It was the camp hosts who warned us about the water bottles. We usually bring a box of water (two 2.5 gallon from Arrowhead) and leave one on our bear box at at times. It was the smaller bottles they were worried about. We bring a pallet of them with us as well. With people adding flavors to them like Crystal Light, Cool-Aid, or Propel, bears now associate bottled water with scents. We did sby robinjayp - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
I have been to Yosemite many, many times and never considered rafting. I have done "real" rafting and just never gave it much though. We were joined by friends and family with children this year and we all decided to take the rafting trip as a big group. The price went up a few days before we were there and it is now $28.50 per adult and $20.50 for kids. When I called, they stressby robinjayp - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
I've hike up before, but went via Panarama down. This time it was up and down 4 mile (well, 4.6 mile). Rode bikes to Yosemite lodge and walked to the trailhead which added a mile each way. Left early and was well rewarded with shade! Going up was great! Every turn it was amazing to see Yosemite Falls and the valley. After a while, the group stopped stopping for pictures and we hiked on.by robinjayp - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
We had our Half Dome permits and were ready to rock! There were 7 of us, then 6, then three. The 13 year old with the harness was pulled after we did 4 mile and back. She was fine, but her parents were not. So it was only three adults and four extra permits. They will not accept these at the wilderness office nor is there anyplace to turn them in for others to use. Since we left at 4:45 am,by robinjayp - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Just wanted to share my campground experience from last week. We were in North Pines with two sites and 13 people (five young children and we checked with ranger on this before we left). Yes, I know we were VERY lucky to get one let alone two sites in Yosemite Valley for one full week. At check in, you have to show ID. If your ID doesn't match, they direct you to the Yosemite Campground offby robinjayp - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
I wasn't in Tuolomne, but I was in the Valley last week. The mosquitoes are out in full force! Nasty and they are out all day long (and night too) in the campgrounds and meadows. I was given a great suggestion by the regulars on this board and I am very happy with the results. Mosqitoes LOVE me! I am constantly attacked as is my sister. I ended up with only two bites the entire week which iby robinjayp - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
I enjoyed this hike last week as well as four mile. Have done both before and will again. I enjoued UYF much more though. Left at 10:00 (not the plan) and completed in 5 1/2 hours. freaked me out that people were cooling off in the water between bridge and the upper fall. I didn't find it too diificult but I hike a lot. Brought 2 litres and drank 32 ounces before. Just enough for me. I saw plby robinjayp - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Just there. I printed out my reservation but was never asked to see it. Just had to show ID that matched the reservation. If it doesn't match they send you to the reservation office. I would print out just to be safe.by robinjayp - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Well I was in the valley last week. People in Emerald Pool! People sitting on logs and letting their children play in a "protected" area (just beyond the missing poster for the three people from two weeks ago).. People walking out to boulders and logs under the falls but above the footbridge. I couldn't believe it! Oh and on the way down from Half Dome saw one guy barefoot and two othby robinjayp - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Thanks for all the input! I would never condone/use a harness/carabiner setup if it endangered others or Half Dome. We purchased a simple harness with two extensions. The original carabiners that were suggested by REI seemed too small to another employee there so the search for thr actual width was on. We ended up purchasing the biggest locking twist release ones they had - just over the width oby robinjayp - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
The last time I did Half Dome, the family hiking in front of us all had harnesses. They said it was the only way they would let their kids do the hike. They didn't slow up the line at all and went at an average pace. I thought it was a smart idea, espeically for the kids. $100 harness/caribiner for peace of mind is a great investment. I know my own abilities and limitations and I too am noby robinjayp - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
I've done half dome before, but am hiking with a gawky 13 year old who is determined to do the hike. The trade off is wearing the harness. Thanks for the replies!by robinjayp - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Does anyone know the exact width of the Half Dome cables? I have been searching online and the only measurement I could find was "just under the size of a quarter" and that found on a few blog sites. Any assistance would be much appreciated (trying to resolve a carabiner size issue). Thanks! Robinby robinjayp - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
That's how I felt after using the "herbal" Repel Lemon Eucalyptus!by robinjayp - General Discussion
