Charlie writes in:
We’re going to be in Yosemite on the week beginning Sunday 9th September for around three nights.We booked accommodation in Tuolumne Meadows, probably not quite realising how far it is to the valley. However there seems to be no bookable accommdation available at the main Valley places that I know (North Pines, South Pines). I’d love to stay at Camp 4 coz I’m a climber but don’t know if that’s gonna be really busy then.
Its justt two of us and we’ll be camping. We’re there mainly as tourists. What do you recommend.
Well Charlie I’d say stick with Tuolumne Meadows. It’s a lot cooler than the Valley and makes an excellent base camp. Since you said you liked climbing you might give Lembert Dome a shot. It’s got a decent trail up the back but plenty of people go up the front. If you like bagging peaks head up to Tioga Pass and hike up 13,000 Mt. Dana. The trail is pretty well marked (until you get up to the talus fields) and it makes an excellent day hike. Cathedral Lakes, May Lake, Dog Lake, and Gaylor Lakes all make excellent Day hikes. Plus there is Mono Lake (read: Tufa and volcanoes), Bodie (an actual ghost town frozen in time) and Mammoth Lakes all close by.
If you like fishing the Tuolumne in Tuolumne Meadows is one of the most underfished rivers considering it’s proximity to so many tourists. Most just drive by and never bother to throw anything in the water.
You should spend atleast one day in the Valley but you won’t miss much in the way of waterfalls. Most are dry by September. Yosemite Falls is already just a trickle. But I recommend heading up to Glacier Point to catch a sunrise or sunset and do the scramble up Sentinel Dome (also at sunrise/sunset). You’ll love the view.
Good luck. Have a great trip.
Photo by Paul Meidinger via Flickr.