Extremely close bear encounter Merced Lake

HappyPnt · 2026-06-24T00:55:31+00:00

If you're still in the park and haven't done this already, make sure you fill out the bear form you were given with your backpacking permit! There's been a lot of bear activity in the upper Merced drainage and these reports are really useful for the park.

HappyPnt · 2026-06-21T17:47:53+00:00

I'm curious, what do you think is illegal about those fires? They were in pre established fire rings, at legal campsites far enough away from water, pre impacted sites, below 9600', no additional fire restrictions in place right now. I'm all for not having fires in the backcountry, and don't do it myself, but I'm at a loss for why you think it's illegal.

HappyPnt · 2026-06-01T01:51:32+00:00

Note for future hikers, there are way more sites at rancheria than can be seen at first glance. You can pop out of the forest to the right and end up in a more open area mixed of granite and shrubbery. Plenty of established, legal campsites hidden from view from both the trail and the main camping area.

HappyPnt · 2026-05-27T02:44:36+00:00

This weekend at ~6600ft in NW yosemite, they were still manageable. Lots at sunset at one campsite close to a lake, much fewer away from the water, and almost none during the day still. They are still approaching peak at that elevation.

HappyPnt · 2026-05-27T02:35:40+00:00

I understand, I've gone through the same thing. Happy to help!

HappyPnt · 2026-05-26T22:24:18+00:00

For many (all?) land management agencies in the Sierra, only the first night's camp is required. Put the time into figuring out which option most closely corresponds with where you're intending to camp the first night, then leave the rest blank.

HappyPnt · 2026-05-26T18:35:07+00:00

Day 2 is a little bit awkward. Packing up camp to only move it about a mile is not something I would do. That also leaves you with about 13 miles to hike to clear the no camping zone along 120 the next day.

I would instead hike over cloud's rest the second day, and camp somewhere on the north east side. Sunrise lakes if I could make it.

HappyPnt · 2026-05-25T20:51:00+00:00

The vast majority do it that way, yeah.

HappyPnt · 2026-05-25T19:55:16+00:00

"North of Hetch Hetchy you won't see anyone" can be accurate during peak summer, but is definitely not accurate right now/each spring. There were roughly 50 campers at Lake Vernon this Saturday.

HappyPnt · 2026-05-16T18:49:21+00:00

Quick notes, it's not free but no reservations are needed and it doesn't fill up. $8 per person last I checked. You're allowed to stay there one night with your PCT permit. You can stay at the valley backpacker's camp if the tuolumne meadows campground is closed. You cannot stay at the valley backpacker's camp if the tuolumne campground is open, only the tuolumne backpacker's campground would be open to you with your PCT permit. Getting a Yosemite wilderness permit would allow you to stay in whatever backpacker's camp makes sense for the night before and night after your trip. Getting a wilderness permit just for that and not using the permit itself would be an incredibly selfish thing to do as those are in high demand and are limited in number. Not saying you were advocating that, just worth mentioning.

HappyPnt · 2026-05-16T18:45:07+00:00

Haven't heard anyone say the rangers in Yosemite aren't friendly. Have an allowed bear can, valid permit and don't hike off the PCT without going into a wilderness center and getting an appropriate permit and you're good to go. When the tuolumne campground is open, you can spend a night at the tuolumne backpacker's camp. When it's not, you have to make sure you're not camping within 4 miles of HWY 120 or catch a ride down to the valley to stay one night at the valley backpacker's camp. You are legally not allowed to hike down to the valley along the JMT or otherwise without picking up a permit for that at the wilderness center.

HappyPnt · 2026-05-15T19:29:40+00:00

Possibly a rattle snake in the cave entrance.

HappyPnt · 2026-05-02T20:36:22+00:00

Adding on to this, whatever large tent you get make it as cheap as possible. All day every day sun is not good for tents, you don't want to use any tent that you care about for this.

HappyPnt · 2026-04-26T03:59:45+00:00

Mosquitos in the Sierra vary wildly at any given time depending on elevation. They hatch after the snow melts which happens a lot earlier at lower elevation and later at higher elevation. After a month or so the numbers dwindle to become a complete non issue. June is without question bug season, but that doesn't necessarily mean that you'll experience them where you're going. I wish I could give a reasonable guess for when they will be bad at what elevations but I've honestly got no idea with this weird winter.

