Yosemite National Park

[pulseevents]

I am flying to USA next tuesday and will be spending 4.5 days covering approx 90kms in a loop from Yosemite Valley to Half Dome ,clouds rest and back.
Anyone else going to be over there from the 23rd october?
Any tips or inside info that might be helpful?

[Orion]

I am flying to USA next tuesday and will be spending 4.5 days covering approx 90kms in a loop from Yosemite Valley to Half Dome ,clouds rest and back.
Anyone else going to be over there from the 23rd october?
Any tips or inside info that might be helpful?

Be flexible. It's late enough in the season that weather could make walking a lot less pleasant. It's too soon to say with certainty but right now the models are showing precipitation next Tuesday, with snow above ~2700m.

The Half Dome cables are "down" (just in case you didn't know that).

[Kinsayder]

Any tips or inside info that might be helpful?

No tips, just envy.

[wayno]

i think half dome without the cables in any rain is a suicide mission....

[Orion]

i think half dome without the cables in any rain is a suicide mission....

Half Dome is never without the cables, they're just down. You can still grab them and even connect yourself to them if you wish. So not really suicide, but definately sketchy in the rain without a safety tether.

[wayno]

she's a good one....
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ihNpkUp5JdM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=en ... EpjUqU_GbQ

[Hallu]

And stay well clear of rodents : http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-204_162-575 ... k-workers/

And by the way, not sure about late October, but during September, Yosemite falls are usually dry, just in case you didn't know.

[sef]

The falls are already well dry. Depending how you're getting there and what your budget is, accommodation in the valley can be hard. If you're driving in and don't want to hit the trail straight up, you can camp just outside the park on 120 or the Tioga Rd for free. If you want to stay at Camp 4, get there early early. Have fun!

[Nuts]

she's a good one....
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ihNpkUp5JdM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=en ... EpjUqU_GbQ

Certainly beautiful country. I couldn't see myself waiting in line to bag Half Dome. Someone should tell them not to take their packs up perhaps.

[blacksheep]

you'll have a ball. Just stock up before hitting the valley as the food prices (like the rock) are steep. There are bears in the valley- get some pepper spray. Stop in at camp IV and have a go at midnight lightning (be satisfied if you can stick the dyno, the mantle above is kinda trouser filling). Make sure you get up to tuolumne meadows and the sequoia groves (I just noticed all the vowels appear in sequoia, what other words can claim that!)
get a big card for your camera, and please don't make us too envious.

[pulseevents]

she's a good one....
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ihNpkUp5JdM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=en ... EpjUqU_GbQ

Certainly beautiful country. I couldn't see myself waiting in line to bag Half Dome. Someone should tell them not to take their packs up perhaps.

Yep certainly is beautiful country, the problem with not taking packs is that the critters have a field day with them .
Am planning on using rpusick ropes on the cables but am hoping that weather permitting I can get to the top and with them being down there wont be the crowds that are there when they are up.
It is certainly not the ideal time to be there but work is flying me over for a trade show the next week so I coudnt turn down the opp.

[Orion]

I just came back from a very quick trip to Tuolumne Meadows. The weather has been perfect, warmer than normal for this time of year. No bugs, no people -- it's the BEST time to be there. But some weather is expected to come the beginning of next week. It sounds like it will just be showery, snow/rain depending on elevation, but not a lot of moisture. A dusting of snow won't derail your walking plans, although the road to Tuolumne will probably close for a while. If the Half Dome cables look too slippery on the day you're up there take consolation in that Clouds Rest is a much nicer place with a far superior view.

A few pedantic corrections:

- Camping in the Valley in late October usually doesn't involve any drama.
- No pepper spray for the bears is needed or desirable; just some honey to spread on somebody else's car.
- It's "Camp 4" not "IV" (Camp IV is on The Nose).
- Midnight Lightning is so last century...

I hope you have a great time there!

[Orion]

Looks a bit chilly this morning. Yesterday it snowed down to about 2000m.
I imagine the cables route isn't very appealing at the moment.
But it's supposed to be sunny and warm up after tomorrow.

I wish I could go.

[blacksheep]

- Midnight Lightning is so last century...

so I'm a Renaissance man...(and even after a silly amount of tries I never did top out, too freaked by the mantle)
http://climbingnarc.com/wp-content/images/mlight.gif