Just to prove I haven’t fallen off the planet, a few links from our favorite outdoor bloggers:
Modern Hiker Casey points to a couple interesting sites: Walking in L.A. and WildrLog.
Winehiker Russ is back in commission. (Note this post is mostly wine-related but I’m sure some hiking happenings will start showing up over there pretty soon.)
eBomb at GoBlog points to GayOutdoors and a way-cool remote-control surfing clip. (Giving him his due: The Bombster can be pretty funny when he’s not saying things that make me want to put a fist through my flat-panel).
Wilderness Trailcraft, home of the other hiking blogger named Russ, shares tips on taking a fly-fishing set-up backpacking. (I’ve seen with my own eyes the almost homicidal envy you can incite on a camp-out if you’re the only one with fresh food to cook up.)
Yosemite Explorer describes an interesting peak-bagging opportunity starting from Tuolumne Meadows and ending atop Mount Lyell. (Not for the faint of feet: it’s 25 miles.)
WTA blog notes that there’s a big hiker shindig in Seattle coming up. Also: link to an L.A. Times story about the two hikers murdered on the Pinnacle Lake Trail last sumer.
That Tuolomne Meadows to Mt Lyell trip is supposed to be a good one. I have a short piece written by John Muir of his first foray up Mt Lyell, and this particular route has been on my radar for years. I don’t think Lyell is a summit I can reasonably expect to achieve, but the long trail sections I’ve been on are quite serene, especially in the fall when the hordes of trekkers have gone home.
Hmmm….can I try to squeeze this one in this year?
tom, you should know better than to write nice things about ebomb. it only encourages him to write more. sheesh. plus, the surf clip was my find. it was mine damn it. not ebomb’s. i hate him. he always gets the glory. and i do all the work. damn him to hell…
I always bring a flyrod on backcountry trips. It makes things a little more interesting, much like a nalgene full of vodka and the country time lemonade mix.
Of course, the greater Yellowstone ecosystem is the mecca for trout fishing, so it would almost be wrong NOT to bring it.
Much like the author Tom linked, I bring a rod that breaks down to 5 pieces for convenience.
Yep, I highly recommend the trip up Mount Lyell, especially around the time we did it – it’s the best display of Sky Pilots that I’ve seen (I’m the other Tom – the YosemiteExplorer.com guy who wrote the article Tom is linking to). Of course, it would vary from year to year, but if you’re a flower fan, it’s worth the trip.
One thing to note that I hope I make clear in my original post, the first 9 miles are very flat and easy walking or even running if you’re a trail runner. Of the 25 miles, only about 4-5 miles are difficult. The rest are either flat or downhill (and often downhill on snow, so nice and fast, but still easy on the knees for those of us who don’t have 21 year-old knees.
Anyway, definitely put it on your list. The only real caveat is that it is
1. Yosemite
2. part of the PCT
3. part of the JMT
So it is a relatively crowded trail IMO
Have fun and thanks for the mention Tom!