I'm with buster on that one, but think it is more than a "loophole". Regardless of what you think about the permit system, what the OP is trying to do is illegal. Based on the permit s/he got, s/he MUST 1st-night camp after the fork towards Mono Meadow/Illilouette Creek (see https://www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/upload/wildernesstrailheads.pdf). Afterwards, it's not "you do what yby webenji - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
As chick-on already said, you cannot camp at the point. I remember going with the next-best option in terms of views by camping at Washburn Point (although, I must admit I do not know how "legal" that was - the Park Ranger I talked to did not say it was off-limit and it is not listed as one of the "forbidden" points on the nps website). All of my winter traveling to Glacierby webenji - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
I've been there a few times, although I've taken the harder (but cheaper) options of snow camping and doing the round-trip in a day. I cannot comment on the hut since I have never been there, but the setting is AMAZING. Both times, I had Glacier Point all to myself, which is amazing in itself... Staying overnight is definitely a better option thanks to the sunset and sunrise. You should have a blby webenji - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Thanks for the great link, although it seems somewhat updated (which does not bode well for me). That messes up with my week-end plans... Isn't it possible to still camp in the Sawmill campground though? Since it is a walk-in campground, it doesn't seem like they can actually close it. Perhaps there is no host and no one will collect money for the campsite, but it seems people should still beby webenji - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Can anyone who's been along the eastern side of Tioga road recently comment on the snow conditions (if any) for the higher peaks. I'm thinking of peaks in the 12K+ range such as Conness, Tioga, Dana, Gibbs. Thanks in advance, Benby webenji - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Hi all, As the thread title suggest, I'm wondering if the campgrounds east of Tioga pass are still open? I'm specifically thinking of the Tioga Lake, Saddlebag Lake, Ellery Lake and Sawmill campgrounds, although I would appreciate information on any campground in the region. If my memory serves me right (it might not), they usually stay open longer than those on Tioga road. Any help/insightby webenji - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
I agree with Calaveras regarding using the Gridpoint Forecast. I wouldn't vouch too much on its quality, however, having experienced up to (in the worst cases) plus or minus 15F from the forecasted temperature. My personal rule of thumb is to look at the Gridpoint Forecast for the area I'm heading to and prepare for 5-10F lower (I would rather be over-prepared than have a miserable cold night).by webenji - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
I completely agree with you in terms of views. I find Cloud's Rest much better than Half-Dome in terms of views. I wouldn't say, however, that Cloud's Rest views cannot be topped (evidently, this is very subjective). I have the views from the top of Eagle Peak and North Peak, very high on my list of peaks with the best views (both better than Cloud's Rest IMO). The trip up Half-Dome is more ofby webenji - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Thanks for all the comments and suggestions. I don't know if Friday counts as a "weekday" (officially, I would call it a weekday, but if someone is going to take a day off, it would either be on Friday or Monday to create a 3-day week-end), but I'm going to try our chances, first by trying to get a day-hike permit through the lottery and (if that fails) by trying to get a FCFS permit. Wby webenji - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
I was also thinking October would be much better, but the main guy who wants to do it is away from October 1st to October 15th. The additional problem in leaving it up for this late (with the constraint that we have to do it on a week-end) is that if the weather is questionable (as in thunderstorms and/or rain), we have less options, if any, for a later date. When do the cables do down? I remembeby webenji - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Hi all, A few friends have been wanting to do Half-Dome, with a lay-over at the Little Yosemite "wilderness" campground. I've done Half-Dome many times as a day-hike and I've gotten many wilderness permits over the years (including a LY permit), but I am worried that we would not be able to get permits for it. More specifically, they can only take Monday or Friday off to get FCFS perby webenji - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
I was also surprised to find that Parker was (or at least seemed to be) harder than Koip, especially since I climbed it before heading over to Koip (i.e., I should have been more tired for Koip). On paper and looking at it, Koip looks harder and more impressive, but I did not really enjoy the loose stuff on the Parker slopes (Koip also has some, but less IMO). Everything is relative so perhaps soby webenji - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
I would go with the Koip Peak option as a side trip. I have done both Parker and Koip peaks and have found the views to be very similar on each peak. You will get a nice view of Mono Lake from Koip, although the one from Parker is, as you suggested, better (you will se 90-95% of Mono Lake from Koip, with the remaining 10-5% being obstructed by Mount Lewis). The view of Alger lakes is better fromby webenji - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
In my experience, Young Lakes is one of the easiest wilderness permit to get in the Tuolumne region (along with Mono/Parker passes). If you do not mind how you get there, remember that there are two trails (each with their own quotas) that you can take to get to Young Lakes (through Dog Lake or "Glen Aulin". Is there a reason you want to get a first-come-first-serve permit? I think you wby webenji - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Any word on the mosquitoes? How bad were they?by webenji - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
I think it's "just" smog, but not 100% sure. There wasn't a lot of wind that day, so I don't think it would be dust...by webenji - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Looking for some beta on the conditions around Saddlebag Lake, especially for North Peak, Mount Conness, and White Mountain. Do the "normal" (easier class 2-3) routes require crampons/axe? Has anyone checked out the couloirs on North Peak and can comment on their conditions? I'm probably going to check them out regardless, but would love some information to smartly prepare my load...by webenji - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
There are a lot of campgrounds outside Yosemite, East of the Tioga entrance. They are very close to the Yosemite Eastern entrance. The closest one is the Tioga Lake Campground, with Saddlebag Lake campground being fairly close to the entrance as well. Check out the Inyo National Forest website for more information: http://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/inyo/recreation/camping-cabins/recarea/?recid=20256by webenji - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
The conditions on White Mountain were very good on June 3rd, pretty much snow-free until about 13,000 feet. Higher than that, some snow patches I would guess to be 50 feet long at most are present but are definitely not a problem since the trail switchbacks are not steep and the patches can easily be circumvented if needed. They were hard enough on the way up to hold your weight without slippingby webenji - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Long time reader and first-time contributor (you can skip the potentially boring details for pictures): I hiked up to mono pass on Saturday June 2nd, to get some easy acclimatization before heading to White Mountain peak in the Inyo National Forest. There is pretty much no snow and the standard route up Dana will be no different now than later in the year. Looking back at my pictures from last yby webenji - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion