Four million outdoor adventurers visit California’s Yosemite National Park each year, drawn to the park’s spectacular scenery, vast swaths of wilderness, and extensive trail system. Yosemite Adventures offers a unique approach to exploring the park by presenting the area as a varied, year-round playground appropriate for recreationists of all abilities and interests. In addition to hiking and backpacking trips, readers will enjoy descriptions of skiing, snowshoeing, rock/mountain climbing, and fishing outings. Each of the 50-plus adventures—which have all been completed by the author—include photographs; detailed maps; elevation profiles; and a wealth of insider tips about recommended gear, permits, food, and campsites for a successful outing. The book promises to be a must-have resource for Yosemite’s vast legion of avid outdoor recreation enthusiasts. "Wow, I want to go! With explicit directions, insider tips, gear lists, personal journals, awesome photos and maps, Yosemite Adventures temps you to trek on the best of the best. You are drawn to travel the easy casual short trails or to graduate to the steep rock climbing dream walls. This book answers how to create an awesome Yosemite bucket list!" —Marty McDonnell, Tuolumne River guide and California Outdoors Hall of Famer "For me this book is especially memorable. Constantly visiting Yosemite since the late 1950s, I love the park and have been to many of the places Johanson describes. With well-organized chapters and concise instructions, he has done a super job for old-timers as well as first-time visitors. It's time to head to Yosemite!" —Steve Roper, pioneer climber and author "Matt Johanson has mastered a difficult task: encapsulating and translating all that Yosemite has to offer, for park veterans and beginners alike. This book is a great resource for planning upcoming trips, in addition to acting almost like a virtual tour-guide while visiting." —Brodie Brazil, sports broadcaster Matt Johanson is a high school journalism teacher and a freelance outdoor and travel writer. He is a lifelong outdoors enthusiast with more than 20 years’ experience in the Yosemite area and the author of Yosemite Epics: Tales of Adventure from America’s Greatest Playground . He lives in Castro Valley, California. Hans Florine is the author of Speed Climbing: How to Climb Faster and Better , has won nine national climbing championships, and has set multiple speed climbing records, including the fastest-ever ascent of the Nose of El Capitan in Yosemite. Yosemite Adventures 50 Spectacular Hikes, Climbs, and Winter Treks By Matt Johanson Triumph Books Copyright © 2014 Matt Johanson All rights reserved. ISBN: 978-1-60078-914-4 Contents Foreword by Hans Florine, Introduction to Winter Treks, 1. Tuolumne Grove of Giant Sequoias, 2. Crane Flat, 3. Gin Flat Loop, 4. Dewey Point Loop, 5. Glacier Point, 6. Glacier Point Side Trip: Sentinel Dome, 7. Ostrander Ski Hut, 8. Ostrander Side Trip: Buena Vista Peak, 9. Snow Creek Cabin, 10. Trans-Sierra: Lee Vining to Yosemite Valley, Introduction to Hiking, 11. Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias, 12. Taft Point, 13. Wapama Falls, 14. Elizabeth Lake, 15. Lembert Dome, 16. Panorama Trail Loop, 17. Chilnualna Falls, 18. Vernal Fall and Nevada Fall Loop, 19. Four Mile Trail, 20. Yosemite Falls Trail, Introduction to Backpacking, 21. Cathedral Lakes, 22. Young Lakes, 23. Tamarack Flat to El Capitan, 24. Ten Lakes Basin, 25. Grand Canyon of the Tuolumne River, 26. Hetch Hetchy and Lake Vernon Loop, 27. John Muir Trail: Happy Isles to Tuolumne Meadows, 28. John Muir Trail: Tuolumne Meadows to Devils Postpile, 29. Pacific Crest Trail: Tuolumne Meadows to Sonora Pass, 30. Pacific Crest Trail Side Trip: Benson Lake, Introduction to Mountain Climbing, 31. Clouds Rest, 32. Mount Hoffmann, 33. Mount Watkins, 34. Cathedral Peak, 35. Half Dome, 36. Mount Dana, 37. Mount Conness, 38. Amelia Earhart Peak, 39. Matterhorn Peak, 40. Mount Lyell, Introduction to Rock Climbing, 41. Pothole Dome, 42. Puppy Dome: Puppy Crack, 43. Swan Slab: West Slabs, 44. Knob Hill: Sloth Wall, 45. Bunny Slopes, 46. Daff Dome: Guide Cracks, 47. El Capitan: Pine Line, 48. Sunnyside Bench: Regular Route, 49. Pywiack Dome: Zee Tree, 50. Half Dome: Snake Dike, Acknowledgments, About the Author, CHAPTER 1 Tuolumne Grove of Giant Sequoias Distance: 2 miles round trip Time: 1 to 3 hours Difficulty: easy Parking and trailhead: Tuolumne Grove, elevation 6,200 feet Highest point: elevation 6,200 feet Best season: January through April Permits: none needed Overview Here's a great first winter outing for beginning skiers and snowshoers. A gentle path leads to dozens of beautiful giant sequoias. From the parking area, go north past the restrooms and gate and down a forest road. The first sequoias come into view after a sharp turn. A side trail leads to the tunnel tree and then rec