First post! Yosemite this week: Early May

ok, guess I can check my poles with my baggage :)

"If you love your Lightrek™ 3C poles, and hike in areas far from your home, now you have a way to protect them while in transit! The Lightrek™ Travel Tube is a heavy duty industrial grade cardboard shipping tube. The walls are 1/8" thick, rendering them impervious to savage baggage handlers. With an inside diameter of 3 inches, they have room for two pairs of Lightrek™ 3C poles with baskets removed, or one set and whatever small items you can stuff in there. The plastic caps are reusable, and are recessed so they don't catch on baggage conveyors. We recommend you use packing tape or duct tape to secure the caps onto the tube, then check them with the rest of your luggage."

from: http://gossamergear.com/lt3c-trekking-pole.html

It also looks like there are certain areas I can't camp/hike without permits. Yikes.

"(I'm thinking Southern Muir trail as I don't think I have UL gear that will support the higher up camps)"

You are confused. I assume you mean the Southern end of the John Muir Trail, the opposite end from Yosemite. That is around Mount Whitney, and most of the land from there up to Forester Pass is probably covered in snow. That is the end where all camps are pretty high. I don't know if that is what you had in mind. The area just north of there supposedly received two feet of new snow just one week ago.

Therefore, what kind of skis were you planning on bringing?

–B.G.–

You may want to expand on your comfort level with snow travel and people can provide suggestions. There are lower elevation hikes in the Sierra you can consider that will be free of snow or only encounter light snow. As an example, you could start in Yosemite Valley and do a loop on the north rim. “,Davidpcvsamoa”

For hike suggestions, you might check out this thread: http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/forums/thread_display.html?forum_thread_id=89759 .

Consider the drive times! SJC to Yosemite takes ~4 hours each way. From Yosemite to the southern sierra trailheads takes 4-5 hours each way. So I wouldn't recommend trying to see both.

I wouldn't plan on buying gear in Yosemite, there isn't much selection there. Better to shop in the San Jose area.

It is late spring-early summer in Yosemite Valley, best time of year to be there. Waterfalls are gushing, meadows all green, and the dogwood is in bloom. As an added bonus you already have all the gear you need for your trip as you will see very little, if any, snow and night time temperatures will most likely be well above freezing.

Here is a simple plan: Friday night rent the car at the airport and drive part way to Yosemite, spend the night in a motel in Merced or Mariposa, get up early the next morning, drive the last couple of hours and arrive at the yosemite wilderness center at 8 am opening time, get a permit to hike the north rim, from either Yosemite Falls or Snowcreek trail heads, hike back down to Yosemite Valley on Monday morning and drive back to San Jose.

If you loved the experience come back to Yosemite the following weekend and do another classic early season Yosemite trip: hike up along Vernal and Nevada Falls, and stay your one night in Little Yosemite Valley.

You guys are awesome and enabling. Truly appreciated!!!!

I agree with Katy. You will be coming to Yosemite at a great time of year. Take the time to see the views from the Valley-the falls will be great, El Cap, Half Dome; maybe have a drink outside at the Ahwahnee Hotel, looking up at Half Dome. Ask at the Wilderness Ctr. what THEY think is the best doable hike/backpack for you-given weather, time, etc. Glacier Point Road is now open and many people feel that the view from Glacier Point is one of the best in all of Yosemite. You could drive to and hike from G.Pt. down to Illouette Falls, then on to Nevada and Vernal Falls on the JMT or on the Mist Trail and back to the Valley. Take the hiker bus back up the next morning to get your car or take the bus up there and hike down. Maybe camp in Little Yos. Valley if you get a permit. Maybe do one backpack and one "see the Park for the first time" kind of long dayhike. Four Mile Trail might be open from Valley to G. Pt.-it's a gorgeous hike with views all the way up.

Don't miss the iconic, first-time opportunities since you are coming at a time when it will be busy but not completely overrun. The backcountry is also gorgeous but weather /trail conditions might not be quite right-ask when you get there. Have a great time!

Jane

Enjoy your trip Shawn! Come back here after and tell us all about it.