Camping Swanking - June 28 - July 3 - Page 78

Alex · 05-29-2007, 09:02 PM

Missed the question about the river. We did do the rafting and while it looked hoakey everybody agreed it was a fun time. They don't open the rafting until the water is suitably low and slow. There is no thrill in the ride, but it was a fun afternoon killer.

MouseWife · 05-29-2007, 09:14 PM

Ack! A bear? So, what campground were you in? Were there a lot of bear sightings?

Upper Yosemite Falls. Hmm. I think that one is too hard for me. Is that on a lot of rock, with narrow trails?

The rafting being mellow is just fine with me. A nice little workout, being in the water with my two favorite allies, I hate for it to end. Unless it is too sunny, eh? Then it is just float and burn.

innerSpaceman · 05-30-2007, 11:44 AM

Upper Yosemite Trail starts with a million small switchbacks. It was one of the earliest trails, and that was the height of trailblazing tech back then.

They are annoying.

There's a great view from Columbia Rock at the top of the switchbacks, just before the trail curves inward to head towards the base of Upper Yosemite Fall. The base of that Fall is the furtherest I've gone (with rock scrambling to the small cave right behind the Fall's strike point - when the water was a trickle - - - not to be attempted when the Falls are full).

Also not to be attempted by me - is the trek onward toward the top of Upper Yosemite. From the base, I once saw a man plummet from the top to his gruesome death (hence my nickname of Death Falls) ... and I will go no further on that trail towards the top.

Did I mention the switchbacks are a PITA???

Alex · 05-30-2007, 11:54 AM

The second part of the ascent is all switchbacks too. 65 of them. Through rockpile.

I was lagging behind anyway and when I got into that the rewards seemed to diminish to the point I talked myself into turning around, happy with the view I showed above. Kind of regretting it now, but I'll go back someday.

MouseWife · 05-30-2007, 06:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by innerSpaceman

There's a great view from Columbia Rock at the top of the switchbacks,

Did I mention the switchbacks are a PITA???

That sounds familiar. Oh, and I hate the paths/switchbacks over rockpile. When we did it, it was snowing.

Ghoulish Delight · 05-30-2007, 12:42 PM

Oh man, that was a gruelling climb, even for a relatively in shape (though asthmatic) 18 year old. But well worth it.

Chernabog · 05-30-2007, 02:53 PM

I don't want to look through 79 pages of thread. Did we discuss what hikes we wanted to do in Sequoia? I would actually really like to look at the Crystal Caves, since I didn't do that last time I was there.... I think they have guided tours every hour or two, but I'll have to check into how to sign up.

Capt Jack · 05-30-2007, 02:54 PM

uh...we're not planning on doing one of those survival treks, are we?

Alex · 05-30-2007, 03:05 PM

I don't think anything has to be done by everybody.

Last time I was there the Crystal Caves tours were selling out pretty early and it was in early May. Mid summer is probably pretty busy. So if it goes on the calendar it should probably be early on in the day.

innerSpaceman · 05-30-2007, 03:27 PM

When I get back from the Grand Canyon on the 9th (if someone industrious hasn't acted first), I intend to transform the now-useless camping dates poll to an activity poll.

We should find out which folks want to do which stuff, and then coordinate our activity schedule as best we can to accommodate everyone's deepest desires.

Er, nature exploration desires.

Um, natural park hiking and activity desires.

As I recall, there's the Crystal Caverns, the trek to King's Canyon, the hike to the nearby grove of Giant Sequoias, and there's an even shorter hike to some big rock or another with a panoramic view (I don't have time to scour 79 pages either).

