Discussion Topic |
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arkansasmitch
Trad climber
conway, AR
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Topic Author's Original Post - Aug 11, 2014 - 08:21pm PT
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This may be a dumb question, but searching the forum didn't really turn up any good answers. I hear differing opinions of how early you need to be in line at the office to get a spot in Camp 4. We will be there in September and will be arriving next week. We definitely want to be in Camp 4 for a few days. How early do we need to show up in line to get a spot? Thanks for the help!
Damn Arkansan
Mitch
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Ed Hartouni
Trad climber
Livermore, CA
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Aug 11, 2014 - 08:28pm PT
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probably early...
but it's been a long time since I've been in Camp 4 in September (November, yes, but no one else was there, and winter you've got the place to yourself)
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donini
Trad climber
Ouray, Colorado
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Aug 11, 2014 - 09:13pm PT
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Easy....don't!
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jstan
climber
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Aug 11, 2014 - 09:20pm PT
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I vaguely remember people are asked not to lay out their sleeping bags in front of the kiosk before something like 6AM. But people seem to. Check with the NPS. Pinky and her coworkers try really hard to accommodate everyone but September is tough.
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Peter Haan
Trad climber
Santa Cruz, CA
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Aug 11, 2014 - 10:05pm PT
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Unfortunately, it is one of our greatest disgraces, the Camp Four situation.
It is just incredible that we treat out-of-state and foreign visitors to such a disgusting heap of a camp and even make it terrifically inconvenient to just get in there as well.
Even the Park Superintendent Don Neubacher (of Point Reyes Oyster debacle fame) blanched when he toured the camp and its sewery bathrooms a few years ago. And yet still, nothing has happened. We even have the statutory right for more campsites there and authorities continue to stall out any move to make these changes and improvements, even when non-profits have approached them in the most considered and generous manner. The place is hideous. Stay somewhere else, at all costs.
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Reilly
Mountain climber
The Other Monrovia- CA
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Aug 11, 2014 - 10:10pm PT
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The Lodge suites will do if the Ahwahnee is full up.
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Jon Beck
Trad climber
Oceanside
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Aug 11, 2014 - 10:26pm PT
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Last time I tried to stay there (2 years ago) I arrived at 7 am and could not even park my car. Between that and the obvious line I opted for plan B.
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Psilocyborg
climber
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Aug 11, 2014 - 10:35pm PT
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why pay to camp?
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anita514
Gym climber
Great White North
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Aug 12, 2014 - 04:12am PT
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What about a weekend in October?
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Bad Climber
climber
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Aug 12, 2014 - 07:19am PT
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Hate C-4. It's a noisy dump. I'm with Peter. Do you best to stay anywhere else. Camp outside the park and commute in?
BAd
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Flip Flop
Trad climber
Truckee, CA
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Aug 12, 2014 - 07:22am PT
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Yer gonna die!
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Mr. Rogers
climber
The Land of Make-Believe
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Aug 12, 2014 - 10:34am PT
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I've gotten a spot at Camp 4 on a Saturday morning in September more than a few times. Each time I've done it a fair chunk of the line has not gotten a spot. Once it was even Labor day weekend (which we had forgotten).
Get there at 5am. Earlier than 5am is even better. Ignore the sign that says no sleeping bags or mats, just make sure you put them away before the ranger shows (or you need to be able to plausibly fake it that you can only speak and read German).
Don't assume that just cause there's 3 people in line ahead of you that there are only three people in line ahead of you. One year the single dude ahead of us morphed into his entire goddamned family once the ranger appeared. They had all been sleeping in two family vans in the parking lot - multiple kids, wife, grandparents (both sides), random cousins - the one dude took up over a dozen spots.
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The Call Of K2 Lou
Mountain climber
North Shore, BC
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Aug 12, 2014 - 11:03am PT
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Does anyone have any recommendations for other Yos campsites? Say, for a road-tripping Canadian family who want to do a little exploring, not all climbing-related?
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Bruce Morris
Social climber
Belmont, California
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Aug 12, 2014 - 11:31am PT
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Surely you jest?
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The Call Of K2 Lou
Mountain climber
North Shore, BC
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Aug 12, 2014 - 11:57am PT
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Big trip with the whole family next year (12 people). Me and my girl are staying once they're gone, so we'll get our climbing in for sure, but I'm looking for recommendations from seasoned Yosemite vets that would be suitable for grandparents and little tykes (car-camping, RV).
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the Fet
climber
Tu-Tok-A-Nu-La
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Aug 12, 2014 - 01:15pm PT
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Find the dates for when the sites go on sale and reserve online or via phone at the MINUTE they become available. They will sell out fast. If you have multiple people trying at the same time you have a better shot of getting a good site, but don't hold out trying to find a good site while they all sell out.
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yosemite 5.9
climber
santa cruz
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Aug 12, 2014 - 04:25pm PT
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It depends on the day of the week, etc. You aren't supposed to sleep by the kiosk, but many do to be in line in the morning. The rangers usually leave by 10 pm unless some idiot is being loud after 10 pm, which is normal. You can probably get in on a Sat morning if there by 5 AM at the latest. Sunday mornings are much more difficult. It depends on the weekend also. Monday mornings are easier, try to be there by 6 AM. The sign says to not be there before 6 AM last time I saw it, but you have to ignore it. Everybody does who is experienced. The line is started before then.
It can take three hours to process everyone in line. Don't expect to start anything early that day. The earlier you get in line, the sooner you can leave.
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Wade Icey
Trad climber
www.alohashirtrescue.com
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Aug 12, 2014 - 05:03pm PT
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arguably-because that's what we do here- the absolute best shithole on the planet.
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WBraun
climber
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Aug 12, 2014 - 05:05pm PT
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Real men live and stay in Camp 4 (foul).
You pussies never could hack it and that's why you became pussy climbers .....
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goatboy smellz
climber
लघिमा
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Aug 12, 2014 - 05:13pm PT
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Real men go out into the wilderness where you don't have to pay to camp.
Pussies live in a National Park living on the government dole :o)
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anita514
Gym climber
Great White North
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Aug 12, 2014 - 05:33pm PT
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Real men go out into the wilderness where you don't have to pay to camp.
Not just men.
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WBraun
climber
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Aug 12, 2014 - 05:37pm PT
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You have to pay too.
You pay to drive there.
You buy tons of gear to camp in your govt. owned wilderness and living on it's sponsored dole to be able to use that wilderness.
Thus you're ultimately still a pussy because you didn't stay in Camp foul (4).
:-)
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The Call Of K2 Lou
Mountain climber
North Shore, BC
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Aug 12, 2014 - 05:49pm PT
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Thanks to Khanom and The Fet for the advice. Apologies for the thread hijack.
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Captain...or Skully
climber
in the oil patch...Fricken Bakken, that's where
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Aug 12, 2014 - 06:08pm PT
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Well, THIS is sure disintegrating fast....Hope you got some useful info and enjoy your stay, Mitch.
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mastadon
Trad climber
crack addict
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Aug 12, 2014 - 06:50pm PT
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I'm with Donini on this one. Don't. The place is totally contaminated. Even the dirt is dirty. You could pour a concrete dome over Camp 4 and let it sit for 10,000 years and it would still be contaminated.
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bergbryce
climber
East Bay, CA
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Aug 12, 2014 - 07:09pm PT
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You'll get scabies and you won't get any sleep from morons opening and closing their screechy bear boxes all night in camp 4. I opted to "sleep" at mybuddies site the night before doing steck-salathe. Alarm went off early and I realized I probably didn't sleep even 30 minutes all night. Yes, I was scared of the climb but that cesspool is an anti - sleep nightmare.
If you try the language barrier act go with french. All (traveling) Germans speak/read passable to excellent english.
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Trad is Rad
Trad climber
San Luis Obispo California
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Aug 12, 2014 - 08:08pm PT
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if your staying in camp 4 yer doin it wrong, its all about the bushes behind the court.
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jstan
climber
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Aug 12, 2014 - 10:36pm PT
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Very strange.
C4 is dirty!
Maybe dirt is what we belong in. Rather than head off to the bushes and there create another dirty place while trying to resurrect some remembered perfect experience, maybe dirt is best for you. If it is bad you will be motivated to go out and clean C4 so it is just a little closer to that mystical remembered experience. Then you have done something of real value.
We assume we are entitled to perfection.
Have never felt that way. We are here to deal with whatever is here.
Just as we do on climbs.
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WBraun
climber
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Aug 12, 2014 - 10:55pm PT
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Me and Warbler lived in Camp 4 for years.
Warbler rolled in the dust of the previous masters who lived in Camp 4.
Thus Warbler became a master of rock himself.
Pussies stay in clean un-dirty places and never get the dust of previous masters.
Thus they become pussies ...... :-)
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Reilly
Mountain climber
The Other Monrovia- CA
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Aug 12, 2014 - 10:59pm PT
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So why were you hard men always scheming on getting showers?
