Sierrapalooza 2006 - Half Dome

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Photos and trip reports please :)”

“I think I've seen that mountain before!!”

“Probably have seen this one before too...

Cathedral Peak reflected near Cathedral Lake

Shortly after arriving and setting up camp we had a little weather that left us with a beautiful sunset.”

“Hey WW, What's the deal with permits? I want to hike from T. Meadows to the Valley on the JMT. The NPS web site reports that the reservable permits for that trail are all taken from now until, I dunno, 2009. Is there a huge demand for walk-up permits? I'd hate to get there and not be able to get a permit....”

“Marty, that must be a mistake...because you can only reserve 6 months in advance. That's what we did.(applied 6 months in advance for permits)If you show up on a week day....walk up permits would be easier to get...the weekends are a zoo this time of year in Yosemite.”

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Fun times!”

“More! More! More! Just lovely, WW....”

“BowlderMan, Hard to be spontanious in YNP, Mondays or Tuesdays can be good days for walk up permits but get there early. Sometimes you can hook up with a group that has permits but all the people didn't show up. Best thing is plan ahead and reserve permits. You may also consider adding a few days and enter from Devils Postpile. It may be easier to get a permit and you add some of the most dramatic scenery on the trail.”

“Ewker shot this one of me with my camera...
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“My damn invite must have got lost in the mail.”

“Mine too!”

“I never got the memo about this trip either.”

“Bunch of wimps! What do y'all need cables for?”

“Must have missed my invite”

“How in the heck do you come DOWN those cables?!?!

OH, MY KNEES!”

“very slowly. You can come down frontwards, backwards or side ways. Some actually walk on the outside of the cables (holding on to one cable) esp. when there is a lot of people going up. That is the fun part passing people”

“Awesome!!! I will be there in about 2 months climbing those cables. ;) They look kinda scary! Thanks for the pics...”

“Nice pics Windwalker!

Great scenery!”

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“2.8 mil........... I can see it coming.”

“HDR image from the tunnel entrance into the park.

last edited: 7/17/06 5:10:32 AM”

“So where's the trip report you guys! Man, those are great pictures. I can't imagine climbing up that!”

“So, essentially, I'm S.O.L. for doing this trip this summer. OK, I'll go hike somewhere else. I'll start counting backwards from whenever I'm doing half of the rest of the JMT next summer to make sure I get a permit....”

“Bowlder, is the permit office saying no walk-in permits are available? I thought it was a 60/40% split between reservations and walk-ins. Couldn't you be first in line for a walk-in?”

“Awesome shots WW and you too David.

Thanks guys! Yall are really helping me confirm my plans for next summer!”

“Hey wannabp! Well, I could if I could take some extra vacation and show up on a Monday or Tuesday, according to WW, but I don't think I can make that work. I'm planning to bring BowlderSon along, and he is still in school until the day before we leave on our vacation. So I was trying to squeeze this hike into a weekend - sounds like it would be improbable to expect to get a walk-up permit on a Friday or Saturday....

No biggee, the trail, mountains, lakes, etc. will probably still be there next year, or the year after, or the year after that.... :-)”

“after seeing Windwalkers and Phils Son photos mine will be crappy. I should have mine up sometime this week.

Great trip!!! Lots of views/scenery, weather was great except for a brief hail/sleet/snow/rain storm at Cathedral Lake. Climbing Half Dome was fun except for where the granite was 18"-24" higher in some spots.
Mist Trail was very cooling, lots of rainbows and wet t-shirts.”

“Son - Great Pic!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!”

“Look Navi...it's the Three Sisters! :P

Wonderful image David!



Thanks Y'all
last edited: 7/17/06 3:28:34 PM”

“There are about seven of those nice folks I don't know.
Please add names.”

“man.. i wanna go back!! great pics WW!”

“But then the Rangers would know.

Back row- Landscaper, JVZ, Hodgeman, Naviguesser, Rockman, Phil, Ewker, Phil's Son.

Middle row- Wannabp, Ladyhiker, Hikerchic, OM, Turbo, Gnome, Songbyrd, Trekkngirl, Guitgrl, Mozark, Windwalker.

