Yosemite September 18-24, 2008

[Seanz0rz]

so here is the trip report.

i will edit this post further with more pictures descriptions later. here is what i have so far:

Jenn and her daughter (JNJ), Dan (DHCTwinOtter), and I drove up on Wednesday the 17th. we left pretty late and after driving for 10 hours arrived at the very nice condo. unfortunately we went though the pass late and didnt get to see much. what my headlights hit in the darkness was very beautiful though.

Thursday we spent the day driving around and doing a short little hike:
Dan and Jenn:
http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m141/hamiltoncomputers/Yosemite%209-2008/IMG_0039.jpg
http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m141/hamiltoncomputers/Yosemite%209-2008/IMG_0034.jpg
http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m141/hamiltoncomputers/Yosemite%209-2008/IMG_0036.jpg
Caity being a 2.5 year old girl:
http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m141/hamiltoncomputers/Yosemite%209-2008/IMG_0053.jpg


more to come as i get photos uploaded!

post up you guys!

[04 Rocko Taco]

Looks like a lot of fun so far, I am jealous!

[X-Tool Pimp]

I see 4 picts and not a single yota :headscratch:






















:hillbill:

[corax]

Mountain Cows!
http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk171/batardsalamano/08-09%20Yosemite/100_1721.jpg
stopping at the scenic overlook where we almost adopted a dog and found out there are still cowgirls in the world riding around on horseback with chaps on
http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk171/batardsalamano/08-09%20Yosemite/100_1728.jpg
end of the fireroad . . . time to find some minor wheeling
http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk171/batardsalamano/08-09%20Yosemite/100_1737.jpg
bigfoot spotting?
http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk171/batardsalamano/08-09%20Yosemite/100_1766.jpg

[slosurfer]

:lol:

It will be a little bit before I have pics up, I have about 400 pics to sift through. April and I each took about 200pics. :shake::D

[corax]

:lol:

It will be a little bit before I have pics up, I have about 400 pics to sift through. April and I each took about 200pics. :shake::D


I want to see the pic with the cow-girl in it, if you have it

[slosurfer]

I'll include that one. Although, it isn't a very good one, too far away and she turned the horse directly at me just as I took the pic. :(

[cooldry]

Looking good so far. I soooo wish I could've made it. But if had gone, then I would probably be single right now. :D. Really looking forward to the pics though. It's like I was there. :P

[Seanz0rz]

yeah, all of you that bailed, really missed a good trip.

[JOSHH]

I hope you guys keep doing this trip in years to come, because I would love to make it out there one of these times.

[slosurfer]

First of all, huge thanks to Jenn and Justin for setting this up and for giving us the opportunity to have a condo. It was pretty nice to be able to come back dusty and take a shower. :D

I finally sorted through the pics and got them uploaded to photobucket. I don't have time to do a narrative w/ pics (I'll do that later today), but for those that are interested:

Bass Lake/Yosemite Trip Album (http://s38.photobucket.com/albums/e113/slosurfer27/Trips/Bass%20Lake%2008/)

I'll post the better ones on here tonight with a day to day account. For now here are a couple teasers:

http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e113/slosurfer27/Trips/Bass%20Lake%2008/IMG_8190.jpg

http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e113/slosurfer27/Trips/Bass%20Lake%2008/IMG_8092.jpg

[RobG]

Wow!!! That looks like a great trip, awesome pictures. I think I see a few calendar winners.

The kid's school and sports schedule really eats into our vacation opportunities.

Thanks for sharing.

[slosurfer]

Wow!!! That looks like a great trip, awesome pictures. I think I see a few calendar winners.

The kid's school and sports schedule really eats into our vacation opportunities.

Thanks for sharing.



It was a great trip! I know, I'm taking advantage of the fact that my kids are young, Jack starts kindergarten next year.

Haha, I was thinking of the calendar as well, too bad they are of my wife's tacoma and not my 4runner. :laugh:

[Seanz0rz]

here are all 325 pictures i have:


http://s103.photobucket.com/albums/m141/hamiltoncomputers/Yosemite%209-2008/

[corax]

Looking at all those good pics, I'm starting to regret leaving Sunday morning . . .

[YotaFun]

I am wishing I could have been therew it looks like an awesome trip! Maybe some time in the future!

[AutoShop]

Im still waiting on Sean to show the picture of me promoting health, and the video Keith took of me sleeping..

[slosurfer]

Okay, I guess better late than never.

Friday we headed up and got to Bass Lake condos a little before dark. Everyone was gracious enough to help us unload (it's amazing what you have to bring for two little ones :shake:). We then headed back to Oakhurst and had pizza at Me-N-Ed's, great pizza and was an awesome place for the kids to run around. Sorry, no pics. :hillbill: Then back to the condos to figure out what to do the next day.

