almostthere
Trail Wise!
putting on my hiking shoes....
Posts: 696
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Post by almostthere on May 29, 2020 16:10:04 GMT -8
Have confirmed that the wilderness permit confirmation gets one into the park. Print and have it ready to show at the entrance gate. Of course - the park has to be open.... They’ve really been radio silent in Tioga plowing. Sonora, granted a bit lower elevation, was completed a while ago and opened (closed again for weather, then reopened...). Any rumors on how that’s gone?
Apparently opening in a week or so. Obvious that the snow is gone...
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Post by hikerchick395 on May 30, 2020 19:25:25 GMT -8
Campsite and lodging reservations through June 10 have been cancelled.
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Post by High Sierra Fan on May 31, 2020 3:22:54 GMT -8
Campsite and lodging reservations through June 10 have been cancelled. I wonder how they’re going to do this. The rumored 1700 per day as a blanket entry? Tossing Tuolumne Meadows and the east end of the valley into the same bucket? Though the rumor does include exempting Tioga pass throughs so maybe that means anyone heading up Tioga Rd... Then there are the campgrounds, Porcipine etc. I hope they’ll be open. Unless they subdivide the park somehow this is going to get weird(er). Well for me there’s time, I’m looking at a September onward road trip out that way once things have hopefully settled down.
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almostthere
Trail Wise!
putting on my hiking shoes....
Posts: 696
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Post by almostthere on May 31, 2020 8:48:11 GMT -8
Meanwhile, SEKI is no longer doing walk ins - all permits much be done virtually. And they are increasing access incrementally.
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almostthere
Trail Wise!
putting on my hiking shoes....
Posts: 696
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Post by almostthere on Jun 2, 2020 14:53:11 GMT -8
It looks like Yosemite will open for backcountry use before it opens for front country. Website has changed! From their website: Normally, 60% of wilderness permits are available by reservation 24 weeks in advance, with the remaining 40% available in-person the day before the hiking start date. Wilderness centers will not be issuing permits in person this year.
This year, 40% of permits that would normally be available first-come, first-served are instead available by lottery two weeks in advance. Beginning June 11, you can submit a reservation request 15 days in advance of a hike, with the lottery running 14 days in advance. Unreserved permits remain available up to nine days in advance. It is not possible to obtain a wilderness permit reservation fewer than nine days in advance.
From hiking start dates from June 11 to June 25, any unreserved permits that are part of the 60% quota are available at yosemite.org/yosemite-wilderness-permit-request-form/.
All permits will be emailed to reservation holders, following required permit education from wilderness rangers.I get to go backpacking on the 18th.
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Post by High Sierra Fan on Jun 2, 2020 16:24:07 GMT -8
They royally f’d this up. “ It is not possible to obtain a wilderness permit reservation fewer than nine days in advance.” That’s idiocy. www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/covid19.htmAnd they’re clearly doing that same dumbass Live telephone ranger orientation that’s going to blow through their staff hours like crazy. “ required permit education from wilderness rangers” They took all this time to come up with this goat rodeo?
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almostthere
Trail Wise!
putting on my hiking shoes....
Posts: 696
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Post by almostthere on Jun 2, 2020 18:14:39 GMT -8
Well, I didn't say it was perfect. But it's better than not getting a refund on a permit! And we get to enjoy some nice places without scads of day hikers.
Since it's the conservancy handling it? It'll be volunteers, not rangers, giving you the spiel.
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Post by High Sierra Fan on Jun 2, 2020 18:29:42 GMT -8
Well, I didn't say it was perfect. But it's better than not getting a refund on a permit! And we get to enjoy some nice places without scads of day hikers. Since it's the conservancy handling it? It'll be volunteers, not rangers, giving you the spiel. Well that quote about “rangers” is straight off the park’s webpage. At any rate people who have better things to do, like answer real questions not endlessly repeating cathole depth requirements and how to carry used toilet paper.
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almostthere
Trail Wise!
putting on my hiking shoes....
Posts: 696
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Post by almostthere on Jun 2, 2020 18:52:08 GMT -8
There are other problems to be solved. Like, if you have a group of eight, and they are in different cars, does that mean you have to caravan to get into the park with the permit and your ID? Or do I get to provide a list of names, cars, etc?
Clearly they have not worked through all the permutations.
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Post by High Sierra Fan on Jun 2, 2020 19:38:26 GMT -8
There are other problems to be solved. Like, if you have a group of eight, and they are in different cars, does that mean you have to caravan to get into the park with the permit and your ID? Or do I get to provide a list of names, cars, etc? Clearly they have not worked through all the permutations. True. and they’re not unique in that. I asked Inyo NF about exiting out over Trail Crest what with that trail remaining closed for the present time and got the telephone equivalent of a blank stare in response. Since clarified to be that they’ll honor other’s permits exits down to the Portal. Early days. ETA; From the park email sent to permit holders. “MORE DETAIL FROM the Yosemite email to permit holders 6/2/2020: Wilderness permits will NOT be issued in park. In order to receive your permit via email, you must receive permit education from a ranger over the phone. Rangers will be calling the phone number on file for your reservation or you may call (209) 372-0826. Following a phone call, your permit will be emailed to you.” I wonder if that reflects a procedure change? Possibly California’s travel restrictions etc. has limited volunteer staffing?
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almostthere
Trail Wise!
putting on my hiking shoes....
Posts: 696
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Post by almostthere on Jun 3, 2020 6:07:49 GMT -8
They don't want the office staff face to face with the hordes. Consistent with what the Forest Service and other parks are doing.
Over in Sierra National Forest they have not been issuing permits from Quartz Mountain as it can only go into the park, and they have been very scowly about people who ask. "The Park Is Closed." Of course the road is in a horrible state and they never maintain it, so you'll be more focused on picking up pieces of your car than on actually hiking... but I wonder if that will suddenly change now that the park is opening the backcountry.
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Post by High Sierra Fan on Jun 3, 2020 6:15:55 GMT -8
I meant the switch from volunteers to rangers giving the orientation.
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almostthere
Trail Wise!
putting on my hiking shoes....
Posts: 696
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Post by almostthere on Jun 3, 2020 6:29:54 GMT -8
I've had the lecture from both, over the years. Argued with a volunteer once about bear spray, even. He seemed to think it was a good idea....
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almostthere
Trail Wise!
putting on my hiking shoes....
Posts: 696
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Post by almostthere on Jun 3, 2020 15:04:17 GMT -8
They are answering the phone - or responding to voicemails at least.
If you have a wilderness permit and persons in your group will be arriving in a second (third, fourth, etc) car - you should caravan into the park. OR, for cars arriving by different gates or at different times, have a copy of the PERMIT HOLDER's ID and the wilderness permit ID number to present at the gate.
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toejam
Trail Wise!
Hiking to raise awareness
Posts: 1,795
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Post by toejam on Jun 5, 2020 7:04:38 GMT -8
I got a reservation for late August hiking out of Road's End in Kings Canyon online. Told a buddy and he insisted on coming with me, so I had to submit another request for 2 hikers instead of one. Explained what I was doing in the email. They apparently understood, but didn't contact me, and gave me a reservation for 2. Paid online. We'll see what happens next.
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