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jstan
climber
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Aug 12, 2014 - 11:00pm PT
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I suggested that several years ago. Forget to whom. One worry is the fire hazard. I can't say this is entirely persuasive. But let me ask. Why make C4 more pleasant? You will just have greater numbers of climbers who cannot be served. Even more pissed off people. Leave C4 similar to the small bumpy and dirty ledges we sleep on. Good conditioning.
My first couple of years climbing I had no sleeping pad. Sleeping on stones was just part of the experience. Then I wussed out and it was all down hill from there.
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BuddhaStalin
climber
Truckee, CA
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Aug 13, 2014 - 12:54am PT
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Do yourself a favor and pay for a real campground, its worth every penny.
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HighDesertDJ
Trad climber
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Aug 13, 2014 - 03:29am PT
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Reilley asked So why were you hard men always scheming on getting showers?
So they could get a shot at the one woman.
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mastadon
Trad climber
crack addict
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Aug 13, 2014 - 06:24am PT
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For all you C4-ites that may have had LEO trouble in the 70's; I just saw an obituary for Donald Pitts in the Mariposa paper...
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donini
Trad climber
Ouray, Colorado
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Aug 13, 2014 - 09:37am PT
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My recollection is that while many showers were stolen, they weren't nearly enough.
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guyman
Social climber
Moorpark, CA.
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Aug 13, 2014 - 10:15am PT
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Good times - no phone no rent no insurance no taxes no electricity no hot water no mail no kids no dogs no fees no limits no kiosk no cement logs no rangers
Kevin... The Best of Times.
I think that there will never be another place where a climber can go and soak in "the life" and get really good at climbing. No more can you save up some cash and go spend a season climbing. The rules and regulations in the Valley and at JT dont take to 60 day free stays. We were so very lucky.
One of my new climbing partners, with about 1.5 years experience, just spent the month of MAY in C4 .... she learned a ton about climbing and came back a much more solid and confident climber.
She enjoyed the scene, climbed with folks from all over globe and most importantly....learned how to avoid the LAW, and get past the stupid 7 day limit.
True life skills.
Mitch... enjoy your stay.
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HighTraverse
Trad climber
Bay Area
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Aug 13, 2014 - 10:45am PT
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Leave C4 similar to the small bumpy and dirty ledges we sleep on. Good conditioning I've never had a bad night in C4.
Of course in the Bad Old Days we just trudged up C4 gully a few hundred yards and bivvied beneath the boulders. Brewed up in the Lodge parking lot before the Nasty Rasty trailers were installed.
I met a number of interesting people in C4. Some are now famous, most of them not so much. A small few who hang here.
Sure C4 can be a frigid soggy mess in the winter. Not nearly as bad as Upper Refrigerator which now is the only year round car campground in the Valley. Talk about cold! Why do they keep it open year round when it only gets about 2 hours of sun in the winter? And that's the TOTAL for the winter.
I've had some very amusing nights in C4.
and like jstan said, great conditioning. It's been a pleasure a couple of times to bivvy out when returning was not an option.
or to quote a famous Jewish Fiddler......"Traditionnnnnnn........Traditionnnnnnn!!!"
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arkansasmitch
Trad climber
conway, AR
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Topic Author's Reply - Aug 14, 2014 - 10:06am PT
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Thanks for all of the input guys and gals! I'm definitely planning to stay in Camp 4. Like Werner says, how can I ever expect to be great if I don't roll around in the dust of "the greats". In fact, I better bring my 2 year old daughter and roll her around in it too just to get her started right! I'll be showing up Thursday morning coming down from Tuolumne so I'll try to get there by 6am for sure. Thanks again!
Mitch
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Climbnc
Trad climber
Carrboro, NC
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Aug 18, 2014 - 10:39am PT
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The September the 15th date is when the 14 day / 7 nights in the valley camping limit in the park is lifted. We were there on the 14th last year and got in line early (6), but there were spaces available almost all day. That was also the time of the end of the edge of the world fire, which may have kept the traffic down.
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Enty
Trad climber
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Aug 18, 2014 - 12:27pm PT
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Despite what people are saying on this thread - you must stay in Camp 4 at least once.
Everytime I've been I've had a fantastic time, met awesome poeple from around the world, climbed with awesome people etc etc
I'm hoping to be back next year and will probably stay in C4
The best shithole in the world.
E
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eagle
Trad climber
new paltz, ny
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Aug 18, 2014 - 02:25pm PT
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I STAYED IN C 4 SUMMER 76 AND 77 AND 84
THE BATHROOMS ARE DISCUSTING..NO HOT WATER. PEOLE DO NOT CLEAN UP AFTER THEMSELVES. IT IS TRUE WHAT THE GUY SAID A FEW POSTS BACK..EVEN THE DIRT IS DIRTY, THAT IS VERY TRUE. I WAS TAKING #2 ONE TIME IN ONE OF THE STALLS I READ A FUNNY LINE OF GRAFITTE[SP] THAT WAS WRITTEN ON THE BOTTOM OF THE DOOR AND IT SAID...WITH 2 ARROWS POINTING DOWN...CAUTION LIMBO DANCERS..THIS MADE ME LOL. COLUMBIA BOULDER USED TO HAVE AN AID RT ON IT MADE FROM WEBBING LOOPS EPOXYED TO THE ROCK. OH BABY..WE GOTTA GO NOW
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adikted
Boulder climber
Tahooooeeeee
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Aug 18, 2014 - 02:31pm PT
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Take vitamin C like a mofo!!! Germs from around the world live there....otherwise have fun
Greg
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kiwiflea
Social climber
Wanaka, Otago
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Aug 18, 2014 - 03:59pm PT
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This was the scene for us around 4am 24th Sep last year. We arrived in the queue at 3am, and already there were four in front of us - have fun :-)
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kiwiflea
Social climber
Wanaka, Otago
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Aug 18, 2014 - 04:02pm PT
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That's not to say it wasn't my favourite place in the whole of our US trip though!
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johntp
Trad climber
socal
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Aug 18, 2014 - 05:14pm PT
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Not nearly as bad as Upper Refrigerator which now is the only year round car campground in the Valley. Talk about cold! Why do they keep it open year round when it only gets about 2 hours of sun in the winter? And that's the TOTAL for the winter.
It has been a few minutes and I'm still ROTFLMAO!
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donini
Trad climber
Ouray, Colorado
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Aug 18, 2014 - 05:45pm PT
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You might meet some fascinating folks in Camp 4 but you can't beat the Ahwahnee Hotel for networking.....some great stock tips and the best cougars this side of Aspen.
The plus $400 a night tariff might be a little stiff for some climbers but if you cash in your gym membership, buy a Prius and only drink coffee at home you might be able to pull it off.
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Captain...or Skully
climber
in the oil patch...Fricken Bakken, that's where
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Aug 18, 2014 - 06:50pm PT
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You're a funny guy, Jim. Ahwahnee, indeed. Good luck.
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le_bruce
climber
Oakland, CA
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Aug 18, 2014 - 06:57pm PT
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I love Camp 4 without qualification. My problem is that I've run out of partners who are willing to crash there. Nut Again! was always up for it.
I met and shared a campfire with a crew from Spain who had been derelict at sea for over a week. I thought it was bullshit until they showed me pics.
I also got a free, two-week long master class in climbing from a guy that I met in Camp 4. He'd pulled in that morning from Alaska and was hunting for partners. Man was a gifted bastard and took me up many a line I never could have tackled back then. Just watching him send pitch after pitch taught me a shitload. He also psyched me up for my first 5.10 lead in the Valley, which I wouldn't have sacked up for for another year or so without him. I didn't have any partners or friends like him at that time. Never would have happened without Camp 4.
Another night I listened to two drunk friends try to talk their third drunk friend out of a suicide of sorts for over 45 minutes. That sh#t was gold. His plan, at around midnight in winter, with snow covering the whole valley and sub-freezing temps, was to head out on a vision quest in his A. Iverson jersey so he could come to grips with some sh#t that was going down with his woman. I lay in my sleeping bag and listened rapt for the whole time - quality, quality dialogue. I was climbing the next day but I wasn't even mad to be up...
That line can get pretty long outside of the kiosk, it's true. Bumped into this poor bastard, who had spent a rough night waiting. He wasn't a pussy though.
Warbler, if that's not embellishment about leaving your tent in place for two plus years... that goes down as f*#king *magical* as a depiction of what Camp 4 was like back in the day.
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whitemeat
Big Wall climber
San Luis Obispo, CA
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Aug 21, 2014 - 08:29am PT
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You could battle for a spot in camp 4... Or perhaps you could drive in a out of the valley every night...
Or you could just sleep ANYWHERE 300 feet away from a road and for free...
I like the third option personally!
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Reilly
Mountain climber
The Other Monrovia- CA
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Aug 21, 2014 - 08:32am PT
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Whitemeat, I'm not so sure yer correct but, as a dedicated dosser, I applaud yer sentiment!
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Gnome Ofthe Diabase
climber
Out Of Bed
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Sep 29, 2017 - 11:37pm PT
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bump
uh?
Eagle?
ya still out there?
there's a lost world!
Hope yer well Dave (& Steve As well?)
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