June North Rim Hike
Posted: Sat Jan 15, 2022 12:35 pm
Hey all,
I just got my lottery for Old Big Oak Flat Road for June 22-24. I’ve been reading a lot on this forum, thanks for all the advice! I do have a few questions. We have backpacked wilderness before (Absarooka, Frank Church, Superior) but this will be our first time in Yosemite. I’ve had the desire to go for a long time but have hesitated because of how busy it seems.
Our route will be enter at OBOFR trail head —> night 1 El Cap —> night 2 North Dome —> exit Mirror Lake trailhead (spend a night in luxury down at Tenaya lodge to celebrate 10 year wedding anniversary).
1. Do we need to be concerned with snow on this route this year? I’ve read it was record snow amounts on December. If so, any tips about navigating with snow?
2. We’re looking at spending the night before (Tuesday, 21st) at the Backpacker’s camp in the valley. Are there any issues getting spots there or is there usually something available? Would snow melt close this area down? I have a hotel room booked outside the valley right now just in case but would prefer to cancel that and camp instead. It’s just walk-up right, no reservations?
3. We’d plan on leaving our car overnight at or near the Mirror Lake trail so it’s there at the end of our trip and hopefully taking the hiker’s bus up the OBOFRT if it’s running this year (or else, hitching I guess? There’s not a different way if the bus isn’t running again this year is there?). Any issues with leaving a car in the valley during weekdays?
4. We’ve wilderness backpacked before so we’re familiar with leave no trace and using a good ol trowel (packing out tp). My husband is concerned though if this route is on a lot of granite that you can’t dig into. Do we need to pack wag bags or is the terrain able to be dug 6 inches?
Any other advice or suggestions about this itinerary would be appreciated as well. Thanks again for the help this forum has been so far!
I just got my lottery for Old Big Oak Flat Road for June 22-24. I’ve been reading a lot on this forum, thanks for all the advice! I do have a few questions. We have backpacked wilderness before (Absarooka, Frank Church, Superior) but this will be our first time in Yosemite. I’ve had the desire to go for a long time but have hesitated because of how busy it seems.
Our route will be enter at OBOFR trail head —> night 1 El Cap —> night 2 North Dome —> exit Mirror Lake trailhead (spend a night in luxury down at Tenaya lodge to celebrate 10 year wedding anniversary).
1. Do we need to be concerned with snow on this route this year? I’ve read it was record snow amounts on December. If so, any tips about navigating with snow?
2. We’re looking at spending the night before (Tuesday, 21st) at the Backpacker’s camp in the valley. Are there any issues getting spots there or is there usually something available? Would snow melt close this area down? I have a hotel room booked outside the valley right now just in case but would prefer to cancel that and camp instead. It’s just walk-up right, no reservations?
3. We’d plan on leaving our car overnight at or near the Mirror Lake trail so it’s there at the end of our trip and hopefully taking the hiker’s bus up the OBOFRT if it’s running this year (or else, hitching I guess? There’s not a different way if the bus isn’t running again this year is there?). Any issues with leaving a car in the valley during weekdays?
4. We’ve wilderness backpacked before so we’re familiar with leave no trace and using a good ol trowel (packing out tp). My husband is concerned though if this route is on a lot of granite that you can’t dig into. Do we need to pack wag bags or is the terrain able to be dug 6 inches?
Any other advice or suggestions about this itinerary would be appreciated as well. Thanks again for the help this forum has been so far!