Quoteitchbay I understand the reasoning, but it still sucks. The wood we bought there last July was the crummiest firewood I've bought in ages. It took forever to light, hissed at us all night, and cost a fortune. I agree with you. For years, they carried "Old Durham" brand almond wood in the Valley, which was a good quality firewood. Then they switched last year to "Dave's fireby PineCone - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
shaunsmomo, the majority of campers are decent and respectful of others like yourself, but I sympathize with mtn man. I have encountered my share of inconsiderate people over the years while camping. The bottom line is you are renting that space, the campsite, the same way you rent a hotel room. No one would think of walking through the front door of your ground floor Yosemite Lodge room forby PineCone - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
mtn man, so how was the flooding last week during your stay in Lower Pines? Any sites under water or closed?by PineCone - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
NEW YORK (Reuters) - A man camping with his family was killed and his wife injured when a sycamore tree weighing several thousands pounds crashed onto their tent in a New Jersey campground early on Tuesday morning, authorities said. http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/06/28/us-camper-newjersey-idUSTRE75R7X520110628 Edit: copyright violation. Redact to sample and link.by PineCone - General Discussion
mtn man, I agree 100% with all you (and others of like mind here) have said. robinjayp, re: "We've had people give us leftover firewood, full bags of marshmallows, and even alcohol." - I must be camping in the wrong sites, dang it! and lastly "Hey Eeeek by any chance were you riding a bike through Lower Pines c.g approx. last wednesday? I thought I saw you." - Probablyby PineCone - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
I can't advise you on TM and mosquitoes in the Spring, but you're right that a quality screen house will cost you some $. There are several good models out there, myself, I bought a Eureka Northern Breeze several years back. What I like about this model that many screen houses lack: a full zip-down cover over each of the screen walls (that also double as awnings as well, poles are included forby PineCone - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
I'm sure anyone who has camped in the Valley enough years has several interesting stories to tell regarding bears and food. In (the now dearly departed) Upper River campground, I once walked by a site at night where the family had the rear hatch open on their minivan, light on inside the van, and an open bag of marshmallows laying just inside (waiting for an ideal photo op I assume). Alsoby PineCone - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
I don't have any experience with a smoker, but I can tell you that for many years, I've brought along first a small Weber 'Smokey Joe' grill, and for the past handful of years now a full-sized Weber charcoal kettle grill (I disassemble it both going and returning, so it fits pretty easily in my SUV ). We cook some fatty and fragrant things on it (steaks, sausage, wild salmon, etc.), and whenby PineCone - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Quotehotrod4x5 I've never made a reservation for a tent before. I chose a site that was called an RV site, there was no tent option in the drop down for equipment. I just put pop up and made the reservation. What does that mean? They think there isn't room to put up a tent, but you can fit a 25 ft trailer? Will I have to maybe put my tent on the parking pad? It's site 22 btw. I've run intby PineCone - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Quoterobinjayp There are two different bear boxes in Upper Pines, depending on the site. The updated bear boxes are SO MUCH BETTER and user friendly!! We were able to keep our cooler in the bear box and lift the lid up to secure drinks, food, etc. With the standard bear boxes, we had to drag the coolers out every time and nothing fit on top. Since I've had the fortune of having a newer bear bby PineCone - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
63...60...whatever...who's going to know the difference? It's the old "Washington slept here" spiel...by PineCone - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
mtn man, thanks for the photos, very interesting to see the effects of the high water. Those campers in site 63 would have been better off with a canoe instead of a car for that parking pad. Good luck with your reservation, I hope you manage OK without too much water to deal with. If the hydrological forecast indicates severe flooding for your stay, you can always try and resell your reserby PineCone - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
You're correct, there never was a place to enter an alternate name on a camping reservation prior to today. What you could do was change all the details for the actual reservation holder, name, address, phone and e-mail. Once changed, the information of the person who originally made the reservation did not show on the reservation.by PineCone - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
I'm confused by it as well. I phoned the reservations number this morning, and spoke with someone in customer service. Apparently, they are just learning about the changes as well, but I was told that any existing reservations where the name was changed prior to 6/8/11 are grandfathered in, and will be honored with the name change. That is what I was told anyway, but don't take my relating thiby PineCone - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
