> I see warning signs about bears. Has this really been
> a problem? Or are the rangers merely being cautious?
Yes, there often are bears in the camp and at Glacier Point;
it's no exaggeration. They are active day and night, sniffing around for
anything that smells like food. The bear pictures at the bottom of the
SJAA Yosemite page
were taken at Glacier Point by amateur astronomers.
In one case, a tent was cut open and a sleeping
bag removed by a bear; clearly the bag smelled of food. A
human would have simply unzipped the tent.
In 2007 we had two bears near the setup area.
When the astronomers were off to one side, a bear snatched an equipment
bag that had candy in it. The bag was found 20 feet away, one end neatly
sliced open and the candy removed, with nothing spilled on the ground.
The following night, we were adamant about NO SNACKS
at the star party. We had no trouble.
In 2009, Rangers were at the star parties all evening,
and chased bears as they came sniffing around.
In 2011, Rangers were putting notices (I did not see
any citations) on any vehicles that appeared to have food (coolers, etc.)
in them. Leave it all in the bear boxes in the campground! There are
also some bear boxes in the Glacier Point parking lot. They are at
the back of the lot, just past the bend at the rear.
For information on what to do, how to store food,
etc., see
the park's bear information page.
> What about the gate pass?
> Can I get in without it?
Without the gate pass, you'd pay the $20 entrance
fee. However, if the park is full, people could be turned
away, but the gate pass would get you in. The Golden Age Pass
will get you in for free, but I don't know if it would get
you in if the park is full.
You will also need the pass to get out of the
park without paying another admission, so hang onto it. In theory the
pass is also needed for the camp sites, but we're seldom asked for it.
They run the volunteer's campsites on the honor system.
If the gatekeeper doesn't understand the pass, or if you
have lost it, ask for a visitor's pass to visit Ranger Dick Ewert at
Glacier Point. Then see me for a replacment, or have Dick (or another
ranger) sign the visitor's pass.
> Are we expected to bring our own tents,
> camp stoves and other gear, and food?
Yes. Bring everything, including filled refillable water
containers. Cold water is available but not everywhere. There is a mix
of pit and flush toilets. Baths consist of warming a bit of water on
the camp stove and sponging off the day's dust and sweat. Baby Wipes
did the job for me, but I do no hiking, so I'm probably not as dusty
or sweaty as some others.
> Is there a store in the park? What about ice?
There is a small store and fast food place at Glacier
point, but does not have ice. The posted hours are 9 to 6 every day,
that applies to the store (tee-shirts, etc.). The fast food part
closes early if they don't have customers, possibly two hours early.
The big store (groceries, clothing, ice, etc.) is in the
valley, about 30 miles and about an hour each way. They have bagged ice
cubes. To find it, follow signs for "Yosemite Village". While
following them, also watch for "Store", and switch to following those.
Bring as much as you can from home! The parking
lot is big, but often it's entirely full, especially after noon.
And though the valley is utterly beautiful, traffic is often very
heavy and very slow.
Be careful when leaving the store. There are two
exits that look alike (big showcase of beverages on the right,
cash registers on the left). They lead to parking lots on opposite
sides of the building.
> What camp sites are reserved for astronomers?
In the past our sites have been on the "C" loop,
sites 81, 83, 85, 94, and 95. All are on the left side the
road, along a long curve. The curve and sites enclose a large
common area "behind" the sites, where tents can be set up.
Sites 89 and 93 are also on the left (between
85 and 94, of course), but are not reserved
for us. If you come up early, try to buy one of these sites
for the weekend.
> What sort of weather should we expect?
Sunny and hot days, chilly evenings. Possibly thunder
and lightning, rain and wind. Yosemite is not within the San
Jose coastal climate. Somtimes we've had smoke from a forest fire.
At Glacier Point (elevation 7200 ft), days can reach
95 and nights nearer 40. The valley (4000 ft) can be as much as 20
degrees higher. Bring a big heavy coat, light jacket, two flannel
shirts, shorts, long lined pants, and on top of all, a warm cap.
The air chills suddenly about 5 to 6 pm.
> Is a GPS receiver useful?
GPS receivers do pretty well on the drive up
to the gates. They are erratic on the park roads as trees
are abundant and radio-opaque. In the Valley, they fail due
to the trees and steep rock walls.
> Is internet access available?
Not at Glacier Point nor in the camp.
See
the Park's internet page regarding the valley hotels and
libraries that provide some access.
> Is gasoline available in the park?
There is a gas station on the road from the Crane Flat
entrance, just south of the junction of Hwy.41 and 120. In 2008,
the price was about 50% more than in cities.
When you are driving to Yosemite, you'll probably go
through Oakdale or Merced. Fill the gas tank there -- from now on, the
price goes up with elevation. It's about 115 miles from Oakdale to
Glacier Point. From Merced it's about 102 miles to the Point.
> How far away are the nearest
> non-camping accommodations?
The nearest is a small community / development
called Yosemite West. It has some hotels and a Bed & Breakfast.
Google on "Yosemite West". Some of our members have stayed
there. From Glacier Point, the entrance to Yosemite West is
about 17 miles (as compared to 8 miles from the Point to
the camp).
> Are camp sites available in Bridalveil Campground on Friday?
Odds are against it; perhaps early in the day. You have a
better chance on Thursday. Sites cost $14/day in 2011.
> What other information may I find?
The park's own
FAQ page has lots of answers, and links to even more.
Clear Skies!
To School home page.
Mail to Jim Van Nuland.
Last updated:
2012 March 26, 1837
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