Saturday we got up and headed out in search of Iron Lakes Trail. After many miles of dusty but beautiful scenery we figured out that we had passed the trail by just a little bit. We decided to head to the end of the road we were on (can't remember the name) and then hit up Iron Lakes on the way back. At the turn around for the road we were on, we got out to stretch our legs, make some lunch, etc.. Soon the place was buzzing with yellowjackets and Jenn got stung and then Jack got stung. We loaded up and headed down to find the turnoff for Iron Lakes trail. This was really fun with a screaming 4yr old, damn bees! :shake: The trail ended up being a nice little short trail with some tight squeezes between trees (especially for the tacoma). After we headed back to the condo and Jenn was cool enough to go get cake/ice cream and we had a little bday party for Jack.

Heading up the road (this was a really nice vista)
http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e113/slosurfer27/Trips/Bass%20Lake%2008/IMG_8046.jpg

Pit stop for eating and getting stung by bees
http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e113/slosurfer27/Trips/Bass%20Lake%2008/IMG_8052.jpg

Iron Lakes Trailhead
http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e113/slosurfer27/Trips/Bass%20Lake%2008/IMG_8057.jpg

http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e113/slosurfer27/Trips/Bass%20Lake%2008/IMG_8064.jpg

http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e113/slosurfer27/Trips/Bass%20Lake%2008/IMG_8065.jpg

Look at all the dust on the tacoma and 4runner
http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e113/slosurfer27/Trips/Bass%20Lake%2008/IMG_8060.jpg

Party!!!
http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e113/slosurfer27/Trips/Bass%20Lake%2008/IMG_8071.jpg

[slosurfer]

Sunday- Keith left us that morning so he could go get ready for the big move. The rest of us lounged around and we ended up getting a later start, but that was fine as it was really relaxing. We headed for Yosemite. First stop was the Mariposa Grove, where it was crowded and took awhile before parking spots were found for everyone. We headed out on the hike through the grove, we didn't make the whole loop due to the kids but we did make it to the tunnel tree for pics.

Roots of a fallen redwood
http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e113/slosurfer27/Trips/Bass%20Lake%2008/IMG_4341.jpg

Same roots: That's Dan standing up against the roots and he's probably close to 6' tall, so you can see just how big they really are.
http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e113/slosurfer27/Trips/Bass%20Lake%2008/IMG_4342.jpg

Jack and Caity next to one of the trees the trail is cut through
http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e113/slosurfer27/Trips/Bass%20Lake%2008/IMG_4344.jpg

Tunnel Tree
http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e113/slosurfer27/Trips/Bass%20Lake%2008/IMG_8081.jpg

Dan in the tunnel tree
http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e113/slosurfer27/Trips/Bass%20Lake%2008/IMG_8084.jpg

I got some funny looks pushing a baby in a stroller through parts of that trail. The BOB strollers rock! When Jack was 6 months old, April and I snowshoed the road into Mariposa grove and part of the trail with the same BOB stroller. This trip, Jack even hopped on the front for the return trip to the cars. Definately one of our better kid purchases. :thumbup:

From the grove, we headed down to the actual Yosemite Valley. On the way we stopped at the tunnel view parking lot for some pics. We even lined up for a group vehicle shot here that Sean and others have pics of.

The tunnel:
http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e113/slosurfer27/Trips/Bass%20Lake%2008/IMG_8089.jpg

The view: (hence "Tunnel View"
http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e113/slosurfer27/Trips/Bass%20Lake%2008/IMG_8092.jpg

Then we had a stop at Bridalveil Falls which still had a trickle of water going. Then it was on to the valley where we parked. We looked through the store and then got some food at one of the places. Then we rode the free bus through the valley and got off at the Awhanee Hotel. There Jenn led us through the meadow and to a nice spot to take pics of Half Dome as the sun was setting. We then hopped back on the bus, had a little mix up and got off at the wrong stop where it was really dark, luckily another bus came right away and then we got off on the correct stop. :laugh: We got to the vehicles and took the long drive home after a long day. Oh and Sean ran over a baby raccoon on the way home. :flipoff:

Half Dome sunset
http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e113/slosurfer27/Trips/Bass%20Lake%2008/IMG_8114.jpg

our own personal Jedi warrior :laugh:
http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e113/slosurfer27/Trips/Bass%20Lake%2008/IMG_8113.jpg

Monday we went to the Yosemite Mtn. Sugar Pine Railroad where we road the old narrow gauge steam train. It was really fun, about an hour long and 4miles of track with a stop halfway to add water. Then we went to Todd's BBQ in Oakhurst for lunch which was really good. This was cool because we did two things that I have always wanted to do while driving through that area. Then it was back to the condo's for pool time and naps.