View Poll Results: What Weekend's Best for The Great Outdoors of Swank?
May 12 / 13 (means missing Mother's Day)	2	12.50%
May 19 / 20	1	6.25%
June 16 / 17 (means missing Father's Day)	1	6.25%
June 23 / 24	4	25.00%
June 30 / July 1 - did I mention my Bday's the 2nd?	9	56.25%
May 5 / 6 (includes Cinco de Mayo!)	3	18.75%
Multiple Choice Poll. Voters: 16. You may not vote on this poll

05-29-2007, 09:02 PM	#1
Alex . Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 13,354	Missed the question about the river. We did do the rafting and while it looked hoakey everybody agreed it was a fun time. They don't open the rafting until the water is suitably low and slow. There is no thrill in the ride, but it was a fun afternoon killer.
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05-29-2007, 09:14 PM	#2
MouseWife Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Da' Beach Posts: 2,957	Ack! A bear? So, what campground were you in? Were there a lot of bear sightings? Upper Yosemite Falls. Hmm. I think that one is too hard for me. Is that on a lot of rock, with narrow trails? The rafting being mellow is just fine with me. A nice little workout, being in the water with my two favorite allies, I hate for it to end. Unless it is too sunny, eh? Then it is just float and burn. __________________ Summa' time....when the livins' easy.........
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05-30-2007, 11:44 AM	#3
innerSpaceman Kink of Swank Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Inner Space Posts: 13,075	Upper Yosemite Trail starts with a million small switchbacks. It was one of the earliest trails, and that was the height of trailblazing tech back then. They are annoying. There's a great view from Columbia Rock at the top of the switchbacks, just before the trail curves inward to head towards the base of Upper Yosemite Fall. The base of that Fall is the furtherest I've gone (with rock scrambling to the small cave right behind the Fall's strike point - when the water was a trickle - - - not to be attempted when the Falls are full). Also not to be attempted by me - is the trek onward toward the top of Upper Yosemite. From the base, I once saw a man plummet from the top to his gruesome death (hence my nickname of Death Falls) ... and I will go no further on that trail towards the top. Did I mention the switchbacks are a PITA???
	Submit to Quotes

05-30-2007, 11:54 AM	#4
Alex . Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 13,354	The second part of the ascent is all switchbacks too. 65 of them. Through rockpile. I was lagging behind anyway and when I got into that the rewards seemed to diminish to the point I talked myself into turning around, happy with the view I showed above. Kind of regretting it now, but I'll go back someday.
	Submit to Quotes

05-30-2007, 12:42 PM	#6
Ghoulish Delight I Floop the Pig Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Alternative Swankstyle Posts: 19,348	Oh man, that was a gruelling climb, even for a relatively in shape (though asthmatic) 18 year old. But well worth it. __________________ 'He who receives an idea from me, receives instruction himself without lessening mine; as he who lights his taper at mine, receives light without darkening me.' -TJ
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05-30-2007, 02:53 PM	#7
Chernabog Biophage Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: The Moon Posts: 2,679	I don't want to look through 79 pages of thread. Did we discuss what hikes we wanted to do in Sequoia? I would actually really like to look at the Crystal Caves, since I didn't do that last time I was there.... I think they have guided tours every hour or two, but I'll have to check into how to sign up. __________________ And they say back then our universe Was a coal black egg Until the god inside Burst out and from its shattered shell He made what became the world we know ~ Bjork (Cosmogony)
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05-30-2007, 02:54 PM	#8
Capt Jack check your head Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 4,174	uh...we're not planning on doing one of those survival treks, are we? __________________ a clear conscience is a sure sign of a fuzzy memory
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05-30-2007, 03:05 PM	#9
Alex . Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 13,354	I don't think anything has to be done by everybody. Last time I was there the Crystal Caves tours were selling out pretty early and it was in early May. Mid summer is probably pretty busy. So if it goes on the calendar it should probably be early on in the day.
	Submit to Quotes

05-30-2007, 03:27 PM	#10
innerSpaceman Kink of Swank Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Inner Space Posts: 13,075	When I get back from the Grand Canyon on the 9th (if someone industrious hasn't acted first), I intend to transform the now-useless camping dates poll to an activity poll. We should find out which folks want to do which stuff, and then coordinate our activity schedule as best we can to accommodate everyone's deepest desires. Er, nature exploration desires. Um, natural park hiking and activity desires. As I recall, there's the Crystal Caverns, the trek to King's Canyon, the hike to the nearby grove of Giant Sequoias, and there's an even shorter hike to some big rock or another with a panoramic view (I don't have time to scour 79 pages either).
	Submit to Quotes