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Tuolumne
Essentials
Getting
There
Car Travel
The SuperTopo Yosemite
Page offers all the info you will need on getting to Yosemite
Valley. From there, it is either a 1.5 hour drive east on Highway
120 to Tuolumne Meadows. It is a three hour drive to Tuolumne from
the Reno/Tahoe area and about a 1.5 hour drive from Bishop.
Air Travel
Reno/Tahoe
Airport is the closest airport to Tuolumne. From there, you
will need to rent a car (2.5 hour drive) or take a bus to Mammoth
on Mammoth Shuttle (760-934-3030) and then take a shuttle to Tuolumne.
You can also fly into Oakland, San Francisco, Sacramento or Fresno.
Each of these places is a 3-4.5 hour drive from Tuolumne Meadows.
Info
on these airports
Bus Travel
YARTS
provides bus transportation from Yosemite Valley to Tuolumne and
from the Eastern Sierra to Tuolumne (click
here for schedule).
A shuttle leaves from Yosemite Lodge every morning from July through
Labor Day. It provides access along Tioga Road/Highway 120 to Crane
Flat, White Wolf, and Tuolumne Meadows Lodge. Per person charge:
Adults $11, Children $5.50. Purchase tickets one day in advance
to guarantee seating (209-372-1240). Click
here for information about this and other tours in Yosemite
National Park.
Once in Tuolumne, a free shuttle bus provides convenient access
throughout the Tuolumne Meadows area between the Tuolumne Lodge
and Olmsted Point (including Tenaya Lake) during the summer.
When
to Climb
Tuolumne has some of the best weather of any alpine rock climbing
area on earth. That said, Tuolumne is still in a massive
mountain range and receives severe thunderstorms and lightning throughout
the summer.
All climbing in Tuolumne is accessed off of Highway 120. Because
of its high elevation, Highway 120 east of Crane Flat and west of
Lee Vining, is closed in the winter. The road closes on the first
snow of the year (usually November) and opens sometime in late May
or June or July, depending on the snow year (for
data, click here.) During the winter, it is possible to climb
in Tuolumne but very few people make the arduous ski in.
During early season, Tuolumne conditions are often the best. No
crowds, no mosquitos and long days. The only problem is that many
approaches may be wet or snowy, depending on the snow year. Around
July 1, the crowds arrive in Tuolumne, usually with the mosquitos.
The crowds are not bad relative to Yosemite, but you will probably
have to wait in line for the most classic routes. The mosquitos,
on the other hand, can be terrible. Be sure to bring long pants,
long sleeve shirts and bug repellent. In September, the crowds and
mosquitos again leave Tuolumne. While the climbing conditions are
still great, the days are short and the nights are frigid.
During the summer (especially in July), thunderstorms can set in
and bring rain and lightning for days. If you arrive in one of these
weather patterns, consider driving either east to the Mammoth/Bishop
area or west to Yosemite Valley.
Current
Road and Weather
Here is the forecast for Tioga Pass (ignore that it says Reno on the page) which is 10 miles east of Tuolumne Meadows:
Yosemite
and Tuolumne road conditions — or call (209) 372-0200
Tuolumne
Meadows temperatures — daily report of temperatures at
Tuolumne
Tuolumne Winter Conditions — weekly a update from backcountry rangers
Great Sierra Weather Link and More — tons of weather link, backcountry sensors, etc
Lightning
Danger
Lightning tends to hit high points,trees,and water,but will hit
low points next to high rocks,flat areas near tall trees,and dry
land in areas with lakes. Know CPR. Unlike most other injuries that stop the heart, electrical shock victims
can suddenly awaken after extended CPR. CPR should be continued
indefinitely.
Altitude
Sickness
It takes a few days for most people to adjust to the rarefied air,
so drink lots of water and don’t run around too fast if you’re
just coming up from low elevations. On your first day in Tuolumne,
climb a route with a short approach to let yourself acclimate.
Thunderstorms
Tuolumne has beautiful sunny weather in the summer—except for
thunderstorms. Small, puffy clouds seen before 10 a.m. are a sure
sign of heavy rain,hail,and worst of all,lightning. Thunderstorms
usually appear in cycles,and generally during periods with hot,calm
weather in the Central Valley.
Staying
in the Tuolumne
Unlike the Yosemite Valley experience, Tuolumne Meadows is relatively
uncrowded and serene. The meadows provides just enough basic services
to comfortably camp. If you are craving some better food, more services,
or just a day excursions, Lee Vining, Mono Lake and Mammoth Lakes
are all less than an hour away. Read below for more specific info.
