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Yosemite NP
Uboat
Posts: 12,195
In three weeks I make my debut in the USA for a three week holiday. It's all fairly obvious and predictable stuff, but in the middle of it we've got five nights in an RV in Yosemite NP - two nights at Mammoth Mountain and three at Indian Flat. I have no idea what to expect and nothing really planned. If anyone has done something similar I'd really appreciate any dos and don'ts along with general advice about the area. Cheers.
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Did a Day trip to Yosemite when I went on Holiday to San Francisco a few years ago
Cant really mention the "Do's and Don't" you can guarantee that you'll love it there - Beautiful place0 -
Don’t upset Yosemite Sam, he’s a bit trigger happy.0
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Don't go.
It's a fecking massive super volcano, well overdue an eruption and with increasing severe geometric signs since 2004. It would explode with a force a thousand times more powerful than the Mount St Helens eruption in 1980.
Enjoy
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We went in 2016. We were only there for 2 days in the RV but it was brilliant.
Go see Mirror Lake. Stunning. Its a bit of a walk/hike, will take you an 45-60 mins to get there on proper worn paths but worth it...
It was getting a bit dried up by May so not sure what it would look like in July/August.
Go see the falls...
Lower Yosemite Falls
You must go see Half Dome. Its the most iconic thing there but you need a head for heights.
Sadly when we went in May, the road was shut due to snow fall. We're planning on going back soon.
If you're going on to Vegas or towards Nevada afterwards, drive the Tioga Pass.
Quite possibly one of the most picturesque drives you'll ever do. Just dont do it in the middle of a blizard like we did lol. F*ck me, that was a proper bum-twitcher driving the long RV on them mountains not being able to feel the wheels gripping the road.
That was what we saw looking back up the Tioga Pass. 50 miles in blizards from Yosemite.
My one tip. At night, look upwards. You will never see starts like it. You'll see the milky way in its full glory!
Oh and watch out for the bears!
2 days wasn't long enough for us to see everything. We're definitely going back to do the whole lot. One of the most beautiful places I've ever seen.
Edit > oh something else to bear in mind. When camping at Yosemite in the RVs, they are strict on what times you can have you electric generators running in the RV. From memory, you couldnt run any of them after 8pm or before 8am. Might be a little different to that now but just bear that in mind for planning if you need to use electric stuff on board.
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Don't feed the bears, is one of the 'Dont's'ForeverAddickted said:Did a Day trip to Yosemite when I went on Holiday to San Francisco a few years ago
Cant really mention the "Do's and Don't" you can guarantee that you'll love it there - Beautiful place0 -
My wife loves disaster films so at least she'll know what to do. From what I can tell you get into a small quirky group of all ages, genders and races and make sure you're not one of the two or three who 'don't make it'.Addickted said:Don't go.
It's a fecking massive super volcano, well overdue an eruption and with increasing severe geometric signs since 2004. It would explode with a force a thousand times more powerful than the Mount St Helens eruption in 1980.
Enjoy1 -
Thanks JohnBoy. Looks like I'm going to be able to do most of that.1
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Keep eye out for a matabooboo while you're in the park itself4
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Have you used a RV before? The one thing I would say, empty your tanks at every opportunity. Both the grey tank (sink and shower) and the black (the pit of evil) fill up a lot quicker than you expect, speaking from experience lol.Uboat said:Thanks JohnBoy. Looks like I'm going to be able to do most of that.
As soon as you get your RV, drive to the nearest Walmart. Buy a mattress topper. You do not want to be sleeping on a rubber mattress.
If you do go via Nevada afterwards, especially Death Valley, be prepared to melt in the RV as most of the aircon only works when the engine is running. After one sleepness night in the high 30Cs, we made a run for Vegas a day early.
We drove LA > San Fran via Santa Barbara, Monterrey amd San Jose along the PCH, picked up the RV in San Fran then done Napa, Lake Tahoe, Yosemite, Death Valley then dropped the RV off in Vegas.
So if you're stopping in any of them places and need any suggestions, send a PM.
Will leave you with one more shot. Of our RV in Artists Drive in Death Valley. No idea why they call it Artists Drive...
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Yosemite is great. There are lots of nice walks around there, plus the sequoias
https://www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/valleyhikes.htm
Some of the trails are quite steep and strenuous, but you need to leave the valley floor to really appreciate the area. The Mist and John Muir trails up to the Vernal and Nevada falls are justifiably popular, the former has better views but has quite steep steps and is more dangerous, it's not for young children for example.
Alternatively there are viewing points you can drive up to or take shuttles to.0 - Sponsored links:
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How do I follow this thread? I want to go here sometime and would like to capture all the advice.0
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Is that a meth lab?JohnBoyUK said:
Have you used a RV before? The one thing I would say, empty your tanks at every opportunity. Both the grey tank (sink and shower) and the black (the pit of evil) fill up a lot quicker than you expect, speaking from experience lol.Uboat said:Thanks JohnBoy. Looks like I'm going to be able to do most of that.
As soon as you get your RV, drive to the nearest Walmart. Buy a mattress topper. You do not want to be sleeping on a rubber mattress.
If you do go via Nevada afterwards, especially Death Valley, be prepared to melt in the RV as most of the aircon only works when the engine is running. After one sleepness night in the high 30Cs, we made a run for Vegas a day early.
We drove LA > San Fran via Santa Barbara, Monterrey amd San Jose along the PCH, picked up the RV in San Fran then done Napa, Lake Tahoe, Yosemite, Death Valley then dropped the RV off in Vegas.
So if you're stopping in any of them places and need any suggestions, send a PM.