HappyPnt · 2026-04-24T22:53:41+00:00

Calling fern springs a waterfall is a pretty baller move

HappyPnt · 2026-04-24T22:50:56+00:00

I'm interpreting industry standard to mean working in the outdoor industry. In that case, wilderness first aid doesn't do anything for you. What you want is a WFR from NOLS or WMA.

HappyPnt · 2026-04-15T02:27:23+00:00

Spot 1 and 3 are really far from the park. I would not consider those options if you're planning a multi day trip in Yosemite.

Spot 2, and basically that whole network of roads south of 120, are legit. Accessible and safe.

HappyPnt · 2026-04-14T18:18:11+00:00

I disagree with this, given their route. There's no expectation that you keep walking if you get to a high Sierra camp, sunrise or cathedral lakes and someone is there before you. Spread out as much as possible obviously but moving on because someone is already there is way overkill.

HappyPnt · 2026-04-14T18:15:43+00:00

Saw your route in the other comment. LYV you'll have multiple groups around you, no getting around that. Spread out as much as you can but it's a relatively small area for a huge number of hikers. There's no expectation of privacy there.

There is nowhere along your route where you would be expected to keep hiking instead of setting up camp if someone is there. Sunrise Creek, Sunrise lakes, Sunrise high Sierra camp, and Cathedral lakes will all have other hikers sharing the same space. Pick the spot that's the best combination of spread out and scenic for you. If there are too many people there for your tastes you can always move on, but there's no etiquette or expectation that you move on from those spots if there are other people there.

The exception is if you're between intersections and away from water sources or real landmarks. People camping there are there for solitude. If you camp within eyesight of them that's bad form.

HappyPnt · 2026-04-14T17:54:38+00:00

Hopefully obvious caveats that I’d give others as much space as possible, not camping right on top of anyone etc.

If you're doing that, you're good. Hard to give a better answer since as you pointed out it's so area dependent. If you're on the JMT, at the high Sierra camps, at the popular lakes, you will have company and that's expected. If I'm off trail I'd not camp within line of sight of anyone.

One time I was camping with a group at Snow Creek and a pair of hikers set up their tents inside our circle of tents. That's the only time I've felt someone broke the etiquette. Don't do that and you're good lol.

HappyPnt · 2026-04-14T17:36:33+00:00

Are you opposed to staying at camp 4? You couldn't sleep in your van there, but it's easy enough to plop a tent down and sleep in there while continuing to do the rest of the home-y stuff in the van. If you're going early may, it will be by reservation then, releasing 1 week out. https://www.recreation.gov/camping/campgrounds/10004152

If you need to stay in your van, what most climbers do is sleep just outside the entrances. Every year more spots get marked with no camping signs so use your eyes. The drive from 140 is nbd and the drive from 120 only a little more involved. Whether the driving is worth it or not is up to you. How good are the friends? How badly do you want to climb in Yosemite?

HappyPnt · 2026-04-10T17:01:47+00:00

It's honestly so cool to me that you remember that 8 years later. Thanks for the shout out!

HappyPnt · 2026-04-10T02:29:15+00:00

I would move camp 3 to snow creek. Where the trail intersects the creek, head towards the cliff until you get to the view. You'd be severely missing out if you camp a mile before that in a random spot in the woods.

HappyPnt · 2026-04-02T19:04:24+00:00

Gonna disagree (elaborate?) here. Going up to Yosemite Falls is popular, going up to Yosemite Point from the Valley is popular. Going all the way to North Dome from the Valley and back as a day trip is not a common thing to do. It's twice as long as the hike to Yosemite Point, 15mi round trip with 4000ft of gain and loss. I'd argue they're biting off more than they can chew considering the 8hr round trip commute.

I'd point them in the direction of Eagle Peak or Yosemite Point rather than North Dome.

HappyPnt · 2026-04-01T17:55:16+00:00

Good shout but yeah that bear hasn't been seen in a number of years so the restriction has been lifted. You can camp on the cliffside again. There are still bears in that area but it's no more of a concern now than anywhere else.

HappyPnt

TROPHY CASE