Mt Whitney Zone Forums Trip Reports Camping in Yosemite 10/26-10/29/09

Well, this isn't your typical hiking TR, but it is big deal for me! My first trip to Yosemite, and the kids' first camping trip! Well, my first car-camping trip also,

I was thinking of you guys, Bee, Steve C and Waaga, as we drove through Fresno!

We endured the cold (the 4 of us couldn't keep an 8-person tent warm!), some close bear encounters, but had a blast!! Gotta love the modern conveniences, had pizza from Curry Village on the last night,

Here are the color photos and some black and whites (my hubby's into old film cameras).

Hi DM,

As everyone knows: My hiking group (GoatPack) loves Yosemite! (they counted up a grand total of 26 trips this season!!) Tell me which campground that you stayed at? (My buddies were backpacking near Ostrander Lake and they reported that Sat Morn was C-c-c-cold!!!)

B

Nice Dobemom.Yosemite is such an awesome place to experience. After seeing the pics I know why you are called Dobemom.Nice doberman pincher.I have always been very afraid of dobermans since a neighbor scared the crap out of all of us kids with his doberman pincher.They know I am afraid of them.They have scary eyes IMO. Pretty from a distance....lol

Hi Bee,
From the bear box in the photos, I would guess that they stayed in Upper Pines site #179. That is a nice area at the end of the campground, close to Happy Isles.

Ahh, yes, me thinks that you are correct! I have really fond memories of winter camping right after a huge storm in Upper Pines (in futile hope of photographing FireFall on Horsetail falls) and listening to ice cracking and avalanches all night long --- sooooo coool! Froggie and I practically had the valley to ourselves the next day.



(I took this picture so that I could make a backdrop for a do-it-yourself snowglobe!!)

DobeMom, your b&w half dome shot is a classic!

I agree with Steve that is an incredible shot.I used to take most of my outdoor shots in B&W 35 years ago.One forgets how spectacular the contrasts are with them.

Wow, you guessed it, Fred! We chose a site that's situated further back because we didn't know how the dogs would do in camp so we thought less crowds the better.

Bee: we were at Upper Pines #179. COLD!!! Do you actually camp on the snow?? My hubby's been thinking about going back to photograph Yosemite in the snow, but we don't have a 4-season tent and have never camped on snow... Love your shot of Half Dome! Where did you shoot that from?

Steve and Rod: Thanks! My hubby shot that. He's gotten back into film photography and periodically comes home with old cameras from e-bay or craigs list!

Rod: dobes are really all big babies! They look mean because of their poker face, I think,

DobeMom, didn't I see a Suburban in one of your pictures? If so, you don't NEED a 4-season tent. ...well maybe with 2 big dogs. I camped overnight with my wife and daughter in the back of our 'Burb. Folding all the seats down makes a very nice bed!

Ooh, thanks for the idea, Steve! That's a Tundra with a camper shell, and it's got a nice flat bed! Yeah, with the dogs, we were limited to where we could hike...

Dobies get the tail cropped so that they don't send "mixed messages"

wagga I didn't realize till recently how funny you are. Great sense of humor. Good jokes you remind me of well me.

Dobemom dobies look mean because they are.I will never believe anything differently true or not. A childhood perception becomes the reality.