Yosemite, What To Expect, Trip Partners

Hey guys, I am hoping to head out West to Yosemite this summer to do some back country hiking.

Here is the thing, I've never been there before. I don't know what I want to do, besides be in the wilderness, hike and camp. So I'm looking for suggestions and ideas and someone who could tell me what to expect.

I am intending on leaving Mid-May if the winter season wasn't bad, otherwise June.

How cold does it get out there at night?

Anyone else going out there around that time?

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Spend some time on the Yosemite websites-the NPS site has the official info and the concessionaire has a site with info on camping, etc.

Also, get a guidebook; the little Rough Guide is pretty good-small scale maps and lots of useful info. There are others. Get yourself a map. I have Tom Harrison's. You can also get larger scale maps at REI or anyplace that has one of those map machines that prints out the USGS maps.

I've only been there in winter the past couple of years. The Valley will be crowded-really crowded. Friends of mine usually head for Tuolumne Meadows and out that way. There may be snow in the high country in May, but find out from the rangers before planning anything.

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Yes I have been spending time on their site reading up about the park, looking over the trails, but I do need a better map. And from people I've talked to I expected the valley to be crowded, but some say it might be less crowded that early in the season. However I should expect some snow drift on the high sierra depending on the winter season, whether bad or not.

I just know this experience will be different for me, as I'm mostly an AT hiker being stuck here in Virginia.

Whats annoying is the maps on their website, Only two tails are named. Even on their valley hiking map, which is suppose to show greater detail of all the tourist favorite, the trails aren't name. WTF!! Do they not have names? So yes I need a better map. But also looking for good suggestions.

I want to do a couple 4-5 day hikes. As I'm going out west for two months, and I plan on spending at least 3 weeks at Yosemite.

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They all have names. The better guide books will have all the trails in them. I have one on snowshoe trails in Yosemite which is very good and I am sure there are trail guides out there. Check on Amazon or B&N. REI might have some as well.

With that much time, you may want to go to Kings Canyon as well. It is known as SEKI (Sequoia/Kings Canyon). I've only spent a couple of days there day hiking, but parts of it look pretty spectacular from the pics I've seen.

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Thanks Tom

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Gee Tom, I would have thought you would have spent a lot more time in the Sierra.

Mike, Yosemite, Sequoia, Kings Canyon offer an incredible amount of spectacular scenery on a larger number of trails. Yosemite Valley is crowded 365.25 days of the year, and even Tuolumne is crowded starting as soon as the Tioga Road is open (depends on the snowfall, but can be as early as midMay or as late as midJuly). While the Valley is justifiably crowded, because it is so spectacular, you should consider hiking out of Wawona (south part of the Park), the Hetch Hetchy area, or one of the trailheads along the Tioga Road. Going south from Tuolumne down (uphill, but it's south, so "down") Lyell Canyon, with perhaps a loop to Vogelsang is spectacular. Northward toward Waterwheel Falls is also spectacular, but extremely popular, hence usually crowded.

Kings Canyon, out of the South Fork (Cedar Grove), there are a number of hikes in spectacular scenery, though Paradise Valley tends to be crowded, as does Bubbs Creek. Sphinx Creek is not as popular, but more scenic. Mineral King in the south part of Sequoia (Sequoia and Kings Canyon used to be separate parks, so some of us still talk about them that way) is a trailhead for a number of spectacular hikes as well.

One thing to keep in mind is that you will be at significantly higher altitude than in the Appalachians. If you try to head up too fast, you run the risk of AMS. At minimum, this shows up as splitting headache, nausea, maybe vomitting. At worst, it can be fatal. So take it easy the first few days above 7000 ft (the Valley and Cedar Grove are below this, but Tuolumne is 8600 feet. Also, if you plan to stay in one of the car camping sites the first day or so, you better reserve now for anything before July. And for any hiking on the Muir Trail, you better check on the dates, since the permits go fast.

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Be a lot easier if I just lived there. Rather than guessing from the east coast, lol.

