A straight-forward solution would be to prohibit the reselling of the campsite reservations, making it clear that they are non-transferable, and then to add some real teeth to this prohibition, make it a federal crime, punishable with a large fine, for anyone to offer for sale these campsite reservations. I'm sure legislation could be put forth in Congress that would make selling these campsitby plawrence - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Also, there's a greater need for campsites in Yosemite than Yellowstone, because Yosemite is a lot closer to very major population centers than Yellowstone, hence there are far greater numbers of people that would like to camp in Yosemite during weekends and most other days of the year, especially in the summer. What the Park Service also needs to remember is one of the main reasons why Yosemiby plawrence - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
QuoteDavidK42 That much said, I would never DREAM of going to Yosemite and not visiting the Wawona at least once or twice. The food is very good to excellent (and, unlike the (much more expensive) Ahwahnee, much more consistent...I've had the occasion "just OK" meal at the Ahwahnee), the staff is casual but attentive and friendly, the setting is delightful. Here, I disagree just a biby plawrence - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
QuoteDavidK42 But what makes this a must-stop-by place for me is Tom Bopp. Tom's been playing the piano in the Wawona lounge most nights of the week for 28 years and he's an absolute delight. This is no mere piano-bar drivel...Tom's a classically trained composer and also has an encyclopedic knowledge of late 19th and early 20th century popular music (with a special emphasis on songs about Yoseby plawrence - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
QuoteMarksm Thanks for the review. I never knew there was even a hotel at Wawona. I have to check it out in the future. Not only a hotel, but a 9-hole golf course too!by plawrence - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Quotefluxfluxa How many waterfalls are there in yosemite? Is there a list somewhere? A quick scan of the official USGS Names database reveals about 31 officially named waterfalls within Yosemite National Park.by plawrence - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Sorry, there's no low-cost lodging just outside of the park, except maybe at Fish Camp. More reasonably priced lodging I think starts out about 10 to 15 miles out of the park, at Buck Meadows along Hwy 120, or Midpines along Hwy 140. Farther out, in Oakhurst and Mariposa, there well be more reasonably priced, and higher quality motels. East of Yosemite National Park, near Mono Lake, the town oby plawrence - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
The cover story of the National Geographic Magazine's May issue is about the new generation of Yosemite rock climbers. Here's a link to the article: National Geographic: Yosemite Climbing And here's a link to the article's photo gallery: National Geographic: Yosemite Climbing Photo Galleryby plawrence - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Quotemrcondron I always look in my rear view mirror at the stop sign at the bottom checking for those that have no brakes left. I don't know what I would do other than brace myself for the rearending. I do the same too, but my collision avoidance plan would be to make a quick right (or left) at the stop sign, traffic permitting, to prevent the impact if I notice a vehicle about to rear-end meby plawrence - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
QuoteTom F. There is no water source on North Dome, so remember to bring some with you. Unless of course, there's still snow there in June.by plawrence - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Quotequmqats QuoteAnvanhoNot the least of which are those seemingly endless horseshoe switchbacks up, up, and up s’more that monster hill into the Groveland area on 120 . . . snip . . .Sounds like you're taking NEW Priest Grade instead of OLD Priest Grade. Turn right instead of left at the bottom of the hill! Half the distance, half the turns, twice as steep!. Just don't take it coming downby plawrence - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
I've always wondered if there's a technical reason why they don't keep Glacier Point Road plowed in the winter to let's say Washburn Point? I can see why it will never be plowed all the way to Glacier Point, because that last stretch of road (between Washburn Point and Glacier Point) would be simply too treacherous even it was plowed. But if there aren't no technical reasons (i.e. no landslidby plawrence - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Quotefluxfluxa That's true, I can possibly stay at Curry Village. Never done that before. Friends don't let friends stay in Curry Village tent cabins. I know a lot of people who have stayed overnight (camping & lodging) in Yosemite Valley. I know of no one who ever enjoyed staying in a tent cabin at Curry Village. I guess some people do, because some people do so every year (though I'by plawrence - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
I've always enjoyed using the trail and recreation topo maps produced by Tom Harrison: http://www.tomharrisonmaps.com/ http://www.tomharrisonmaps.com/locationmap.htmlby plawrence - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
If it's a small enough child (infant/toddler) a backpack child carrier could come in handy. And I agree with others, that late summer probably would be the best time, especially since it will be warmer, and more importantly, fewer mosquitoes.by plawrence - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
