Wilderness-Use.Pdf
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Trailhead Quota System Acquiring A Wilderness Permit Acquiring A Wilderness Permit Continued Welcome! Yosemite is a popular destination for backpackers, By reservation. Advance reservations are available From May through October, you can get permits at and it includes over 700 miles of trail and 54 for trips occurring from May through October. the following locations: The greater the obstacle, • Yosemite Valley Wilderness Center in Yosemite Most of Yosemite National Park is trailheads. Yosemite National Park has a trailhead Reservations are available up to 24 weeks (168 days), the more glory quota system limiting the number of overnight but no later than two days, before your start date. Village next to the Post Office in overcoming it. designated Wilderness—designated by • Tuolumne Meadows Wilderness Center, one mile visitors entering a particular trailhead on a given Jean Baptiste Molière Congress because the American people To reserve a permit, download a reservation form east of the Tuolumne Store, off Tioga Road wanted areas where nature and its day. This system is designed to reduce impacts from www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/wild and to avoid overcrowding, in keeping with the • Big Oak Flat Information Station, immediately community of life remain unchanged by permits.htm, completely fill out the form, and Wilderness Act’s mandate of providing after the 120 West park entrance humans. You will experience nature on its fax to 209/372-0739. You may also call “outstanding opportunities for solitude.” The • The Wawona Visitor Center at Hill’s Studio own terms in Yosemite’s wilderness– 209/372-0740 or write to Wilderness Permits; quota system is based on where you begin your • Hetch Hetchy Entrance Station natural fires, falling rocks, high water stream PO Box 545; Yosemite, CA, 95389. A processing fee hike, and in some cases, on where you camp the Overnight Winter Permits crossings, and sudden stormy weather can of $5 per permit + $5 for each person in the group first night of your trip. After the first night, you may is applied to each confirmed reservation. Wilderness permits for overnight camping are occur at any time. These are all part of the hike to another section of the wilderness without required in winter (Nov.- April), and are available wilderness experience. restriction. For this reason, even if you have a To make a reservation please include the name on a self-registration basis at the Yosemite Valley the permit will be under, mailing address, daytime This brochure will help you plan for your permit lasting for several days, you may not begin Visitor Center, Wawona Visitor Center at Hill’s phone number, number of people, number of stay in the wilderness while minimizing your your trip on any day except the first day your Studio, Badger Pass Ranger Station, Hetch Hetchy stock, start and end dates, beginning and ending impacts. With your help and care, we can permit is valid. Entrance Station, or the Big Oak Flat Information trailheads, principal destination (to help clarify keep the land wild for future generations. Call Station. No reservations are necessary. Overnight Wilderness Permits trailhead), and method of payment (credit card, Backpackers’ Campgrounds 209/372-0200 or visit online at www.nps. check, or money order). All wilderness permits A permit is required for all overnight wilderness gov/yose/planyourvisit/backpacking.htm must be picked up in person by a member of the Wilderness permit holders may spend one night use and must be in your possession while in the for more information on trip planning, hiking group during open hours the day of or one prior to, and one night after a backpacking trip wilderness. Permits are not required for day hikes. obtaining a wilderness permit, and trails. day prior to your hike. Reserved permits are held in one of the first-come, first-served, walk-in Group size is limited to 15 people or less if until 10 am on the day of your trip. backpackers’ campgrounds. This may be helpful if travelling on trail, or eight people or less for any 1 you receive your first-come, first-served permit the cross-country hiking more then /4 mile off trail. First-come, first-served. From May to October, day before beginning your hike. The cost is $5 per A maximum of 25 head of stock are allowed per forty percent of available permits are held for person and they are located behind North Pines group, and stock must stay on the trail. In addition, walk-up visitors. These first-come, first-served campground in Yosemite Valley, Hetch Hetchy, pets, bicycles, motorized vehicles, and hunting are permits become available one day before you plan White Wolf, and Tuolumne Meadows. not permitted in Yosemite Wilderness. to leave for your trip. Planning