Received the following email regarding our upcoming camping trip in the valley. Second one in a few days. We've had reservations every summer for at least the last five years and the only other email we received was due to the wet conditions and mosquito activity at Tuolumne last June/July. Using email notifications is a great way to keep campers informed! Same old information, but they areby robinjayp - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Quoteplawrence Honestly, it's so easy to avoid the crowds in the summer at Yosemite, that it has never been for me a deterrent to visit it during the summer. What limits me in the summer in visiting Yosemite is one: work; two: finding a decent place to stay or camp in or nearby the park, and three: the cost (if no campsites are available),. But the crowds are never an issue for me since theby robinjayp - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Yes, we enjoy Degnan's Pizza loft too. I have had some terrible pizza in National Parks (Bryce was the worst) and the loft in Yosemite has pretty good pizza. Love the deli too! Wish it didn't close at 5:00 though. The food court/pavilion at the Lodge is okay. They have variety but just average for taste. The Curry Village Pizza was just okay. One of the things I love about Yosemite isby robinjayp - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
The kiosks are normally staffed by volunteers who are usually retirees. I can't imagine that they would be handling anything other than reservation check in and misc. questions. The kiosks are usually manned only from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm and sometimes not even then. I would think changes and reservation rebooking would be through the main campground office in the Curry Village parking lot.by robinjayp - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Buh-bye (probably no love though). I'll report back if I find out after my trip next week. I always like to chat it up with the campground rangers.by robinjayp - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Or the internet kiosks will be flooded with people checking for permits. There are only five or so by the deli and sometimes there is bit of a wait (looking for jobs, not surfing ) How do you print out the permit though? I don't recall any printers by the kiosks. Supposed to have one printed per person.by robinjayp - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
The NPS website has a page dedicated to this. Glad that they are addressing the scalping issue in favor of the general public. http://www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/hdpermits.htm Updated July 14, 2011 Initial hiker counts for this season indicate that there are numerous no shows among Half Dome permit holders. In an effort to make up for these no shows, the National Park Service (NPS) wby robinjayp - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Yes, I have read about showing ID. Just thought it odd that they sent a random email out and was wondering if something happened to cause that. I suppose we did make our reservations before the new rules went into effect, and perhaps people are still showing up without matching names and IDs. I was also wondering what they do to all those people who have been buying off scalpers (or gettinby robinjayp - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Received the following email today about our campground reservations (going next week). Seems like they are making an effort to stop the scalping, but doesn't say what will happen if ID doesn't match the reaervation.... Also includes individual campground phone numbers if anyone is interested. New check-in policy implemented in Yosemite To prevent scalping of camping permits in Yosemiteby robinjayp - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Love it! Yes I am pretty obsessed too. I scour message boards all year, re-read books, old Yosemite today issues, and Death in Yosemite before every trip. Currently reading Shattered Air. I just can't get enough. I don't mind the summer crowds because I have no choice (being a teacher) as well as the Christmas crowds. I am going next week and again in December. People always question my love ofby robinjayp - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
I know this is a hot topic. I was reffering to the general attitudes about keeping areas closed for public use in order to let them naturally restore themselves (meadows, lost campgrounds). I am not an expert, merely pointing my own experiences and observations Last year I spoke to some of the rangers in the valley about the massive amounts of rock piles "growing" by Mirror Lake.by robinjayp - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
I hiked Half Dome because: It was a something to accomplish The trailhead is in the valley by the campground I was staying in It was a huge mental and physical challenge for me and I like to push myself It was the day hike from the valley that I had not yet accomplished As for the t-shirt, I didn't think or even realize that there was one. I was one in the gift shop the winter after I finby robinjayp - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
We've camped in Mammoth by Lake Mary at Coldwater Creek Campground and drove into the valley to hike before. Worth it to us Very long drive though, but Tuolomne is closer!by robinjayp - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
You got me curious, so I did a little research. Here's a link to the campgrounds in the Red's Meadow Valley area. They are not reservable. http://www.fs.usda.gov/wps/portal/fsinternet/!ut/p/c5/04_SB8K8xLLM9MSSzPy8xBz9CP0os3gDfxMDT8MwRydLA1cj72BTSw8jAwgAykeaxcN4jhYG_h4eYX5hPgYwefy6w0H24dcPNgEHcDTQ9_PIz03VL8iNMMgycVQEAIzTHkw!/dl3/d3/L2dJQSEvUUt3QS9ZQnZ3LzZfME80MEkxVkFCOTBFMktTNTlIMjAwMDAwMDA!/by robinjayp - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
I have stayed at the Red's Meadow campground many times and have quite enjoyed it. We checked out all of the campgrounds in the area and settled on this one. There is bear activity there similar to Yosemite Valley and similar bear box practices are a must. This campground is close to Sotcher Lake, Devil's Postpile NM, and the trail to Rainbow Falls. As an added bonus, they have a "naturaby robinjayp - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
You know when people talk up something, like a movie, and then you finally see it and feel it didn't live up to the hype? The tunnel view is not like that (and neither is Yosemite). It lives up to the hype and more! I love telling people that they will be in awe after the tunnel and then hearing their response afterward. Of course, they tell me that I was right and they were grateful that Iby robinjayp - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion