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Yosemite National Park, Half-Dome, Trip #1, CA

Jul 26 - Aug 2, 2022 -- $1500 ★★★★, Only 2 Spots Left

Yosemite National Park is a beautiful Sierra wonderland featuring towering mountains, thundering waterfalls and rugged pulchritude. The incredible views in this wilderness are virtually inescapable, it's actually hard to avoid them. On our trip, we will be hiking to two of the most iconic, universally recognized landmarks, Half Dome and Clouds Rest. At the end of the trip, we'll cap it off with a walk through the Tuolumne Grove of Giant Sequoias -- leviathan trees which can grow to be over 300' tall.


Our journey will begin on Tioga Road at Tuolumne Meadows. On our way to Half-Dome, we'll stay at Cathedral Lakes, Lower Sunrise Lake, up and over Clouds Rest eventually going to Little Yosemite Valley. Our journey ends with a day-hike through the Giant Sequoias. Along the way, you may see black bears, big horn sheep, yellow bellied marmots, mule deer, pika, short tailed-weasels and possibly even a mountain lion.


Here's our proposed route. Come join us for a true life-list adventure.



Weather

Weather is always an important concern when hiking. Expect daytime hiking temperatures well into the 70s and nighttime temperatures in the 40s & 50s. However, be prepared for the possibility of day temperatures in the 80s and as low as 30 plus violent afternoon thunderstorms. Here is the anticipated weather.



Probable Trip Leaders

Rick Romine
Steve Silberberg


Cost

$1500 per person double occupancy. Here, double occupancy means that you will share a room with another participant during the 2 hotel nights. You will also be responsible for transportation to and from Fresno, CA (FAT), personal equipment, restaurant meals eaten off the trail and any gratuities for guides.


Covered expenses include 2 hotel nights, 6 days of trail meals, ground transportation, National Park permits and 2 awesome guides.


Tipping: In order to keep our prices competitive with (and hopefully favorable to) other outfitters, we shamefully can’t pay our guides as much as we think they deserve. Like most other guiding services, we rely on the generosity of our participants to make up this shortfall by tipping the guides. While tips are not required or expected, if your guides have served you well, please consider a gratuity so they can continue living their extravagant lifestyles of eating powdered meals, sleeping in the dirt and pooping in smelly outhouses and small holes they've dug.



Difficulty


The trails through Yosemite National Park are very well groomed with good footing. However, elevation gain and loss can be dramatic. Furthermore, some days have relatively high elevation changes making this trip difficult at times. However the views are engaging and rewarding with incredible, continually changing scenery few ever get to see.



Important Notes


This is the 1st of 2 Fitpacking trips to Yosemite for 2022. Here is a link to the second trip,


Yosemite has been in a several year drought so water may be somewhat scarce along the route. This could change by July 2022, but be prepared to carry extra water on some days.


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Packing List
Itinerary
Weather
Guides for this trip
Cost
Important Note
Difficulty (Please Read)
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Itinerary


Tuesday, July 26, 2022

Fly, bus or drive into Fresno, CA (FAT). Some time between Noon - 3PM is the ideal time to arrive, but flights can be limited so you may have to arrive a few hours earlier or less desirably, later.

Note: Flights to Fresno can be expensive, so book early. It's possible that someone else will drive in from San Francisco or Oakland (3+ hours) so we might be able to arrange a carpool if you decide to do this.

Take the free airport shuttle to our local hotel Piccadilly Inn Airport, 5115 E Mckinley Avenue, Fresno, CA 93727, 559-375-7760

Equipment shakedown. We go through your pack and examine everything you brought.

Make Your Own Trail Mix Bar from our copious list of ingredients

"Before" body composition measurements taken

If you have forgotten or overlooked gear, we may take a trip to REI, 7810 N Blackstone Ave, Fresno, CA 93720, (559) 261-4168

Go out for a group welcome dinner (not included in trip cost)



Wednesday, July 27, 2022

Second set of "before" measurements taken

Hotel Breakfast for purchase or continental breakfast provided by the guides

If you drove, vehicles may be left at Hotel. However, the hotel may charge you a fee and assumes no responsibility for your car's security and will have you sign a document saying so.

