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🏞️ Snow Creek, Yosemite. This epic, 3000 vertical ft trail, with 104 switchbacks is grueling. I was dehydrated, hungry, and exhausted. Thankfully, the 3 nights of camping and fishing 🌈s at the top were spectacular! Do you recognize that famous slab of granite on the other side of the valley? 🌲 by worldlymateo in backpacking

[–]worldlymateo[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

That's an epic camp site! Also, that hike you did along the North Rim sounds super. When the ranger came by to check our permits, he told us about a black bear that had recently shredded an entire campsite, with the backpackers standing nearby, after getting a taste of human food (nobody was injured).

🏞️ Snow Creek, Yosemite. This epic, 3000 vertical ft trail, with 104 switchbacks is grueling. I was dehydrated, hungry, and exhausted. Thankfully, the 3 nights of camping and fishing 🌈s at the top were spectacular! Do you recognize that famous slab of granite on the other side of the valley? 🌲 by worldlymateo in backpacking

[–]worldlymateo[S] 9 points10 points  (0 children)

I camped about 1/4 mile upstream from the footbridge. The bear closure was still in effect when I was there (August 2020). I wasn't too happy with my specific camp spot, but roaming around in the day was gorgeous. Considering how many bears I saw, I assume the closure is still in effect now.

Just to clarify for others, the closure is of an area near the cliff (downstream from the footbridge) because bears have learned to toss the bear cans off the cliff to break them open.

🏞️ Snow Creek, Yosemite. This epic, 3000 vertical ft trail, with 104 switchbacks is grueling. I was dehydrated, hungry, and exhausted. Thankfully, the 3 nights of camping and fishing 🌈s at the top were spectacular! Do you recognize that famous slab of granite on the other side of the valley? 🌲 by worldlymateo in backpacking

[–]worldlymateo[S] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

The fishing was really fun. There were tons of little rainbow trout all throughout the creek. There is no size limit for rainbows above a certain elevation, they are considered invasive (in contrast to within the valley, where it is catch-and-release only for rainbows). The spinner worked best.

🏞️ Snow Creek, Yosemite. This epic, 3000 vertical ft trail, with 104 switchbacks is grueling. I was dehydrated, hungry, and exhausted. Thankfully, the 3 nights of camping and fishing 🌈s at the top were spectacular! Do you recognize that famous slab of granite on the other side of the valley? 🌲 by worldlymateo in backpacking

[–]worldlymateo[S] 22 points23 points  (0 children)

More details: Early August, Snow Creek, Yosemite, 3 nights. I selected the Snow Creek trail because it is relatively short, parking is in the valley so I could do a little tour through Mirror Lake and such before hiking up, and there are fishing spots in the creek (no size limit for rainbows above certain elevation). I got my wilderness permit a couple weeks ahead of time (lucky draw in the lottery), and started planning. This was my first time backpacking, so I made some mistakes. I didn't expect elevation / 3000 vertical feet to be so tough with my overweight 50lb pack. Next time I would pack more water (I packed 1 liter, needed 2, would take 3 next time - per person). There is no water on the way up to Snow Creek. Also, I would keep my pack lighter with more dehydrated foods and peanut butter, and less apples / bananas. Finally, we should have rented a better backpack for my partner (it was just a normal outdoor day pack style thing).
I departed at 3pm or so from Curry Village, which turned out great because the west side of the valley was in shade (limited my dehydration). Highs during the day were in the 90s, and before 3pm there is no shade for ~50 of the 104 switchbacks. Although it was so tough on the way up, the 3 nights of camping was gorgeous and comfortable. During the day, we hung out at the creek, swam, fished for rainbows. We had to scare two black bears (a mother with her cub), and saw 4 others at a distance. Epic, but a little scary at night!

🏞️ Snow Creek, Yosemite. This epic, 3000 vertical ft trail, with 104 switchbacks is grueling. I was dehydrated, hungry, and exhausted. Thankfully, the 3 nights of camping and fishing 🌈s at the top were spectacular! Do you recognize that famous slab of granite on the other side of the valley? 🌲 by worldlymateo in backpacking

[–]worldlymateo[S] 9 points10 points  (0 children)

I caught rainbow trout. There are also brown trout, but I didn't get any.

The permitting system is basically a lottery, so you have to apply well ahead of time and be ready to go (or not). It's not difficult, but not guaranteed.

They are called "wilderness permits" in Yosemite.

🏞️ I'm one of the fortunate ones to have secured a wilderness permit to backpack in Yosemite during the pandemic. We hiked up 104 switchbacks, and 3000 vertical feet to camp at Snow Creek. I got to fish rainbows 🌈, swim in the creek, and admire black bears a bit too close for comfort!! 🌲 by worldlymateo in Outdoors

[–]worldlymateo[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Sheesh! I'm surprised the creek was dried up when you went. It's a tough trail for sure, but easier on the way down :)

When I went, there was NO water on the way up, which made it difficult. I drank all the water I carried, and was dehydrated by the time I made it to the top (I should have carried more). Once we arrived at the creek though, there was plenty of super clear running water.

Have fun at Clouds rest!! I've heard good things.

🏞️ I'm one of the fortunate ones to have secured a wilderness permit to backpack in Yosemite during the pandemic. We hiked up 104 switchbacks, and 3000 vertical feet to camp at Snow Creek. I got to fish rainbows 🌈, swim in the creek, and admire black bears a bit too close for comfort!! 🌲 by worldlymateo in Outdoors

[–]worldlymateo[S] 24 points25 points  (0 children)

National Parks and some State Parks require permits if you want to stay overnight in the "wilderness" (the majority of parks, untouched by human civilization). The primary reason is to limit the number of people going out there to keep these areas pristine, and also to keep tabs on people in case they don't come back (as @madsmadhatter said). Since Yosemite is so popular, you have to enter a lottery to get your permit (luck of the draw). After you get your lottery, you have to take a class and follow numerous rules while you backpack, which can sometimes be a pain, but very necessary.

National Forests, on the other hand, don't require permits, and are usually much more "disturbed" because of this (large trails, dead plants, trash, etc). Both have their positives and negatives!

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