Page 1 of 1

June 21st

PostPosted: Thu May 18, 2017 10:42 am
by coachrains
Need ideas for June 21st 4 day hike? Snow has messed up our plans like most folks, only thing is we already have paid for flights so we are locked in. Flying in to San Fran.
Hammock camping
4 in our group

Re: June 21st

PostPosted: Thu May 18, 2017 11:50 am
by AlmostThere
Hope you got some seriously long straps for those hammocks, the pines can be seriously huge. Also, there are burned out areas and a zillion dead trees thanks to the bark beetle, which can lead to some hazardous conditions in campsites.

All the hikes from the valley are awesome -- you'll find the views breathtaking. A four day backpack could be either the Buena Vista Loop from trailheads on Glacier Point Road, which you are far more likely to get a permit for, or one of the rim hikes, south or north, which can be difficult as they're mucho popular. Assuming you are trying to get walk ins, so showing up midweek is your best chance. These lower trails will be slammed by people hoping for relatively snow free trail.

In all cases, be willing to turn around if the stream in front of you is flowing fast and deep enough that it's not safe -- more people die from water and rocks than anything else. Climbers from climbing the rocks, and hikers from drowning in runoff because they are determined to do the trip and do shenanigans like trying to use rope and getting dragged under, overestimating their abilities or underestimating the power of the water, etc.

Be prepared for awesome mosquito swarms as well. lots of standing water right now. As temperatures rise, so will the buzzing menace.

Pay close attention to the wilderness permit website on the timing of the walk in - you must be in the office with priority over the area in which your trailhead resides, and you must be there the day BEFORE the anticipated start date of your backpacking trip. Not the day of, although, if you show up after 10 am (or get in line early early and wait until then) they release unclaimed permits that were reserved in advance as walk ins.

Don't forget to have room in the pack for that mandatory bear can, and stay safe.

Re: June 21st

PostPosted: Thu May 18, 2017 12:41 pm
by coachrains
Thanks for valuable information!



AlmostThere wrote:Hope you got some seriously long straps for those hammocks, the pines can be seriously huge. Also, there are burned out areas and a zillion dead trees thanks to the bark beetle, which can lead to some hazardous conditions in campsites.

All the hikes from the valley are awesome -- you'll find the views breathtaking. A four day backpack could be either the Buena Vista Loop from trailheads on Glacier Point Road, which you are far more likely to get a permit for, or one of the rim hikes, south or north, which can be difficult as they're mucho popular. Assuming you are trying to get walk ins, so showing up midweek is your best chance. These lower trails will be slammed by people hoping for relatively snow free trail.

In all cases, be willing to turn around if the stream in front of you is flowing fast and deep enough that it's not safe -- more people die from water and rocks than anything else. Climbers from climbing the rocks, and hikers from drowning in runoff because they are determined to do the trip and do shenanigans like trying to use rope and getting dragged under, overestimating their abilities or underestimating the power of the water, etc.

Be prepared for awesome mosquito swarms as well. lots of standing water right now. As temperatures rise, so will the buzzing menace.

Pay close attention to the wilderness permit website on the timing of the walk in - you must be in the office with priority over the area in which your trailhead resides, and you must be there the day BEFORE the anticipated start date of your backpacking trip. Not the day of, although, if you show up after 10 am (or get in line early early and wait until then) they release unclaimed permits that were reserved in advance as walk ins.

Don't forget to have room in the pack for that mandatory bear can, and stay safe.

Re: June 21st

PostPosted: Mon May 22, 2017 6:36 pm
by balzaccom
Dos it have to be Yosemite? Emigrant Wilderness, just to the North of Yosemite, is lower in elevation and has no quota for permits, so you can always get one. AT is right--stream crossings are going to be the challenge, but there are some routes that might work for you there. We're going up to scout the area this weekend, and will post a report when we get back.