Yosemite road trip - let's do it! (Tue.6/9 update): - General Discussion - Discussion Areas - SonomaWingsBB - Message Board - Yuku

RSS
Email

0 Kudo

<< Previous Topic Next Topic >>

Yosemite road trip - let's do it! (Tue.6/9 update):

Author	Comment
Ernie Camacho	Status update on Tuesday 6/9:	#21	[-]
(06/08/09 12:59:04) Safety Director Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	Yosemite trip - June 13/14, 2009 It does not look like we'll be able to get camp sites at Wawona (full, we're told), or Bridalveil Crk. (closed). Mike Butler, living in Mariposa, has offered to host us at his house. It looks like there is room to set up tents, and we can use his shower. I will leave Wed. and set up at Mike's house. Thursday and Friday, EC and I will play tourist in the Yosemite valley. Charley and Donna will most likely join us Thursday night. Here is a recap of the situation: Required: 1. All pilots must launch before 9AM Depart your campsite by 5AM. 2. You'll want to be set up by 7AM 3. You'll need some paperwork filled out a. Yosemite HG Assn Glacier Pt. application: http://01914916665039504159-a-g.googlegroups.com/web/FlyApp+yhga.doc?hl=en&gda=-0a8G0EAAAC3waKjMpci9EDj0o6mZs1mqUz0i_8bRlHylNXscihgZXuaUZ7vDkuWKaVx9ttGdO9TCT_pCLcFTwcI3Sro5jAzlXFeCn-cdYleF-vtiGpWAA 4. Your USHPA membership card, showing you to be Advanced HG. Desired: 1. maps of the area 2. cold weather camping gear 3. DEET mosquito repellant for use in Leidig Meadow. 4. water: drink before flight Expenses: 1. Park Entrance Fee: $20 2. Camping Fee: (we won't be camping at these campsites) Bridalveil Campground: $14/night (closed) Wawona Campground: $20/night (full, mostly) 3. Flying Fee: $5/flight 4. Optional club membershiip/site donation: $5 Preflight: 1. Set up before 7AM preferred. 2. New pilot meeting at 6:47AM. 3. Pilots meeting at 7AM in setup area. 4. turn in paperwork and fee. 5. have buddy preflight your glider 6. no wheels. No gloves. 7. prepare for a no-wind semi-cliff launch. The flight: Launch is from Glacier Point. LZ is Leidig Meadow, just downstream from Yosemite Lodge. Use Google Earth and any videos/photos you can find on the web to familiarize yourself with the flightpath. Here's the site information web page: http://www.yhga.org/siteinfo.html Pilots signed up to fly: Saturday: !Monitor: DaveMerriman #1 Dave Brose #2 Joe Weeth #3 Pete Gifford #4 Kurt Bainum #5 Aaron Laplante #6 Grant Kimble #7 Richard Eunice #8 Ernie Camacho & Sonoma Wings #9 Charley Warren #10 Scott Huber #11 Michael O'Leary #12 Matthew Epperson #13 Ken Muscio #14 John DeAquiar #15 Ryan Goebel #16 Lane Rubin Sunday: !Monitor: DaveMerriman #1 Dave Brose #2 Ernie Camacho #2 Joe Weeth #3 Pete Gifford #4 Kurt Bainum #5 Aaron Laplante #6 Grant Kimble #7 Richard Eunice #8 Ernie Camacho & Sonoma Wings #9 Charley Warren #10 Michael O'Leary #11 Matthew Epperson #12 John DeAquiar #13 Ryan Goebel #14 Lane Rubin Camping facilities: Mike Butler's house in Mariposa (37 30.388N, 120 0.091W) - Use Google Earth to see his property - Topo: 65mi, 1:40min to Glacier Pt. via hwy140 - driving directions: . Drive to Merced, then take 140 east to hwy 49. . at Hwy 49 (Mariposa), turn left/west on 49. . go through Mariposa, along hwy 49 for 2.75 miles. . turn left/south at Spaulding (sign says "Mike Butler Automotive Repair") . just beyond (too far) is W. Whitlock Rd., on the right. Bridalveil Campground (37 39.801N, 119 37.322W) - may be closed due to snow - Topo USA shows it 8.3 miles, 15min. from Glacier Pt. Wawona Campground (37 32.658N, 119 40.398W) - may be full - Topo: 27mi, 45min from Glacier Pt. DaveB's aunt Karen in Coarsegold (37 13.704N, 119 44.112W) - Topo: 60mi, 1:40min to Glacier Pt. via hwy 41 Campground restrictions: 1. two vehicles per campsite 2. two tents per campsite 3. 6 people per campsite 4. Bridalveil Crk. and Wawona allow pets, on leash, supervised. Contacts: On the road, phone Ernie at 707 315 4396 on his cell (if it's in range) Use 147.495 Last Edited By: Ernie Camacho 06/09/09 06:41:43. Edited 1 times.
Ernie Camacho		#22	[-]
(06/08/09 13:02:40) Safety Director Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	Communication will be key - so we'll all know where everyone is camping. I think it would be good if there were someone here, near a phone all day Thursday, who could act as a message central for those of us on the road. I'd call that person to update campground status. Pilots on the road can check in with their status. Any volunteers to man the phone?
Ernie Camacho		#23	[-]