Front row- Jerbear....Yo Bear!”

“wondering what i did to deserve no invite :(
really nice area though.”

“Lots of us did not get invites, Gem.
20 people was a very big group as it was.
I can understand limiting numbers.”

“I have never seen so many rangers on the trail as I did on Day one of the hike, and they were there for US.”

“I was stopped by 4 rangers within the first two hours!!! The quota system and enforcement in Yosemite appeared to me to be stricter than in the other National Parks and Wilderness areas I have been in. We camped as two groups except in the Little Yosemite Valley campground where it didn't matter.”

“Glacier is very strict about the permit enforcement as well.

Cool trip guys!”

“Yea, thanks for the invite!




The Yosemite rangers are the worst. We went to bed kinda early (hour after dark) in LYV and was awakened by a ranger wanting to see our permits. Many people attempt to camp in LYV without permits.

Bowlder Man....Best thing to do is plan the trip and send in for permits but we always do the walk-up thingy on the day of our departure. Just get there first thing in the morning when the office opens.”

“flip - Yes. In Little Yosemite Valley the ranger walked through our camp several times each day checking that we were "bear" safe.

We had an amusing conversation with a ranger at the backpacker's campground the day before we started. He may not have realized it, but he was talking about the bears as if they were humans. Well, nice to know that Yosemite Rangers care about keeping the bears alive.”

“i loved the rangers' statements about what to do and not to do if you encountered a bear.
when he recommended not using bear spray he said "have you ever had pepper spray in your face and eyes?" he had and said it isnt any fun at all ....so , the poor bear!!

and then he said make noise and say GO AWAY or GET OUT....but don't yell "Bad Bear"....because it hurts their feelings.......

Stupendous trip! the yosemite valley, geology
is a beautiful thing,gotta love the art created by those magnificent glaciers! rainbows in the mist of the falls, the power of the Merced river flowing and tumbling over and through walls and boulders of granite....along the pine and fern groves and wildflowers, pristine lakes reflecting the surrounding peaks and sky, refreshing dips into the river and cathedral lake. Rock slab kitchens, camp talk, rummy and crazy eights, night sky views.....beautiful fellow backpackers.
had an unexpected overnight stay in houston sunday night,lazing around today at home...link to pictures to follow soon.
reading "the discovery of the yosemite" ...fascinating.....as the trip!”

“On my aborted JMT trip, I got sprayed with bear spray. No, it's not pleasant but some people feel they need it.”

“That's a great hike, and I see a few familiar faces... It wasn't to be for me, you see, but next time, I'm bringin' Dad WITH me!

For those who know me, y'all look great! Fer them s that don't, the others make YOU look great!

Aw shucks...

Nice pix, too!”

“Fantastic trip everybody !! Great to see you all again :-))

Lots of awesome photos rolling in. It's going to be a while before I get mine put together. I did whip up a 360 panorama from Half Dome though.

The group photo page is up and running. Stay tuned for the latest additions

Sierrapalooza IV Photo Page

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“Wow! Hodge, that is incredible.”

“When were you guys there????? I am so jealous and I see familiar faces. Although I can not complain as I have had way too many adventures this year.
last edited: 7/18/06 11:19:11 PM”

“Sweet shots you guys, Cathedral Lake is so photogenic. I recently won Best of Show form a shot I took there, pats self on back ;). I was going to ditch my big tripod for this trip (taking my 8 year old on the same trip in two days, although I think we'll skip Half Dome, scared me enough when I just had to worry about myself) but after seeing Windwalkers shots I think I'll bring it along.

Phils Son took one of the best shots I've ever seen form that classic view.

Any tips/thoughts for us as far as spots to camp etc (I've camped at Lower Cathedral and Little Yosemite Valley)”

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Paige take your tripod it's a lot of fun,
mine felt like a anchor during the day though LOL!”

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Stellar Jay - Hodgeman's Best Friend LOL!


Lower Cathedral Lake


The Hodgeman entering the Enchanted Forest.
last edited: 7/19/06 12:24:25 AM”

“
Nevada Falls in Sepia Tone”