Oh, and yes, I agree that May is usually still pretty empty in the valley regardless of weather. Which is the main reason I don't mind visiting the park then as well as actually staying in the valley.by JohnC - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Thanks. That's good to know. I guess that means I might want to stick to shooting for upper. Although, given how the winter is starting off, flooding might not be the problem this year it was last year. Quoteparklover QuoteJohnC Quotebalzaccom The valley is tough. Best advice is to get on-line a few minutes BEFORE those dates become available, and try to time it just right. They get reservedby JohnC - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Quotebalzaccom The valley is tough. Best advice is to get on-line a few minutes BEFORE those dates become available, and try to time it just right. They get reserved very quickly, especially for the weekends. But we prefer NOT to camp in the Valley (it's way too crowded for us) so we start at Crane Flat and Hodgdon Meadow, then work through the campsites along Tioga Road. Even in the middlby JohnC - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
I tried a forum search but couldn't narrow down anything useful. I've also read the nps pages on camping. I'm going to try and book 4 or 5 days around the first of May, this Friday (the 15th). I want to be in the valley but other than that I'm pretty flexible on everything (unless I shouldn't be?) although I would prefer going up on a Sunday if possible. Are different campgrounds and/or camp sby JohnC - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Quotephantum Think that’s the Empire fire. They were saying last weekend it was the main source of Valley smoke. That was my belief too, but a guy I was talking with there believed it was controlled burns because he said he had seen some while driving in the area. There was some posted fire info on a board in the parking lot, but they appeared to be old and not current.by JohnC - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
This photo is from Tuesday around sunset. Anybody know if those are controlled burns or one of the current fires? I heard they were doing some controlled burns when I was there but I also thought they had postponed the controlled burns due to high pressure and warmer conditions at the time.by JohnC - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
For the last few years I have been making a trip up to see and photograph the fall colors of the Eastern Sierra. It's truly a spectacular thing to see. I'll be going again this year October 15.by JohnC - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Today's rockslide was apparently much bigger than yesterday's. https://twitter.com/ABC/status/913561965041201153by JohnC - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Wow, sorry to hear that. I lost my camera in Curry Village back in 2011. I know that feeling. But somebody actually found mine and turned it in to the lost and found. I was able to recover it the next day. Hopefully yours gets returned too.by JohnC - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Quoteplawrence Two new buses, but the shuttle buses no longer serve Valley View nor Bridalveil Fall. Yeah, what do they have against the west end of the valley? No bike path either. :-(by JohnC - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Sorry to hear that. Did you notice if there was any gluten free bread choice for the sandwiches? It used to be available for any of the sandwiches, including the breakfast ones.by JohnC - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
QuoteArendi That looks like a good deal! I will go get one of those, since I am likely overestimating my time line as far as doing back country hikes. For that it seems to be too heavy, buy should hold up great for the car camping trips. Thanks for the recommendation! You're welcome. Oh yeah, for sure it is not for backpacking. But it should make for a good car camping tent. I even managed tby JohnC - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
QuoteArendi I wouldn't have started a thread just for this, but since you're talking tent recommendations.. I'm looking for a 3 season tent for my little family (me 6'2", wife 5'4", and 2 kiddos (2yrs and 3 yrs)). Have an old 8 person tent, but that is not much fun. Right now just for car camping, but planning on doing weekend trips next year. Any recommendations? I just boughtby JohnC - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Quoteplawrence And here's another thing that NPS could do to reduce congestion with the valley: have the free shuttle service operate throughout the valley (not just the east valley) with regular service to Tunnel View and Bridalveil Fall. I've been wanting them to do that for a while. And while they are at it, how about extending some bike trails all the way to the west end of the park too?by JohnC - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Quoteplawrence I don't use Google URL shortener for any sort phishing or a security attack. The linked destination is the same: https://www.nps.gov/yose/learn/historyculture/degnans.htm I used it here (as I sometimes do) only for the analytics (to gauge how interested others are in the link). It lets me know if people are interested in the link or not. That way I can save time by NOT postiby JohnC - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Quotemrcondron QuoteJohnC It's the best thing about turning 62. :-) Well, up there with SS benefits starting. Well, I waited on the SS so my pass was the big deal. :-)by JohnC - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
by JohnC - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
It's the best thing about turning 62. :-)by JohnC - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Quotetroutwild The roundabout is shown on the new map by the small circle with the light colored center. (@ the former intersection of Northside Drive and Village Drive). Thank you. I never noticed that white dot and the parking area looks like where it always was which is part of what confused me. Plus, I was looking for a four way roundabout. It appears there is no ingress or egress to/from tby JohnC - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
So why don't I see the roundabout on the "new" map? The new map looks like the detour that was there just before they opened the roundabout.by JohnC - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Quoteparklover QuoteJohnC Well yeah, that's the same link that first said May, then late May and now says June. Eventually they'll be right. :-) It was supposed to open in March so I am not holding my breath. That's even worse. I only started looking when I was planning my May trip back in April. I may go back in November for fall colors. Maybe it will be open then. I suppose it will probablyby JohnC - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Well yeah, that's the same link that first said May, then late May and now says June. Eventually they'll be right. :-)by JohnC - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Quotemtn man Was there this week. Still closed and doesn't look like they'll be open anytime soon. No signs or mention of being closed even in the Yosemite guide. You don't find out until you walk up to the front of it, you deduce this for yourself by the chained link fence surrounding it and then there aren't even any closed signs. The Grill next to the store is open for breakfast now to coveby JohnC - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
QuoteSierraGold QuoteJohnC I was there last Monday, left on Thursday. Camped at Upper Pines. Traffic was definitely lighter than the weekend horror stories, but still quite busy by late morning. I was driving to valley locations for photo ops. Even at 6:15 AM I got stuck waiting in line on Northside Drive for some construction. I bicycled around a couple of days including in the rain on Monday. Iby JohnC - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Guess I'll need a new Tom Harrison map too.by JohnC - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Will there still be access to the Merced, east of where the old day parking used to be? Loved taking photos there.by JohnC - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
I was there last Monday, left on Thursday. Camped at Upper Pines. Traffic was definitely lighter than the weekend horror stories, but still quite busy by late morning. I was driving to valley locations for photo ops. Even at 6:15 AM I got stuck waiting in line on Northside Drive for some construction. I bicycled around a couple of days including in the rain on Monday. I sure wish they would extenby JohnC - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Quoteplawrence QuoteJohnC Quoteparklover QuoteJohnC Anybody know if the lounge and free wi-fi are still there since Aramark took over? Thanks. From the Aramark website http://www.travelyosemite.com/discover/travel-tips/cellular-service-internet-access/ I usually use my cell phone or go to one of the libraries. http://www.mariposalibrary.org/branches.html Thanks. I usually have good cby JohnC - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Quoteparklover QuoteJohnC Anybody know if the lounge and free wi-fi are still there since Aramark took over? Thanks. From the Aramark website http://www.travelyosemite.com/discover/travel-tips/cellular-service-internet-access/ I usually use my cell phone or go to one of the libraries. http://www.mariposalibrary.org/branches.html Thanks. I usually have good cell reception in the valleby JohnC - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Quoteplawrence Go to the front desk and ask if you can purchase an access code for a day of WiFi access for a small fee. One was able to do so at the Yosemite Lodge. Maybe Half Dome Village has instituted the same policy. I know in the past you could purchase it by the hour at the Yosemite Lodge and at Degnan's I believe. Of course that was when it was also free at Curry. But then all thatby JohnC - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion