First time in Yosemite, 3 day 2 night trip...where?

[vanessarobin]

Hi all, my husband and I are going to take a backpacking trip for our 10 year anniversary. We love the mountains! If you had to pick between Grand Teton National Park, Yellowstone National Park or Yosemite which would you choose?

For Yosemite, if you had 3 days, 2 nights, and wanted to see the best views what route would you do? We are both athletic, good endurance and in good shape but will be free soloing it (so no ropes, etc). This will be our first backpacking trip together. Also, for you experienced Yosemite backpackers and tips, tricks, equipment suggestions, or webpages to look at for a first time Yosemite backpacker?

Also what month would you go?

Thank you SO much!!

[balzaccom]

Vanessa, you don't say where you live. All of those parks are wonderful, so I would pick the one that's closest so I'd have more time in the mountains.

But since this is the Yosemite forum, let's suggest Yosemite. It would help to know if you felt safer backpacking where there are other people, or whether you'd prefer to be more or less all alone. Both are possible in Yosemite, but to avoid people you usually have to do some of trail cross-country hiking...

So what's your pleasure?

[AlmostThere]

As for timing, you're already too late for reserving permits for early summer. How does August or September sound?

[balzaccom]

As for timing, you're already too late for reserving permits for early summer. How does August or September sound?

Not true. There are still many trailheads with quotas available....but that's less likely on the most popular or famous ones.

Here's a link to the webpage that explains it all:

http://www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/wildpermits.htm

[AlmostThere]

As for timing, you're already too late for reserving permits for early summer. How does August or September sound?

Not true. There are still many trailheads with quotas available....but that's less likely on the most popular or famous ones.

Here's a link to the webpage that explains it all:

http://www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/wildpermits.htm

What are the chances someone going to Yosemite for the first time want some less popular trailhead that goes somewhere nice, but has not got Half Dome, Clouds Rest, or other Big Views with BANG POW WHAM popular bucket list stuff on it?

[vanessarobin]

Vanessa, you don't say where you live. All of those parks are wonderful, so I would pick the one that's closest so I'd have more time in the mountains.

But since this is the Yosemite forum, let's suggest Yosemite. It would help to know if you felt safer backpacking where there are other people, or whether you'd prefer to be more or less all alone. Both are possible in Yosemite, but to avoid people you usually have to do some of trail cross-country hiking...

So what's your pleasure?

More or less alone would be better, don't want to be around large crowds of people but do want to see the big view places. Would love to summit some great peaks if there are trails that are scramble and dont need ropes We are coming from NY. Thank you!!

[vanessarobin]

As for timing, you're already too late for reserving permits for early summer. How does August or September sound?

Not true. There are still many trailheads with quotas available....but that's less likely on the most popular or famous ones.

Here's a link to the webpage that explains it all:

http://www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/wildpermits.htm

What are the chances someone going to Yosemite for the first time want some less popular trailhead that goes somewhere nice, but has not got Half Dome, Clouds Rest, or other Big Views with BANG POW WHAM popular bucket list stuff on it?

Almost There:

First week in Sept would be fine by us, if you have gone during that time how are the conditions? For us, we don't need to see Half Dome, I saw your post about it lol...Clouds Rest looks pretty cool. I saw you mention the High Sierra Trail and Deadmans which looked amazing. Not sure where all these things are in relation to each other

[AlmostThere]

September is that sweet spot between summer crowds and total shutdown of the parts of the park outside the valley. Tioga Road is still open and you can park up there overnight, so those trailheads are still do-able. YARTS still runs on weekends, so you can park in the valley and catch the bus up there if you can go up to start on Saturday or Sunday. Tuolumne Meadows store/campground shuts down in late September.

The wilderness permit page is here: http://www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/wildpermits.htm

Don't forget to leave room inside the packs for the bear canister.

[balzaccom]

Normally I agree with just about everything that AT posts....but this year, September could be a problem. Many creeks will have dried up, the famous Yosemite waterfalls will be either trickles or completely dry. It's going to be a very different kind of September. Normally the bugs are gone, the kids are in school, and the park is glorious. This year, maybe not so much.

BTW, CA public schools open mid-August these days, so that make the latter part of August also attractive.

And if you check, the trailhead quota chart for Yosemite, there are only six trailheads that are seriously full: Glacier Point, Happy Isles, Sunrise, Lyell, Rafferty Creek, and Cathedral Lakes. Everything else is pretty much open most of the summer. And those other trailheads will get you lots of spectacular places...including some of the most popular parts of the park!...if you are just willing to take a slight less popular route.

That said, I would also suggest to the OP to look at a couple of day-hikes, because they are better "Peak" experiences that just about anything you can climb in the back country. The first is Mt Hoffman, with has possibly the best views in the whole park. The second is Clouds' Rest, which is a better hike than Half Dome, and has better views, including a nice view looking DOWN on Half Dome. And never overlook Lembert or Pothole Dome in Tuolumne Meadows. Pothole in particular is an easy 1 hour scramble, and has lovely views.

[AlmostThere]

I'll be out there in July, August and September. It was fine last year, and the year before - it'll be dry, but not horrible. No more walking along refilling as you go... the streams do get dry. Carrying 3 liters kind of sucks, but it's better than not going.

Mineral King in September is a zoo... it was very dry last year, but there was still some color in the foliage, and water in the lakes. Yosemite is more of a zoo, but we do enjoy going high and staying there since all the people stay closer to roads. The Dana Fork drainage was a lot of fun last summer despite the bathtub rings in the lakes. Saddlebag's higher lakes looked about the same as usual.

Going to the Diving Board soon... I like my solitude. And Gardiner Basin, and Iva Bell, and the Rubies... hearing rumors that we may have an El Nino coming in fall, though, so keeping my eyes peeled.

[balzaccom]

And fingers crossed!

[AlmostThere]

BTW... I think anyone expecting waterfalls to be as they were in years past will be disappointed... Yosemite Falls was pathetic yesterday. The snow melting now is not enough to make it even half its former glory.

I think lake to lake is smart.

[vanessarobin]

ALMOST THERE:

Whats your opinion on High Sierra Trail and Deadmans?

[AlmostThere]

For three days and two nights- impossible.

Go out a day and a half and turn around? you wouldn't reach the high Sierra on either destination with that amount of time.

[balzaccom]

But you'd get your exercise....particularly if you started up Bubbs Creek...which is what we did about 45 years ago....

Man, is that a lot of climbing