Camping Swanking - June 28 - July 3

[innerSpaceman]

Well, then I'll say this for MouseWife's sake.


My favorite hike/stroll in the Park is on the cliffs above the Valley, with the trailhead located on the road to Glacier Point. This hike, which features only one difficult section, is better than Glacier Point by far.

It's a loop which first goes out a tangent to a spot called The Fissures, which are a series of five gaping cracks in the cliff where you can look straight down to oblivion. Right nearby is beautiful Taft Point, with its fantastic view of El Capitan.

The hike backtracks a bit, through a beautiful fern valley, and then downhill through a lovely forest till it reaches and parallels the rim of Yosemite Valley, with stunning views directly across to Yosemite Falls.

Then the trail heads uphill and comes to the base of Sentinal Dome. There's a stunning view of Half Dome from here and, if you climb to the top of Sentinel Dome (not really that arduous), you are afforded a spectacular 360-degree panorama of Yosemite Valley and the Sierras.

Returning to the bottom of Sentinel Dome, there's a short cut path (not very scenic) leading back to the Parking Area where the loop began. It's about a 4 mile trek, and I cannot recommend it highly enough. After the Mist Trail, absolutely the best hike in the Park ... and far easier.

[MouseWife]

Originally Posted by innerSpaceman

Well, then I'll say this for MouseWife's sake.


My favorite hike/stroll in the Park is on the cliffs above the Valley, with the trailhead located on the road to Glacier Point. This hike, which features only one difficult section, is better than Glacier Point by far.

... and far easier.

Thank you! Oh, do you recall the name of this? I have a book full of hikes/trails. Easier than the Mist trail with all of those views? The Hubster may have taken this hike before...well, he took the one where you get on to it from the valley floor. Not the same, eh? He's done the Panorama but I don't think I'll venture that far.

I want to do a lot of hiking, but, not suffer so much with it.

I do like to plan because I don't want to forget anything and love to try new places. We found a trail last time, purely by accident. Found it by the new trail by the lower falls. We had my daughter and husband with us and hadn't planned on such a hike. It was a good work out, steep. But, nothing really to look at. It ended up behind the Ansel Adams gallery, just east of it.

I am not looking forward to the heat. I have been spoiled by the cool temps in the winter/spring. Ack! I don't even have any shorts out yet!

Alex, sorry if my list turned you off. I understand but I am really excited and am eager for any suggestions.

LOL I am just the opposite. A lodge is quite the welcome sight. I have a night with a cabin w/o a bath and am trying daily to get upgraded {I am 90% sure I'll get upgraded...} and the next two days in a cabin. I'd rather stay in the Lodge but nothing available.

AND I have to fess up. I leaned towards Crowley Lake because I didn't want to have to lug all of the gear up for just two nights of camping and then still have to carry all of the things we'll use on the rest of our trip. PITA

I am really going to study the maps, though, and see what we can do while we are up there. Who knows where we'll end up those days we don't have set reservations?

[innerSpaceman]

I like to plan stuff far in advance ... and then forget about it all. About a week out from any trip, I'll start getting preparations ready ... but the plans are old and hopefully not contemplated much in the lead-up to doing the stuff that I don't want to have overthought.


Mousewife, s'far as I know ... that trail is called The Taft Point / Sentinel Dome Loop. The trailhead and parking area are along the Glacier Point road, with decent signage, and should be clearly marked on any trail map of the park.

[MouseWife]

Thank you much, iSm. I will write that one down.

I over plan. Then, I only do a few things. I never do everything I plan to. That is why I have to keep going back.

I will look up places, see what there is around there to do, print up a bunch of info, make up a 'travel book' for only the places we'll be going to {that huge AAA book is too much} and if we go to those places, I let the gang know what we can do and then we decide what we will do.

Well, the more we go the less I need to carry but new trails {thank you, iSm} are always welcome because I want to explore as much as I can.

[MouseWife]

iSm~ I found the information about the hike your recommended.

I also found a few others on that website. Seems I have some new hikes to fill my days.

{they are all easy-moderate, too!}

Thanks for the tip!

[innerSpaceman]

Is that the tent you're bringing camping??

[Kevy Baby]

Originally Posted by innerSpaceman

Is that the tent you're bringing camping??

There are actually several different tents visible. The blue and red one is two 18' rounds with a connecting section. I think that will be a tad large for where we're going.

[Not Afraid]

I'm beginning to think I am not supposed to go camping. My Mom died while I was camping, the last trip I had planned was halted because of my cancer and, now, I'm wondering if I'm going to be able to go on this trip because of Dexter. (Did I mention I have a mamogram next week, too?)

Camping is one of my big life joys. What's the deal?

[MouseWife]

Umm... what a call to make.

On one hand, being out there, doing something you love, immersing yourself into the planning, etc., that is good for you.

The issues at hand, well, you will know more when the time is closer.

[Chernabog]

Originally Posted by Not Afraid

now, I'm wondering if I'm going to be able to go on this trip because of Dexter.

Did I miss something new that is wrong with Dexter?

I'll pray for you next week!! You'd better go, because it would be so selfish of me to play with the Totoros alone