(06/09/09 06:44:43) Safety Director Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	OK, it's now Tuesday and the plan has changed. Dave Merriman tellse me, after talking to the rangers, that the two campground options appear to be off the table. I'm falling back to plan B, where I base myself at Mike Butler's house in Mariposa, and make the 60 mile run to the park from there. There won't be as much of a need for me to stay in contact with those traveling on Friday, since you'll know where I'm staying. But, having someone here as a message central would still be a good idea.
Hangfly	weather	#24	[-]
(06/09/09 07:45:21) Club Safety Director Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	Bring a jacket. Just checked the weather for Yosemite Valley for the weekend. The forecast discussion is calling for cooling for the weekend, below normal temps, maxing around 75. Hangfly
asaceu	20 people camping at Butler Automotive….	#25	[-]
(06/09/09 09:39:27) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	M Butler's house is located 1.9 miles north of Mariposa and 2.0 miles south of the Mariposa Airport. It's conveniently "on the way there". I hope his septic can take all our showers. Upon leaving, a few bucks in the tip jar would be a nice gesture. For those that want to bivoak real close to launch on Saturday night, just ask me about "Yosemite west". Sunday at the LZ: A Sunday afternoon BBQ there would be fun - but it hits something like 140 degrees in Mariposa, so I'll bring ice chests, charcoal and meat at 11:00 am to LiedigMeadow. Just go away from the stinky bathroom and we'll be at the tables by the river with two cookers fired up. Saturday: if you pull battens quickly enough, you can make it to blueberry pancakes at the NE edge of the LZ (YosemLodgeCafeteria)- - they close down around 10:25 am. Here the facts: on the way up (&back): M Butler's hse- 57 miles, 1:31 minutes Crocker Meadow -49 miles, 1:14 minutes (a 15 min differential; not 30...) One has yappy dogs, couches and indoor plumbing, the other has dirt. Both are "on the way" but only one has secure storage of your camping gear. Again, for a few of you guys that want to avoid the Saturday evening drive&stay local for that one night; ask me about "YosemiteWest". -SafDv Last Edited By: asaceu 06/15/09 08:50:57. Edited 9 times.
Ernie Camacho	Status update, Tuesday Noon:	#26	[-]
(06/09/09 13:31:02) Safety Director Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	Status update, Tuesday Noon: Scot Huber called to say that Ken Muscio recommends we primitive-camp in the woods along Hwy 120, near a place called Crocker Meadow. There is no campsite there. I'd have to find a spot that's been used as an ad-hoc campsite by others. I want to try this, since it will save time, and we won't be bothering anyone. This campsite should be about 47mi, 1:15min from Glacier Point, 30 minutes closer than Mike's place in Mariposa, and only 14 miles from Leidig Meadow. Here's how you find the place. First, here are directions to an Inn that is further along Hardin Flat Rd. I'm leaving them here complete. Here they are: From the West (San Francisco Bay Area):Take route 580 east, to 205 east (near Tracy), to 120 east. Continue on 120 east, turning right at the Yosemite Junction, off of Highway 108, still on 120 east, about 10 miles before Sonora. (We are located about 24 miles east of Groveland, off Hwy. 120, 2 miles from the Yosemite entrance.) About 18 miles past Groveland, look for the sign for Hardin Flat Road/ Berkeley Family Camp. Do not turn here, but continue on 120 passing the Yosemite Lakes gas station and Mini Mart, over a bridge, and past the 4,000 foot elevation marker. Immediately after the blue "Adopt A Highway" sign, turn right/south, off Highway 120 at Golden Arrow Road. This short road ends at Hardin Flat Road. Turn left/east, heading up hill. About 1 mile, turn right into our gravel driveway with the green reflective sign: 33569. Welcome to Sunset Inn! Note: "Golden Arrow Rd." mentioned here matches the road signs, but maps show this road as "Hardin Flat Rd.", and show "Golden Arrow Rd." being further East. Turn right/southwest from Hwy 120 onto Hardin Flat Rd./Golden Arrow Rd. Here's the StreetView image of the Golden Arrow Rd./Hardin Flat Rd. turnoff: http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&ie=UTF8&layer=c&cbll=37.812026,-119.904375&panoid=ndXFzUT6tJ9kypNoyfC77g&cbp=13,299.75,,0,5&ll=37.812293,-119.904297&spn=0,359.99588&z=19 And here's the lat/lon for the intersection of 120 and Golden Arrow Rd./Hardin Flat Rd. 37 48.724N, 119° 54.271'W If you look at this in Google Earth, you'll see that this is a short connector between 120 and the real Hardin Flat Rd, which runs parrallel to 120 (both of which run East/West here). You'll go a tenth of a mile, then