After writing to Yosemite park management complaing about all the new worker
housing they were planning on putting in a prime bouldering/climbing area, and
the elimination of the historical camp 4, climbers walk-in campground , I got
sent a copy of the US gov. report on the park: About 8lb shipping wt and two
massive color printed volumes. Your US tax dollars at work!
In all the details there were some pretty interesting park statistics.
For the year they had stats for (a few years ago now), the park recieved
about 10million+ visitors per year. This had increased from between 1 and 2
million 10years earlier. The majority of those visitors were there for the day
only, and typically only spent a few hours in the park. So the average tourist
drives to the park and then drives into the valley, drives around stopping to
take some photographs, maybe walks to the base of yosemite falls (15min walk),
buys some trinkets or a hamburger and beer at the stores and drives out.
Majority of that time spent in vehicle.
I used to go to Yosemite very frequently to climb and back country ski. But
now I only go about 6 times a year. Don't even consider driving in the valley
during a long weekend, it is one huge parking lot. If you do foolishly go then,
go in very early and just park your car and walk. If you choose strategically
there are a lot of places you can walk to. Also the park clears early with
people turning around to go home, so if you stay late, especially in Summer,
things usually start to clear after 5pm. It is now quite hard to get
accomodation in the valley except in winter, so if you don't mind camping, a
good strategy is to camp in the national forest (HWY 120) just outside the
Yosemite gates and drive in, in the early morning. Camping is uncontrolled and
free in the national forest.
It used to be all the park fees were sent to the govt to spend on other
things, but now most of the fees are sent back to the parks for trail
maintenance etc, and in the case of Yosemite Law enforcement to control the
yahoos who go crazy in the valley. Unfortunately the LE park rangers have got
a lot less friendly than they used to be, partly because yosemite is now a
ranger LE training place and also the increase in crime including drug dealing
and other more serious crimes, not usually associated with outdoor activities.
Taking a friend injured in a climbing accident to the medical clinic in the
valley, the nurse told me the biggest number of injuries they get in the valley
are actually old people breaking their legs/ankles stepping out of their
Winebagos! (Winebago = Mamoth gas guzzling camper Van, translation for
international members)
The same thing applies to Joshua Tree , it is a complete zoo over holidays
and long weekends, being relatively close to LA. As Jeff says, Winter is
really cold there, but this also keeps the tourists away and there is something
very special when you get a dusting of snow on the Joshua Trees. Summer is
also a lot hotter than Yosemite so Spring is the best time, especially for
photographs of the desert spring flowers,Ocotillas,Choijos and blooming Joshua
trees.
Tim Hughes
Jeff Keller <jrk_om@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
It's better that the multitudes visit Yosemite Valley than the higher
elevation back country. The valley can handle the pressures better. It's
pretty amazing how well the higner elevation Toulome Meadows has held up to
the number of visitors though.
... But Joshua Tree National Park is not a valley cut into an 8000 ft high
area. It does have both the higher elevation Mojave Desert (3000ft +) and
the lower elevation Colorado dessert in the park. It's also a wonderful
place that can be frigging cold!
-jeff
----Original Message Follows----
From: Winsor Crosby
->
Yosemite Valley is a beautiful place from almost any viewpoint, but
is almost loved to death by the crowds of visitors people who visit
every summer. Other seasons and higher elevations have become much
nicer.
->
Interestingly the elevation of the Yosemite Valley floor is about the
same elevation as Joshua Tree National Park which is a desert to the
south.
Winsor
Long Beach, California, USA
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