Pocupine Creek to North Dome and Yosemite Valley as day hike
- markskor
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Re: Pocupine Creek to North Dome and Yosemite Valley as day hike
Technically no, cannot use Valley BP camp as a day trip base (rules posted are Backpackers only, one night only - well, one night before and one night after)...try Sunnyside campground instead, but...
In the past, when an expected hiking buddy broke down (in Fresno or ?), I too have spent a second consecutive night, (just waiting) at the Valley backpacker camp without much hassle. (Gear left there/tent - safe) - but if the Ranger is having a bad day (they do check around sundown and visit everybody in camp), they might just frown about your day-trip plans. However, you might just be at Curry at the time when they are checking?
Mostly depends on attitude and Karma...
BTW, I have seen afternoon rangers take packs from out of bear boxes (all gear stashed for the day?), so better to leave all in a tent...set up...never seen those taken the second night.
Bottom line is though, you must have real backpacking gear as well as a valid Wilderness Permit.
Past that, plans do change.
In the past, when an expected hiking buddy broke down (in Fresno or ?), I too have spent a second consecutive night, (just waiting) at the Valley backpacker camp without much hassle. (Gear left there/tent - safe) - but if the Ranger is having a bad day (they do check around sundown and visit everybody in camp), they might just frown about your day-trip plans. However, you might just be at Curry at the time when they are checking?
Mostly depends on attitude and Karma...
BTW, I have seen afternoon rangers take packs from out of bear boxes (all gear stashed for the day?), so better to leave all in a tent...set up...never seen those taken the second night.
Bottom line is though, you must have real backpacking gear as well as a valid Wilderness Permit.
Past that, plans do change.
Mountainman who swims with trout
- thompsonpat
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Re: Pocupine Creek to North Dome and Yosemite Valley as day hike
While on the Porcupine thread - do you all have an opinion on whether a clockwise loop porcupine flat to yos falls to yos creek is better than a counterclockwise loop? Daughter's first backpacking trip. planning 5 mile days with sturdy 8 yo, we will be up in August with a two night backcountry permit to celebrate a birthday. We figure Dad (6'8" super fit runner) will go for the car, if we're not up for the last loop connection along tioga. ... yos creek trail looks like there is less cover than porcupine - and in August, ... i'm thinking clockwise makes more sense unless from a water standpoint the counter gives us a further in fill up point.
- thompsonpat
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Re: Pocupine Creek to North Dome and Yosemite Valley as day hike
i should add that mom/dad have backpacked a fair bit (mom lived in a tent in the white inyo area for a summer) but that we've been away from it all for a while...our daughter is totally into vista - will hike for hours for a good view, or spend a half hour looking at/drawing a pic of a new critter.
- amigo
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Re: Pocupine Creek to North Dome and Yosemite Valley as day hike
Can you stay at any backpacker campground in the Park on the day before and day after the dates on a wilderness permit good for any trailhead in the Park, or can you only stay at a backpacker's campground closest to the trailhead on the permit?
- maverick
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Re: Pocupine Creek to North Dome and Yosemite Valley as day hike
According to regulations on the Yosemite NPS site:
Backpackers' campgrounds are available for wilderness permit holders to spend one night before and one night after a wilderness trip. Camping is limited to one night at a time. Reservations are neither necessary nor required. However, a valid wilderness permit is required to stay at the campground. The fee is $5 per person (pay using envelopes at the campground). Parking is not available directly at campgrounds; instead park at designated overnight parking areas and walk to the backpackers' campground.
Yosemite Valley: The backpackers' campground is behind North Pines Campground (and across the footbridge). Open April through mid October (approximately). If arriving at night, please be quiet as you unload your car in the unloading zone and walk to the campground. This campground has vault toilets and no potable water (potable water is available nearby in North Pines Campground).
Tuolumne Meadows: These sites are inside the Tuolumne Meadows Campground, behind the A loop. Open July through late September (approximately).
White Wolf: These sites are at the back of the White Wolf Campground. Open July through mid September (approximately).
Hetch Hetchy: The campground is next to the overnight parking area. Open all year.
Wawona: No backpackers' campground.
Backpackers' campgrounds are available for wilderness permit holders to spend one night before and one night after a wilderness trip. Camping is limited to one night at a time. Reservations are neither necessary nor required. However, a valid wilderness permit is required to stay at the campground. The fee is $5 per person (pay using envelopes at the campground). Parking is not available directly at campgrounds; instead park at designated overnight parking areas and walk to the backpackers' campground.
Yosemite Valley: The backpackers' campground is behind North Pines Campground (and across the footbridge). Open April through mid October (approximately). If arriving at night, please be quiet as you unload your car in the unloading zone and walk to the campground. This campground has vault toilets and no potable water (potable water is available nearby in North Pines Campground).
Tuolumne Meadows: These sites are inside the Tuolumne Meadows Campground, behind the A loop. Open July through late September (approximately).
White Wolf: These sites are at the back of the White Wolf Campground. Open July through mid September (approximately).
Hetch Hetchy: The campground is next to the overnight parking area. Open all year.
Wawona: No backpackers' campground.
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I don't give out specific route information, my belief is that it takes away from the whole adventure spirit of a trip, if you need every inch planned out, you'll have to get that from someone else.
Have a safer backcountry experience by using the HST ReConn Form 2.0, named after Larry Conn, a HST member: http://reconn.org
I don't give out specific route information, my belief is that it takes away from the whole adventure spirit of a trip, if you need every inch planned out, you'll have to get that from someone else.
