Yosemite park

there is a book about the Pacific crest trail northern California by Jeffrey P. Schaffer
here is a link.
http://www.wildernesspress.com/product.php?productid=16649
yogis guide is a pct hiker who has done the trail system from Mexico to Canada a few times. she wrote a book on hiking the PCT.
http://www.pcthandbook.com/

what time of year is she going? that will depend on what gear to bring. I have hiked almost all of yosemite's trails over a few years. It is important to really learn how to read topo maps. know how much you can hike a day. (miles) how much you know you can carry. basic first aid, using a compass, know what poison oak looks like.
hmm there is a bit more. everyone else will help I am sure.
she will need

3 season tent.
sleeping pad. (I use a zlite therma rest. it won't puncture and you can sit on it on the dirt.)
15 degree or better sleeping bag
backpack. (check the actual weight of the pack empty.. 2-3 pounds would be great.)

rain gear top and bottom. ( the thing I learned in the sierras is don't forget these. the weather changes quickly)
good boots(gortex)
bear can (keep the bears from eating your food and it is a park rule to have one in the back country)
warm jacket. (down or primaloft)
base layers (top and bottom)
gloves\cap
psk..and a whistle (fox 40)
handkerchief
sunglasses.
hat
compass
lighter
water filter\steripen\water tabs ( the water needs to be treated before drinking)
basic self care. sun screen, tooth paste......ect. (you can buy 1\2 ounce bottles to reduce your load of personal care items.)
lighterisbetter.jpg

eating and cooking gear. (I use a Snow Peak Titanium Double-Wall Cup, spork, Snow Peak Titanium Trek 700 Mug. titanium is the way to go. light and durable)
stove ( I use the MSR pocket rocket. it is cheap light weight and easy to use.)
water reservoir drinking system ( I like Platypus bags. you can use them as a drinking system and you can cap them off as bottles... )
 
Is she going to be staying in one of the permanent structures there, or is she going to be camping in the backcountry? Exactly when is she going to be there?
 
I think its foolish to go out in Yosemite w/ 0 experiance. Id really try to get someone with at least a little experiance to accompany her.

Other then that Boomer knows whats up...I agree with 100% of his suggestions...
 
It would be useful to have the details of her plans. However, if she is spending any time camping outside of organized camps, she'll want a good bear-resistant food container. The park-approved brands seem to work fine. I have also had good luck with the Ursack, but I've heard it is presently not approved so I'll use a Garcia Machine model if I visit the Park.

REI has some highly scent-proof zip-loc style bags to contain the food scent and attract fewer bears. You can also use paradichlorobenzene mothballs to keep bears from messing with your containers, so long as the food is thoroughly sealed in the scent-proof bags (I use two layers).

DancesWithKnives
 
J. Williams is right. She should have an experienced mentor or companion at the park. There are very few wilderness areas in western Europe. Without any outdoor skills she can find herself in some pretty unforgiving situations in the western US.
 
The latest issue of Backpacker has some info on Yosemite. Take a look at your nearest bookstore. She'll need lots more specific info of which there are a number but it might be worth a look.
 
j williams said:
I think its foolish to go out in Yosemite w/ 0 experiance. Id really try to get someone with at least a little experiance to accompany her.

Other then that Boomer knows whats up...I agree with 100% of his suggestions...
Click to expand...

experience is key in Yosemite. I think she needs to really think about where she is going.. what is she studying? how far out of the valley does she need to go? there is a lot of places you can day hike that go out to the far ends of Yosemite on the tuolumne meadows side, even going towards mammoth is out there. have her look into a spot locator also. this may save her life if she is lost.
 
Sounds like it will be quite the experience.

If she's doing some advanced academic research, I recommend reaching out to others in her research community who may have some on-site experience. When I'm 'in the field' (granted, a totally different type of field), I always try to touch base with those who have done similar work. Perhaps the US equivalent of her academic association would be able to help.

Other than that, I recommend bear bells, bug spray (DEET!), bug netting, and good water treatment gear. Oh, and a nice belt knife!

Best,

- Mike
 
Jim,

There is a sizable village in the valley floor. There are a lot of jobs in the park that don't pay much but would provide lodging. This might serve as a safe "home base" for your friend between forrays into the wilds. It may also provide her with the opportunity to acquire the skills and local knowledge necesary to accomplish her goals.

I'd love to hear more.

-- FLIX
 
I think its foolish to go out in Yosemite w/ 0 experiance.
Click to expand...

Yosemite is a tourist attraction, not a wilderness. I've been there too many times while growing-up and can't stand the crowds and what they are doing to the valley. The biggest problem your GF will have is in not tripping over other visitors. You will no longer be able to find a place in the valley or surrounding mountainsides, where you won't see other people through the trees or around a bend or playing in the water. If there is any danger, it will be from people -but bad people aren't limited to our national parks.

