Wednesday, March 28, 2012

your opinion on YNP itinerary, please...

Is this just way too much for our time in Yosemite? If you have an opinion about moving some items around because of their location, I%26#39;d appreciate the info.





My trip notes: Evergreen Lodge--June 10-13



June 10: Hetch Hetchy



June 11: tram tour of Yosemite Valley: 2 hrs--at least by 10 am, then hike Vernal Falls (will get wet)1.5 hrs to footbridge or 3 hrs. to Vernal Falls via Mist Trail, Bridalveil (30 mins), Lower Yosemite Falls (30 mins), El Capitan, Half Dome, Tunnel View, etc. Sunset at Glacier Point



June 12: take bus up to Glacier Point then hike down to Yosemite Valley ( 4 hrs)



June 13: check out of Evergreen Lodge, Mariposa Grove to see trees (allow 1/2 day), raft on Merced River (1/2 day), drive to Lee Vining to hotel



June 14: Toulumne Meadows, Mono Lake volcanic crater, Mammoth Lakes hot springs



June 15: check out %26amp; drive to San Fran for flight back to Florida



your opinion on YNP itinerary, please...


June 13 seems problematic. The drive for the Evergreen to the Mariposa Grove is 90 minutes, see the grove and then drive to the valley for rafting that%26#39;s 75 minutes, then raft, then drive to Lee Vining from the valley is 2 hours.





Here%26#39;s a link to a mileage drive time cheat sheet:





nps.gov/yose/鈥ileages9-2007.pdf



your opinion on YNP itinerary, please...


Yes, thank you. I see what you mean. What if we did the rafting after our hike from Glacier Pt. down to the Valley on June 12? Would that be too much for one day? And is the rafting of Merced near where we%26#39;d end up after the hike? I%26#39;m thinking it would be nice %26amp; relaxing to raft after the hike. Thanks.




A suggestion regarding the Giant Sequoias. It is quite a drive from the Evergreen Lodge area. It looks like you%26#39;re willing to hike a bit. The Tuolumne Grove of Giant Sequoias might be another good option for you. It%26#39;s basically at the turnoff to 120 east, near the Crane Flat gas station. It%26#39;s a 2 mile roundtrip hike, uphill on the way back (but no more uphill than the Mist Trail that you%26#39;re planning on doing). There are less trees than in the Mariposa Grove, but the trees are still very much GIANT. And there tend to be slightly fewer people there as compared to the Mariposa Grove. If you go there, you wouldn%26#39;t need to drive all the way down to the south end of the Park. It would make the 13th slightly more do-able if you%26#39;re ambitious, but still a tight schedule in my opinion.





Another suggestion depending on your fitness level, if you take the entire day of June 12th to hike down from Glacier Point and do the Panorama Trail down,it will take you through the Mist Trail, past Nevada and Vernal Falls. You could cut the Mist trail hike out on the 11th, and perhaps do rafting on that date. Take note though, the Panorama Trail is 8.5 miles, with up and down (though mostly down)...average time down from Glacier Point is 6 hours.If you do this,know that you%26#39;ll need to carry all your water with you. Seventh hike listed here.



nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/valleyhikes.htm





Even if you don%26#39;t make it to everything on your itinerary, you%26#39;re going to have a great overview of the Park. Have a great time!




Oh, and the rafting starts at Curry Village, at the bike rental area. It ends sort of around where your hike ends, and there%26#39;s a shuttle that takes you back to Curry Village.





There%26#39;s the El Capitan shuttle that should be stopping near the 4 mile trailhead (I%26#39;m assuming you were initially planning on taking the 4 mile trailhead down give your time estimate)...you can take that to one of the main valley shuttle stops...and then ride to Curry Village. I would give yourself a half hour to get yourself over to Curry Village.





You%26#39;re right...it would be very relaxing after a hike. It%26#39;s definitely a leisurely float.




You have some very good reoommendations here. Note that EGL to Mariposa Grove is a bit more than 90 minutes suggested above. I would take the Tuolumne Grove Trail instead. You can do this at any of your into or out of the park times or even on your day going over Tioga Pass.





If you can cut the Mariposa trees out from the south, that gives you more time on the 13th and you can explore Tuolumne Meadows on your way to Lee Vining instead of returning the next day.





Have a wonderful trip!




If it is more than 90 minutes then EGL is misleading its guests. Here%26#39;s what they say about travel times in the park, near the bottom of this page:





http://www.evergreenlodge.com/evergreen.html




Okay...based on some of your recs I have changed my plans a little.





My trip notes: Evergreen Lodge--June 10-13



June 10: Hetch Hetchy



June 11: tram tour of Yosemite Valley(2 hrs--at least by 10 am), Bridalveil (30 mins), Lower Yosemite Falls (30 mins), El Capitan, Half Dome, Tunnel View, raft on Merced River near Curry Village, etc. Sunset at Glacier Point



June 12: take bus up to Glacier Point then hike down to Yosemite Valley via Panorama Trail-8.5 miles( 6 hrs) will go thru Mist Trail %26amp; see Vernal %26amp; Nevada Falls



June 13: Tuolumne Grove--see trees (2 mile hike), Tuolumne Meadows, drive to Lee Vining



June 14: Mono Lake volcanic crater, Mammoth Lakes hot springs



June 15: check out, drive back to San Fran. to fly home





I am a little worried about the 8.5 mile hike though. My husband thought I was crazy when I mentioned it to him, but this is a once in a lifetime trip. We are 35 %26amp; 40 yrs old, %26amp; I do exercise at least 4 times a week. I am diabetic though, so I%26#39;ll be sure to pack snacks %26amp; water.





Does anyone know anything about Mono Lake vol crater %26amp; the hot springs? are they worth seeing?



Thanks!!!!!




Oops, I forgot to mention that we will be staying in Lee Vining from the 13th to 15th. SO we won%26#39;t have to drive back to Evergreen after then.




browning 1, I know I suggested the Panorama Trail, but I just wanted to throw out there that if you have any doubts about 8.5 miles, you might want to stick with your original plan of the shorter (but steeper hike), and doing the rafting afterward. I%26#39;m a firm believer of people enjoying their hikes, and I wouldn%26#39;t want the hike to be a struggle or for you to get stuck out on a trail.





Also keep in mind that you%26#39;re going to be at a higher elevation, which impacts people differently, but you might find yourself getting winded/tired a bit faster than you%26#39;re used to.





Whatever you decide, have a great time.

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