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Whats the chance of a permit???

PostPosted: Fri Apr 17, 2009 5:57 am
by markk22
OK, first trip to Yosemite and I guess I started planning a bit late. To bad I didn't find this site sooner!!!
Here is my problem. No permits at just about any trail I want to take as of right now.
Plan was to arrive at the park 7/27/09 Day hike Cathedral Lakes and area. Backpack camp gnd and Leave 7/28 on Sunrise trl to Clouds. Camp someplace then hit Half Dome in the morning and return to the valley. Stay over night then grab the bus back to the meadow to pick up my car.

Any idea on the chance to get a walk up permit? I plan on making a reservatiopn at the hotel in the valley just to recoup a bit so if I don't get my WP. I'll screw up my reservation. I don't know what time I'll get to the park on the 27th as I'm driving in from San Fran.

Is there a way to enter a dif. trail head and skirt the quota limit? How about getting a permint from one of the state forests starting the day before? I read that it would be a valid permit in Yosemite too.

Any help would be great! Or any other routes/days etc... I do have a bit of time (7) days but I wanted to get some firm plans set so I could make a few reservations. Sorry for the wall of text. :)

PostPosted: Fri Apr 17, 2009 7:58 am
by johnstream
We did your exact same trip and were in the same permit situtation. We waited in line the day before our planned trip. We got 5 permits leaving out of Sunrise Lakes to head up and over Clouds Rest. The preferred location to pick up Sunrise Lakes is Tuolumne Meadows Permit Office.

My recommendation, find a way to get to the park 7/26, then be first in line on 7/27 to pick up the 7/28 permits. I think the office opens at 8 or 9. We got there about 4:30 or 5AM and sat outside. Trust me, you'll have company. Dress warm, bring coffee, and you'll do fine.

I think if I remember correctly, there are 8 available for Sunrise Lakes that are walk up.

PostPosted: Thu Apr 23, 2009 7:15 am
by Garyw
I have yet to have a problem getting a permit the day before on a trail in Yosemite, like Johnstream says get their early and you shouldn't have a problem, beside the extra day also helps you get acclimated to the elevation which makes for a better hike. :D