Yosemite Valley Last Weekend - News of the valley

[susan]

We were in Yosemite last weekend for a long anticipated, non-climbing trip which while fully enjoyable had a bit of an apocalyptic edge to it.

-First and most sad were hearing of the deaths of two teens camped in Upper Pines Thursday night who were struck in their tents predawn Friday morning by a falling oak tree branch. This happened next door to our friends' campsite the day before they got there.

-There was also the news of the plague spreading.

-Saturday there were helicopters involved in a SAR rescue using the Church Bowl meadow to land. Haven't found any news on this yet.

-Late night after 10 Saturday when driving by Curry Village, we saw a ranger flip on the red & blues and do a swift U-turn to speed ahead where we soon found over half a dozen cop car headlights facing us, which just about gave us all in the car heart attacks. But they were staggered around an arrest they were making with their rifles pointed at a guy who we later heard may be linked to area murders. We drove by without much issue but some excitement. Trying to find any news on this but no luck yet.

-Later heard there had also been a fight in housekeeping camp that had to be broken up by police earlier that day.

-O yeah, and the fires. There's always the fires.




   

[mungeclimber]

108 next weekend?

[susan]

Sorry no can do due to other plans already in place as pm'd you just a few minutes ago.... but sure appreciate the offer. 

[DaveyTree]

Yikes! That is a lot of downers for one trip. I had one as well. Went up Friday night with three friends and found everything full so we slept by the truck in the trailhead parking lot at Saddlebag. 5:30 a.m. we headed up, up, up, up and up to go down to start the West Ridge of Conness. Did the climb and hiked out with the last two hours by headlamp. Staggered into camp at 11:30 p.m. to find the mini keg of beer and bottle of whiskey, that was in our ice chest in the bear box, taken by some P.O.S. Man what I would have given to have been there with a blue tricam in my hand when they took the celebratory drinks!

We also saw the fire near 395. It was a small plume when we left that morning and what they call a pirocumulus cloud when we came out. We just barely made it back through, after breakfast at the Tioga Pass Resort Cafe, before they closed the east entrance of the park.

[John]

Dang, they stole yer celebratory beer and booze? Inhuman!!

So the climbing day sounds great otherwise right?

[mungeclimber]

#11 hex to the noggin!


yeah, used to be people left stuff alone. Now you gotta hide oreos inside a bag of ramen.

ugh

[mungeclimber]

ya know, next thing they will be jamming gum in the gate locks.



-bunch of savages in this town-

[DaveyTree]

Climb was good John. Would have been better over a couple days to suffer less and enjoy more.

[susan]

Why what a bum wrap!    Hopefully the culprits nursed severe hangovers at high altitude. I can barely tolerate a drop that high up myself.

Sounds like quite a day regardless.

What's the likliness of wildlife messing with your vehicle if those goods were stashed in there instead?

 I love those high country breakfast joints. Kind of missing the area now that you mention it.

[susan]

A ha, here's the happs:

http://m.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/Woman-survives-plunge-above-Yosemite-Falls-6449619.php

[susan]

Pyrocumulus cloud searches result in spectacular photos. I like this one though it is not as spectacular as some which appear almost as ginormous as the H bomb blast.



It was a new term on me - definition found:
"... is a cumuliform cloud which is produced by fire, an erupting volcano, industries and so on.  These all cause heating of air, usually with a lot of moisture in it."