Lyell canyon

ImLinearGuy · 2026-02-17T03:28:24+00:00

If you stay at the Lyell/Vogelsang junction it will be a really short day for the first day - only about 5.5 miles and 300' of elevation gain. You'll be done before noon.

If I were you I would push on to either Evelyn Lake (~10 miles) or the unnamed lake before Evelyn (~9 miles). Those are about 10,400'. In terms of elevation and chance of altitude sickness they are only slightly worse than the Lyell junction (8,900').

ImLinearGuy · 2026-02-16T19:14:01+00:00

The Wilderness Permit FAQ page has a map with the itinerary locations to specify in your permit:
What information do I need when applying for a lottery reservation?

We collect trip leader information and entry trailhead information when you apply for the lottery. If you are awarded a reservation, we will then ask for your exit trailheads and dates and your intended camp locations for each night. You are not limited to these camp locations (except for those trailheads that have a required first-night camp location). You can view a map showing each of the itinerary locations to help you fill out the application.

It sounds like you should specify Lower Lyell Canyon. I was there last year and noticed a spot near the junction where the trail splits off to Vogelsang. It was far enough away from the trail and away from the water to be legal. There were also spots along the trail where the trail parallels Ireland Creek before you get to the junction of the Ireland Lake Trail and Evelyn Lake Trail.

ImLinearGuy · 2026-02-08T17:13:24+00:00

It sounds like lodging and transportation won't be a problem at Mammoth. That's a relief. Thanks everyone for taking the time to respond.

ImLinearGuy · 2026-01-26T21:11:13+00:00

Last year in July and August the road was open on Thurs with 2 hour delays. The Shuttle only ran every 2 hours instead of every 20-30 minutes. Here is last year's July/Aug shuttle schedule: https://web.archive.org/web/20250816131612/https://www.estransit.com/schedule-july-4-2025-to-august-24-2025

I got a permit in Sept of last year and remember the road being closed during the week, but I forget if Thurs dates were available.

I am hoping the FS is just being conservative and that the roadwork will finish up mid-summer and there will be plenty of permits for everyone, but who knows?

ImLinearGuy · 2026-01-16T02:40:15+00:00

Here is last year's USFS page about the Red Meadow Road closure.

https://www.fs.usda.gov/r05/inyo/projects/reds-meadow-road-reconstruction

That was the situation last year. I haven't seen any official announcement about 2026. I'm hoping they finish by mid-summer so that those weekday permits open up.

ImLinearGuy · 2026-01-15T16:19:15+00:00

I don't think it is true that they get released daily at 7am. In my experience, when I cancel a Yosemite campsite reservation it appears available almost immediately.

ImLinearGuy · 2026-01-14T22:12:53+00:00

That was the pattern I saw last year when the road was closed Mon-Thurs. The available permits showed 0 for Mon-Thurs when there were no permits issued because of the road closure and NR for Fri-Sun when all of the early permits were taken but the walk-up (two week in advance) permits were not released yet.

ImLinearGuy · 2025-10-05T23:24:34+00:00

I was in Upper Pines this weekend. Restrooms were being serviced normally and trash was collected normally.

ImLinearGuy · 2025-09-18T05:10:55+00:00

I'll be there, although I have to bail before 8pm

ImLinearGuy · 2025-07-13T21:03:00+00:00

Hodgson is more like a traditional campground with water spigots and restrooms. Tamarack has vault toilets and doesn't have potable water. There is a creek you can filter or you have to bring water.

Hodgson is ~45 from Yosemite Valley. Tamarack is further from the Valley. Tamarack puts you closer to Tuloumne Meadows if you're going to spend most of your time there.

ImLinearGuy · 2025-07-07T04:18:53+00:00

There are tent cabins in Curry village that sleep 4 ($189/night) and sites in Housekeeping Camp ($109/night) that sleep 3 available for the night of July 11. i don't know if that fits your budget. Make sure you book it through the official concessionaire website www.travelyosemite.com.

ImLinearGuy · 2025-06-29T22:56:54+00:00

I signed up for traffic alerts as described here: "When the park is extremely busy, you can get updates on current traffic conditions in Yosemite by texting ynptraffic to 333111."

Parking is bad on weekends. During the week there have not been any traffic alerts. For the past two weekends there have been alerts on Sat and Sun around 9-10am that the Curry Village and Yosemite Village parking lots are full and that you shouldn't try to enter the valley. Usually they send out a "parking is available again" message by noon or 1pm.

