Campgrounds Near Yosemite Np Ca

Busy weekend expected for Labor Day

Gasoline prices are creeping up, and so are temperatures, as the Labor Day weekend approaches.

Despite that, plenty of people are expected to head for parks, reservoirs and other destinations in the Modesto area and beyond.

"Labor Day weekend is always a busy weekend," said Scott Gediman, a spokesman for Yosemite National Park. "We're expecting anywhere from 5,000 to 6,000 people a day."

Gas cost an average of 3.81 cents a gallon in California this week, up 7½ cents from last week and 72 cents from a year ago, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration.

Modesto area prices averaged $3.77 as of Wednesday, according to http://modestogasprices.com .

AAA Northern California predicts that more than 3.7 million state residents will travel 50 miles or more over the weekend, down 2.6 percent from last year.

"California travelers are reacting to the most recent economic downturns, and that is having a significant effect on discretionary spending," AAA spokeswoman Cynthia Harris said in a news release. "Nonetheless, with a pent-up desire to get away for the last holiday of the season, we could see an increase in last-minute weekend travel."

Reservation-only campsites in Yosemite have been claimed for months, and others could be full by today, Gediman said.

The heavy snowmelt has waterfalls running bigger and longer into the year than usual — and endangering people who get too close. The park has had several water-related deaths this year.

"It's certainly lower water (levels) than it was in the spring, but the Merced River is still going strong," Gediman said.

Highway 140 has reopened after a closure caused by a wildfire west of Yosemite, meaning that all access roads to the park are available.

The Stanislaus National Forest staff also includes full camping. Visitors can camp in dispersed sites in the forest, which got a slow start to the season of leisure, as the roads were blocked by snow.

Backpacking Yosemite National Park, CA, 26-28 August 2011 « Bill ...

I have wanted to do some serious mountain backpacking at Yosemite for years. This year, a two-week business trip to San Diego, which had a three-day break in the middle due to the work schedule at the facility we were visiting, provided that opportunity.

Hike summary

29.2 miles, from 4090 to 7983 feet altitude. High waterfall climb, massive views, unexpected hordes of mosquitoes, hard walking, and great fellowship on this hike, with only minor injuries. Five guys, NO bitching (except for the comments about the hike leaders lack of consistency in what is “relative”, as in “After that little rise, it’s relatively level, guys!” ).

We really scored well over 30 miles on this trip. The GPS noted at least an extra 0.5 miles when walking from the second camp out to the rim of the Valley several times, and we had extra mileage at lunch at Chilnualna Falls and at Glacier Point, and another 1.5 miles at the Mariposa Grove. Some serious walking, to be sure.

Getting There

We left San Diego Thursday and headed north through LA towards Yosemite. On the way there, north of Fresno, we saw an interesting smoke/cloud phenomenon. A lightning-caused fire started right outside the park a couple weeks ago, and per NPS policy, the fire is allowed to burn itself out naturally. The fire occasionally flares, and as we were outside Fresno, a flare occurred, and it got high enough to cause a cumulus cloud to form.

We got to Yosemite just before 1700 local. We had to buy a new yearly National Parks Interagency Pass; they cost $80, but are good for National Park and National Forest access for an entire year. It would cost $20 per vehicle otherwise. We hustled to Wawona, and got to the Wilderness Permit office at basically 1659. The Rangers were very accommodating, and got our permit issued, after a briefing on trail impact and sanitization (always camp or crap or pee 100+ft off any trail), fire safety, and bear safety. I also picked up three anti-bear food storage canisters (more than 1lb each).

The singularity is near, when humans transcend biology

God Came Near

Night draws near, Iraq's people in the shadow of America's war

Near-field nano-optics, from basic principles to nano-fabrication and nano-photonics

Best Hikes Near Austin and San Antonio