Rocks tumbling down near Yosemite

One of the neater rock slides near Yosemite is the Hwy 140 Ferguson Ridge mess. It’s about 8 miles south of El Portal and just a tad south of the confluence of the main Merced and the North Fork of the Merced. In April 2006, too much water and unstable earth led to the mountain giving way. It’s not moved much, but check my pix.  It’s pretty well fenced off now, but earlier I went right up to it (dumb) and gawked up.

The artery from Mariposa to the park was closed for part of the year. Today travel is only possible via one-way Bailey Bridges that takes traffic across the Merced and onto the remnants of the old Yosemite Railroad trackbed then back a quarter mile later. It’s a CalTRANS headache with no firm timetable for a fix.  California is broke, you know.

Unrelated thought worth quoting: “When you’re weary, feelin’ small. When tears are in your eyes, I will dry them all. I’m on your side, oh, when times get rough, and friends just can’t be found, like a bridge over troubled water, I will lay me down.” – Paul Simon

*MrHalfDome™ – Rick Deutsch – www.HikeHalfDome.com…

Yosemite Rockfalls

NEWS – The park has positively identified the body of Ramina Badal, 21 year old, of Manteca, CA. Her body was found in the Merced River, approximately 120 yards below the Vernal Fall footbridge. She was one of the 3 people who went over July 19. All  bodies have now been recovered.

Rockfalls are a fact of life at Yosemite.  You’d think that the tens of thousands of year since the glaciers, that all loose rocks would have fallen by now. Actually the glacier cuts caused the cliff sides to be unstable, contributing to breaking loose. Rockfalls can occur when rain water gets into cracks then freezes. When water freezes it expands. The small but constant expansion takes its toll and the granite may open slightly. Lichens can grow here and when they die they provide a soil structure for larger plant seeds to germinate. In time, the growing plant exerts forces that can lead to a flaking off. Given enough time, these processes can take their toll. A major rockfall occurred in the 1980’s off of the Three Brothers formation. In 1996 and again in 1999, enormous sheets of granite dropped near Happy Isles, each killing one person. They …

Yosemite Falls Video

Our San Rafael, CA Bureau, submitted this superb video of the tallestwaterfall in North America – good old Yosemite Falls. Videographer, Pat. T. spliced together this fine cinematic treat for your Cyber Monday viewing. Make a left-over turkey sandwich and enjoy. Click <HERE>.

Medical Minute:  5 weeks after my death defying tumble off a Harley  I am getting better every day. The ribs still hurt (8 broken) and I use a  crutch for my left knee. But I can dirve (watch out). They totally shaved my  left torso – including my pits. It’s gonna be fun when I return to my gym.  Where they stuck the IV in, they liberally applied adhesive tape. Well, hairly  arms don’t play nice with tape. Ouch.

Unrelated thought worth quoting: “All the men in my family were bearded, and most of the women.” – W. C. Fields

*MrHalfDome™ – Rick Deutsch – www.HikeHalfDome.com

One Best Hike: Yosemite’s Half Dome…

Yosemite survey markers

When you are walking on the top of Half Dome, one thing you  may notice is that there is no survey marker. While on the summit of many other  peaks and high points you often see the 4-inch bronze disks cemented into the  rock. The photo below shows the marker on Clouds Rest.

So why no marker on  Half Dome?  The reason is simple: there  was no reason to put one there! These markers were placed by either the U.S.  Coast and Geodetic Survey (now called the National Geodetic Survey), or the  U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), to aid in survey work leading to the creation of  maps of the terrain. When reading survey makers, you will notice that the  information may vary. You might find a triangulation station, or the “main  station.” It is marked with a triangle inscribed on its surface and an  impressed mark that shows the precise point over which a surveyor’s plumb  should be placed. A triangulation station is often bracketed by two reference  markers with arrows pointing to the main station. Just because Half Dome is a  high mountain, does not mean it gets a survey marker. Other peaks provide the  data needed by …

Yosemite Geology

     The best reader-friendly book on Yosemite’s formation is “Geology Underfoot in Yosemite National Park.” It was co-written by Allen F. Glazner, Professor of Geological Sciences at the University of North Carolina and our own Ranger Greg Stock, the first-ever Park Geologist at Yosemite. The advances in technology such as LiDAR, high resolution photography, seismic monitoring, rock-fall runout simulations and cosmogenic dating are now part of the Park’s tools to study rockfalls. Amazon.com for $16.00.  

