[pct-l] alternate trails for the pct in Giant Sequia andYosemite

[Bob Bankhead]

It is 23 miles  from Tuolumne Meadows to Yosemite Valley/Happy Isle. There are two shuttle bus options for you, depending on when you arrive.


Morning Shuttle:
The Hikers' Shuttle Bus leaves Curry Village at 0800, arrives T. Mdws Store at 1020.  
      http://www.yosemitepark.com/content3col.cfm?SectionID=75&PageID=217 

$14.50 one-way


Evening Bus:
YARTS also runs their Highway 120 East bus route from Yosemite Valley (Yosemite Visitors Center) to Mammoth Lakes with a stop in T. Mdws. It leaves the Valley at 1700 and gets to TM Store at 1850. http://www.yarts.com/schedule/2006/120ESUMMER06.pdf

There is only one walk-in campground (Camp 4) in Yosemite Valley (near Yosemite Lodge) and it's first-come, first-served; $5 per night; 35 sites; 6 people to a site. If you get there too late for the 1700 bus, you're unlikely to get a spot. Hope your super-stealth camping skills are up to par as the rangers (and the bears) reportedly patrol heavily to discourage unauthorized camping. all other campgrounds and the hotel are reservation only. Good luck.

T. Mdws has an excellent campground with a LARGE walk-in Backpackers' area in the middle. The rest of the CG is by reservation only. Self-registering; about $7.50 per person per night as I recall. 

Wandering Bob

  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: AsABat 
  To: 'roni h' ; pct-l at backcountry.net 
  Sent: Tuesday, February 13, 2007 6:05 AM
  Subject: Re: [pct-l] alternate trails for the pct in Giant Sequia andYosemite


  I've known many PCTers who went to Yosemite Valley. From Tuolumne
  Meadows it's a good full dayhike to Yosemite Valley on the John Muir
  Trail. From there either a long hitch or catch a shuttle bus, although
  I'm not sure of the bus hours - I'm sure you'd have to leave early to
  get the bus back to Tuolumne.