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  1. balzaccom

    Ground transportation to Hetch Hetchy Backpackers campground in Yosemite

    I wish i could help--but I'm lecturing at UC Davis that day. Have you tried posting on High Sierra Topix, or Yosemite News and Discussion boards? Both of them have active communities. There is a bus from Sacramento to Yosemite Valley, and also, I think, from Fresno to Yosemite Valley. And...
  2. balzaccom

    Luck is underrated

    After two solo backpacking trips as a volunteer in Desolation Wilderness, I managed to convince my lovely wife to join me in the mountains for a couples trip. It didn't take much. She's a big fan of the Sierra and of backpacking, as long as the latter isn't too strenuous. We've been to lots of...
  3. balzaccom

    Volunteering in Desolation Wilderness

    It is amazing how many people offer to help, in one way or the other, once I explain what I'm doing in the backcountry. Some promise to leave a clean campsite, others offer to pick the trash that they see, and some have even offered to carry out some of the trash I've collected. Everyone, it...
  4. balzaccom

    Volunteering in Desolation Wilderness

    After last weekend's challenges, I was determined to get back into Desolation Wilderness and continue my work there as a volunteer. And so on Wednesday I drove back up there and got started, all over again. It was hot. How hot was it? Hot enough that the freeways had heat advisories on...
  5. balzaccom

    Family adventure to Peru. Sacred Valley, Cusco, and Inca Trail.

    Excellent! We did a similar trip in 2011, then went back in 2015 to hike the Cordillera Blanca. And we were there again last year to do more exploring and hiking around Cusco. What a wonderful place to visit: stunning scenery, unbelieveable archeology, lovely people, and amazing cuisine...
  6. balzaccom

    Backpacking in France

    I vote in favor! I did the Camino Primitivo de Santiago last summer with my daughter, 17 days, and posted about it here. I only heard nice things in response. Keep posting your trips, and take us along for your adventures!
  7. balzaccom

    Foraging on public Lands?

    The New York Times ran an interesting article about the impact of foraging hikers on our national lands. We took a hike a few years ago in a fire-affected part of the Eldorade NF and were amazed by the number of foragers--some carrying a shopping bag full of morels. We managed to hike past them...
  8. balzaccom

    Tioga Pass Open!

    Tioga Pass, Highway 120 through Yosemite National Park via Tuolumne Meadows, opens for vehicle traffic tomorrow, June 10. It was open for bicycles only today. Get your gear, it's time to the trail.
  9. balzaccom

    Luxor or Cairo? Trip Plan Advice

    I can't answer your question, but we're going in Occtober, so if you can wait that long... Meanwhile, do you really have to choose? Both have amazing things to see,
  10. balzaccom

    Death in the National Parks

    You might think it was lions, tigers and bears; or even rattlesnakes and scorpions. You might think... But here's the answer, according to the National Park Service: Car accidents Drowning Hiking misadventures Read the whole story here...
  11. balzaccom

    Sonora Pass Open

    From CalTrans Highway information; SR 108 [IN THE CENTRAL CALIFORNIA AREA & SIERRA NEVADA] No traffic restrictions are reported for this area. Backpackers, start your planning. Only Tioga Pass in Yosemite remains closed.
  12. balzaccom

    Philosophy of hiking

    There is a nice Spanish expression that came up during my hiking of the Camino Primitivo to Santiago de Compostela. I thought I'd post it here and see what you think: “Si quieres ir Rápido, ve Solo. Si quieres llegar Lejos, ve Acompañado” If you want to go fast, go solo. If you want to go...
  13. balzaccom

    Stillwater Canyon 4-1-24

    Wonderful report and great photos. Thanks for posting this.
  14. balzaccom

    Aramark

    Aramark, Deleware North, and Xanterra. There don't seem to be any winners!
  15. balzaccom

    Yosemite Bear Facts

    2024 Total Bear Incidents: 0 2024 Total Property Damage: $0 Bear Incident Comparisons (year to date—previous years compared to 2024): Last year (2023) - down by 100% Most Incidents (1998) - down by 100% Fewest Incidents (2019) - down by 100% Bear Activity Summary: Four male bears have been...
  16. balzaccom

    Aramark

    They've been fired from Crater Lake. Now there are problems at Yosemite; https://www.sfgate.com/california-parks ... 449430.php
  17. balzaccom

    Congress moves forward ..

    It is a complicated issue, indeed. Do we want more people to visit the wilderness, learn to love it, and vote to protect it? Yes. But increasing the number of people in the wilderness (and their favorite activities) will also certainly degrade the wilderness experience. Not an easy water to...
  18. balzaccom

    Congress moves forward ..

    I thought it worth posting here. It's good news from a source that rarely delivers good news... https://www.stgeorgeutah.com/news/archive/2024/04/22/und-the-explore-act-one-of-the-largest-outdoor-recreation-bills-ever-poised-to-impact-utah/
  19. balzaccom

    looking for a mountain range with few mosquitoes in early/mid August

    completely depends on the weather and snow. This yer might be okay. Last year was a big snow year, and the mosquitoes lasted a long time.
  20. balzaccom

    Yosemite winter rangers

    The last report of the season. Those snow rangers in Tuolumne Meadows are on their way down, but have posted one last report from the High Sierra. As usual, it's a great read, with both info and photos. Check it out--and be happy that spring is on its way...

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