Yosemite here I come

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bearthedog

Joined
May 17, 2006
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Anyone been here?
I was going to the Grand Canyon but things change!
It will be my first time there.

-RB
 
Never been but now that I live in the general region it'll happen eventually, hopefully to sample ten of the world's greatest fingertip flappers... They say the big national parks are going to be swamped this year due to the 44 million viewers of the National Parks documentaries on PBS. Hopefully yuppies and sheeple don't wreck your outing.
 
Last time I was there, I was in diapers:o It's on my future list for camping/backpacking...looking forward to some great pictures!:thumbup:

ROCK6
 
I went there often growing up in SoCal. The most beautiful place in this country if you ask me. Bridal Veil falls is my personal favorite.
You can hike for years and never see all there is there.
 
The further you hike, the less people you'll run into. The large groups stay close to the campsites and the bottom of El Cap. I love it there, really a magical place.
 
gajinoz said:
When you get there, say hello to the place from me. I got married there.
Click to expand...

I wanted to get married at that little white chapel. None of my ex-wives thought it was a good idea.:(

Reuben, if you play golf there is a gorgeous course there as well. I had a huge buck walk right up to me on the course one day. That doesn't happen every day.
 
DUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUDE!!! I am soooo jealous! I haven't been there in YEARS! You are going to love it. I can't wait to see the pics you take.

When are you leaving?
 
While you are hiking through there I want you to picture something. In the 80s I went there around Christmas most years. The place is unbelievably beautiful in the winter. Back then there was literally nobody else there. I sometimes would see a ranger but that was it. I had the park to myself and absolutely loved it.
 
went there last year twice and hiked to half dome,awesome and beautiful place,but...if you go there and are planning on doing the half dome or any other major hike,do not go in summer,on holidays or weekends because you will feel like me and probably want to kill the 100's of idiots on the trail with you. i went back in winter which was absolutely beautiful both the zero people and the scenery but the cables are closed in winter. great place though,you'll love it:thumbup:
 
Been there twice. Probably one of the most photogenic places. If you have time, you should allocate some time to Kings Canyon and Sequioa as these are far less visited. Kings Canyon is very remote and you gotta see the General Sherman.

The first time I was there in the 90s I was at a bar outside the park on the NW side (I think). At any rate, a local was telling me I should visit Hetch Hetchy and he gave me some directions. Next morning I am heading north to Lake Tahoe and I come to a fork in the road where to the right is Hetch Hetchy... what the hell, right. So the fog is super thick and I am on this horrible road. Eventually I make it down to this lake but it is covered in fog. Not a soul is there except me and wife. Then this guy drives up in a government truck, turns out he is a hydrologist. Super nice guy, shows me and the mrs. where this trail goes through a tunnel and around the lake, tells me he has never seen the waterfalls coming in so heavy before. So we start hiking and have to cross through waterfall after waterfall, the sun comes out revealing seven waterfalls coming into the lake, just gorgeous. We had a most memorable great day. I couldn't believe no one else was there.

So I am reading the Yosemite Newspaper on the flight back home. As it turns out, Hetch Hetchy was closed for road repairs. :D
 
Awesome!
I grew up in ca all my life, and the first time I ever went there was last year for a backpacking trip. It was beautifull, I regret not having visited earlier. I still didn't make it to the valley, I would like to sometime, even though I know the throngs of crouds would drive me crazy.

Be sure to post pics!
 
I go there often. It is probably the most beautiful place I have ever seen. Every season offers more splendid sights and activities.

There is a story about a visitor who approached a park ranger, the visitor asked the ranger, "Sir, my wife and I only have a couple of hours to see the most important things in your park, what would you suggest we do?" the ranger shrugged his shoulders and replied, " Sir, if I only had a couple of hours to see the most important things in this park, I would go sit in that field behind me and cry". It's truly God's country.

Enjoy yourself and consider yourself lucky to have seen that place
Cheers,
Shane
 
How much time do you have and what are you in the mood for? Remote back country or places near the roads?

I do most of my backpacking in Sequoia/Kings Canyon (which I think is more beautiful than Yosemite), but I have spent some time in various parts of Yosemite.
 
Another mention for getting out to see Kings Canyon/Sequoia. Yosemite is still definitely worth the trip though. In my opinion, some of the most beautiful parts of Yosemite (or anywhere...) are in the Tuolumne meadows. The area is much less visited even in the summer, and in the spring time when the flowers are out it's just super. The valley really is worth seeing though.
Like everybody mentioned, Yosemite is very nice in the winter too.
Be sure to pay attention to the bear warnings and not even leave toothpaste in your car - it's a really serious problem. :)
 
Awesome Ruben....I havent been there since I was a kid. I will someday go back though.

I read an interesting article in Outside this month about National Parks (Yosimite and Yellowstone in particular), and how the economy is keeping lavish vacations down, and how people are starting to look at national parks for family vacations. Meaning they were talking about crowds being alot more then usual. They did recommend some lesser traveled routes in the park to avoid the peeps.

Anyways, have fun brother, and I cant wait for your impressions of Yosemite.
 
I like Yosemite, but (as aluded to) it's too crowded and commercial. Go up to Tualimie and hike North. Or Sequoia, which I love more. Here's some photos:

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I'll throw this in too. Here's what it looks like from the east looking in to Yosemite.

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bearthedog said:
Anyone been here?
I was going to the Grand Canyon but things change!
It will be my first time there.

-RB
Click to expand...

I grew up about 70 miles north of Yosemite, so had the chance to go there quite a few times. Yosemite is the kind of place that when you drive through the pass and see the valley open up, you sort of wonder if it's real. The sheer, monumental size of the rocks towering over the valley, the waterfalls splashing hundreds of feet down, the verdant greenery -- it's amazing.

While the valley can get pretty crowded, I've always enjoyed going there. Spring is probably the best time, because the water is still flowing pretty well. I hiked up to Yosemite Falls in the fall, and there was no falls!

I've hiked Half Dome six times now, and it's a great experience. The hike is at least 17 miles round trip, and there is a lot of elevation gain. Take lots of water and food (and TP -- getting caught way out there without is not a good time), and a light. Seems like there's so much to see and do along the way, we've always come back after dark.

Yosemite is a great place. You're going to have a wonderful time there.
 
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