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I'm a french 32yo hiker, and one of my best friends is getting married in Reno with his american soon-to-be spouse, so I am planning to go for a 3 to 4 days hike in the parc. My friends who are getting married, and the ones who are coming as well, are not much of hikers, and basically, I asked, but am not counting of any of them to join me.
I would like to stay at least 3 days in the parc, maybe 4 if I have time, which means i'm not going to be able to finish the JMT this time
. But, I guess/hope I could find a nice loop and some partners to join? Let me explain. I'll be in Reno from August 15th to 18th, and my flight back to France is on 25th. I guess from Reno the easiest will be to reach Tuolumne Meadows Visitor Center and start from there.
So, my first question is : I have been reading aroung on the parc's internet site (nps), and I am a bit scared of the wilderness permit thing... As I understand it, I will need to be very early at one of the trailheads to queue and hope that I'll get the permit? Do I have reasonable chances to get the permit? I have been looking over the internet for some tips but didn't find a lot except to be there early. I guess this is particularly true à this period...
[EDIT] I just saw on another post that Twenty Lakes Basin, just east of Tioga Pass, has no quota for permits. I'll check this out. Also, on the same post its says Bud Lake and Nelson Lake would maybe have some permits available, I'll check out as well.
This raises another question : If I get a permit for a trailhead, do I have to stay on the related trail? So Do I need to get several permits if you want to hike for a few days and go on several trails? [end of edit]
My second point is, I don't really know yet what to do exactly, I have never been there, nor know anybody who has. I guess I could go alone and hike by my own with some maps and my compass, that does not frighten me in itself, but ther bears do a little bit
, especially the perspective of being alone at night with a bear around... So, I would like to at least try to find some trekking partners, but I don't really know how. In France I know some forums where the communities are big and friendly, and it's quite easy, but I don't know any american ones. I'll probably have a lot more questions, but I need to find some time to dig, so I'll come back and ask them when I have them specified. In the mean time, that would be great to have some advices on the questions I already raised
Thanks a lot, in advance, I really hop I can set this up, otherwise I'll have to join my friends in Reno's casinos which can be fun but no that much, and much more expensive I guess
Cheers,
Alex.