Your Trip Planning Your Trip Continued. Popular Trailheads Yosemite National Park Planning your trip is the most important step in • Check weather and be prepared for anything. Because of Yosemite’s popularity, certain Wilderness Use preparing for an enjoyable wilderness experience. Rain is always possible. At higher elevations, trailheads fill up regularly. Reservations for these Here are a few suggestions: significant amounts of snow can remain well into trailheads are likely to fill up in the first few weeks July. Water levels at creek crossings fluctuate; they are offered for advance reservations, and the • Choose a reasonable route for your group’s creeks that are dangerously cold and high in early first-come, first-served quota is likely to be abilities. Keep in mind the physical condition season can become dry by August. Also be entirely allocated within the first hour it becomes of the group’s least experienced member. Think prepared for high temperatures, and bring plenty available. about what type of wilderness experience you of water to stay hydrated. would like to have and be aware of trip length and The most popular trailheads are: • Check road conditions. The Tioga and Glacier elevation changes. Let someone know your plans A lake is the landscape’s • Happy Isles to Little Yosemite Valley Point Roads close to overnight parking on including when you will return. Do not go alone most beautiful • Glacier Point to Little Yosemite Valley unless you are very experienced. Plan your route October 15 of every year. In the event of a winter • Happy Isles Pass Thru to Merced Lake, Sunrise and expressive feature. with the help of guidebooks, wilderness centers in storm, the roads close to all traffic and remain (John Muir Trail entry point) the park and www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit. closed until the snow melts from the road. It is earth’s eye; • Sunrise Lakes (entry at Tenaya Lake heading These roads usually open in late May or early looking into which south) • Have more than one trip in mind. When June but may still be closed as late as July. Call the beholder measures • Cathedral Lakes 209/372-0200 to check current road conditions. selecting a route of travel you should plan your the depth of trip before you make a reservation and have his own nature. The following trailheads are also at least one backup option in mind. • Arrive ready to go. You can purchase food, likely to fill in high season Henry David Thoreau cooking fuel, and some backpacking gear in (July and August, weekends, and holidays): • Consult a topographical map. Yosemite ranges Yosemite Valley, but selection is limited and some • Rafferty Creek to Vogelsang Climb the mountains from 3,000 - 13,000 feet in elevation. In addition items may be unavailable. The nearest grocery • Glen Aulin to considering total trip miles, factor elevation store outside the park is approximately 50 miles • Glen Aulin Pass-Thru to Cold Canyon and get their good tidings. changes into your trip planning. Many trips are from the Valley floor. Arrive prepared and save and Waterwheel Falls Nature’s peace will flow into you quite strenuous due to steep gradients, and high yourself time. • Lyell Canyon as sunshine flows altitude can have a major effect on physical into trees. • Be ready to store your food properly. Bear abilities. Temperatures also vary significantly at Whatever your intention, before you acquire your John Muir different elevations within Yosemite. Depending canisters are required for all overnight trips. permit, research trips to ensure a backup option. on the season and elevation, temperatures can be They are available at wilderness centers in the extremely hot or cold. park with a $5 rental fee and $70 deposit. Photo courtesy Lincoln Else Photo courtesy Lincoln Else Do Your Part to Protect Yosemite Wilderness Leave no trace of your visit. While you are in the wilderness, you may encounter hazards due to human influences, such as contaminated water and animals that want to eat your food. With your help and care, we can reduce these human-caused changes to keep these wild lands unimpaired for future generations. Keeping wilderness wild depends on you. PREVENT NEW TRAIL RUTS: WASTE DISPOSAL: Bury CAMPFIRES: Only use pre-existing PROPER CAMPSITE SELECTION: PACK IT IN, pacK IT OUT: Stay on the trail even if it is human waste and pack out toilet fire rings. Don’t leave permanent Camp on a durable surface such as Carry all garbage out with you and muddy or the route is longer to paper and hygiene products to blackened scars by creating sand, gravel, or rock 100 feet away do not burn or bury trash. avoid creating unintended trails avoid unsanitary and unsightly campfires at the base of rocks. from water sources and the trail. items in the wilderness. • Pl a n a h e a d a n d p r e p a r e .