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mikekey - if you decide to do any of Sequoia, Kings Canyon, then send me an email as I wouldn't mind meeting up with another hiker to do a 3-4 day trip. I am just getting into backpacking and fear that I might slow ya down though. I am already here in Cali and planning on doing a trip to SEKI sometime this summer.

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I wouldn't mind doing it. I've been a long time hiker, but as far as over night backpacking, I am only a two years in. I am now switching to ultra-lite.

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Bill, Unfortunately, I don't get out near as much as I would like, but I hope to do a couple of trips this year starting in February-another Yosemite winter trip.

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Hey, I have a quick question that would help a bit. I have looked at the weather averages for the park, but from experience, if I'm going Mid-May to June, what kind of clothing and sleeping bag will I find myself needing?

Heavier items or lighter? Shorts and short sleeves or long pants and soft shells? Just curious.

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Tom D - I am planning either a Yosemite or Kings Canyon trip here in Feb (My birthday is the 12th). So far it looks like I will have a party of 3 for the trip. Not sure on when we are going or where, its still in the early planning stages. Its sure to involve some snow hiking though.

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Mr Haze said

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Its sure to involve some snow hiking though.

Absolutely! That's heavy snow season, and sometimes down to 2000 ft altitude. Most of those parks lie above 6000 ft (the Valley is at 4000 ft) and most of the hiking is above 7000 ft. So in Feb you will have snow. Plan on snowshoes or skis. Tioga Road and the South Fork of the Kings River (Kings Canyon itself) are closed until May typically, sometimes later. February and March is when I do most of my backcountry ski tours in Yosemite and Sequoia/Kings Canyon. March is when most people do the trans-Sierra ski tours. We take Scout troops on their snow backpacks in February and March in the Sierra, both parks being the favorite places.

Mikekey -
In midMay through June, the answer to your question is, briefly, "yes".

That's the period of changing weather. Earlier, you may need what in your area you would consider "winter" gear. By late June, shorts and short sleeves are appropriate, with sweater and long pants needed for the evenings and early mornings (and rain gear, of course, since you never know about the rain at that time of year).

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Thanks bill, that pretty much answer my question.

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Mike, Bill would know better than me, but if you come in Feb or March, you definitely need to plan for snow in the high country. Get yourself a copy of Snowshoe Trails of Yosemite by Michael White. Amazon should have it, or maybe REI.

For an easy trip that is still pretty good, head up to Badger Pass, park at the ski lodge (the road is closed at the parking lot so you can't miss it, get a wilderness pass at the Ranger station and then snowshoe down Glacier Point Road.

You can camp off the road at Summit Meadows or nearby (as long as you are about a half mile off the road)then hike out to Dewey Point or the other points along the rim.

If you aren't an experienced snow camper, this is a good trip. You aren't far from civilization, but once you are off the road, you'd never know it. Last Feb. there wasn't a lot of snow like the year before, but this year should be fairly good. The weather was clear all the time I was there last year, but the past two years, it rained and/or snowed so be prepared.

I will be up there right before President's Day weekend for a few days. We plan to ski down the road, maybe to the Bridal Veil Creek campground area.

It is 7600 feet or so, so take it easy at first. I have a few pics if you are interested, email me (click on my name).

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Is there anything else I should taking into consideration when planning a trip like this?

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There are some groups at Yahoo for Yosemite. They have lots of info on the boards and they organize hikes up there. Mid may is at the cusp of melting snow/falling snow. The streams and falls will be flowing. You really have to be in peak condition to go far at that time. My best experience was in mid september. The crowds, snow, ice, bugs, are gone by then.

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Do some research on the John Muir Trail which passes through Yosemite, Kings Canyon National Park, and Sequoia. There is a reason Yosemite is "crowded", but an escape into the backcountry will set you free! Check out a book entitled Day & Section Hikes, John Muir Trail by Kathleen Dodge, Menasha Ridge Press, 2007.

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I did manage to find a trip partner who I'll meet out there.

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FYI :
http://www.backpack45.com/johnmuirtrail.html

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