Yosemite Falls 1-4-2013 video trip report

[chris smead]

Here ya go:
http://youtu.be/WldJC20woLk

I froze my butt off. It was awesome :)

[James DeGraaf]

Looks beautiful, as I write from my heated office, with the snow. Falling ice seemed a bit scary and I kept telling myself, "he uploaded the video so he'll make it." But, I was worried. Thanks for sharing!
-James

[chris smead]

Yes it was even more beautiful in real life :). This was my first time seeing Yosemite in the winter and it looks like a painting. So amazing.
Definitely a little sketchy with all the falling ice though. I think it was just especially bad that weekend, because this weekend I was there again and didn't hear too many big ice crashes.

[Mike In Socal]

Thanks for posting that. After watching the ascent, I was thinking, "I'd like to hike that sometime in winter as well" but then you started talking about falling ice. Hmmm… on second thought…thanks again for posting the video.

Mike

[George Maung]

Looks good.

Where did you camp in the Valley? Was there a lot of people?

Thanks for sharing.

[chris smead]

Heya,
I actually camped on top of the falls.
There was not many people in the valley, and zero people on top of the falls. I was cutting my own trail through the snow on top, so no one had been there in a while. It's a great time of year to visit to avoid crowds and mosquitos. The roads are plowed, but they were requiring snow chains for all non-4wd vehicles. That changes daily though.

I suppose you could camp at "camp 4" (bus stop 7) and then day hike up. There was zero people there last I saw, and it and gives you easy access to the falls trail. Traction is a must, and snowshoes make life easier if you get all the way to the top. The video probably makes this clear, but definitely be prepared for cold and falling ice.

Here was my layering system that I was still cold in:
Top:
Arcteryx phase SV
Patagonia R1 hoody
MH monkey man jacket
Montbell Alpine light
Arcteryx alpha SL

Bottom:
Phase SV
Northface Fleece pants
Arcteryx gamma lt

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