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[Yosemite]

Early May, 3 day hike

Hiking, backpacking, running, biking, climbing, rafting, and other human-powered activities in Yosemite National Park

Moderators: Wickett, dan

Early May, 3 day hike

Postby davehike » Mon Mar 26, 2007 1:19 pm

I am planning a 3 day trip from Tuolumne Meadows to Yosemite Valley(via JMT) the first week of May. After scouring over the forums and yosemite books and maps for the last few weeks I estimate the distance to be around 21 miles. I plan on staying at Sunrise High Camp the first night (about 8.5 miles from start) and then outside Yosemite Valley for the 2nd night. Finally finishing up and leaving the Valley. Tuolumne is around 8500' and after this next snow storm hits, should I find an alternate route or will this be suicide? We will have snowshoes and the appropriate gear but I dont know the terrain and don't want to miss our nightly camping marks. Also, after checking out YARTS, they don't have shuttles running from the valley to tuolumne during the winter--is this correct? If so, how do hikers get to that trailhead? Is Sunrise High Camp buried in early May? I want to make the most out of this trip so I want to make sure it's possible and enjoyable. Thanks for any answers to the thousands of questions i have.

-dave
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Postby dan » Mon Mar 26, 2007 2:48 pm

First week in May is too early. Plowing is scheduled to start April 16th and will take at least a month. The snow is low this year, but two weeks for plowing is really pushing it.

YARTs doesn't start up until sometime after the road is open and runs in the summer and should run to end of September.

As for the route itself (once the trailhead is open), it's a beautiful tour.

Tioga Road conditions/opening:
http://www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/tioga.htm
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Postby oakroscoe » Mon Mar 26, 2007 3:38 pm

Mid May like Mister Dan said is your best for Tioga opening. No matter the snow level, it always seems that one of the plows gets broken due to a fallen tree. Here's a list of the opening & closing dates since 1980 from the yosemite site:

Year Open Close
1980 June 6 Dec 2
1981 May 15 Nov 12
1982 May 28 Nov 15
1983 June 29 Nov 11
1984 May 19 Nov 8
1985 May 8 Nov 12
1986 May 24 Nov 29
1987 May 2 Nov 13
1988 April 29 Nov 14
1989 May 12 Nov 24
1990 May 17 Nov 19
1991 May 26 Nov 14
1992 May 15 Nov 10
1993 June 3 Nov 24
1994 May 25 Nov 10
1995 June 30 Dec 11
1996 May 31 Nov 5
1997 June 13 Nov 12
1998 July 1 Nov 12
1999 May 28 Nov 23
2000 May 18 Nov 9
2001 May 12 Nov 11
2002 May 22 Nov 5
2003 May 31 Oct 31
2004 May 14 Oct 17
2005 June 24 Nov 25
2006 June 17 Nov 27
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Postby davehike » Thu Mar 29, 2007 2:18 pm

Damn. Thank you for the replies.
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Middle of May Tuolumne Meadows to Yosemite Valley

Postby HikerRyan » Wed Apr 04, 2007 2:10 pm

I'm planning to hike from Tuolumne Meadows down to Yosemite Valley the week before Memorial Day. Two questions:

1) What are my chances of the road being open and the shuttle bus running; and

2) If I can't get to Tuolumne Meadows, any suggestions for a good 3 day backpack? I'm going with my girlfriend who enjoys hiking, but doesn't like when it's all uphill... Also, I'd need to end up in the Valley because I am surprising her with a night at the Ahwahnee for being a good sport and backing packing with me.

Thanks for any suggestions, Ryan
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Re: Middle of May Tuolumne Meadows to Yosemite Valley

Postby dan » Thu Apr 05, 2007 9:47 pm

HikerRyan wrote:I'm planning to hike from Tuolumne Meadows down to Yosemite Valley the week before Memorial Day. Two questions:

1) What are my chances of the road being open and the shuttle bus running; and


There's a good chance of the road being open by Memorial Day, given the low snow level. Plowing starts around April 15th and takes at least a month. Unofficially they try to open by Memorial Day if the snow level is low enough. No guarantees!

The shuttle bus running is another matter--it doesn't start the moment the road opens. My guess is June, but look at the www.yarts.org page for update

HikerRyan wrote:2) If I can't get to Tuolumne Meadows, any suggestions for a good 3 day backpack? I'm going with my girlfriend who enjoys hiking, but doesn't like when it's all uphill... Also, I'd need to end up in the Valley because I am surprising her with a night at the Ahwahnee for being a good sport and backing packing with me.


That's a tough one. Maybe Glacier Point Road will be open and you can walk down through Little Yosemite Valley. The Ahwahnee's nice--my parents gave me and my wife a stay there for a wedding present.
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Postby HikerRyan » Wed Apr 11, 2007 8:52 am

Thanks for the reply, I’ll probably try to move the trip back unless the road opens way early this year.
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