turn left/East onto the real Hardin Flat Rd. Here's the Streetview for that intersection: http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&ie=UTF8&ll=37.811763,-119.906035&spn=0,359.99588&z=19&layer=c&cbll=37.811989,-119.906043&panoid=gKoyMs7exQzSrxmicjeXUg&cbp=13,168.22,,0,19.85 I expect that I'll find a campsite within a mile or so. For example, here's a dirt road that crosses Hardin Flat Rd. 8/10 mile in: http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&ie=UTF8&ll=37.810042,-119.894848&spn=0,359.99588&z=19&layer=c&cbll=37.81004,-119.89474&panoid=WIHyC_xHp7pDs9teNO1dBA&cbp=13,187.44,,0,6.76 lat/lon: 37 48.601N, 119 53.682W. Going south, this dirt road ends up at some buildings. On the north side, though, we might find something. And here's another spot, a dirt road going off to the north, that looks like it's been used for camping before. This road circles around Crocker Meadow. http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&ie=UTF8&ll=37.808536,-119.892568&spn=0,359.99588&z=19&layer=c&cbll=37.808547,-119.892682&panoid=WIHyC_xHp7pDs9teNO1dBA&cbp=13,43.01,,0,17.54 BTW, you can pull the lat/lon from the URL above: 37.808536,-119.892568 My plan now is to travel on Thursday, find a spot along Hardin Flat Rd. where there's enough room for 5 cars. I'll then attempt to phone Charley so he can update the BB with the lat/lon of the campsite. He and Donna will be traveling Thursday after work. Misc comments: You can use StreetView to travel the roads. Here is the view of the roadsign saying "Golden Arrow Road": http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&ie=UTF8&ll=37.813814,-119.905598&spn=0,359.99588&z=19&layer=c&cbll=37.813453,-119.905245&panoid=xq_V2htQ8PboDmwLN5Hoyg&cbp=13,156.5,,0,-4.56 And here's the 4000ft. elevation sign mentioned in Sunset Inn's directions: http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&ie=UTF8&ll=37.816338,-119.910276&spn=0,359.99588&z=19&layer=c&cbll=37.816169,-119.910235&panoid=5xN1Q_EfIC4cADfrKzyqTQ&cbp=13,184,,0,-2.15 Hardin Flat Rd. comes back to hwy 120 at this spot: http://maps.google.com/maps?t=h&hl=en&ie=UTF8&ll=37.813496,-119.884315&spn=0,359.983521&z=17&layer=c&cbll=37.8135,-119.884514&panoid=W0qZ6agodIHXJLwpenSczg&cbp=12,135.11,,0,23.03 this will most probably be the way we come/go to Yosemite. Last Edited By: Ernie Camacho 06/10/09 09:57:10. Edited 5 times.
SWvisitor	Yosemite	#27	[-]
(06/12/09 12:39:55) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	I'm heading up to Harden Flat to join up with others this Afternoon. This camping area is in nice big pines just outside the park boundary off Hwy 120. This is also where you get on the road to Cloudbuster launch which is about 7 miles south of there. Plan on flying Cloudbuster in the afternoon on Saturday and camping at KM's 40 acre plus, cabin with shower, back country getaway. All others are invited. Scot
asaceu	Flight Report	#28	[-]
(06/15/09 09:14:39) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	The weather cooperated wonderfully. On Saturday morning I was quite cheerful about the forecast of 20% thunderstorms everyday! ( yes, . . . the potential for something unstable and something different from the routine weather) Saturday, 7:35 until 8:50 am…… one monitor/no helpers: all 14 pilots got launched in 75 minutes. Is that a record? There was no sense of haste (after 7:30), the process became 'methodic' with "regular systematic front loading of the cue". At 8:20- with 6 pilots remaining, it started blowing downwind at launch. Two of these pilots experienced massive delays on launch yet the typical cycles eventually came (with limp windsock behind us). Scot H launched his rigid at 8:50am to finish out. 0950 am: I had ballast on the leading edge plus a heavy glider bag inside the sail--- did a light flare, took 5 steps and whacked the nose. A resounding chorus came from the field. Never again will I put weight up there! Sunday, no flights. The search & rescue helicopter took the valley from 7am til noon. Dispatch was very sympathetic. Swinging bridge BBQ; ... had 5 mph west winds, no bathroom stink, no mosquitoes, no meat bees, friendly cumulous clouds to provide shade and cool temps! note: on Saturday -- curry village hikers : one catastrophic injury. -- Hangglider pilots: one dirty nose cone- monitor. . . . . . . . . . . . one twisted ankle- p #7 (after a good landing in the meadow). ~sd On Mon, Jun 15, 2009 at 7:50 AM, Eves Tall Chief <weflyhr@..........> wrote: Dave man : hope the unstable air let you fly longer and all went well YES ??? Last Edited By: asaceu 06/15/09 14:21:45. Edited 3 times.

<< Previous Topic Next Topic >>

Quick Reply