Early-May Backpacking Options

[benda]

We would like to do a two to three night backpacking trip in the park-preferably in yosemite valley. will that even be possible with current weather conditions? We plan on arriving Monday and staying until Thursday and are without permit. If this isn't possible, does anybody have suggestions for how to enjoy the park for first time visitors?

[KC]

It's going to be tough because you're not allowed to camp in the valley except in designated zones (backpackers campground, drive in camp grounds, etc.). All trips have to be in the wilderness which means, essentially, no primitive backpack style camping along roads or in the valley.

It appears much of the wilderness is snowed in right now. Unless you're prepared for the conditions, you may want to just plan for some day hiking. Or, if you're really dead set on backpacking, look into going to Little Yosemite Valley, which I imagine you'll find a permit for.

[AlmostThere]

We would like to do a two to three night backpacking trip in the park-preferably in yosemite valley. will that even be possible with current weather conditions? We plan on arriving Monday and staying until Thursday and are without permit. If this isn't possible, does anybody have suggestions for how to enjoy the park for first time visitors?

Stay in the campgrounds or the tent camps or the lodge and dayhike. You can't backpack in the valley. You'll be climbing steeply out of it if you start there, and can't camp within 4-8 miles of the trailhead, depending on the trailhead. And once you climb out you will be facing snowbanks, so if you are not prepared for that it will not be an ideal trip for you.

If you want to backpack, head for coastal destinations, or lower elevation Sierra (that would be southern Sierra, not Yosemite). If you want to see Yosemite stay the night in designated camps and go - it's lovely this time of year.

[benda]

Thanks for the feedback