All the items that you won't bring on the trail will be set aside and placed in storage

Shuttle to Yosemite National Park, Clouds Rest Trailhead (about 4 hours)

Pick up backcountry permit and bear canisters when entering the park

Eat lunch and pack food into bear canisters, then re-pack packs with full canisters.

Guides will need to shuttle a vehicle to the ending portion of the trip, Sunrise Lakes Trailhead about 15 miles away. During this 45 minute period, we anticipate participants will eat lunch, pack food into their bear canisters and re-pack their packs with full canisters.

Start hiking at Cathedral Lakes Trailhead, elevation 8500'

Hike 3.0 uphill miles to Cathedral Lakes Trail intersection, elevation 9200'

Camp at Upper Cathedral Lake, elevation 4300'

Miles today: 3.5 miles. Total to Date: 3.0 miles

Possible Bailout: Tioga Rd


Thursday, July 28, 2022

Hike 4.5 miles on the John Muir Trail to Sunrise Camp, elevation 9400'

Turn right and hike 2.0 miles past two of the Sunrise Lakes to Lower Sunrise Lake, elevation 9400'

Camp at Sunrise Lake, elevation 9400. There is excellent swimming opportunities here.

Miles today: 6.5. Total miles: 9.5

Possible bailout: Tioga road


Friday, July 29, 2022

Hike about 0.5 miles to the Sunrise Lakes Trail, elevation 9350'

Turn left and hike 4.0 miles to the summit of Clouds Rest, elevation 9926'

Clouds Rest is one of the park's iconic destinations, featuring unobstructed sweeping views of Yosemite including Half-Dome. We plan to eat lunch atop Clouds Rest.

Hike 5.8 mostly downhill miles (tough on the knees) to Little Yosemite Valley, elevation 6100'

Camp at LYV, elevation 7300'

Expect LYV to be crowded with all sorts of adventure minded people and a possible party atmosphere

We will camp here 2 nights

Miles today: 10.3. Total miles: 19.8

Possible bailout: Happy Isles


Saturday, July 30, 2022

Day-hiking only today. Keep tents pitched at Little Yosemite Valley.

Day-hike about 7.0 round-trip miles to the summit of Half Dome, elevation 8836'

Take lots of photos of this iconic view and drink in the grandeur.

Camp at LYV, elevation 6100'

Miles today: 7.0. Total miles: 26.8

Possible bailout: Happy Isles


Sunday, July 31, 2022

Hike 4.0 miles on the John Muir Trail to a trail intersection, elevation 8000'.

Turn left and hike 5.1 miles to lower Sunrise Lake

Camp at Lower Sunrise Lake, elevation 9300'

Miles today: 9.1. Total miles: 35.9

Possible bailout: Tioga Rd.


Monday, August 1, 2022

Hike 3.0 miles back to Tioga Road, elevation 8150'

Get in vehicle(s) and shuttle about an hour to the Tuolumne Grove Trailhead, elevation 6200'

Day-Hike 2.0 round trip miles to the Tuolumne Grove of Giant Sequoias, elevation 6600'

End of hiking

Miles today: 5.0. Total miles: 40.9

Possible bailout: Tioga Road

Shuttle back to Fresno. Check back into local hotel Piccadilly Inn Airport, 5115 E Mckinley Avenue, Fresno, CA 93727, 559-375-7760

Your stuff will be transported here shortly after we arrive and check in

After measurements taken

Go out to celebratory dinner (not included in trip cost) and awards Ceremony

This is the official end of the trip. You are welcome to spend the night at the hotel, however if you drove and would like to get on the road or if you flew and would like to schedule a late flight (or a red-eye if this is a West Coast trip) you can definitely do so.


Tuesday, August 2, 2022

Free airport shuttle


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