A
good map of the park is available online from the park service
web site.
Camping
There is one campground in Tuolumne Meadows located next to the
Tuolumne Store that has about 300 sites. Half of the sites can be
reserved in advance (reserve them at least 2-3 months in advance)
and half of the sites are on a first come, first serve basis (arrive
in the morning to ensure you get a site). Sites cost $18.00 per
night with a six person two car limit. Be aware that mosquitos at
the Tuolumne campground can be particularly fierce in June and July.
Located seven to 20 miles east from Tuolumne Meadows are 10
Forest Service campgrounds most of which are first come, first serve and cost $12-16 per night.
The camprounds near Tioga Pass are often battered by icy winds. For more info
on these campgrounds click
here and scroll to "Lee Vining Area Campgrounds"
Lodges
and Cabins
Tuolumne Meadows Lodge is the closest lodge. White Wolf is about 20 miles to the west. The High
Sierra Camps are a series of tent cabins you high to. Just outside of the Park Boundary is the Tioga
Pass Resort which offer cabins year round (in the winter you
need to ski or snowmobile up to them.) Drive fifteen miles from
Tuolumne Meadows and you will reach Lee Vining, a small town with
a few motels, restaurants and other basic services. For good value in Lee Vining lodging, check out El Mono Motel, Murphey's. In the winter, be sure to ask for the Ice Climber discount.
Food
A limited selection of high-priced groceries are available at the
Tuolumne Meadows store. In addition, you can purchase groceries
in Lee Vining at the Lee Vining Market.
The only prepared food in Tuolumne is at Tuolumne Meadows Grill
which serves hamburgers, fries, etc. Eight miles east of Tuolumne
Meadows, the Tioga Pass resort offers a cozy dinning room with a
good food. Shockingly, the Mobil
Gas Station, located 14 miles from Tuolumne Meadows, serves
some of the best food in the area. This isn't just any gas station
as at this deli you will find a great selection of sandwiches, pizza's,
tacos and a variety of other savory treats for breakfast, lunch
and dinner. A great spot in Lee Vining for coffee is Latte Da
Climbing
Gear and Climbing Guides
The Tuolumne Mountain Shop (209-372-8436), located in the gas station,
offers a selection of climbing equipment. For a more extensive
selection of gear, drive 50 miles to Mammoth Mountaineering, 80
miles to Bishop or back to the Yosemite Mountain Shop.
You can get climbing instruction and arrange for a guide through
the Tuolumne Mountaineering School (209-372-8435) which is also
located in the gas station.
Bears
and Marmots
In 1998, property damage in Yosemite National Park caused by bears
exceeded $630,000 and more than 1,100 vehicles were broken into.
Bears have damaged cars for as little as a stick of gum or an empty
soda can. If you want what’s yours to remain yours, remember
three things about bears: they are hungry, smart and strong.
When bears smell food, even if it’s locked in your trunk
or glove compartment, they shift into high gear. They get turned
on by odors of containers that used to contain food, but do no longer.
They even go for toothpaste and sunscreen. Bears don’t need
to smell food; they see something like a grocery bag or an ice chest,
and associate it with food. In fact, they don’t even need to
see that much. If a bear sees clutter inside a car, he’ll think,
“I wonder what’s under all that stuff?” and go to
work.
Breaking into a car is a trivial exercise for a bear. He inserts
his claws at the top of the door frame and pulls down. Then he climbs
in and trashes the car. You can’t outsmart or out-muscle a
bear. Unless you are on a wall (and bears have been known to poach
there, too), stash your food in one of the bear-proof storage lockers
provided by the Park Service.
For more information check out the Park
Service's bear page and weekly bear bulletin.
In addition to bears, be on the lookout for marmots. Cute from
a distance, these plump critter love nothing more than scrounging
for food in climbing packs while you watch helplessly from two pitches
up. Be sure to hang your your backpack, even if it does not have
food in it, high on a tree branch while you are away from it.
Miscellaneous
Stuff
Showers cost $2 and are available at the Tuolumne Meadows lodge
between 12 and 3pm. Gas is available (at exorbitant prices) next
to the Tuolumne Meadows Store. Gas is also available 15 miles east
in and around Lee Vining (also at exorbitant prices). There is a
post office located next to the Tuolumne Store. There is a pack
station in Tuolumne. A message board is located outside the Tuolumne
Meadows Store. The nearest ATM is at the Lee Vining Market. The
nearest bank in 50 miles away in Mammoth. Wilderness
permits are required for camping in the backcountry. They are
available for free at the Tuolumne Wilderness Wilderness Center.
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