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Yosemite Backpacking 2020

PostPosted: Tue Jun 02, 2020 4:19 pm
by robow8
From the Yosemite website:

First-Come, First-Served Permits in 2020
Wilderness permits are not available in the park in 2020. Beginning June 11, 40% of permits that would normally be available first-come, first-served are instead available by lottery two weeks in advance. Beginning June 11, you can submit a request 15 days in advance of a hike, with the lottery running 14 days in advance. Unreserved permits remain available up to nine days in advance. It is not possible to obtain a wilderness permit reservation fewer than nine days in advance.

From hiking start dates from June 11 to June 25, any unreserved permits that are part of the 60% quota are available by online reservation.

And from High Sierra Topix:

My Friend has a permit for Saturday and got this great news...Is the whole park open or only for those lucky wilderness permit holders?


Wilderness permits will NOT be issued in park. In order to receive your permit via email, you must receive permit education from a ranger over the phone. Rangers will be calling the phone number on file for your reservation or you may call (209) 372-0826. Following a phone call, your permit will be emailed to you.

You can not enter the park without a physical copy of your wilderness permit, parking pass and ID. You will not be required to obtain additional reservations to enter into the park.

Rangers will check wilderness permits at the gate. Only participants of a wilderness trip will be provided access.

Other things you need to know:
• Trailheads along Tioga Road are not accessible at this time. Yosemite rangers can not issue a permit for trailheads between Crane Flat and Tioga Pass.
• You may not enter the park with this permit more than one day before your trip start date.
• If Half Dome is a part of your wilderness reservation, you must confirm payment with Yosemite Conservancy before your permit is issued.
• Bear-Resistant Food Storage is required on all overnight stays in Yosemite Wilderness. We strongly encourage you to purchase or rent an allowed bear canister, before arriving in the park. Canister will be available for rent at select Wilderness Centers during limited hours at Yosemite Wilderness Permit Station for $5 per week (deposit required). Bear canisters will NOT be available at Hetch Hetchy.
• You may not enter the park with this permit more than one day before your trip start date. For permit holders starting on June 5th, there is no ability to enter one day in advance. For those starting after June 5th, your permit will authorize you to stay at a Backpackers' Campgrounds one night before and one night after your trip. The cost is $6 per person, per night.
• Check Current Wilderness Conditions for trail conditions and timely updates.
• With limited resources due to COVID-19 and high risks involved in search and rescue operations, please plan your trip carefully and ensure all safety precautions are taken. Response times may be delayed if you call for help. Proper planning is integral to preventative search and rescue. Use attached form to create a wilderness plan and share with responsible parties before you come to the park.
• While Wilderness is a place to get away, you will likely see other visitors and rangers. Please follow social distancing guidelines and respect the safety of other visitors and rangers when you encounter them. Please respect plants and animals throughout the park by following Leave No Trace ethics.

Re: Yosemite Backpacking 2020

PostPosted: Tue Jun 02, 2020 6:12 pm
by WanderingJim
Okay, at least they aren't cancelling all the permits for people who have current permit reservations. And it sounds like the park will be opening June 5th (Friday). Although there no notice of this on the Yosemite nps.gov website except for the changes for Wilderness permits.

This is actually a little better than the in-person permit pickup. I've heard the ranger speech so many times now, I can probably give it to other hikers. :) This will streamline my JMT permit pickups (mid-July and mid-August, nto sure which I'll be able to do yet).

Might even try for a July 4th weekend permit to see if I get lucky. I have one for the GCTR for the entire week of July 4th, but my job cancelled a week of paid vacation that week due to COVID-19 so not sure if I'll still do that or try for something for the 3 day weekend we still have.

I might have to buy a printer, since I've long been paperless at home. :)

Re: Yosemite Backpacking 2020

PostPosted: Tue Jun 02, 2020 6:55 pm
by robow8
WanderingJim wrote:I might have to buy a printer, since I've long been paperless at home. :)

I think you can print off stuff at Staples.

Re: Yosemite Backpacking 2020

PostPosted: Tue Jun 02, 2020 7:17 pm
by Phil
UPS stores as well. Get the store number and their email, forward it to them, they'll print it out.

Any word on Tioga Rd opening date yet?

Re: Yosemite Backpacking 2020

PostPosted: Tue Jun 02, 2020 10:35 pm
by Grzldvt
Phil wrote:
Any word on Tioga Rd opening date yet?


The snow is definitely gone by now, they just need to clear the trees/branches, but I suspect that will take a few weeks. Guess my June 17th permit is done

Re: Yosemite Backpacking 2020

PostPosted: Wed Jun 03, 2020 7:16 am
by AlmostThere
WanderingJim wrote:Okay, at least they aren't cancelling all the permits for people who have current permit reservations.


The backcountry is opening. The rest is staying shut. I suspect this is a phased reopen, sort of like what SEKI is doing.

I send my color printouts to Office Depot online and pick it up instead of using an inkjet printer. Less expensive that way... if you don't need a printer otherwise, that's a cheaper option.

Re: Yosemite Backpacking 2020

PostPosted: Wed Jun 03, 2020 9:24 am
by damu21
how far in advance could we call for the permit speech and to have it emailed to us?

