by AlmostThere » Tue Jan 26, 2016 9:15 am
My strategy is not to reserve permits. Tons of reserved permits are abandoned each season. Yes, you are likely traveling a ways to get there, and I am local, however, I have yet to turn around and go home, because I have backup plans.
Here is what the website says: First-come, first-served procedure for all wilderness permit stations (approximately May through October): Unreserved permits are available on a first-come, first-served basis beginning at 11 am on the day before the intended entry date. All reservations (same day and next day) and same-day unreserved permits may still be picked up when the wilderness center opens for the day.
So I show up the day BEFORE I want to start hiking, at 10 am. That gets a good position in line. Earlier if I am aiming to get a popular trailhead. I ask for permits for my ideal trip when it's my turn, and get them. They not only keep a percentage of the slots for each trailhead for walk ins, they release unclaimed reserved permits to the folks in line. You have to be in the wilderness office with precedence for the region you are attempting to start in - be at the Tuolumne Meadows office for any of the trailheads in that area, or in the valley for any of those trailheads, or in Wawona for any trailhead along Glacier Point Rd or Highway 41.
With a permit in hand I can stay in the backpacker camp -- there are three -- for 5/person, that night, and start hiking the following day I am scheduled to start per the permit.
If you absolutely must get a reservation -- consider starting outside the park, in Inyo NF or Sierra NF. The trailheads have higher quotas. Or, if planning to start out of the trailheads you list and wanting to attempt walk ins, have a backup plan of getting a permit for Saddlebag Lakes Basin - outside the park, on the east side, no quotas at all, and they hand out those permits right there at the Tuolumne office.
Yes, I know, you want to do Half Dome. Everyone does. It's why I go anywhere but Half Dome in the park - far too many people to be fun. Plenty of fantastic places to go instead, rather than not going to Yosemite at all if you don't get the permit you want. You can visit Hoffman (geographic center of the park), Dana (highest walk-up peak in the park, second highest peak), Clouds Rest (better views, higher peak, no permits, great view of Half Dome), Sentinel Dome (easy day hike), North Dome (fantastic view of the face of Half Dome), Mt Watkins (awesome views of the face of Clouds Rest and Half Dome) for far less suffering and better or equal scenery. All of these are must-do trips, either day hikes or possibly backpacking -- on a trip of 3-4 days you could start at the Old Big Oak Flat trailhead and visit El Capitan, the top of Yosemite Falls, North Dome, and descend to the valley floor via Snow Creek trail, soaking in views and avoiding crowds for the most part. You are missing out on a lot of things by honing in on Half Dome -- the rock will be there, if you don't get a permit for it go somewhere else and have a FANTASTIC time anyway. Plenty of rocks to climb that don't require enduring tourists to shove you off the cables.
In short -- my strategy is to ignore strategy and make a long list of trips of the same length/duration, and have backup plans. I have only had to go to second choice ONE time. I live here. We visit the park 10+ times a year, all year, not always to backpack -- but friends often want me to take them on backpacking trips in and around the park. I've never had to turn around and drive home.