3-4 days backpacking in Yosemite late april

[Danikh]

Hello everybody,
We would like to backpack in Yosemite in late april, but don't have snow experience. What are the best options for us to see the beauty of this place without dealing with snow equipment? I searched the forum for similar threads and found that the only option is the Hetch Hetchy area but it doesn't give impression about Yosemite. That will be our first time in US national parks and it would be great if we could see its best considering above restrictions.
Thank you!

[AlmostThere]

If it is your first time in Yosemite, have no desire to be in winter conditions, and do not want to go to Hetch Hetchy (which is not going to be a 3-4 day backpack until spring, unless you are going to follow the trail up into snow) then I strongly suggest just being a tourist - day hike. There are lots of one day hikes you can do as early as April.

This year there is hardly any snow at all relatively speaking - usually the high country gets 6-12 feet of it - but this last week has seen a couple of feet of snow, and there may be other small storms depositing more soon. If more than a foot of snow accumulates the trail will be obscured above snowline and shoes will get wet and soak through if they are not waterproof. Night temperatures will be quite cold until spring, ranging from 10-25F, at around 6-7000 feet elevation (most of the park is at this elevation or higher; snowline is usually 5-6000 feet). April is considered winter in Yosemite and you should have snow chains or cables in the car if you bring one. There may be ice in shady spots here and there, and the Mist Trail to Vernal Falls will likely still be closed due to ice in the steps, even if there is no snow at that elevation; there is a detour trail that will get you beyond it.

I recommend finding lodging and planning to ride shuttles around and doing dayhikes - Mariposa Grove, Yosemite Falls, Nevada Falls, etc. Tioga Road will not be open. Glacier Pt Road is rarely open in April.

[balzaccom]

Yep--good avice here. Even if you don't run into deep snow, you will run into icy temperatures. We did a nice hike in April a few years ago to Rancheria Falls out of Hetch-hetchy, and managed to really enjoy ourselves for three days. Yeah--we hit a touch of rain and snow. But we hiked to the campsites at the fall the first day. The second day, which was sunnier, allowed up to climb up to LeConte Point as a day hike. And the third day we hiked out.

Here's a link to our photos:

https://picasaweb.google.com/balzaccom/HetchHetchy09#

and one to our trip page with hikes in this area of Yosemite:

https://sites.google.com/site/backpackt ... tioga-pass

But having done this hike, I would still suggest that you best option for a first trip to Yosemite in April focus on the valley and the stunning hiking you can get right there!

[AlmostThere]

You also need to be aware that if you are traveling into the valley to start your vacation, Hetch Hetchy will be inaccessible by the main route - the road between Crane Flat and the valley floor is closed for repairs until the end of April.

[balzaccom]

Excellent point!

[AlmostThere]

I should have added - Hetch Hetchy is an hour's drive from the valley and there is no shuttle. Now that the road is closed, it would require driving out to Merced and going back up into the mountains via 120, a 4-6 hour trip depending on traffic flow.

[Danikh]

Thank you guys for the inputs. According to your advice I think we will camp somewhere in Yosemite Valley and go day hikes from there. Did I understand right that it shouldn't be a problem with permits for camping and day hikes and getting there by regular car?

[AlmostThere]

What you need are campsites - those will be first come, first serve in April, and you shouldn't have a problem getting one. The only dayhike in Yosemite that requires a permit is Half Dome, and since the cables are down that is not recommended as a hike anyway unless you are familiar with climbing techniques and gear and can use such gear safely.

[bill-e-g]

Big Oak Flat Road is suppose to be open Early April
So in LATE April it should be non issue to get from Yose Valley to HH.
To go all the way to Merced to get from YV to HH ... what? I dunno what you doing.
Take 49

From the NPS site:
Reservations are required March 15 through November for Yosemite Valley's car campgrounds.
Camp 4 is FCFS

[AlmostThere]

I bet you I could get a campsite. Done it before, in Upper Pines. People don't like cold and wet camping.... The reason I didn't know you need reservations in April.

[bill-e-g]

There's a reason Camp 4 used to be called Sunnyside Campground.

Let the poster go look for a campsite in the valley in LATE April and see what they find.
http://www.yosemitesites.com/camping/re ... /Yosemite/

I'm not taking the bet... but I wouldn't tell someone arriving in late April to not worry
about it and just walk up... you'll be fine...

[AlmostThere]

Bill is right - don't come all the way to the park without reservations if they are open since there is a chance it will fill. Just because I go in July with 20 people and no reservation and get sites means nothing other than I push my luck.