balzaccom
Trail Wise!
Waiting for spring...
Posts: 4,500
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Post by balzaccom on Jan 16, 2022 6:47:08 GMT -8
Looks like it's back to the future for wilderness permits in Yosemite. The new policy for 2022 manages to avoid some of the pitfalls of the last couple of years. Only 60% of the permits for each trailhead can be reserved, and those only by a lottery system--no more "fastest fingers win the prize." And the remaining 40% are available first-come-first-served to walk ups on the day before. This is great news. It means more permits will be available to people who really do use them, as opposed to reserving out all the permits to on-line reservations months in advance. Here's what the Yosemite website says: Wilderness Permit Reservations You can get a wilderness permit or reservation during three different periods: Reservations by lottery are available 24 weeks in advance on Recreation.gov. Reservations not taken by lottery are available on a first-come, first-served basis on Recreation.gov from about 22 weeks in advance until seven days before intended start date. Permits are available in-person on a first-come, first-served basis at permit issuing stations starting at 11 am one day before intended start date. Sixty percent of reservations are available by reservation. Forty percent of permits (plus any unused reservations) are available starting one day in advance. The processing fee is $10 per application. If you receive a wilderness permit, an additional fee of $5 per person applies. These fees are non-refundable and non-transferable. You can only apply once per weekly lottery. While there isn't an annual limit on the number of confirmed reservations you can have, you can only have six active (i.e., future) reservations at any given time. Wilderness permits are required all year, but reservations are only available for trips May through October. The Yosemite Conservancy Wilderness Office processes all permit reservation applications. Its hours are Monday through Friday, 9 am to 4 pm. And here's a link to the page that gives even more detail: www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/wpres.htm
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Post by absarokanaut on Jan 16, 2022 7:03:50 GMT -8
Glad to hear it. People around here have been complaining about the new systems for GTNP and Yellowstone backcountry and campgrounds.
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Post by High Sierra Fan on Jan 16, 2022 9:47:24 GMT -8
It’s an interesting variation. Weekly binning. “ In order to have your best chance of success, apply for a wilderness permit is through the weekly lottery that runs 24 weeks in advance. The lottery application period is every Sunday through Saturday from November 14, 2021, through May 7, 2022. During each weekly application period, you can apply for any start dates from the Saturday through the Friday of the open period (24 weeks in advance). All applicants will receive results on the following Monday and those who were successful must accept and pay by Thursday. Failure to accept and pay by Thursday will result in the reservation being canceled without a refund. Twelve days after the lottery application period begins for any given week (i.e., the Friday 22 weeks in advance), reservations for all trailheads that still have space will become available (until seven days in advance) at 9 am PT. Any later cancellations will become available immediately.” available via the app!
argh! Still glitchy. No way to scroll left and see most of the available dates.
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Post by High Sierra Fan on Jan 16, 2022 10:26:35 GMT -8
Though it’s fine on an iPad via the app. All of which is timely knowledge as I’m pulling my window back to suffer the mosquitos to avoid later season wildfire possibilities. Good reminder!
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Post by JRinGeorgia on Jan 16, 2022 10:32:15 GMT -8
Is the big question answered yet: will there be a Tuolumne Meadows backpackers camp? A lot of possible itineraries loop through there and need an overnight, or need a night-before start (and acclimatize to altitude).
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Post by High Sierra Fan on Jan 16, 2022 10:55:21 GMT -8
Is the big question answered yet: will there be a Tuolumne Meadows backpackers camp? A lot of possible itineraries loop through there and need an overnight, or need a night-before start (and acclimatize to altitude). A great question. And it would have to be relocated as access to the site is through the campground and that’s going to be an active heavy construction zone, not to mention that site itself may be scheduled for reconstruction (it’s been a while since I’ve read any details). ETA: it would appear the answer is no. “ Tuolumne Meadows Tuolumne Meadows Campground (including backpackers campground) will be closed in 2022, 2023 or 2024.These sites are inside the Tuolumne Meadows Campground, behind the A loop. It is open the same dates as Tuolumne Meadows Campground, July through late September (approximately); camping in the campground is only allowed when the campground is open. .” www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/bpcamp.htm
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Post by JRinGeorgia on Jan 16, 2022 11:11:08 GMT -8
Yeah, I've been hoping they would find some way to accommodate. What about JMT and PCT thru's? This could be a big problem for some of them. It doesn't have to be a campground, maybe they will at least relax the distance from trailhead regulation around TM.
