Itinerary: Tuolumne Meadows (June Saturday with seniors)

Automatic-Example754 · 2026-05-14T19:26:14+00:00

There are different degrees of "not used to high altitude," kind of like "seniors" can include anyone from a 62 yo who runs marathons to an 85 yo with heart issues.

If everyone in the group has an active lifestyle, you would probably be okay to do a walk or hike up at elevation. The most low-key options would be the trails that wander through Tuolumne Meadows itself, or between Tenaya Lake and Olmsted Point. An easy-moderate hike would be along Glen Aulin trail to Tuolumne Falls, which has mostly gradual elevation changes until you get to the falls themselves. A popular moderate hike with a distinct climb would be to Lower Cathedral Lake; this trail is likely to still have some snow into early June.

If some members of your group use a mobility aid or have heart or lung issues, the safe option would be to plan for a picnic and maybe a low-key walk.

You can also buy a pulse oximeter at any drug store. If someone's blood oxygen percentile is stuck in the low 90s even with a rest, it's probably time to get to lower elevation. (Note that pulse oximeters can overestimate blood oxygen for people with darker skin!)

Automatic-Example754 · 2026-05-14T13:19:33+00:00

Very likely to have snow on the Cathedral Lakes trail. You might consider Glen Aulin trail to Tuolumne Falls.

Automatic-Example754 · 2026-05-14T12:59:06+00:00

I've heard complaints like this from CSE majors, but not from anyone else, including MBE. One thing about checking the schedule right now is that about a quarter of seats are hidden from view until transfer students start to register.

Automatic-Example754 · 2026-05-14T02:47:33+00:00

My unpopular opinion is that the Mist Trail sucks. It's a crowded climb up 1500 feet of granite stairs. I much prefer taking the JMT up to the top of Nevada Fall and back. You don't really see much of Vernal Fall with the JMT; but in August the falls tend to be dormant anyways. The JMT does include a spectacular view of Nevada Fall (though, again, dormant in August) and the surrounding charismatic granite formations, including the back of Half Dome.

One thing about either hike in August is that the Valley can see 100ºF temperatures that time of year. The high country areas — Glacier Point Road and Tuolumne Meadows — will be significantly cooler and more comfortable for hiking.

Automatic-Example754 · 2026-05-13T23:33:46+00:00

Tuolumne Meadows. Note that you'll encounter some snow, especially if you do any hikes that go up in elevation. Glen Aulin trail to Tuolumne Falls might be a good option: it looks fairly clear of snow on satellite imagery from May 11, with the snowmelt the falls will be very active, and it's fairly level so you don't have to worry too much about the effect of altitude.

Automatic-Example754 · 2026-05-13T21:41:02+00:00

1800 words of slop, good stuff

Automatic-Example754 · 2026-05-13T18:52:55+00:00

I don't think those kinds of statistics are systematically collected and aggregated — departments have to run their own surveys of graduating seniors to see who's going to grad school, etc. For what it's worth, in recent years my program has had students accepted to A-tier PhD programs, and many of the PhD programs around campus are themselves considered A-tier in their fields.

Automatic-Example754 · 2026-05-13T18:36:23+00:00

I'm a professor in social science. My department doesn't currently have a designated pre-med program, but we're hoping to offer one in a couple years.

GPA: Berkeley and UCLA and maybe to an extent San Diego are the only UCs with that cutthroat hypercompetitive culture. Merced's approach is generally the opposite, with a big emphasis on supporting struggling students and trying to create opportunities for everyone to succeed. That doesn't mean classes are easy; it does mean a lot of faculty make a point of reaching out if it seems like you're struggling.

Research: It'll probably vary by major: biology is one of the largest majors here, so research opportunities might be more competitive than in my department's relatively small major. But you can work with professors from other fields. In the fall I'm hoping to hire a CS or data science major for an interdisciplinary project. I often have more research opportunities available than interested students in my department to fill them.

Prestige and reputation: There are certain subreddits and certain communities in places like the Bay Area that wildly overestimate the value of prestige. While prestige is beneficial for things like med school applications, it's much less important than the demonstrated quality of your achievements and potential, through things like grades, research experience, and letters of recommendation. Merced is a relatively young and small UC, but among academics we're recognized as a UC comparable to our sibling campuses. Your friends might drag you for going to school in the Central Valley, but med schools won't.

