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June 2008 plans

PostPosted: Sun Sep 23, 2007 6:52 pm
by momonthego
I am in the beginning stages of plannng our visit to Yosemite next year. I had planned on arriving in the park on June 2nd and staying for 5 or 6 days. We are planning on hiking Half Dome for sure, and probably 4 Mile Trail. I am beginning to second guess my time frame. Am I planning on being in the park too early in June? We wanted to be there when the water was free flowing, but I don't want to get there and have major trails still closed due to snow. Any help on the time frame would be appreciated. Also, if you have a favorite hike you want to suggest, please do so. We hiked Glacier two summers ago, and Rocky Mountain this past summer and are ready for next summer to be here. Thanks!

Re: June 2008 plans

PostPosted: Sun Sep 23, 2007 11:04 pm
by dan
Too early to say what the snow will be like this coming winter. The Glacier Point road has been open by end of May for the past few years, including the previous year with a heavy snow pack. The snow melts really fast end of May/beginning of June.

Mid-June or late June will be safer--the water is still flowing good. I prefer early June myself as all the schools haven't let out yet and the park isn't too crowded.

Even if the high-country trails are closed, there's plenty to see in the Valley.

PostPosted: Wed Sep 03, 2008 11:29 pm
by momonthego
We had a wonderful time during our trip to Yosemite. I'm not sure I agree with some of the signs with the miles on them - they were very confusing on some of the trails. We managed to hike part of the Lakes Trail in Sequoia, couldn't go past the first lake due to lots of snow. We also hiked Moro Rock, and Little Baldy - which was totally fogged in.

In Yosemite, we hiked the Pohono Trail (this is the main mileage issue we had - very, very confusing), Chilnualna Falls, Mirror Lake, Lukens Lake Trail (lots of snow), and the ultimate goal - Half Dome. It took us 16 hours from start to finish. Of which, 35 minutes was spent trying to figure out where the trailhead was (it wasn't just us, about 20 other people were on the same hunt) and 45 minutes to figure out where we had parked when we were done. It didn't help that we were in the dark by the end of the 45-minute search for the parking lot, but the thought of pizza kept us going. But, considering we were hiking with a 30 year old asthmatic, a 70 year old man and 65 year old woman, plus my husband and I who are in our mid 40's from flat TN and AL, we were very pleased with our day. Oh, my husband's mom made it to the base of the steps, and his dad to the base of the cables before they threw in the tile. My assthmatic brother made it half way up the cables before breathing became a bigger goal than the top of the cables. My husband and I made it to the top!

We stayed in a cabin in Yosemite West - great value - $150/night for up to 10 people. Not the Ritz, but had everything we needed, and not to bad on the driving times. Staying in the valley would have been more convenient , but we are cheap travelers, and besides, there were way to many people there for us. Plus, we had a very own private coyote that visited us several times.

We would loved to go back and hike in the high country. Decided that would need to be in July to make sure the trails are passable. On the "I want list" - Clouds Rest, Cathedral Lake, Elizabeth Lake, Lembert Dome, Mono Pass, and Alta Peak in Sequoia, just to mention a few.