mtn man, how many other sites in that loop were flooded and closed? I can see site # 63 to the left in your photo also flooded, and I imagine site # 60 must have been as well? Were there others do you recall?by PineCone - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Hallelujah! Some long awaited and welcome changes. So what does happen with reservations where the name was changed prior to tomorrow morning? Are they grandfathered in with the name change? I know some families who did this to help out a sister /brother/ mom & dad. Wondering if they'll still honor a reservation if the name was changed prior to 6/8/11?by PineCone - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
QuoteVince Quotechick-on In all honesty I wish they would cut the darn cables and let the dome be. Wasn't the Firefall stopped because a) it wasn't natural and b) it was causing large, unwanted crowds? Just sayin... My sentiments exactly!by PineCone - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
QuoteHatomato I think all this Half Dome permit and campsite flagging is silly and a little hysterical, imo. Sorry to hear that a few with too much time on their hands are making it difficult for you fix your vacation plans. Try this website::: http://mrhalfdome.wordpress.com/2011/03/01/to-get-or-give-permits-click-here/ So the next time any of us can't get a site when the camping reservationby PineCone - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Quoteszalkowski So... require seeing either a photo I.D. or the credit card used for payment. Well, it might be someone's step-brother or sister for instance (and a different last name) so the name wouldn't match the original reservee, and I'm sure many people would be hesitant to hand over their credit card to a relative for a week! Just for the record, limiting the reservation to theby PineCone - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Quoteszalkowski Why not just have the other people log in using the account name and password of the person who is going to be using the site? There are still extenuating circumstances that solution wouldn't cover. For instance, what if I'm taking my brother and his wife along with us, but I find out a week before the reservation date I have to work that week, I can't transfer the site to mby PineCone - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
y_p_w, you (and the others) make some excellent points about the reservation system here. As I only use the system a few times a year, here's a question I have. I always (logically) log in to my account several minutes before the opening bell at 7:00 AM, but with multiple browsers opened, is it really necessary to sign in first? What happens if you go in and grab a site first, is it possiblby PineCone - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
I got 7 nights in July in Upper Pines, and I felt like I'd won the lottery. Everything was gone in less than 4 minutes it seemed.by PineCone - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Absolutely, I've done the same thing a number of times. One site I have stayed in several times is designated as a tent site on one of the official NPS pages for Yosemite camping, but in the reservation system, tent is not even an option for equipment type. I think it's because it's rather tight quarters, land-wise. I simply select 'pop up' (as my tent does pop up ) and I have never had a prby PineCone - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Quotehotrod4x5 Is there another site that has photos of all the campsites? There is another web site now (that is newer) that shows multiple photos of each Yosemite campsite...by PineCone - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
OK, thanks eeek. Still doesn't sound too good, think I'll give 49 a try...by PineCone - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
I was wondering from some of you locals what the latest is on the road construction on Hwy. 41 from Wawona down into the Valley? Are there still construction delays these days? I like the scenic drive in on 41, but if there are still major delays right now, thinking about maybe taking 49 N. at Oakhurst instead...by PineCone - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
I agree, I think you're already too late for Lower or North Pines (outside of one-day reservations) but there are still multi-day reservations available on the system for Upper Pines. Of course, if you're diligent and keep checking the reservation system often, you might find a cancellation before someone else swoops down on it! Good luck, I hope you find something you like.by PineCone - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
It's hard to predict in advance what the weather will be like at that time of year, and I have been camping there in the Fall for years. As a very general rule, I have found the deeper you go into October, the greater the likelihood you will encounter some rainy days and nights, and temperatures also drop the deeper you go into October. Rain is not such an issue if you have an RV or trailer wiby PineCone - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Sorry, I missed that post above, I thought only driving it with detours/delays in the summer was being discussed. I'm a creature of habit, and have always taken 41 in all the way from Oakhurst. You've given me something to think about. For what it's worth, per Mapquest: Oakhurst to Yosemite Village via 41: 47.37 miles, 1 hour 26 minutes. Oakhurst to Yosemite Village via 49 to 140: 71.02 milby PineCone - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
In the off-season (not the peak summer months) and with no construction on Hwy. 41, which do you guys think would be the fastest route into the Valley from Oakhurst: staying on 41, or taking 49 through Mariposa to 140 into the Valley?by PineCone - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion