the trail from Starr King saddle. Didn't expect him there.
In this case I was actually trying to see if I could get him out of the Manz. and see how
pissed he would be and if he'd actually strike. After pissing with him for a couple minutes
and him just moving from one spot to the next I decided to forgo the experiment
and do the right thing and respect it.
Here's one from the trek to Balloon Doom:
https://picasaweb.google.com/yosemite.chick.on/BalloonDome#5628848779908312050
(from this additional experiment I concluded eeek no lookie at my peeekchures)
But this statement throws a huge question mark into it:
"I have been backpacking in Yosemite for 22 years and this is the first time I have even seen a rattlesnake."
I can't tell you how many snakes I've seen. But it's a lot. And all over the park.
I've been buzzed at least twice this year. The last time was a guy in the manzanita
on the way down to the trail from Starr King saddle. Didn't expect him there.
In this case I was actually trying to see if I could get him out of the Manz. and see how
pissed he would be and if he'd actually strike. After pissing with him for a couple minutes
and him just moving from one spot to the next I decided to forgo the experiment
and do the right thing and respect it.
Here's one from the trek to Balloon Doom:
https://picasaweb.google.com/yosemite.chick.on/BalloonDome#5628848779908312050
(from this additional experiment I concluded eeek no lookie at my peeekchures)
September 14, 2011 08:46PM |
September 14, 2011 08:56PM |
Quote
ttilley
Truthfully...I've been backpacking in Yosemite for 20 years or so and never seen a rattler...in Yosemite. Seen plenty of them in the East Bay Parks, none in Yosemite, though I know they're there.
OK, I believe you. But I'm astounded.
I've seen them in these locations, many multiple times:
HH Switchbacks
Trail to Rancheria
Rancheria Proper
Rancheria Mtn.
Trail to Tiltill Valley
GCT - multiple locations b/t Return and Pate
Morrison Creek
Pate Valley
Illilouette Basin (below Starr King)
LYV
b/t LYV and Moraine Dome
Base Line Camp
Seen one skunk out there. And have a zillion sightings of The Old Dude.
September 14, 2011 09:06PM |
September 14, 2011 09:53PM |
You won't find a snake above about 8K in elevation.
And what time o year you go also has a large factor.
O, also saw the group o 4 snakes on Hetch Hetchy Dome.
From this trip:
http://yosemitenews.info/forum/read.php?3,35489
The were under an exfoliation layer. Heard them buzzing from about
100 ft. away ... I irritated them from the sound waves of my feets clomping
on the rock:
Probably forgetting other times too... wife usually yells at me to quit pissing around
whenever I run into one when she is around.
They're beautiful reptiles.
And what time o year you go also has a large factor.
O, also saw the group o 4 snakes on Hetch Hetchy Dome.
From this trip:
http://yosemitenews.info/forum/read.php?3,35489
The were under an exfoliation layer. Heard them buzzing from about
100 ft. away ... I irritated them from the sound waves of my feets clomping
on the rock:
Probably forgetting other times too... wife usually yells at me to quit pissing around
whenever I run into one when she is around.
They're beautiful reptiles.
September 16, 2011 11:38PM |
September 17, 2011 09:37AM |
Quote
AlmostThere
You can be sure it was a king snake. There are no coral snakes here in Cali. The only venomous snakes are rattlers.
Can't the California Mountain Coral be found at elevations above 15k?
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Re: Don't be afraid to go off trail... September 20, 2011 10:00AM |
Quote
szalkowski
Quote
AlmostThere
You can be sure it was a king snake. There are no coral snakes here in Cali. The only venomous snakes are rattlers.
Can't the California Mountain Coral be found at elevations above 15k?
You mean the winged ones? Sure!
September 15, 2011 12:09AM |
September 15, 2011 04:49PM |
September 15, 2011 05:14PM |
September 15, 2011 08:37PM |
September 15, 2011 08:44PM |
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Re: Don't be afraid to go off trail... September 15, 2011 10:02PM |
Quote
eeek
Quote
ttilley
Truthfully...I don't handle heat well at all.
Neither do I. And snakes like heat.
Does that make me a snake?
September 19, 2011 02:38PM |
Quote
rroland
...I stirred it up pretty good...
Q: what recommedations do you all have for my first off-trail trip? As I said I have not nailed down my permit yet so I'm pretty open, would rather not do a TH in the valley...
any help and guidance would be appreciated for this first-time, off-trailer.
Grandpa James,
Go climb a mountain.
Cerealessly, why don't you go for Mt. Conness. Go to Young Lakes. Camp der.
Then dayhike around and come back to yur camp.
If you never been off trail at all ... maybe start slow. Don't go too crazy.
But if you do... don't forgets ur medicine.
September 16, 2011 01:23PM |
Quote
Ohnivy-Drak
Quote
eeek
Quote
ttilley
Truthfully...I don't handle heat well at all.
Neither do I. And snakes like heat.
Does that make me a snake?
Snakes like heat
You like heat
Therefore you are a snake?
F-
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Re: Don't be afraid to go off trail... September 16, 2011 03:20PM |
Quote
ttilley
Truthfully...I've been backpacking in Yosemite for 20 years or so and never seen a rattler...in Yosemite. Seen plenty of them in the East Bay Parks, none in Yosemite, though I know they're there.
Three feet of lazy rattler, would not move til I hammered on the granite with my pole (from a safe distance).
On the way down Grand Canyon of the Tuolumne.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 09/16/2011 03:21PM by AlmostThere.
September 16, 2011 03:26PM |
September 16, 2011 05:40PM |
September 21, 2011 11:47AM |
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