Good time of year for Yosemite / good park for late July or early August?

After just doing an insane 7-hour visit to Yosemite I *need* to go back.
I want to try to plan a trip there for next year and do it right. I am
trying to get my research in place as soon as possible.

The first issue I am wondering about is what is a good time to go. This
time I went in September on a Monday, and I really did NOT find it
overly crowded. The waterfalls were a bit anemic but I had expected
that.

If we do this next year, we most likely must do it either the last week
of July or first week of August. Is this going to be a really bad time
to try to do this area? Will the waterfalls be mostly dry? Will there still
be wildflowers in the meadows? Will the crowds be ridiculous? I will
arrange the trip so we are in the park during the week again, not the weekend
but the crowd warnings scare me (though they were not nearly as bad as
some people said on my day trip.)

Ideally, I would like to go when the weather is predictable (and good),
there is still some snow in the mountains but not enough to close Tioga
Pass, and the waterfalls and flowers are looking good. I realize this is
likely well before the end of July but wondering if I might be "close
enough".

If late July is not a good time for Yosemite, maybe we will do a
different park or park region and do Yosemite some other year.
The other area I was considering was the AZ/UT park region,
but it seems like a bit of a hot place to go that time of year.
What's a good park to do that time of year? Note that we did go to
Yellowstone this past summer. Maybe the Canadian Rockies?

I am sure I will have more questions as time goes on. Thanks all!

peace,

-*-
charles

(Charles Kozierok) wrote in
:
If we do this next year, we most likely must do it either the last week
of July or first week of August. Is this going to be a really bad time
to try to do this area? Will the waterfalls be mostly dry? Will there
still be wildflowers in the meadows? Will the crowds be ridiculous?

Yosemite crowds are at their peak during July and August, but most of the
hoards are within 1 mile of the parking lots. If you can find a parking space
(or walk or use the shuttle bus system) and then walk a mile up any trail, the
crowds will be tolerable. Crowds are also much lower at the higher elevations
of the park (Tuolumne and Glacier Point).

In article ,
Charles Kozierok wrote:
After just doing an insane 7-hour visit to Yosemite I *need* to go back.
I want to try to plan a trip there for next year and do it right. I am
trying to get my research in place as soon as possible.

Good idea! That way you can make hotel reservations ASAP.

If we do this next year, we most likely must do it either the last week
of July or first week of August. Is this going to be a really bad time
to try to do this area?

Yes. Although as others have pointed out, if you can get even a bit
away from the most commonly used paths and trails, the crowds won't
be too bad.

Will the waterfalls be mostly dry?

If not dry, then at least minimal. But of course, Vernal and Nevada
Falls run all year.

Ideally, I would like to go when the weather is predictable (and good),
there is still some snow in the mountains but not enough to close Tioga
Pass, and the waterfalls and flowers are looking good. I realize this is
likely well before the end of July but wondering if I might be "close
enough".

Any chance you could go in the spring? You wouldn't be able to visit
Tuolumne Meadows or Glacier Point, but the falls will be great.


Patty

In article ,
(Patty Winter) wrote:

Will the waterfalls be mostly dry?

If not dry, then at least minimal. But of course, Vernal and Nevada
Falls run all year.

It is hard to say for sure, but the last week of July the falls should
be better minimal.

jay
Sun, Sep 28, 2003


--

Legend insists that as he finished his abject...
Galileo muttered under his breath: "Nevertheless, it does move."

Go Fig wrote in news:gofig-03850E.19100628092003
@news.comcast.giganews.com:
If not dry, then at least minimal. But of course, Vernal and Nevada
Falls run all year.

It is hard to say for sure, but the last week of July the falls should
be better minimal.

Nevada and Vernal aren't bad in late summer. Yosemite Falls and Bridalveil
are pretty much done for the season, though. Most tourists ignore Nevada and
Vernal because they aren't easily visible from a car window.

On Mon, 29 Sep 2003 01:43:47 GMT, (Patty Winter)
wrote:

In article ,
Charles Kozierok wrote:
After just doing an insane 7-hour visit to Yosemite I *need* to go back.
I want to try to plan a trip there for next year and do it right. I am
trying to get my research in place as soon as possible.

Good idea! That way you can make hotel reservations ASAP.


What are you, Patty? A local chamber of commerce person?

Hotels/motels are outrageously expensive, even in the park. Outside
the park, better plan on $125-$200 a night for a room. In park, $100+
for what could be deemed squalid conditions.

Your trip really should include some camping at the high elevations
during the time of year you are planning. Late June, early July is
great for the water falls, but only spend the day in the valley then
go high.

Again, the local folks rip you off at the motels around here.

My $0.02...

Best for the waterfalls is early/mid June. Tioga Road and Glacier Point
Road usually open Memorial Day weekend. But if it's been a wet winter,
expect a delay of a week or two. Late July/early August sees more or less
diminished flow of Yosemite Falls. And no Ribbon Falls.

The dogwoods bloom around early/mid April...by early May they usually are
going downhill. But chances are Tioga Road and Glacier Point Road will
still be closed.

