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Phil wrote:Okay, sorry for the delay in responding, but here we go.
I have to start out by letting you know that on people's first visits to Yosemite we all generally lean towards recommending more of a day hiking, touristy trip. There is a lot to see and do, and your preferred itinerary does include a strong desire to see a lot of sights that fit into this nicely. You wouldn't be disappointed with it, and realistically, it'll maximize your experience by covering much more territory than you otherwise would with a backpack on, in the time you have...it takes years to fully explore the park. Beyond the Valley itself, which is best seen by using the shuttle system, there's always Glacier Point/Sentinel Dome and places Like Tuolumne Meadows, both of which you pretty much have to drive to just for the sake of time and convenience. You'll get to the park and see what I mean, and then you can decide from there what you think best. This kind of trip covers everything you wanted to see and do, besides Half Dome and Cloud's Rest, although, there's no shortage of people that day hike to both from the Valley floor. With anything and everything, always keep in mind that it's going to be very hot, it'll be very crowded, unforeseen delays will be inevitable, traffic usually horrible, and you need to use your time wisely and productively with all these things considered. Hurrying up is not always an option, and it's not how it usually goes, or what's going to give you the best time.
That said, let's begin:
You'll fly in Sunday afternoon. Realistically, figure on about 5-6 hours to go from SFO to your hotel in El Portal. That's going to put you into the park around maybe 8-9pm by the time you go through all the motions. Get your gear together and sorted that night, because Monday is going to be a hard and busy day. You will not be getting your wilderness permits on Sunday, period, so you'll have to do it no earlier than 8am (when the office opens), and this is done at the Valley Visitor's Center in the Village; park the car, grab your stuff, then catch the shuttle from where you park to there, then back to the Happy Isles trailhead. While you're down in the Village, the Village Store should have all the last minute things you might need or want, including the fuel canisters you couldn't bring on the plane. Do not forget mosquito repellent! Unfortunately, if it's a hot day, you're already getting a late start for the hike up to Sunrise/Half Dome, so hit the floor running and keep going. You ideally started this hike at 5-6 am, but.....
You're now on the trail:
Pretty basic stuff here. Just start walking, stay hydrated, you just keep on climbing until you get to camp 3,000 feet higher than where you start. Take the JMT, not the Mist Trail. This'll be both easier and faster for lots of reasons. With water sources along the route being scarce-none, given the heat, I would recommend that each of you carry at least 2-3 liters of water apiece. Your next water is the top of Nevada Falls, about a mile short of LYV, and 3 miles short of camp at Sunrise Creek. Don't take any of this lightly. It won't be easiest or best part of your trip. You just have to make do and get it done for the prize.
After you pass through LYV, in about 1.9 miles you'll come to the spur trail up to Half Dome, and just up-trail on the JMT is going to be where you start looking for campsites. Sunrise Creek is just about 200 yards past here, as is the CR junction, and if you spend the time to explore a bit you should find yourselves a nice place. And in this area in particular, also keep in mind that there are lots of bears that are very, very good at what they do. They are aggressive in trying to obtain food, so don't let it be yours that they get. Take this seriously.
Do your camping thing and get some rest. Going up to HD is hot and dry. The lower dome, saddle, final ascent up the cables, and the dome itself are all exposed granite, so it might be searing, and you might have to wait if you get too late a start and there's a line, both up and back down. That wait can last hours sometimes, especially if someone is freaking out or having an emergency. Definitely bring a couple pairs of leather gloves for the cables. All this said, I would bring a minimum of 3-4 liters of water apiece (there's none above or on the way back down), and if possible, begin your hike in the morning by headlamp; you'll beat some of the heat and most of the crowds.
To be cont'd
Brianmtattoo wrote:Wed . Up early again, break camp and hike down to LYV. set camp at the North pines camp site for the night , then relax? Or is it now that we would go to mirror lake?
Brianmtattoo wrote:Thurs. (Were skipping the sonoma idea, as she also would just like to stay in yosemtie, and not lose time there .) Use this day to seek out glacier point, sentinel dome etc? Here comes my first question, since someone stated that gp , and sentinel, etc are outside of the wilderness permit are, would I not be able to go and see them since I exited my trail head ? I also have the same hotel booked Thursday night at the little yosemite view hotel.
Brianmtattoo wrote:We are definitely going to somewhat take it easy as yous have suggested. If we aren't feeling any part, either of us , we both agreed we won't push it. I have some back up spots for the proposal, incase for any reason we can't summit HD. (Weather, panic, whatever reason) . Glacier point was an option as you suggested, and I would like to hear any other great secluded spots. Almost there also spiked my interest in the spots he suggested. ( peak on Dana, Hoffman,)
Phil wrote:Yep, just now saw that. Too long a time to compose it, and too long for one post, so got logged out and tried to hang on to the quotes and my replies. I finally gave up. Too late to fully delete now.
Basically, Brian, you have options galore. It's all about what you see and feel when you're there, and how you decide to manage the time you have available. Good call taking out the wine tasting. Yosemite deserves and requires as much as you can give it. Do Sonoma as its own trip.
Phil wrote:Yeah, it is getting pretty close.
Sunday- Bingo!
Monday- Bingo!
Tuesday- I think it's a good call to choose CR over HD. You actually look down on HD from CR and have better views back up Tenaya Canyon, Mt Hoffman, the Sierra Crest to the east and beyond. "Intimate" isn't quite how I would describe it, but it will certainly be less people of a different type for the most part than you'll encounter on HD.
Wednesday- Again, whether you decide to go up HD or not is how you feel at the moment- you may just want to hang out and relax. But if you guys are decidedly burnt out after CR, I would just go ahead and make your way back down to the Valley to the backpacker's camp and pizza. If not, it has to be done, and that then becomes Thursday's plan, and it risks you not having the time to make it to other places like GP. Realistically, to go from Sunrise to Happy Isles you need to allow for somewhere around half a day if you're quick, up to all day if you're not.
Thursday- I would really use this day for sightseeing using the car. As I've said, this can be either in the direction of Glacier Point or Tioga Rd and Tuolumne Meadows, but both are not likely to happen on the same day, nor would I think you would be happy with the amounts of time spent enjoying either place at the expense of purely having to make distance driving for the sake of more being better. Either option offers a chance to do some day hiking, but not if you're rushing. You might see them, but you won't even give yourselves an opportunity to enjoy them. Think this one through, a lot!
Friday- Even with a flight leaving at 10:45, I would leave earlier in the day than the afternoon. I'm not into rushing to catch planes, and traffic is a huge variable that you can't control. Best to lounge in bed that morning, have some breakfast, checkout and hit the road. If you have time left to spare, have a nice dinner in SF.
With getting up to CR, at Sunrise Creek (JMT x CR junction) there's a metal sign pointing the way that you can't miss. You'll see it when you go there to pump your water and become more familiar with the immediate area. As a matter of fact, when you scout out campsites initially, take the time to also go slightly up the CR Trail for more options. So, basically, follow the signs and keep going. From below the trail junction, you turn left at the junction, hit the trail, and the correct direction is decidedly UP (find the most uphill trail choice there is, and that's it).
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