     Did you know that George Anderson met with the Yosemite Board of Commissioners and  presented the idea of building a wooden staircase up the backside of Half Dome? They set aside $2,000 for the project. While nothing came of it, the Mariposa Gazette did report the news:  “The stairway will be about 2,000 feet long, fastened by bolts in the rock on the side of the dome, in the most secure manner, and will be arranged with wings or arms extending all the way on each side, making it convenient and comfortable for visitors to rest and view the wonderful scenery below. The projector of this work expects to have it completed sometime the coming Fall, and ready for visitors next summer.” …

Mt Dana

Today’s Guest blog is from Scott Gerhman, Executive Director of Lasting Adventures, Inc., a non-profit guide service in Groveland. 

“On Tuesday, September 20th, I decided to summit Mt. Dana, a peak I had been admiring and pointing out for years. Mount Dana tops out at an elevation of 13, 061 feet making it the second highest mountain in Yosemite National Park (after Mount Lyell). Mount Dana is on the eastern edge of Yosemite immediately south of the northeast entrance to Yosemite on the Tioga Road. I began my hike at an elevation of 9,943 feet. The trail begins in the corner of the “authorized parking only” lot immediately on the south side of the entrance station. This trail rises over 3,000 feet in approximately three exposed miles.

The beginning is well marked and groomed yet also quite steep. There are a few “false summits” so you need to follow cairns to find your way. You are well above tree line.

Reaching the summit was simply amazing. I had heard of the great views of Mono Lake from the top, but words cannot explain the joy, excitement and awe I experienced once I saw this amazing 360 degree …

Clouds Rest from Happy Isles

To request, trade or give permits, Click HERE.

Today we feature a guest blog from Dean M. who hails from across the pond – the Kingdom of United. He is a long time blog reader and Half Dome aficionado. He visited California in July and did a hike up Clouds Rest.

“I decided to hike Clouds Rest because I’ve hiked Half Dome twice before and wanted a different view of the valley. I chose the longer trip from the valley because I still wanted to hike Vernal, Nevada and Little Yosemite Valley. I started out at about 6.15 am not realizing how light it would be – could have set off sooner. The trail was quite busy with mostly Half Dome hikers – one did ask if I had any spare permits. First bonus wasthat there was actually some mist on the Mist Trail – my first time!

I like to check the sky as I go and was happy to see nothing but blue, no clouds and Glacier Point bathed in sunshine – perfect!  Lots of water roaring under the bridge upstream of Vernal and a decent flow coming down Nevada, not the trickle I’ve been used to …

Half Dome Geology

Half Dome – Yosemite Musing

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NOTICE: I will be out Thursday – Sunday at the Free Art Expression called Burning Man. NO blogs those days. If you want a T-Shirt, I can ship tomorrow, Wed. Go to http://www.hikehalfdome.com/Store.html  

  I just bought the latest book by the Park geologist, Greg Stock.  GEOLOGY Underfoot in Yosemite National Park. It’s a great layperson’s presentation of the geology of Yosemite. He really makes this subject clear and interesting. I was “kinda’ disappointed at the meager coverage of Half Dome’s origins. So I called him.
   First, I asked where the USGS marker is on Half Dome. I (and many of you) have not seen it. Most every other peak there has one. He said he didn’t know but would ask his USGS buddies. Next, I asked several questions about the formation of Half Dome and that it would be really neat to see a cartoon video of its formation with the granite plutons, erosion, glaciers and exfoliation. He politely replied that there is not a lot of firm scientific data to bank on. …

A crummy commercial???

First, I want to thank the nearly 1,000 daily readers of this bloog for carving out a few minutes each day to stop by. I love writing these notes. It takes me about an hour to research a topic and prepare the blog. But I learn by the process. I am still open to guest blogs. If you have a morsel to share about Yosemite or Half Dome, send me an email.

Yes, fans, tonight is a commercial. I gotta pay the bills. If you are new here, you noticed that I post no ads on my website or blog. WordPress does if you don’t subscribe. But not me. I am just sharing knowledge. But it does cost a few coins to run the good ship Half Dome. Why, my little dog, Yosey (as in Yosemite), is begging for kibble.

You can help send him to obedience camp by patronizing my humble store. I designed these nifty 4-color 2-sided Haynes Beefy TShirts and offer them at $20. They are sick. (My nephew’s term.) I will put my design up against anything you will find at the park from Asian firms. Buy American!

    I went over to Bldg 4 and …