The train (this kind had a really cool running gear that was completely different than what you normally see on old steam trains)
http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e113/slosurfer27/Trips/Bass%20Lake%2008/IMG_8146.jpg

Basically a "driveshaft" that ran down one side of the engine
http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e113/slosurfer27/Trips/Bass%20Lake%2008/IMG_4399.jpg

Jedi warriors can stop trains
http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e113/slosurfer27/Trips/Bass%20Lake%2008/IMG_4401.jpg

[slosurfer]

Tuesday, Jenn and Sean had to leave. So Justin, Dan, and us went to check out Shuteye Pk. This ended up being a really cool trail with some actual terrain to drive over and awesome scenery. It wasn't super hard, but was interesting to drive a stock dcab tacoma through that my wife really does not want damaged. I did rip the front driver mud flap off though. :D Honestly, who puts a hard non-flexible mudflap that sits 3" off the ground on a 4wd truck. It scrapes just going out the driveway. :shake: I still need to rip the other one off.

The lookout was still manned and I think he was pretty glad to have visitors. He gave us the full tour and explained what all we were able to see from up there. I think we even got his full autobiography. He was really cool and he does 10 days on 4 days off by himself up there. I don't think he gets too many visitors as the trail has become hard enough to weed out a lot of people. We spent close to 2 hours up at the summit and headed back.

Wednesday we left. :(

cool rock formations
http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e113/slosurfer27/Trips/Bass%20Lake%2008/IMG_8188.jpg

http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e113/slosurfer27/Trips/Bass%20Lake%2008/IMG_4534.jpg

http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e113/slosurfer27/Trips/Bass%20Lake%2008/IMG_4518.jpg

http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e113/slosurfer27/Trips/Bass%20Lake%2008/IMG_4461.jpg

The lookout
http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e113/slosurfer27/Trips/Bass%20Lake%2008/IMG_4476.jpg

Cool pic April took
http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e113/slosurfer27/Trips/Bass%20Lake%2008/IMG_4485.jpg

Some wheeling

Justin
http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e113/slosurfer27/Trips/Bass%20Lake%2008/IMG_4472.jpg

http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e113/slosurfer27/Trips/Bass%20Lake%2008/IMG_4471.jpg

http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e113/slosurfer27/Trips/Bass%20Lake%2008/IMG_4522.jpg

The taco
http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e113/slosurfer27/Trips/Bass%20Lake%2008/IMG_4516.jpg

http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e113/slosurfer27/Trips/Bass%20Lake%2008/IMG_4511.jpg

http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e113/slosurfer27/Trips/Bass%20Lake%2008/IMG_4520.jpg

http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e113/slosurfer27/Trips/Bass%20Lake%2008/IMG_4528.jpg

Thanks Jenn for setting this up! Oh yeah, we had perfect weather. The day we left it started to heat up and it was 94* when we left Oakhurst. It was a great trip. :thumbup:

It was hard to pick which pics to post as there are many good ones, the rest can be seen here. (http://s38.photobucket.com/albums/e113/slosurfer27/Trips/Bass%20Lake%2008/)

[AutoShop]

You and April took such amazing pictures. Thanks for sharing. :)

[slosurfer]

Thanks.

How hot did it get there on Wed. and Thurs.?

[AutoShop]

Uhm? 95 or so? Justin, Caity, Dan and I all went to the lake on Wednesday and went swimming. And I got a little sun burn.

[corax]

Im still waiting on Sean to show the picture of me promoting health, and the video Keith took of me sleeping..


You asked . . .

http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk171/batardsalamano/08-09%20Yosemite/th_Sarasnoring.jpg (http://s280.photobucket.com/albums/kk171/batardsalamano/08-09%20Yosemite/?action=view&current=Sarasnoring.flv)

standing half way across the parking lot I thought there was a bear in the blue 'runner

[AutoShop]

Hahahahaha. Thats awesome! And hey, I wasnt even that loud. So how can you compare me to a bear?

[DHC6twinotter]

:lol:

I'll have to get my pics up once I get them uploaded on photobucket.

Thanks to Jenn and Justin for organizing such a cool trip, and it was really great to do a trip with Sean, Sarah, Keith, Chris, and April!

