Yosemite Falls & Eagle Peak, November 23-24

There is no water at all near the top of Eagle Peak. You might find it in Eagle Peak Creek, but that may be a mile or more away, up and down hill.

–B.G.–

Yep, we will have to carry water in, but the view should be worth it. Why don't you join us Bob?

Andrew,

Michelle and I are interested. Have you thought about making it a loop? Continue on to El Capitan and Ribbon Meadow and use the Old Big Oak Flat Road (Rockslide Trail) via Rainbow View to complete the loop. The link gives you several good reasons why this might not be a good idea – and the trail has now disappeared from Yosemite maps. To me it looks like a nice adventure, if the weather is supportive of scrambling over talus.

Any thoughts?

Manfred

Manfred,

Yeah, I've actually done the Rockslides loop before which is why I suggested going up via the Falls trail. The old road is a nice hike and not at all difficult, unless it was covered in snow in which case a GPS would be helpful for staying on route from Cascade Creek to Ribbon Meadow. My goal this time was to see Eagle Peak since I haven't been up there before and I thought it would make the hike accessible to more people, but you and Michelle could easily take that way in and meet us on top of Eagle Peak on Saturday. Or you could hike in via the Falls Trail on Saturday and out via the old road on Sunday. That would be a nice variation if you haven't done the Rockslides before. If you are brave you can walk down and look over the edge of El Cap.

"Yep, we will have to carry water in, but the view should be worth it."

I've been up Eagle Peak too many times to count, and there isn't a great deal of level ground except maybe a few hundred yards back downhill from the top. Some people who drive around Yosemite Valley can think of it as the top of the Three Brothers rock formation.

You might think of the tip-top as having the best view. However, it is a bad place to have a bout of vertigo. The best scene for photographers is shooting east from a point about 75 yards before the summit.

Eagle Peak Creek might possibly have some water in it, but it won't be much by this late in the season. The only good thing about that is that the meadow will be dried out enough to stop the mosquito cloud.

–B.G.–

"Why don't you join us Bob?"

I lol'ed.

Why don't you join us Justin? :)

I would love to join you Andrew, but I only have a 3 season kit (my summerlite won't cut it, lol) and don't have the funds to get a shoulder season kit together yet… and I don't know what my schedule would be like at that time.
It sounds like an awesome trip, thanks for the offer.

Thanks for posting this Andrew. Please count me in.

Justin, don't let that stop you! All I have is a summerlite too. Just shake the down to the top (so its kinda like a quilt) and bring an extra pad. Might not be the most comfy night ever, but I'm expecting that to take me tolerably down to low 20's. Hot water bottle would be my last resort.

I tried this hike back in February. I really enjoyed it and would like to maybe go again. I don't use a GPS and I sort of lost the trail in the snow eventually, but I would like to do it again.
What I enjoyed the most was seeing the snow-lined banks of Yosemite Creek.

Here is another.

David, glad you can make it.

Justin, we might be able to cobble together some extra gear for you if that's all that is keeping you from coming. Otherwise, hopefully I'll see you at the GGG.

Thanks for the pics James. It'd be great if it looks like that for this trip, but I'm gambling that there won't be as much (or any) snow, unless we get a storm between now and then.

Well I just cleared my schedule and am in for this trip. With a little luck I won't have to force my next knee surgery afterwards.
I'll be the guy with the kitchen sink strapped to his pack hobbling along.

Hi Andrew,

If there is still room I'd like to go. I have no experience with winter backpacking but I'd like to go and maybe learn a few things if that's ok.

Thanks for planning this. It sounds like a lot of fun.

Erik

Brian, glad you can make it. You might want to bring some hiking poles… years ago when I had IT band syndrome coming down the Falls Trail with 40 lbs of climbing gear did a number on my knees.

Erik, there's still room, by my count we are up to 13 (of 15). I think two of my "maybes" will not be able to make it so we have space for at least 2 if not 4 more. Hopefully this will turn out to be a nice gentle introduction to colder weather backpacking.

Andrew, put me down as a "maybe". It looks like I may be able to free up. I wonder if the snow is going to keep up? I'm sort of hoping so.

Justin whether or not I end up going, I can loan you a 40-45º quilt to supplement your summerlite which will get you to around 15º fairly comfortably, and a down air mattress. If you want to hang out and socialize in the evening you'll still need some warm clothes though…

Just to update this, I also have a camp spot reserved for Friday night of this trip in Upper Pines campground. I understand Andrews spot is full, I will have room for one car and 5 people at my spot if that helps anyone out. If anyone is interested in caravanning just contact me. I will be driving separately from the Bay area crowd since I am a few hours east of them.
ETA, Yosemite Falls is dry as of 5 days ago.

Still looks beautiful out there. No snow on the ground and overnight lows in the 30's this week. One more week 'til this trip!

Do you still have room? If so, count me in!

I would like to carpool with someone from the Bay Area. Ride in my car, or yours – doesn't matter to me.

– Elizabeth

Elizabeth, we have plenty of room, come and join us. I think we are at 11 people right now.

In terms of carpooling, by my count we have 7 people coming from the Bay Area, so we should be able to fit in 2 cars. My wife and I are picking Chris and James up from the Dublin BART on Friday evening. Elizabeth, you should send Manfred a PM and see if you can ride together.

We will be in the Upper Pines campground at site # 135, though we might not get there til pretty late (10:00 PM?)

We will leave right after work – meaning by 5:30 pm. Our minivan seats 7 – so theoretically we could all go in the minivan and save the gas for the second car.

Elizabeth, what would be the best way to meet with you? We are in Menlo Park. Do you want to come to our house and park your car here?

Manfred

I'm planning to arrive in Yosemite Friday afternoon. I'm in Upper Pines spot 125 so wave as you go by! Looks like pretty nice weather for this trip.

"Why don't you join us Bob?

I lol'ed."

why laugh? I have hiked with Bob and he is a joy to hike with. My bet is that he can out hike you and he is old enough to be your grandfather…..that is saying something. That was rude

Come on Ken, we all know that Bob is a computer program with an encyclopedic knowledge of ultralight backpacking that was programmed by Ryan Jordan ;)