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Post by High Sierra Fan on Jan 16, 2022 11:17:27 GMT -8
Well, if they don’t establish some official, landscape protecting, solution the very self entitled thrus who barely acknowledge any wilderness regulations apply to such special people (bear canister? Please) will trash the place. Rather than set themselves up for such an enforcement and resource damaging situation it’d be better to set something up. Maybe the parking area at the old gas station? Couple of portapotties and some tables. Something on hard scape that can’t be damaged. though I don’t see having to walk a couple extra miles or stop a couple short being much of an issue for people walking hundreds to thousands of miles in total. The meadows and Lyell Canyon are flat enough getting past the no camping zone is a matter of maybe 30 minutes low effort walking. Hit the store or post office, pause, then head back out. www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/upload/wildernesstrailheads.pdfETA: fwiw I posted the question on the park FB page. They occasionally respond so we’ll see. Otoh while it’s an inconvenience to wilderness visitors for a night or so it’s a catastrophe for front country campers. That entire campground closure for years is a phenomenal gutting of the parks available out of the valley campsite capacity. 304 sites gone leaving 536 remaining north of the valley. Plus: Bridalveil Creek and Crane Flat Campgrounds will be closed in 2022 for rehabilitation. Meaning there’s 358 actually remaining: Tuolumne alone had 304…. And Wawona is still undergoing a water system rehab and they’re not opening reservations for that one until they see an end to the project. Which means at this time NONE south of the valley. Wow. www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/campgrounds.htm
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Post by High Sierra Fan on Jan 17, 2022 19:20:38 GMT -8
So I’ll be sending one in next week for Rafferty while I’ll leave my other choices for later as they won’t fill midweek if past is any indication (plus if one is full lots more to try, but Rafferty is the logical one for a farther in destination I’ve in mind and too popular for a nice route to the valley to chance to a walk up)
Anyone else going to use the system?
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balzaccom
Trail Wise!
Waiting for spring...
Posts: 4,500
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Post by balzaccom on Jan 17, 2022 21:01:34 GMT -8
I will, but I am booked through the end of June, so I will have to wait for a bit for my windows to come up...
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Post by High Sierra Fan on Jan 18, 2022 4:32:22 GMT -8
I will, but I am booked through the end of June, so I will have to wait for a bit for my windows to come up... Yes, I’ve advanced some of my usual dates into late July to try and dodge wildfire affects, so a week or two more wait for me.
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ErnieW
Trail Wise!
I want to backpack
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Post by ErnieW on Jan 22, 2022 11:48:51 GMT -8
I wonder if they will give out the number of people entering each lottery. It would be interesting to know what the odds are of winning.
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Post by High Sierra Fan on Jan 22, 2022 12:41:23 GMT -8
I wonder if they will give out the number of people entering each lottery. It would be interesting to know what the odds are of winning. It’d have to be something about asks per trailhead per day since they allow up to a weeklong date range and multiple entry points in each application. With 7 days per and up to 8 trailheads that’s a lot of granular detail beyond the “one” application… that’s really 56 separate tries. www.recreation.gov/permits/445859Otoh? For a Sunday out of Happy Isles July 4th? Spoiler alert: zero. 😁😁😁 From east to west: Lyell Canyon, Rafferty Creek, Nelson Lake cross country, Cathedral, Sunrise, Murphy Creek, May Lake, White Wolf. For a full 7 day span. Odds aren’t bad. So anyone complaining the can’t get a Yosemite wilderness experience? Imho: Isn’t really trying.
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balzaccom
Trail Wise!
Waiting for spring...
Posts: 4,500
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Post by balzaccom on Jan 22, 2022 16:37:53 GMT -8
Here's what the website says about backpackers campgrounds in Tuolumne Meadows:. Tuolumne Meadows Campground (including backpackers campground) is closed from 2022 through 2023 or 2024. If you are hiking through Tuolumne Meadows, you must camp at least four trail miles from Tuolumne Meadows. If you are starting or ending a wilderness trip from Tuolumne Meadows, you can use any other open backpackers campground.
Which means the Valley, I guess...
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Post by High Sierra Fan on Jan 22, 2022 16:53:32 GMT -8
Is Hetch Hetchy closer?
As I wrote above maybe Yosemite will clarify to my FB question.
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