Have a safer backcountry experience by using the HST ReConn Form 2.0, named after Larry Conn, a HST member: http://reconn.org
- amigo
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Re: Pocupine Creek to North Dome and Yosemite Valley as day hike
Don't see anything limiting which backpacker campground one can stay at in relation to whichever trailhead is marked on the wilderness permit so that's good. Thanks for the info.
Do the backpacker's campgrounds have food lockers like at the other campgrounds?
In mid-August, would arriving in Yosemite Valley by car (from Tuolumne Meadows) on a Friday late afternoon/early evening likely be bumper-to-bumper? Sorry for all the questions but I've never been there and I'm trying to be prepared for the worst.
Thanks very much.
Do the backpacker's campgrounds have food lockers like at the other campgrounds?
In mid-August, would arriving in Yosemite Valley by car (from Tuolumne Meadows) on a Friday late afternoon/early evening likely be bumper-to-bumper? Sorry for all the questions but I've never been there and I'm trying to be prepared for the worst.
Thanks very much.
- DoyleWDonehoo
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Re: Pocupine Creek to North Dome and Yosemite Valley as day hike
I have stayed at the Yosemite backpackers CG a number of times, for some reason one of the darkest camps I have ever been in. Must be the high walls and trees. I believe it features a bathroom. One time I had it all to myself, and the most people I have seen there is maybe one or two other parties. Not once did a Ranger come around, but that does not mean they won't.
I have day-hiked to the top of Yosemite falls in all seasons from the valley floor. One of the easiest ways to get to the top of the falls is from the Tioga Road, either from the Yosemite Creek CG or from Porcupine Flats CG (or the turnout a mile east of there where the North Dome trail really begins). There is a trail that goes down to the Yosemite Creek CG, as well as another west of there that goes down to Yosemite Creek. I expect the bus can drop one at any of those TH's. I have gone down to Indian Rock, the Natural Arch and North Dome and back as a day-hike, and it would be a medium-small matter to get to the top of Yosemite Falls from the area of North Dome. If you take this route, be sure to check out Yosemite Point and Lost Arrow, and don't forget that at Yosemite Falls there is a way to get down the face of the cliff next to the falls to a nice observation area. It is a long slog down to the valley: this whole hike takes some time, so start as early as possible.
I have day-hiked to the top of Yosemite falls in all seasons from the valley floor. One of the easiest ways to get to the top of the falls is from the Tioga Road, either from the Yosemite Creek CG or from Porcupine Flats CG (or the turnout a mile east of there where the North Dome trail really begins). There is a trail that goes down to the Yosemite Creek CG, as well as another west of there that goes down to Yosemite Creek. I expect the bus can drop one at any of those TH's. I have gone down to Indian Rock, the Natural Arch and North Dome and back as a day-hike, and it would be a medium-small matter to get to the top of Yosemite Falls from the area of North Dome. If you take this route, be sure to check out Yosemite Point and Lost Arrow, and don't forget that at Yosemite Falls there is a way to get down the face of the cliff next to the falls to a nice observation area. It is a long slog down to the valley: this whole hike takes some time, so start as early as possible.
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- thompsonpat
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Re: Pocupine Creek to North Dome and Yosemite Valley as day hike
Thanks Doyle, especially re the comment on distance to go from above to a viewing location of the "falls".... care to speculate on August conditions in this snow year? :-) We've settled on a round trip from Porcupine to the upper falls and back around to Yosemite Creek campground for an inaugural backpacking trip for our daughter. i think the vistas will be rewarding (indian rock, northdome and the points you mention) and the aerial maps i found from this site will be a great opportunity to talk about glaciation etc. It's important that the first "serious" :-) outing be fun so we can keep on getting out.
- amigo
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Re: Pocupine Creek to North Dome and Yosemite Valley as day hike
Thanks for the info, Doyle. I can't imagine just a few people at that CG on a weekend in August, but I guess I get the picture. NIce photo - thanks for sharing. Can't wait!
Does anyone know what bus I have to take from Yosemite Valley up to the Porcupine Creek trailhead? Is it a free shuttle or a YART? We hope to leave early in the morning so we get a relatively early start from the trailhead. How long is the hike from the trailhead into the Valley via North Dome and Yosemite Falls? I think it's somewhere in the vicinity of 13 miles, is it not ... and mostly downhill? If so, it should be ok as long as we get a start before 9-9:30am. Not sure what time the bus goes by the trailhead.
Does anyone know what bus I have to take from Yosemite Valley up to the Porcupine Creek trailhead? Is it a free shuttle or a YART? We hope to leave early in the morning so we get a relatively early start from the trailhead. How long is the hike from the trailhead into the Valley via North Dome and Yosemite Falls? I think it's somewhere in the vicinity of 13 miles, is it not ... and mostly downhill? If so, it should be ok as long as we get a start before 9-9:30am. Not sure what time the bus goes by the trailhead.
- DoyleWDonehoo
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Re: Pocupine Creek to North Dome and Yosemite Valley as day hike
For your proposed trip, and easy one, snow will not be an issue. Your whole trip is under 8000 feet and most of the time below 7000 feet. Just keep a tight grip on yer kid near the walls, please.thompsonpat wrote:.... care to speculate on August conditions in this snow year? :-)
I am wondering when spring will finally get here. Sure still feels like winter...
Doyle W. Donehoo
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