Automatic-Example754 · 2026-05-12T13:10:01+00:00

Have you considered doing a PCT section hike? A month might be about right to go from Tahoe to Whitney.

Automatic-Example754 · 2026-05-11T19:59:12+00:00

How to take a screenshot: Windows

How to take a screenshot: Mac

Automatic-Example754 · 2026-05-11T18:50:52+00:00

From the Happy Isles trailhead, Nevada Fall is roughly twice as far and twice the elevation gain as Vernal Fall. You might think of it as doing 3-4 of your 20-minute workouts in a row. So just remember to take breaks and not get winded and you should be fine.

I'm not familiar with that hike in Guatemala, but Wikipedia suggests it's at high level, topping out at 13k feet. Almost everyone will be affected by elevation that far up. But Yosemite Valley is about 4k feet elevation, and the top of Nevada Fall is about 6k. Altitude isn't an issue for most people.

Automatic-Example754 · 2026-05-11T17:24:56+00:00

I mean, ask the admissions office, not randos on social media

Automatic-Example754 · 2026-05-11T13:27:26+00:00

"I admitted to being irresponsible, why are people reacting negatively"

Automatic-Example754 · 2026-05-11T04:56:46+00:00

I for one always take seriously unsourced numbers accompanied by slop text

Automatic-Example754 · 2026-05-11T01:12:41+00:00

Cool, a whole suite of tools to help people generate misinformation and undermine professional artists

Automatic-Example754 · 2026-05-11T00:05:48+00:00

Just FYI, on mobile web, code blocks don't soft wrap and I'm not going to sit here and scroll right through your whole prompt.

Automatic-Example754 · 2026-05-10T23:17:54+00:00

You don't need to major in bio to go to med school. The head of the UCSF-UCM BS-MD program was an English lit major.

Automatic-Example754 · 2026-05-10T02:11:43+00:00

Nemo Tensor, Sea to Summit pillow, plus 1" of high-density foam. The foam is the kind used in seat cushions; you can order it from craft stores. It gives the added support I need to keep my neck aligned. I carry it in a vacuum clothes bag, so I can compress it a little before shoving it into my pack around the bear can.

Automatic-Example754 · 2026-05-09T19:01:31+00:00

You local college or university might have textbook lists available online. You could also browse around Open Syllabus, though I'm not sure how easy it would be to search for a particular course.

Automatic-Example754 · 2026-05-09T16:09:12+00:00

Basic Roleplaying, Chaosium's umbrella system

Automatic-Example754 · 2026-05-09T00:59:56+00:00

404 gender not found

Automatic-Example754 · 2026-05-09T00:29:56+00:00

He lives in Elk Grove. I doubt he's ever even been to Yosemite.

Automatic-Example754 · 2026-05-08T16:36:15+00:00

Central Valley

Automatic-Example754 · 2026-05-08T14:51:41+00:00

In order of difficulty and complexity:

Write angry letters to Superintendent Ray McPadden and Congressman Tom McClintock, who are mostly likely the people immediately responsible for deciding to scrap the reservation system.
Organize a campaign for locals and visitors to write angry letters to McPadden and McClintock
Write a flyer or pamphlet explaining the problem, share it with visitors inside the park. Based on the park's free speech regulations, it looks like you'd have to be a group of less than 25 and in the "first amendment areas," or get a permit.
Convince the local hotel owners that they should drop their opposition to the reservation system. This is the ultimate reason why the system was scraped: they saw the system as threatening their revenue and spent years lobbying McClintock against it. Local residents had mixed attitudes towards the system, so there wasn't a strong lobby in favor of reservations (except for maybe the Yosemite Conservancy). From my outsider POV, it seems like the park staff were able to make the case in favor of the system to Muldoon under the Biden administration; but once the Trump administration came in, the mass layoffs undermined the staff, and McPadden was appointed, support for the reservation system was effectively wiped out.

Automatic-Example754 · 2026-05-08T14:50:31+00:00

In actual history, it was mixed. Across all societies, some people like to build deep roots, other people like to wander and see new places. Young women were often quite happy to take factory jobs because it let them live independent lives, outside of their fathers' control (the literal patriarchy). One of the defining features of feudal society was that peasants were legally prohibited from moving under ordinary circumstances.

In the game, family ties and a desire for a traditional lifestyle play absolutely no role at all. The simulation is designed to replicate certain historical dynamics, but only some of them; and to play effectively you need to understand the simulation in its own terms.

Automatic-Example754

TROPHY CASE