I work in the tech industry and in the past have been on-call quite often. So the more connected I could stay, the more freedom I had to roam around and hike. Hence, I'm very familiar where I can stay connected and where I could not. And it's also the reason I have three cell. phones: Verizon (CDMA), AT&T (GSM), and Boost Mobile (iDen).by plawrence - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
QuoteDanPJ Yeah, I have to check TM out. Too bad all the reservations are booked except for large group sites. Remember 50% of the campsites at TM are first-come, first-served, so just get there early the day would like to camp there. Also, remember there are some nice campgrounds just outside of the park's Tioga Pass entrance (Tioga Lake and Saddleback Lake campgrounds) in the Inyo Nationalby plawrence - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Quotequmqats The campground reservation system keeps track of how many days you've reserved that year. It won't let you go over the 7 day limit. I was actually refused a reservation one year because it took me over. Ended up having to cut the trip short. One possible work-around is to have multiple reservations under different names. Or just camp at one of the first-come, first-servedby plawrence - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Finally! It wasn't there three hours earlier.by plawrence - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
But Half Dome is still missing in action. Sentinel Dome Webcamby plawrence - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
QuoteDave QuoteplawrenceAlso, just a few miles outside of the Park's boundary, there's the Stanislaus National Forest Campground, Dimond O, that has a number of campsites that can accomodate a 40' RV. The booking window for the Dimond O Campground starts this Sunday, April 3rd: Dimond O Camground Information & Reservations Nice place. It used to be my Boy Scout camp. It's a long ways fromby plawrence - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
If you can't secure one of the few Yosemite Vally campsites that would accommodate your RV, you might want to try to reserve a campsite at either the Crane Flat or the Hodgdon Meadow campgrounds within Yosemite National Park that contain a bit more campsites that would accomodate a 40' RV. Also, just a few miles outside of the Park's boundary, there's the Stanislaus National Forest Campground,by plawrence - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Looks like the drought is officially over. But don't expect water districts to roll back prices to pre-draught levels: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2011/03/30/BAOL1IMPJB.DTLby plawrence - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
If this is your first visit to Yosemite, let me strongly recommend for an all day hike to do the complete Yosemite Valley loop trail from east to west then back. It's mostly flat, it's easy, and it's drop-dead spectacular. And you will hardly run into many other park visitors west of Swinging Bridge (except around El Cap Meadow and around Bridalveil Falls).by plawrence - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
[email protected] Camp 4 is a first come bases for climbers. Huh? Camp 4 is for everyone, though it is very popular with rock climbers.by plawrence - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
QuoteDanPJ I would love to come in May to see all the waterfalls, but I may be too late this year. I may try to plan for an August trip this year and avoid the July crowds. Doing a quick search online last night, I found this site with pros and cons for every month. http://www.yosemitefun.com/yosemite_best_time_to_visit.htm It will still be plenty crowded in August as in July. Don't foolby plawrence - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Been reading this fascinating thread about OBOFR. The one time I started hiking up it (in February 2005 I think), I stopped about 3/4 miles in when I came upon a juvenile mountain lion about 75 feet ahead me right when I turned a small bend on the road where a tree had fallen down. The young (and scrawny) mountain lion was actually munching on some brush on the side of the road and never noticeby plawrence - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Yosemite park is least crowed in December and January. But the best time to visit Yosemite depends on what you want to do there. For photography, Late October through early June is best (though there's usually still some good wildflowers blooming in the high country as late as July). To watch the waterfalls at their peak with manageable crowds, visit the park in mid to late May during thby plawrence - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Except if you don't like smoke, September visits can be a problem because that's a time that when Park Service likes to do prescribed burns in some areas of the park, weather permitting, and that can generate a good deal of smoke. And of course, during that time there can be smoke generated by wildfires within the park too.by plawrence - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Data does not work on Verizon Wireless in Yosemite, because it's not a Verizon native network. It's what Verizon calls an extended network. The network Verizon uses inside Yosemite is actually operated by Golden State Cellular. On the other hand, AT&T network inside Yosemite is its own, and AT&T supports its EDGE data network within the park, but not its 3G network. Still AT&T's 3by plawrence - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion