Messages 1 - 18 of total 18 in this topic |
JacobSmith
climber
Seattle
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Topic Author's Original Post - Sep 3, 2014 - 05:59pm PT
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I've stayed in hostels for less per night than the FS campgrounds outside Yosemite cost and I've heard getting a spot on camp 4 can be difficult. My research keeps turning up these oblique references to random camping on BLM land, is this as simple as it sounds? are there areas close to, preferably just outside, the park, where you can just pull off the road and pitch a tent? I'm a little skeptical and I'd really rather not get in a fight with a ranger and/or black bear. Any info would be appreciated?
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kev
climber
A pile of dirt.
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If you're out of the park the bears are fine. One only need worry about the domesticated yosemite bear.
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Dapper Dan
Trad climber
Menlo Park
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Highway 120 on the Tioga entrance to the park has quite a few areas where you could throw a bag or perhaps a tent out , especially around Lee Vining. On the western side , hwy. 120 and all the areas in the national forest might still be under the 'no camping' restrictions from the last big fire . Those spots are on the 120, west of the park entrance, are still at least 30 minutes from valley crags .
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phylp
Trad climber
Millbrae, CA
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I infer you are asking about Yosemite Valley, from the ref to Camp 4, but "yosemite" is an awfully big place, so there are several answers to your question depending on what you want to be near.
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JacobSmith
climber
Seattle
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Topic Author's Reply - Sep 3, 2014 - 08:09pm PT
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Yes, i am planning on climbing in Yosemite valley and the idea would be to camp somewhere within a half-hour drive of those crags
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WBraun
climber
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The intelligent class studies the layout of the land and finds what it needs ......
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Dingus Milktoast
Gym climber
Maestro, Ecosystem Ministry, Fatcrackistan
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The problem with camping on the open forest lands is you have to (should) pack up all your stuff, every day.
With a campground in the park you can leave your tent and sleeping bag etc. and other less valuable stuff all set up. Out in the forest lands you'd just about be asking for someone to take it.
DMT
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QITNL
climber
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Two weeks ago a funny thing happened to me on the way to the zoo. I got a spot that's replaced Harden Flat while it's closed. I'm not spreading it around, brother, keeping it strictly to email. Probably too far away for the OP's purposes, anyway.
So I pull in like 1 or 2AM, about 5-10 minutes down a dirt road. Get out of my old truck, take a piss, pop the shell.
All of a sudden, a big truck pulls up. Lights blazing. Stops right behind me. Oh crap, I'm gonna get raped by the locals.
I walk up, say hey, and see it's the Sheriff! Whew!
"Whatchadoing?" he asks.
"Dispersed camping" says I. "On my way up to Yosemite. That side of the road is closed due to the Rim Fire. This side of the road is legal."
"Be safe," he says in so many words and drives off on his way. Kinda freaked me out, though. I never see nobody down that road.
Another recent thread here:
http://www.supertopo.com/climbers-forum/2463483/Help-neede-camping-in-or-near-Tuolumne-Meadows
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HighTraverse
Trad climber
Bay Area
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idea would be to camp somewhere within a half-hour drive of those crags You have to ask yourself "why?"
Note that 1/2 hour by car doesn't get you from any park entrance to 90% of the Valley climbing areas.
A 1/2 hour walk and/or free shuttle bus ride from Camp 4 gets you to most of them.
A lot of local (Bay area etc) people crash outside the park on their way after work on Friday night partly to save $ and partly because they'd rather not drive the extra 45 mins late at night to not get a campsite anyway. Besides, it's "traditional"
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Bullwinkle
Boulder climber
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What the Duck said, go there and see what the Valley has to offer you. . .
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bergbryce
climber
East Bay, CA
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this is the cluster%uck that keeps on givin'.
when is the park going to create more legitimate campsites?
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kev
climber
A pile of dirt.
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Oh crap, I'm gonna get raped by the locals.
That was funny - LMFAO!
There are places to bivy but they are few and far between - especially now since so many of the standard 120 bivys are hosed from the fire. Because these things are rare peeps aren't gonna post em up here or every idiot from this forum would be using them. Listen to the Duck and go figure it out.
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Mr_T
Trad climber
Northern California
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Just look on the yosemite online reservations for a cancellation. I have always been able to piece together sites. If the cost is too much, post up here for someone to split the site with you.
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QITNL
climber
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Slept last Friday night in Harden Flat. Standard pull-out, #3. Apologies if you heard me driving past you, #1 & #2.
Think positive. More moonlight is the upside of toasted trees.
Slept the next couple of nights at that stupid Little Yosemite Campsite with the two-story latrine.
Idiots burn campfires in the duff, walk away with logs smoldering.
4 bars on the cellphone? Call your mom. Sleep good, sleep free.
Missing photo ID#318560
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nopantsben
climber
europe
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i once "just pitched my tent" right outside the valley next to a random road and was shot at with a gun. no joke.
stupid american shooting guns at guys 200m away from their house trying to catch some sleep.
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kunlun_shan
Mountain climber
SF, CA
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^ sounds scary, ben.
Of all places, I had the same thing happen in Finland, where its very legal to put a tent up anywhere as long as it is a certain distance from private houses. 3am, midnight sun, footsteps woke us up and someone fired a shot just outside our tent. We kept completely silent and the person walked away. Have no idea what that was about, and am guessing the person was drunk.
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scooter
climber
fist clamp
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It is free to sleep in the N.F. all you have to do is find a level spot.
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