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Joined: May 2004
Posts: 145
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Joined: May 2004
Posts: 145 |
Forgive the off topic Spent the weekend Friday through Monday in Yosemite. Camped in the Valley and did several light hikes. Cold at night. Lots of beautiful Fall colors, but great weather. Of interest was the weather Friday, Snow and ice above 5,000ft, Tioga Pass road was closed most of Saturday Morning. Bears are no different there than the Portal bears, even saw them scampering around, flying across the roads. They are hungry and are getting the easy pickings from campers leaving food and gear out everywhere. Because we were on the edge of the camp and coming in late, the Rangers stopped by and told us to put our food stuff away in the bear box first and fast. Due to the closed Tuolumne access we modified Saturday’s plans and headed to North Dome. Great hike, tough ascent 4100-7,000ft with lots of switchbacks from the Mirror Lake trailhead. Came across a family all with Backpacks, having changed their plans also. The ten and twelve year old boys had theirs stuffed and were keeping a good pace on those switchbacks. From the N. Rim trails one can barely see the lower part of the Half Dome cables and people. We could see it was busy coming into the last week of the cables being up. The trail head parking lot was full all weekend. The ravens were swooping over our campsite and pestering another family. Saw coyote running along the camp areas and trail. Saw a homeless guy sleeping part way up a trail. But disappointingly missed crossing another creature. Heard there was a Moose running along the Valley and even in a campsite near us all weekend and even on the North Rim trail…MooseTracks in the snow 
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Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 2,391
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Posts: 2,391 |
Hey, Joe! I saw your pics this morning on flickr and wondered if we might've crossed paths (or at least vicinities!). It was a beautiful weekend in the Valley, and my parents and I had a blast hanging out in Upper Pines CG, as always. The snow was a real treat, and I hit the Snow Creek Trail around 5 (left the site at 3:45a.m.). Had a face-to-face with some sort of critter just beyond the stables that gave me a good scare. Green eyes glowed but body was just out of range of the lamp. It was crouched low to start, then rose to all fours when I started yelling at it. It was NOT scared of me at all, took a few steps away, then looked back again before finally heading off. I almost hung out in the pit toilets at Mirror Lake until sunrise I was so scared! Almost stepped on the guy bivying at Switcher #35, too, which scared me almost as much! Clouds Rest from the Switchers:  Snow was at about 5500ft that morning, and when I came through was untouched except by other woodland critters. I wanted to stay at the top of the switchers for sunrise (107 of those suckers, dang!), but it was too cold. Water froze in my Platypus hose AND Nalgene cold. The view and perspective of HD from there is completely unique and amazing. Just a little dust:  TR is here. Pics are here . 
Last edited by MooseTracks; 10/10/07 09:19 PM.
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Joined: May 2004
Posts: 145
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Joined: May 2004
Posts: 145 |
MT! Ah, so close! Uppper Pines 124 is where we were, when we were there. You apperently were one loop over, same edge, hidden on the otehr side of the bathrooms.  The guy sleeping on the switchback was still there (breathing) at 10am and 5:30pm Sat. cans open with beans and sardines. He was living there, not camping. Well done on the hike and pictures BTW! We were considering the whole loop as a alternate from being snowed out of TM but it was too late by the time we got back into the Valley and decided the trail as an alternate. Great picture of the crescent moon and morning light! Brr. Yes it was cold even at 9,000 feet on Sunday! Fun though, and definately a treat with the dusting. Joe
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Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 612
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Could be a raccon. They walk on all 4's and will stand up on their back legs and they are NOT AFRAID of anyone or anything.Then again might have been the latest Saquatch sighting.
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Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 2,391
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DRD: Thought about that, but it was too big. I was also hoping bobcat, but also I think too tall. It wasn't standing on rear legs only. I know those raccoons can be vicious little buggers! -L 
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Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 961
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I don't know about the raccoons in CA, but out here in Ohio, they bolt at high speed at the slightest hint that a human is anywhere in the area. Also, their eyes aren't green; they're reddish-orange. Green eyes sounds like a mountain lion or other larger cat. I've never seen a fearless raccoon (where humans are concerned) out here, and I've seen a bunch of those critters. They are usually vicious only when threatened in some way (cornered, competing, or being territorial). They will walk right by our two adult cats, only feet away from them (while our cats just sit and watch the raccoons wander around), without ever even acknowledging that the cats are there, let alone making any kind of a move toward them.
CaT
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