June 2011 Archive

24
Jun
2011
jloomis

Hiking to North Dome and Indian Rock - Yosemite, CA

North Dome - Yosemite, California

On Friday, my cousins David and Kenny, my uncle Richard, and I hiked to North Dome with a side trip to the natural arch near Indian Rock. We were the only four up for a 10 mile hike the day after hiking Half Dome. The North Dome trail starts at the Porcupine Creek trailhead off CA SR-120 (aka Tioga Pass Road) and is approximately 9 miles round-trip. We drove to the trailhead from Housekeeping Camp in Yosemite Valley where we were staying the week.

23
Jun
2011
kloomis

Hiking Half Dome - Yosemite, CA

Half Dome - Yosemite, California

Thursday marked the day for our Half Dome hike up the popular cables route in Yosemite National Park. The cables were just installed the day before, as conditions were finally safe enough for hikers on the subdome. This 14-16 mile round-trip hike begins at the Happy Isles trailhead and gains roughly 4,800 feet of elevation to the summit of Half Dome. Currently only 400 hikers are permitted up the cables per day via a permit system (new in 2010). We were fortunate enough to be able to reserve permits months in advance.

22
Jun
2011
kloomis

Sentinel Dome and Taft Point - Yosemite NP, CA

Sentinel Dome - Yosemite, California

On Wednesday we went on a loop hike to Sentinel Dome, then Taft Point along the Pohono trail, and back to the starting point. This roughly 5 mile loop begins and ends off the Glacier Point Road. Sentinel Dome and Taft Point lie on the South wall of Yosemite Valley. There was once a famously photographed Jeffery Pine tree that grew atop Sentinel Dome until it died during a drought in the 1970's. Taft Point offers similar views as Glacier Point (but without the crowds) and is know for its giant fissures that open up to the valley below.

21
Jun
2011
jloomis

Climbing Mount Dana via Dana Couloir - Yosemite, CA

Mount Dana - Yosemite, California

My bother-in-law Scott and I headed out early (3:15 am) Tuesday morning toward the Tioga Lake overlook on CA SR-120 (Tioga Pass Rd) just outside Yosemite National Park. We wanted to get an early start climbing Mount Dana (second tallest peak in Yosemite at 13,053 feet) via the prominent Dana Couloir (YDS class 3-4). Our original goal was to then climb neighboring Mount Gibbs (12,773 feet) and hike back along CA SR-120 to form an 11 mile loop. We ended up only climbing Mount Dana and heading back along the NW ridge (6.1 mile round-trip).

19
Jun
2011
jloomis

Hiking to Clouds Rest via NE Ridge Route - Yosemite, CA

Sunrise Lakes Trailhead to Clouds Rest

For Katie's hiking debut in Yosemite, we planned on Clouds Rest from the Sunrise Lakes trailhead (SW side of Tenaya Lake). This was also going to be my first time on this hike despite decades of yearly trips to Yosemite growing up. This 14 mile round-trip (class 1) hike is known as the Northeast ridge route. The trailhead is on CA SR-120 (aka Tioga Pass Road, the highest highway pass in California) at an elevation of approximately 8,160'. This route gains almost 1,800 feet in elevation to the summit of Clouds Rest at 9,926 feet.

19
Jun
2011
jloomis

Fly Fishing the South Fork Tuolumne River Near Yosemite NP, California

South Fork Tuolumne River

On our way to Yosemite National Park, Katie and I camped Sunday night at Yosemite Lakes Resort, so that I could fly fish the South Fork Tuolumne River for trout. This area is only about 5 miles from the West gate entrance (Big Oak Flat) to Yosemite. This river supports a population of wild brown and rainbow trout in addition to thousands of rainbows stocked annually.

16
Jun
2011
jloomis

Snow Peak GigaPower Lantern Review

Product Rating: 
4
Snow Peak GigaPower Lantern

Features:

Get bright light from Snow Peak's GigaPower Lantern while backpacking using the same fuel canister used by many stoves. The GigaPower lantern is available with automatic or manual ignition. This single mantle ultralight lantern is comparable in light output to an 80 watt incandescent bulb. It's great for lighting up camp at night during backcountry adventures. It folds compactly into a convenient plastic storage case. Lantern comes with clear glass globe, but optional frosted glass and wire mesh globes are available.

13
Jun
2011
jloomis

SMC Capra Ice Axe Review

Product Rating: 
5
SMC Capra Ice Axe

Features:

SMC's Capra ice axe is the culmination of two years of extensive design and testing around the globe. It is one of the lightest ice axes in this category at just over 16 ounces for the 65 cm model. The new full-sized head is designed to fit more naturally in the user's hand for increased comfort during extended use. It's assembled with SMC's patented insulating connection, reducing vibration and associated fatigue. Another feature is the Carpa's unique handle, designed to be easy to grasp for positive placement in self-arrest.

12
Jun
2011
kloomis

Climbing Mount Saint Helens, Washington via Worm Flows Route

Mount St. Helens

Although we had been eyeing a climb on Mount Saint Helens all winter, a good weather window didn’t present itself. Just in time for summer, we got a much-needed break in the weather this week. We were able to find two permits to climb on Sunday. Mount Saint Helens (50 miles NE of Portland, Oregon), an active stratovolcano, is most famous for its eruption on May 18, 1980. Now only 8,364 feet tall, the mountain previously stood at 9,677 feet tall.

11
Jun
2011
jloomis

Homemade Glissading Sled aka "Glissade Diaper Sled"

Product Rating: 
4
Glissade Diaper Sled

The original idea for the Glissade Diaper Sled came from jmjula4. It's a sled that wraps around a climber like a diaper to protect their clothing and backpack while provided a faster, more efficient glissade down the mountain. See full post for instructions with pictures on how to make your very own Glissade Diaper Sled.

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