You've never been there, but since your GF is from Europe, it will remind her of every "caravan campsite" in Europe, with tents, RVs and people, too many people, all within handsreach.

Yosemite Park is not backwoods place. She will have access to every modern luxury that she may want from the supermarket & restaurants in the valley, or from any number of hotel/motels located nearby. There are free hot showers in the valley as well. She will be able to operate her cellphone, iPhone, laptop and get recharged at any number of wall outlets.

There are bears that visit the tent camping areas, but these are almost-tame black bears that you can chase-off by banging pots & pans.

Yosemite is as wild a place as the Disneyland safari boat ride, just no hippos.
 
CWL said:
Yosemite is a tourist attraction, not a wilderness. I've been there too many times while growing-up and can't stand the crowds and what they are doing to the valley. The biggest problem your GF will have is in not tripping over other visitors. You will no longer be able to find a place in the valley or surrounding mountainsides, where you won't see other people through the trees or around a bend or playing in the water. If there is any danger, it will be from people -but bad people aren't limited to our national parks.

You've never been there, but since your GF is from Europe, it will remind her of every "caravan campsite" in Europe, with tents, RVs and people, too many people, all within handsreach.

Yosemite Park is not backwoods place. She will have access to every modern luxury that she may want from the supermarket & restaurants in the valley, or from any number of hotel/motels located nearby. There are free hot showers in the valley as well. She will be able to operate her cellphone, iPhone, laptop and get recharged at any number of wall outlets.

There are bears that visit the tent camping areas, but these are almost-tame black bears that you can chase-off by banging pots & pans.

Yosemite is as wild a place as the Disneyland safari boat ride, just no hippos.
Click to expand...

wow are you serious? maybe yosemite valley is packed with people but once you go over to tioaga pass there isn't anything north of that on the JMT or on the PCT for about 70 miles... maybe you only frequent the tourist spots then.... you can hike south from the east entrance on tioaga to mammoth or june loop and not have cell phone service for about 4-5 days... or have power outlets...

"Section I of the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) runs 76.4 miles from Tuolumne Meadows in Yosemite National Park, to Sonora Pass on the border between the Toyabe National Forest and the Stanislaus National Forest."

http://www.pcta.org/about_trail/overview.asp

pcttoulame.jpg
 
I've backpacked into the NE corner of the Park from Virginia Lakes trailhead and it was pretty wild. The trail from the SE was likewise not too crowded. However, the comments about the Valley floor mirror my feelings. I really dislike going through there if there's any way to avoid it.

DancesWithKnives
 
wow are you serious? maybe yosemite valley is packed with people but once you go over to tioaga pass there isn't anything north of that on the JMT or on the PCT for about 70 miles... maybe you only frequent the tourist spots then.... you can hike south from the east entrance on tioaga to mammoth or june loop and not have cell phone service for about 4-5 days... or have power outlets...
Click to expand...

I know you must be a big he-man and everything, but isn't this posting is about Yosemite Park? Isn't Tioga Pass outside of Yosemite? I'm familiar with the areas you are pointing out as I've backpacked the area for 32 years. I can also point out real wilderness areas in CA, but it is beyond the scope of the original post isn't it?

We don't know when the OP's GF will visit. so there may be danger of heat-stroke or impassable snow, but trying to scare her isn't the right way to introduce anyone to our national parks and forests.
 
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CWL said:
I know you must be a big he-man and everything, but isn't this posting is about Yosemite Park? Isn't Tioga Pass outside of Yosemite? I'm familiar with the areas you are pointing out as I've backpacked the area for 32 years. I can also point out real wilderness areas in CA, but it is beyond the scope of the original post isn't it?

We don't know when the OP's GF will visit. so there may be danger of heat-stroke or impassable snow, but trying to scare her isn't the right way to introduce anyone to our national parks and forests.
Click to expand...

toulumne is in Yosemite. tioga pass goes through Yosemite to 395.... the intent of the post was ..
"She will be doing field research for her thesis (alone) "
she will probably not be doing field research in Yosemite valley...with tourists....
the intent was to prepare her for the trip. "wilderness areas" such as Yosemite national park.. are part of the pacific crest trail system.. since you have hiked it for 32 years you know that. riiiighhhttt. highway 120.. goes through Yosemite...try a map...(google maps works well). highway 120 is known as tioga pass.....(also on a map), above that there is usually text... it also says Yosemite national park..... this is a place you can hike.

also noted!
I don't have any experience either with regards of prolonged stays in a national park like Yosemite.

http://maps.google.com/maps?sourcei...119.349289&spn=0.348178,0.596695&z=11&iwloc=A
 
Easy guys, she may not even get to visit Yosemite in a YEAR; if the economy keeps tanking like it is she won't be able to afford it even if she's from a Swiss banking family, let alone on a student budget!!

I would say that she needs to be WELL VERSED in basic backpacking and camping skills, with years of actual time in the bush before attempting this IME.
 
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