[slosurfer]

Sean, did you crap a brick when these guys showed up for revenge? Their poor brother. :flipoff:
http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m141/hamiltoncomputers/Yosemite%209-2008/IMG_0440.jpg

[Seanz0rz]

hahahaah i was thinking about that...... poor lil guy, wonder if he has a BFG AT track across his back/tail.

sarah, you were snoring loudly, and i wont post that picture up here, but i will send it to you later.

[AutoShop]

WHAT THE HECK!! Why wont you post it?!?! Its just a pic of me smokin and drinkin a beer! lmao!

[Seanz0rz]

and thats why, since i dont condone drinking on the trail. PM an email address i can send it to.

[AutoShop]

Ugh! PM? Who needs PM? SarahAkemon@Hotmail.com... Please and Thank you!!!

[DHC6twinotter]

Ok, here are my pics:

The drive up:
http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm233/DHC6twinotter/Yosemite/IMG_2017.jpg

Overlook on the first trail we took:
http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm233/DHC6twinotter/Yosemite/IMG_2043.jpg

http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm233/DHC6twinotter/Yosemite/IMG_2038.jpg

http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm233/DHC6twinotter/Yosemite/IMG_2069.jpg

Mariposa Grove:
http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm233/DHC6twinotter/Yosemite/IMG_2093.jpg

http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm233/DHC6twinotter/Yosemite/IMG_2090.jpg

http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm233/DHC6twinotter/Yosemite/IMG_2112.jpg

http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm233/DHC6twinotter/Yosemite/IMG_2138.jpg

Chris and April and their kids:
http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm233/DHC6twinotter/Yosemite/IMG_2122.jpg

[DHC6twinotter]

http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm233/DHC6twinotter/Yosemite/IMG_2151.jpg

http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm233/DHC6twinotter/Yosemite/IMG_2149.jpg

http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm233/DHC6twinotter/Yosemite/IMG_2165.jpg

http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm233/DHC6twinotter/Yosemite/IMG_2205.jpg

[chrisyota65]

looks like it was a good trip next year i will got will the yoda and we will go hit some hard ass trails.

[DHC6twinotter]

Ok, I'll give this another shot. Lost my post twice now (my own dumb fault).

http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm233/DHC6twinotter/Yosemite/IMG_2281.jpg

http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm233/DHC6twinotter/Yosemite/IMG_2283.jpg

http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm233/DHC6twinotter/Yosemite/IMG_2286.jpg

http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm233/DHC6twinotter/Yosemite/IMG_2289.jpg

http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm233/DHC6twinotter/Yosemite/IMG_2290.jpg

http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm233/DHC6twinotter/Yosemite/IMG_2262.jpg

http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm233/DHC6twinotter/Yosemite/IMG_2265.jpg

http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm233/DHC6twinotter/Yosemite/IMG_2270.jpg

http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm233/DHC6twinotter/Yosemite/IMG_2271.jpg

http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm233/DHC6twinotter/Yosemite/IMG_2274.jpg

http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm233/DHC6twinotter/Yosemite/IMG_2278.jpg

http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm233/DHC6twinotter/Yosemite/IMG_2280.jpg

[DHC6twinotter]

3 cylinders drving 12 wheels on the Shay locomotive:
http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm233/DHC6twinotter/Yosemite/IMG_2235.jpg

Boiler offset to the right to compensate for the weight of the pistons and driveline on the left side:
http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm233/DHC6twinotter/Yosemite/IMG_2237.jpg

U-joints and slip joints were used on the driveshafts to allow each 4 wheel truck to rotate and follow the curviture of the tracks. Supposedly, under heavy load, the torgue on the shafts were knonw to cuase the slip joints to no longer slip and resulted in several Shay locomotives derailing on curves.
http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm233/DHC6twinotter/Yosemite/IMG_2236.jpg

Stop for water. The locomitve consumed 400 gallons of water on our 1 hour ride and burned oil, instead of the typical coal or wood.
http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm233/DHC6twinotter/Yosemite/IMG_2232.jpg

[DHC6twinotter]

Got a chance to swing by Marlin Crawler on the way back:
http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm233/DHC6twinotter/IMG_2310.jpg

And lastly, Caity eating ice cream: :D
http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm233/DHC6twinotter/IMG_2307.jpg

[cooldry]

The area looks awesome. My fault for not attending. :spank: Great pics too guys.

[slosurfer]

Nice pics Dan! I knew you would have some good ones of the running gear on the train. :thumbup:

Have you looked to see if they have scale models of them yet?

[DHC6twinotter]

haha...not yet. Might have to build a lego replica. :D

[slosurfer]

http://www.gearedsteam.com/links.htm

There you go Dan. :D

[Seanz0rz]

:drool:

[AutoShop]

You should feel bad. Hahaha jk jk.