Gosh, back when NPS gave the concession for running camps into which supplies are brought on the backs of horses and mules to a company that specializes in running vending operations at sports arenas, who could have foreseen that those camps would be closed for multiple years in a row?by Not quite The Geezer, but getting there - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Quotemkbgdns Crane Flat is being "rehabilitated" to accommodate large RVs. https://www.nps.gov/articles/000/gaoa-crane-flat-campground.htm Am I the only one who finds the NPS announcement to be self-contradictory? "Crane Flat Campground was originally constructed in 1962 and designed to accommodate tents or small tow-behind trailers. As large Recreational Vehicles (RVs) areby Not quite The Geezer, but getting there - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Thanks for the information! Am looking forward to being in YNP for several days next week.by Not quite The Geezer, but getting there - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
The general NPS statement on cairns is here: https://www.nps.gov/articles/000/idkt_rockcairns.htm They say each park has its own rules about cairns, but they also say the following as holding across all parks: (a) don't build cairns (they say this twice), (b) don't add to cairns, and (c) don't knock them down if they're there because they might be authorized and therefore are there to help visby Not quite The Geezer, but getting there - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Scheduled to be there in two weeks, will find out then. There's no indication that either trail from Tioga Road to May Lake (from the quarry, or from the road between Olmstead and Tenaya Lake) is closed.by Not quite The Geezer, but getting there - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Hadn't seen that, thanks.by Not quite The Geezer, but getting there - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Tioga Road is open, does anyone know if the road to the parking lot below May Lake has been plowed?by Not quite The Geezer, but getting there - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
QuoteThe Other Tom Is this the latest opening ever? https://www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/seasonal.htmby Not quite The Geezer, but getting there - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Saw that. Love it. In June 2016 - not a heavy snow year - my brother-in-law and I tried a day hike to Clouds Rest. By the time we go to the top of the switchbacks the trail was covered in snow so that we'd lost the trail, and stupidly, we'd left the snowshoes in the car. So we tried the navigate the snow field on our own (and postholed a lot), but what was really annoying were the rock pilesby Not quite The Geezer, but getting there - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
Nature can be fickle, what a pain. And what a shame that the powers-that-be aren't asking people to risk their lives trying to contain a fire so that you can have the convenience of visiting Yosemite exactly when you want to. Even though allowing the fire to burn (a) is the way nature works and (b) prevents the build-up of combustible material on the ground that can facilitate a massive fire a feby Not quite The Geezer, but getting there - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
YNP's "current conditions" page includes a link to "fire closure map" that currently shows a closure between North Dome and Yosemite Falls, although if trying to get between the Porcupine Creek TH and Yosemite Falls (or vice versa), one could avoid this section by following the trail along Lehamite Creek.by Not quite The Geezer, but getting there - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Clearly to discourage people from going there. It's been blocked out at least since 2016.by Not quite The Geezer, but getting there - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
I don't see where it says Tioga road won't open. I see it says "closed for the season", but that's been the case since last November or so. On the "current conditions" page, it says, "There is no estimated opening date for Tioga Road. Spring opening work is in progress, but it will open later than usual this year due to heavy snowpack." And on the YNP facebook page,by Not quite The Geezer, but getting there - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Presumably Tioga Road will be open by September. There's a bridge over Yosemite Creek, and from photos I've seen posted elsewhere it appears to be intact despite high water this year.by Not quite The Geezer, but getting there - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Look here: https://www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/tioga.htm On the YNP facebook page, there's a video from a few days ago showing plowing by Olmstead Point. My money is on Tioga Road opening only after July 2.by Not quite The Geezer, but getting there - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
I have a reservation for the week after next at Hogdon Meadow for three nights, June 27-29 (Tues-Thurs), checkout on Friday the 30th. While I don't think the reservation is transferable, if anyone's interested we can time my cancellation on recreation.gov so that you can pick them up the second I cancel them. Please PM if you're interested.by Not quite The Geezer, but getting there - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Nice. I got the hiking bug at Philmont, but Yosemite is one of the few places that can make a trek at Philmont feel like a let-down.by Not quite The Geezer, but getting there - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
Is the gate to the road to the Crane Flat fire lookout/heliport closed at night and if so, what time does the gate close?by Not quite The Geezer, but getting there - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
QuoteNot quite The Geezer, but getting there Eeek, I see that notice on the YNP website, but I thought GP was scheduled to be closed this summer b/c of construction. I should clarify - I'd be happy to be wrong, and for GPR to open this summer - my youngest and I were supposed to do a backpacking trip from there two years ago but had to shave a week off our visit and there went the trip. If itby Not quite The Geezer, but getting there - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Eeek, I see that notice on the YNP website, but I thought GP was scheduled to be closed this summer b/c of construction.by Not quite The Geezer, but getting there - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Don't cancel. Go. Make a back up plan in case they cancel your reservation, but plan on going to Yosemite - it's best when there snow is melting and the water is flowing. These flood warnings are overblown anyway, we're never going to see something like 1997 again because they constructed things to make sure it doesn't happen.by Not quite The Geezer, but getting there - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
I have friends going to YNP this summer, entering from Tioga Pass (which presumably will be open by the time they come). Since TM CG will be closed, should they plan on parking by the TM Wildnerness center or by Lembert Dome, or is there a chance that people hiking to Elizabeth Lake will be allowed to park by what I think was the group campground?by Not quite The Geezer, but getting there - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Aramark took over the concession in March 2016. Were the camps open that summer? 2017 was a heavy snow year, IIRC the HSCs didn't open. What about 2018 and 2019? 2020 was the Wuhan virus. No HSCs. 2021 was residual Wuhan virus panic. No HSCs. And I gather that last year Aramark came up with an excuse not to open them. This year we have them closing the ski area early, because heavby Not quite The Geezer, but getting there - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Tuolumne Meadows Winter Conditions: Update for April 18, 2023 (last update for the season)by Not quite The Geezer, but getting there - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
can't comment on sonora, but I'm with balzaccom re entering via 120 - that curve on bofr when you first see half dome takes my breath away every time.by Not quite The Geezer, but getting there - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Tulomune Meadows Winter Conditions Update for April 12, 2023by Not quite The Geezer, but getting there - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
You didn't say WHEN you want to do this. Apart from the standard issues with getting the popular HI --> LYV permit, there's going probably going to be snow on parts of the trails into July this year. Assuming you can get a permit for a time when snow isn't a problem (or that you can deal with snow), looks like a good trip, but I don't understand why between 4 and 5 you want to drop over 100by Not quite The Geezer, but getting there - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
Thanks, Coolburn. Your opening line says it best. Any normal ski operator would be thrilled with all the snow. I hear that some of the resorts in Utah (where they've also had record snowfall this year) are taking reservations through June! But not "We don't give a s--t" Aramark. It's tempting to write off each year of Aramark failures as being beyond Aramark's control. Aramark tookby Not quite The Geezer, but getting there - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Tuolumne Meadows Winter Conditions Update for March 28, 2023by Not quite The Geezer, but getting there - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
If starting at BOFR and wishing to exit the park on the eastern side, you'd head across the north rim of yosemite valley and around Snow Creek, then either (a) continue toward Tenaya Lake, cross the outlet creek and head up toward the sunrise lakes, and follow the JMT out of the park...but you need a permit to cross out via donohue pass, or (b) cross tioga road and head toward may lake, continueby Not quite The Geezer, but getting there - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra