Yosemite Forum

Thanks, guys. Here's how the top section of my form looks. Look good?



• It will be 2 of us going, so does that mean the "minimum amount of people acceptable" needs to be 2? Or does that mean, if my sister decides not to go, it just should be 1?
• I've opted for a 4 days and 3 nights stay. Does that sound adequate? Would I need any further permits in order to do this?

That may be the last of my questions, until and if I get selected.

Okay, yeah, you need to add 2 people in all applicable fields (# of people, minimum, Half Dome). If your sister doesn't make it, it'll just open up an available slot. If you only put down 1 person, she's not going unless you can get her in on a walk-up basis, because the trailhead will fill up. No other permits required.

Your dates are good, so it looks like you have your 1st choice. http://www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/u ... lheads.pdf

Yes, looks good on the dates...exiting 07-08-16. As with exits, that just gives them a reference, but if it's three or five days, they don't care. Just remember that you absolutely have to depart from your specified entry on the day stated on your permit (07-05-16). Anything else is going to get you fined and escorted out if you're stopped and asked to present your permit.

Go do it now.

Get a map, and if you do have any other questions, ask.

You may want to camp somewhere other than Sunrise Lakes if taking a longer route around... it's probably going to be Cathedral Lakes, if you go in via Cathedral trailhead, for example.

Thanks for catching that AT. Sorry guys, missed it entirely. I was caught up on entries and exits.

Choice #1 first night camping- Sunrise Lakes

Choice #2 first night camping- Upper Cathedral Lake

Choice #3 first night camping- Vogelsang


Although, as I mentioned, from the full-trailheads report, it does look like it's going to be good for Sunrise on 07-05-16. First night camping is an approximation, not written in stone to where that's absolutely where you have to stay. They just basically want to verify the intended entry point and make sure you're going to be past the trailhead the couple miles that are the minimum required to camp (past the arrowhead on the trail map). All three locations above meet those requirements.

Man, I owe you guys. Thanks so much for all the help! I'll come back to this thread if progress ensues! I was feeling extremely discouraged but now I'm feeling much better about all of this.

All three of my requests were denied, quickly. Maybe too quickly (about 2 hours). Have I done something wrong? I wanted to begin my trip on July 5th which meant I had to turn in my form today (January 19th). Just trying to make sure I'm not off with the turn-in dates, perhaps I turned it in too late?

Here's a link to the 24-week schedule page for quick reference
http://www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/wildpermitdates.htm

If not, I'll just try again tomorrow for the July 6th Entry Date.

Thanks, guys.

EDIT

Here is the quote from the email, if it helps..

"Thank you for your wilderness permit reservation request. We are sorry to inform you that your request has been denied for all choices listed due to lack of available space. Your requested trailhead may be completely full or we do not have space for a group of your size. If the online Full Trailhead Report lists your date and trail as available 1) the report is not currently updated 2) has space for just one person but not for your group size. For example, if you requested a reservation for two or more people and there is only space for one, you will be denied."

That's just the form letter you get if the available permits are all gone. Clearly the website is not updated, as usual. You may have miscounted the weeks and missed the very narrow window -- also, they go just that fast. People start faxing at midnight the first day the permits come available for reservation, to get forms in.

All true. And you are also trying for one of the most popular campsites as a first night.

How do you feel about doing a bit of Cross Country hiking? If so, you could go for a different trailhead that rarely fills up...but will mean that you have to hike a few miles without any trail...

By the way---there is no way for you to hike from the Rafferty Creek trailhead to Sunrise HSC in a single day. You might want to adjust your permit so it makes a bit more sense. Out of Rafferty, your first night would be at Vogelsang, Emeric Lake....something like that. Certainly not Sunrise.

And, of course, you are aiming at the week of 4th of July---just about as busy as it gets in Yosemite.

Oh, so now they decide to update to show that the 5th is full. I hate the reservation system. I've taken to doing everything on a walk-up basis for the last few years, trying to avoid the more crowded trails, but knowing enough back doors and having the willingness to walk a little more to get to where I want to go to have only been shut out a couple times. It's still 40% of the available spaces, and people seem to flake on their reservations quite often. Balzaccom is right about the 4th of July week...it's Bedlam everywhere in the park. It's not a pleasant place to be. I'll tell you though, if these rains and snow keep up, there are going to be a lot of unhappy people turning back at Tenaya Creek during the month of June.

balzaccom wrote:All true. And you are also trying for one of the most popular campsites as a first night.

How do you feel about doing a bit of Cross Country hiking? If so, you could go for a different trailhead that rarely fills up...but will mean that you have to hike a few miles without any trail...

I'm not a very experienced hiker, so I feel that I should stick to the trails or risk getting confused or lost. So, I'm not too sure about Cross Country.

balzaccom wrote:By the way---there is no way for you to hike from the Rafferty Creek trailhead to Sunrise HSC in a single day. You might want to adjust your permit so it makes a bit more sense. Out of Rafferty, your first night would be at Vogelsang, Emeric Lake....something like that. Certainly not Sunrise.

And, of course, you are aiming at the week of 4th of July---just about as busy as it gets in Yosemite.

Which is closer to Rafferty Creek?

Thanks, guys.

Also, I read on NPS that submitting right after midnight will not increase chances of getting picked, since it's based on a random lottery.

Vogelsang is closer than Emeric, just higher in elevation, but either will work from the standpoint of indicating your first night's camping for the permit if Rafferty Creek is your trailhead.