Re: Yosemite Backpacking 2020

PostPosted: Wed Jun 03, 2020 9:27 am
by AlmostThere
damu21 wrote:how far in advance could we call for the permit speech and to have it emailed to us?


Go to the website. Nine day lead time on walk ins. The rest are reserved per usual in advance. You don't call, you apply online for a walk in lottery.

Re: Yosemite Backpacking 2020

PostPosted: Wed Jun 03, 2020 9:33 am
by damu21
AlmostThere wrote:
damu21 wrote:how far in advance could we call for the permit speech and to have it emailed to us?


Go to the website. Nine day lead time on walk ins. The rest are reserved per usual in advance.


i already have reservations, so what i mean is could i call like 2-3 weeks in advance to get it emailed to me so i could print it out? or i cant do that until 9 days prior? i cant seem to find anything on the nps website and im not sure of any other yosemite info webistes.

Re: Yosemite Backpacking 2020

PostPosted: Wed Jun 03, 2020 9:39 am
by AlmostThere
They will probably call you. Probably two days before, since you can enter the park one day before the date on the permit.

Re: Yosemite Backpacking 2020

PostPosted: Wed Jun 03, 2020 10:34 am
by Phil
I never get the speil anymore. They just ask me which of my cans I'm using, circle the key points, tell me to sign. Every once in a while I'll get some newbie or volunteer try to hit me up with a LNT question or something about water setbacks and fire rings.

I'm wondering a couple things though: regardless of the speil, the trip leader has to sign acknowledging responsibility for the group and that they understand the rules, and the permit isn't valid until they sign, so how's that going to work in a no-contact world? That's always been the biggest part of a permit. And, while they did mention in the new regulations that those in a group under permit would be allowed into the gates, without that permit, how do they prove it if they're in another car?

Re: Yosemite Backpacking 2020

PostPosted: Wed Jun 03, 2020 10:50 am
by AlmostThere
when I pick up the forest service permit from a night drop, there is always a little flag where I sign. I sign it and put it in my pocket.

I have been re-dialing this morning in an attempt to figure out how my friends who will be arriving in a different car should proceed. I assume that I will print my copy of the permit and forward a copy to them.

Re: Yosemite Backpacking 2020

PostPosted: Wed Jun 03, 2020 2:18 pm
by WanderingJim
Dang, wish I'd gotten a wilderness permit for this weekend. The chance to be in the park with very few people would be fun. :)

I'll have to wait until at least the 27th.

Re: Yosemite Backpacking 2020

PostPosted: Thu Jun 04, 2020 8:09 am
by balzaccom
This from the Yosemite News forum

Walk-up wilderness permits are not available in the park in 2020. Beginning June 11, 40% of permits that would normally be available first-come, first-served are instead available by lottery two weeks in advance. Beginning June 11, you can submit a request 15 days in advance of a hike, with the lottery running 14 days in advance. Unreserved permits remain available up to nine days in advance. It is not possible to obtain a wilderness permit reservation fewer than nine days in advance.

For hiking start dates from June 11 to June 25, any unreserved permits that are part of the 60% quota are available at https://yosemite.org/experience/wilderness-permits/

Re: Yosemite Backpacking 2020

PostPosted: Thu Jun 04, 2020 8:22 am
by AlmostThere
So the process from end to end:

Fill out the form online after checking full trailheads.
Get approved or rejected - if approved, pay for it online.
Get the confirmation email and attend a Zoom lecture - there are two daily. At the conclusion of the meeting you get a code.
Use the code to fill out another form, to confirm that you heard and agree to the park rules. They email the permit to you.
Drive to the park, show your ID and the permit to the gate.
If your group are in different cars, you will all caravan together. OR, if you absolutely can't caravan, each car needs a copy of the PERMIT HOLDER's ID plus wilderness permit ID to enter the park.

They attach an itinerary form for you to fill out and leave with a trustworthy person which SHOULD ALWAYS BE DONE. I like reconn.org better.

From the email I just got:


You may not enter the park with this permit more than one day before your trip start date.
If Half Dome is a part of your wilderness reservation, you must confirm payment with Yosemite Conservancy before your permit is issued.
Bear-Resistant Food Storage is required on all overnight stays in Yosemite Wilderness. We strongly encourage you to purchase or rent an allowed bear canister, before arriving in the park. Canister will be available for rent at select Wilderness Centers during limited hours at Yosemite Wilderness Permit Station for $5 per week (deposit required). Bear canisters will NOT be available at Hetch Hetchy.
You may not enter the park with this permit more than one day before your trip start date. For permit holders starting on June 5th, there is no ability to enter one day in advance. For those starting after June 5th, your permit will authorize you to stay at a Backpackers' Campgrounds one night before and one night after your trip. The cost is $6 per person, per night.
Check Current Wilderness Conditions for trail conditions and timely updates.
With limited resources due to COVID-19 and high risks involved in search and rescue operations, please plan your trip carefully and ensure all safety precautions are taken. Response times may be delayed if you call for help. Proper planning is integral to preventative search and rescue. Use attached form to create a wilderness plan and share with responsible parties before you come to the park.
While Wilderness is a place to get away, you will likely see other visitors and rangers. Please follow social distancing guidelines and respect the safety of other visitors and rangers when you encounter them. Please respect plants and animals throughout the park by following Leave No Trace ethics.