Will leave you with one more shot. Of our RV in Artists Drive in Death Valley. No idea why they call it Artists Drive...8 -
That last pic of the RV in the middle of nowhere looks a bit suspect JohnBoy, you sure the 30c heat was not being generated from cooking the crystal meths Breaking Bad style?3
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It seems RVs aren't allowed in Death Valley in August, so we'll be going to Vegas by a different route.0
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Isn't that Yellowstone rather than Yosemite?Addickted said:Don't go.
It's a fecking massive super volcano, well overdue an eruption and with increasing severe geometric signs since 2004. It would explode with a force a thousand times more powerful than the Mount St Helens eruption in 1980.
Enjoy
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I think it's because it leads to Artist Palette - so called because of all the different colour minerals in the rocks.JohnBoyUK said:
Have you used a RV before? The one thing I would say, empty your tanks at every opportunity. Both the grey tank (sink and shower) and the black (the pit of evil) fill up a lot quicker than you expect, speaking from experience lol.Uboat said:Thanks JohnBoy. Looks like I'm going to be able to do most of that.
As soon as you get your RV, drive to the nearest Walmart. Buy a mattress topper. You do not want to be sleeping on a rubber mattress.
If you do go via Nevada afterwards, especially Death Valley, be prepared to melt in the RV as most of the aircon only works when the engine is running. After one sleepness night in the high 30Cs, we made a run for Vegas a day early.
We drove LA > San Fran via Santa Barbara, Monterrey amd San Jose along the PCH, picked up the RV in San Fran then done Napa, Lake Tahoe, Yosemite, Death Valley then dropped the RV off in Vegas.
So if you're stopping in any of them places and need any suggestions, send a PM.
Will leave you with one more shot. Of our RV in Artists Drive in Death Valley. No idea why they call it Artists Drive...1 -
Yosemite is epic. Make sure to get up super early to do the dome hike, it’s breathtaking. Hope you like heights though!
Be careful with your food etc and be mindful there are a lot of bears around and have been known to break into people’s tents and kill people after being startled because the campers forgot to put away a tube of toothpaste in the reinforced lockers they provide. Although with RV’s its probably a lot different..
Enjoy! The states is an absolutely beautiful country. I can see why the indigenous people absolutely worshipped it.2 -
We stayed at Tioga Pass and it is lovely around there. Tuolumne Meadows is also very picturesque. It's a big park though, and the drive from Tioga to the valley takes a couple of hours (40mph limit I think, strictly enforced). The problem is that Yosemite is very busy most of the time, and when down in the valley, expect not to be alone for very long. The hikes up to the falls - Vernal Falls and the Lower Yosemite Fall are OK to walk. You are not far from Tahoe (to the north) and Kings Canyon (to the south) which are both very pretty areas too. Death Valley is a wonderful place, and well worth exploring. We stayed at Panamint Springs (which does have an RV park available) but be aware that there are not many gas stations that stay open 24 hours in that part of the world (always fill up when half empty!). If you are heading south out of Death Valley, toward Ridgecrest, beware of army helicopter manouvres (coming over the ridge straight at you!), and try stopping at the Trona Pinnacles, a very weird place that Star Trek used to film at one time they needed an alien landscape. Enjoy!1
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In the visitor centre there was a photo of a car .... with it's side ripped off - bears are strong !kentaddick said:Yosemite is epic. Make sure to get up super early to do the dome hike, it’s breathtaking. Hope you like heights though!
Be careful with your food etc and be mindful there are a lot of bears around and have been known to break into people’s tents and kill people after being startled because the campers forgot to put away a tube of toothpaste in the reinforced lockers they provide. Although with RV’s its probably a lot different..
Enjoy! The states is an absolutely beautiful country. I can see why the indigenous people absolutely worshipped it.0 - Sponsored links:
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..... the other bit of advice is don't attempt to retrieve food from a bear._MrDick said:
Don't feed the bears, is one of the 'Dont's'ForeverAddickted said:Did a Day trip to Yosemite when I went on Holiday to San Francisco a few years ago
Cant really mention the "Do's and Don't" you can guarantee that you'll love it there - Beautiful place0 -
... and be careful where you step! Do you know what they do in the woods?Hex said:
..... the other bit of advice is don't attempt to retrieve food from a bear._MrDick said:
Don't feed the bears, is one of the 'Dont's'ForeverAddickted said:Did a Day trip to Yosemite when I went on Holiday to San Francisco a few years ago
Cant really mention the "Do's and Don't" you can guarantee that you'll love it there - Beautiful place1 -
So your alternative route may take you south. If so you can visit Sequoia NP and visit Morro Rock - from the top (an easy walk) you get a spectacular panarama of the Great Western Divide.Uboat said:It seems RVs aren't allowed in Death Valley in August, so we'll be going to Vegas by a different route.
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But make sure you look out for the matabooboos0
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OK I'll bite and put you out of our misery - What's a matabooboo?i_b_b_o_r_g said:But make sure you look out for the matabooboos
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Nothing Yogi.JWADDICK said:
OK I'll bite and put you out of our misery - What's a matabooboo?i_b_b_o_r_g said:But make sure you look out for the matabooboos
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Don't spend weeks plodding round Bluewater etc finding a good pair of waterproof boots and then go there during a drought like I did:-)
It really is a beautiful place, enjoy it.2 -
This May 2018 we made a West Coast trip and visited parks like Yosemite (picture), Grand Canyon, Joshua Tree, places like Horseshoe Bend (Arizona), cities like San Francisco, Los Angeles and Las Vegas and drove on the legendary Route 66. But something most impressive for me was Angels Landing in Zion National Park (Utah)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Angels_Landing
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