Got the Wilderness Permit
Okay, so I got the wilderness permit reservation for my birthday backpack trip. Yay!
I made a list of the top three trails I wanted to do and was able to secure the permit for the third on my list. Here they are in order...
A. Young Lakes via Dog Lake (starting at Tuolumne Meadows trailhead)
B. Evelyn Lake via Rafferty Creek (starting at Tuolumne Meadows trailhead)
C. Ten Lakes Basin via White Wolf Trail (starting at White Wolf campground, exit Ten Lakes trailhead)
1. You don't need a permit to enter the Yosemite's backcountry if you are just going for a day hike, but you do need one for all overnight excursions.
2. The National Park Service (NPS) has a quota of how many people can enter the backcountry on a daily basis. Usually they'll allow twenty people per day, per trailhead, but depending on the trail there maybe limitations on the amount of people you can have in your group. The general rule is that if you're going on a cross-country trip, you're limited to 8 people. Groups of up to 15 people can be taken on most popular trails, but there are some trails where group size is limited to six.
3. Reservations for permits can be made up to 24 weeks prior to your trip. You can also get wilderness permits the day of your trip, but they must be picked up before 10am. FYI, 60% of the trailhead quotas are set aside for advanced reservation and the remaining 40% can be obtained the day of.
Click this link to visit the NPS permit page
**********************************
Here's the tentative itinerary...
Tuesday, August 14th:
Arrive at the Backpacker's camp in Tuolumne Meadows in the evening after work. Camp there.
Wednesday, August 15th:
Pick up the permit from the Permit station. Drop off one of the two cars at the Ten Lakes trailhead. Drive the other car to White Wolf campground (may take two trips depending on gear and available space). Depart White Wolf trailhead and hike 8 miles to Half Moon Meadow. Camp there for the night.
Thursday, August 16th:
Get up early in the morning and hike 4-5 miles thru Ten Lakes Pass and into the Ten Lakes area. Find a cool lake to call home and set up camp.
Friday, August 17th
Relax, fish, day hike, whatever.
Saturday, August 18th:
Get up early, pack up camp and hike 6-7 miles to our exit trailhead, Ten Lakes trailhead. Drive down to Yosemite Valley. Camp at Camp Curry or the Backpacker's camp. Get cleaned up. Get a nice hot meal at one of the lodges. Get wicked drunk.
Sunday, August 19th:
Sleep in due to hangover and muscle soreness. Get brunch at one of the lodges or the Awahnee if we're lucky. Drive home completely exhausted, but feeling very accomplished! And finally... start planning to do it again next year!
**********************************
My permit is good for 6 people and so far I have 2 people confirmed and 2 people still deciding. Lemme know if you want to go and I'll see if we can make it work.
**********************************
Ten Lakes Basin via White Wolf Trail - Click the map to see a bigger version
I made a list of the top three trails I wanted to do and was able to secure the permit for the third on my list. Here they are in order...
A. Young Lakes via Dog Lake (starting at Tuolumne Meadows trailhead)
B. Evelyn Lake via Rafferty Creek (starting at Tuolumne Meadows trailhead)
C. Ten Lakes Basin via White Wolf Trail (starting at White Wolf campground, exit Ten Lakes trailhead)
1. You don't need a permit to enter the Yosemite's backcountry if you are just going for a day hike, but you do need one for all overnight excursions.
2. The National Park Service (NPS) has a quota of how many people can enter the backcountry on a daily basis. Usually they'll allow twenty people per day, per trailhead, but depending on the trail there maybe limitations on the amount of people you can have in your group. The general rule is that if you're going on a cross-country trip, you're limited to 8 people. Groups of up to 15 people can be taken on most popular trails, but there are some trails where group size is limited to six.
3. Reservations for permits can be made up to 24 weeks prior to your trip. You can also get wilderness permits the day of your trip, but they must be picked up before 10am. FYI, 60% of the trailhead quotas are set aside for advanced reservation and the remaining 40% can be obtained the day of.
Click this link to visit the NPS permit page
**********************************
Here's the tentative itinerary...
Tuesday, August 14th:
Arrive at the Backpacker's camp in Tuolumne Meadows in the evening after work. Camp there.
Wednesday, August 15th:
Pick up the permit from the Permit station. Drop off one of the two cars at the Ten Lakes trailhead. Drive the other car to White Wolf campground (may take two trips depending on gear and available space). Depart White Wolf trailhead and hike 8 miles to Half Moon Meadow. Camp there for the night.
Thursday, August 16th:
Get up early in the morning and hike 4-5 miles thru Ten Lakes Pass and into the Ten Lakes area. Find a cool lake to call home and set up camp.
Friday, August 17th
Relax, fish, day hike, whatever.
Saturday, August 18th:
Get up early, pack up camp and hike 6-7 miles to our exit trailhead, Ten Lakes trailhead. Drive down to Yosemite Valley. Camp at Camp Curry or the Backpacker's camp. Get cleaned up. Get a nice hot meal at one of the lodges. Get wicked drunk.
Sunday, August 19th:
Sleep in due to hangover and muscle soreness. Get brunch at one of the lodges or the Awahnee if we're lucky. Drive home completely exhausted, but feeling very accomplished! And finally... start planning to do it again next year!
**********************************
My permit is good for 6 people and so far I have 2 people confirmed and 2 people still deciding. Lemme know if you want to go and I'll see if we can make it work.
**********************************
Ten Lakes Basin via White Wolf Trail - Click the map to see a bigger version