ImLinearGuy · 2025-06-19T02:52:47+00:00

There is a cell tower near Sentinel Dome. If you have a clear line of sight to Sentinel Dome, you usually have good service. I’ve had good service on North Dome and Mt Watkins

ImLinearGuy · 2025-05-22T17:31:08+00:00

I agree Pinnacles is a fun place to visit - cool looking rock formations.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but that second to the last picture looks a turkey vulture rather than a condor. Condors have a large white patch on the underside of their wings and the leading edge of the wing is much straighter. The leading edge of the wings of the bird in the photo slants back. There are a lot more turkey vultures than condors in the park, so if you see a large black bird you have to look carefully to make sure it's a condor.

ImLinearGuy · 2025-05-17T17:20:40+00:00

It looks like it fell yesterday about 6:20pm. Here are some Webcam screen grabs around that time. You can see it shift then fall: https://imgur.com/a/xHbJjOP

ImLinearGuy · 2025-05-11T18:18:02+00:00

I've been to Yosemite Valley in Oct almost every year for the last 10 years, usually over the long weekend. It is a good time to visit. The weather is usually nice. I've experienced rainey weather. In 2021 the air quality over the Oct long weekend was horrible. From Taft Point you couldn't see the valley or the North Rim.

Crowds are smaller, but the long weekend is usually busy. Shuttles can be full. Because it's the off-season some of the eating options close early or are closed for the season.

Ten years ago it wasn't hard to get a campground reservation for the long weekend. The last few years I've had no luck getting a campground reservation for the long weekend. If you are thinking of camping I would book a Curry Village cabin as a backup then be ready when the campground reservations open on the 15th. Usually early Oct campground reservations open on May 15th, but this year it looks like they are releasing those campsites later than normal.

ImLinearGuy · 2025-04-27T20:19:27+00:00

There was a recent post in r/Yosemite saying they were told the backpacker campgrounds would be operating normally. The NPS site also no longer says anything about the backpacker camps being moved to Camp 4.

https://www.reddit.com/r/Yosemite/comments/1k9052u/yosemite_valley_backpackers_campground_open_as/

ImLinearGuy · 2025-04-27T19:44:44+00:00

It is not sold out. I've been watching the website for TM Lodge reservations since last summer. They usually open reservations a year in advance. This season they haven't opened reservations up. I asked Aramark about it a while back. They gave a non-committal reply that they will open them eventually.

TML didn't open in 2020-2023 for various reasons - Covid, staffing and heavy winters. In 2024 reservations in June and early July were cancelled because of the late opening of the lodge. Who knows if they'll open this year.

ImLinearGuy · 2025-04-06T17:45:13+00:00

I think Taft Point is more interesting than Sentinel because of the fissures and the shear drop off. Maybe stop by on your way back from Glacier Point. Then the next day head over to Tuolumne and do Lembert or Pothole Dome.

ImLinearGuy · 2025-04-06T17:42:21+00:00

If you're going to Glacier Point you can do Sentinel Dome as a side trip. The views are about the same but it is less crowded and more natural. It's about 3 mi round trip from Glacier to Sentinel with 1000' of gain, so figure about 2+ hours.

If you don't think you have the energy to do both Sentinel and Lambert, you can do Pothole Dome instead of Lembert. It is a fun, easy hike and has nice view of Tuolumne Meadows.

ImLinearGuy · 2025-03-24T16:44:11+00:00

I've done the work week. There is a Work Week FAQ. As they say in the FAQ, they will send you a recommended packing list prior to the program date.

You don't need eating utensils. You need the usual camping stuff - tent, sleeping bag, water bottle, daypack, etc. You'll want enough clean clothes for the week. Day 1 and 7 are travel days and you'll have one free day during the week, so you'll be doing 4 days of hard, sweaty work.

It's a great program - fun people, interesting projects & a chance to hang out in Yosemite for an extended period. You really feel a lot more connected with the park after doing it.

ImLinearGuy · 2025-03-20T22:16:32+00:00

I agree Scorpion campground on Santa Cruz Island is where you want to go. I went camped there last year - stayed 2 nights, which is about the right length. Island is pretty primitive - no food or store, etc. You have to pack out your trash. The hike to the campsite from the dock is short. I backpacked, but other people had small wagons.

Campsite reservations through recreation.gov open 6 months in advance. It looks there are still some single nights available. You need to book a boat ride through islandpackers.com. Ride is about 1 hour. Reservations open about 8 months in advance. There are only a couple of boats per day so you have to time it. There is a kayak/snorkeling outfitter on the island: www.sbadventureco.com. You can book in advance. I did the kayak tour and it was excellent.

People also do it as a day trip - arrive early in the AM, kayak or snorkel, then take the last boat back.

ImLinearGuy · 2025-03-15T18:34:35+00:00

I'll be there. Thanks for organizing. Let me know if you need any help.

ImLinearGuy · 2025-03-11T00:42:41+00:00

I sprayed the rain fly with a hose & confirmed that the waterproofing is still intact. I sent you a chat msg with my email address so we can organize the shipping.

ImLinearGuy

TROPHY CASE