Gas...if coming via hwy 120 (as you did) fill up at Oakdale and top off in
Groveland. If using hwy 140, fill up at Merced and top off in Mariposa.
San Jose is closer timewise if you take the 140/59/152/101 route.

Consider staying either at Camp Curry or Yosemite Lodge. Dunno what the
prices are these days, but accomodations are fewer since the flood a number
of years ago destroyed the cabins at the lodge. These cabins have never
been replaced.

A wonderful way to spend a day is to hike from Glacier Point down to Happy
Isles via Panoramic Trail, Nevada Falls, Emerald Pool, Vernal Falls, and the
Mist Trail. Dally at Franklin Rock downstream from Vernal Falls (and a
hundred yards or so upstream from the bridge where most folks coming up from
Happy Isles turn around) for a classic view of Vernal Falls. The only
problem is getting back to your car. There used to be a bus from the valley
to Glacier Point...this would be one solution. Otherwise you need two cars
or hitch.

Another day trip worth mentioning is the hike from Tuoloumne Meadows to
Lower Cathedral Lake, Upper Cathedral Lake, and Columbia Finger/Peak.

Be advised that the best fog free time of the year in San Francisco is from
early October until the storms appear in November. This period, as they
say, is San Francisco's summer.


"Charles Kozierok" wrote in message
...
After just doing an insane 7-hour visit to Yosemite I *need* to go back.

I want to try to plan a trip there for next year and do it right. I am
trying to get my research in place as soon as possible.

The first issue I am wondering about is what is a good time to go. This
time I went in September on a Monday, and I really did NOT find it
overly crowded. The waterfalls were a bit anemic but I had expected
that.

If we do this next year, we most likely must do it either the last week
of July or first week of August. Is this going to be a really bad time
to try to do this area? Will the waterfalls be mostly dry? Will there
still
be wildflowers in the meadows? Will the crowds be ridiculous? I will
arrange the trip so we are in the park during the week again, not the
weekend
but the crowd warnings scare me (though they were not nearly as bad as
some people said on my day trip.)

Ideally, I would like to go when the weather is predictable (and good),
there is still some snow in the mountains but not enough to close Tioga
Pass, and the waterfalls and flowers are looking good. I realize this is
likely well before the end of July but wondering if I might be "close
enough".

If late July is not a good time for Yosemite, maybe we will do a
different park or park region and do Yosemite some other year.
The other area I was considering was the AZ/UT park region,
but it seems like a bit of a hot place to go that time of year.
What's a good park to do that time of year? Note that we did go to
Yellowstone this past summer. Maybe the Canadian Rockies?

I am sure I will have more questions as time goes on. Thanks all!

peace,

-*-
charles

In article ,
wrote:
On Mon, 29 Sep 2003 01:43:47 GMT, (Patty Winter)
wrote:
In article ,
Charles Kozierok wrote:
After just doing an insane 7-hour visit to Yosemite I *need* to go back.
I want to try to plan a trip there for next year and do it right. I am
trying to get my research in place as soon as possible.

Good idea! That way you can make hotel reservations ASAP.

What are you, Patty? A local chamber of commerce person?

Huh? No, I'm someone who's familiar with trying to get hotel
rooms in Yosemite. Like a few weeks ago when I called to make
a reservation for a certain weekend next March and couldn't
get one. Anyone who's familiar with lodging in Yosemite will
recommend that one book ahead as far as possible. (I believe
YCS accepts reservations up to one year in advance, but I'm
not positive.) If you don't think that's a good suggestion,
you're free to tell the original poster that he wait, but
you might want to justify your reasoning.

BTW, I'm also well aware that it's often possible to get
cancellations in the last few weeks before one's desired
arrival date, but that can be nervewracking if you're coming
from far away and are depending on getting a room. It isn't
an approach I'd recommend to someone planning a big trip
around a Yosemite visit.


Patty

wrote:
Your trip really should include some camping at the high elevations
during the time of year you are planning. Late June, early July is
great for the water falls, but only spend the day in the valley then
go high.

I once pitched a tent in the campground on the other side of Tuolomne
Pass at about 8,000 (maybe 8,300) feet. The stars were so bright that
I could see them through the fabric of the tent. It was _cold_! 33°F!

What crowds? What dry falls? These days, I don't go to Yosemite after
Memorial Day. The week or two before is when I go. Of course not on
the week-ends!
__________________________________________________ ___________
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"Charles Kozierok" wrote in message
...
[snip] If late July is not a good time for Yosemite, maybe we will do a
different park or park region and do Yosemite some other year.
The other area I was considering was the AZ/UT park region,
but it seems like a bit of a hot place to go that time of year.
What's a good park to do that time of year? Note that we did go to
Yellowstone this past summer. Maybe the Canadian Rockies?


Mid to late June is the best time to do the valley; late July is the perfect
time to do the high sierras. Whatever your plans are, they should include
avoiding the valley Friday - Sunday. Getting started early is a very good
way to avoid the crowds.

You're right late July is not the time to do AZ/UT. The best time to do
those places is spring or fall.

Basically, late July is a great time to do places at higher altitudes and/or
more northern climes like Glacier National Park or the Rockies.