Yosemite trip template

Summary

An edited version of a 2024 trip planning doc I cobbled together for a large group 3-day Yosemite excursion, leaving from the Bay Area.

“Yuh big rock good” — Alex Honnold, probably

Contact Info

Put a yes/no/maybe and a climbing/not climbing for how you’re feeling about coming, and your phone # if you’re comfortable sharing.

• Ben Cuan (408)-xxx-xxxx (yes, climbing)
• Your Name Here

Itinerary

Saturday, 10/12 — Arrival / Half day in Groveland

• Leave in the morning of 10/12 (earlier is better, but we can do multiple cars for early/late wakers)
  • Editor’s Note: Expect driving to take 4-5 hours including lunch breaks. For those with electric vehicles, there is a charger in Groveland but the line can be hours long so you probably want to charge before going into the mountains.
• Arrive in Groveland by lunchtime/early afternoon
• Chill first afternoon
  • The airbnb will be ready at 3pm, so we can hang out at the lake until then
  • Quick round of pickleball and tennis? 
    • Pick up food/water/groceries for the weekend (2 dinners, lunch on Monday)
  • Smores + campfire + BBQ at night
• Make dinner
  • BBQ! Burgers, hotdogs, corn, zucchini, onions, etc.
    • Editor’s note: our airbnb’s grill was broken lol, so it ended up turning into some cursed version of Overcooked trying to grill cucumbers zucchinis in the oven. Still ended up being awesome!
• Board game night
  • Editor’s note: this is great because it helps stagger bedtimes (ends of rounds are perfect excuses to leave if you’re tired), and gives breathing room to hop in and out depending on what chores/prepping/resting needs to be done still.

Sunday, 10/13 — Full day in Yosemite

• Leave early-ish morning (8am?) and arrive 9am to Yosemite Valley / Curry Village

  • Do a day hike up to somewhere pretty (Mist Trail is a good choice)

• Return to Curry Village by 3pm, and get lunch there

  • Editor’s Note: the pizza place is pretty mid and expensive. Bring your own sandwiches in for lunch if you can. If you want pizza, get individual slices, not a whole pizza, if you don’t want to wait an hour!

• (Non-monday ppl leave now)

• Bouldering session at Camp 4 until sunset (7pm)

  • Editor’s Note: This trip took place in mid-October. Also, Yosemite V0’s are approx. V5’s in a typical Bay Area gym.

• (Non-climbers go back and chill at the lake in Groveland)

• Camp/bonfire w/ S’mores + Hotdogs part 2 @ Groveland + pack up

  • Editors’ Note: we ended up being lazy and buying pizza

Monday, 10/14 (optional) — Departure / Half day in Yosemite

• Check out of airbnb, leave ~7am
• Climbing class 8:30am-3:30pm https://www.travelyosemite.com/things-to-do/yosemite-mountaineering-school-guide-service
  • Editor’s Note: This was an AWESOME experience. It’s expensive, but 1000% recommend. Get hyped for the best crack climbing on the planet. Tip your guide generously!
• (non-climbing-lesson-participants check out by 11am, and hike around Yosemite)
• Depart Yosemite right afterwards and go home (5-6pm)
  • Editor’s Note: went to In-N-Out on the drive home. hit different. KBBQ also super valid.

Go/No Go

We will make the call 72 hours before leaving (EOD Weds. 10/9)  based on weather and number of entry passes we were able to get. Re-attempt possibilities will be the remaining 2 weekends of October.

We are confirmed to GO!

Important dates/times

Sunday, 9/29 — Book lodging. (make sure it’s cancellable <72 hours in advance)

Saturday, 10/5 at 8:00am — Snag some entry passes (IMPORTANT!!!!!!!!! All hands on deck. More info/coordination to come.)

• Editor’s Note: Entry passes are VERY hard to get during holidays (like Labor Day, 4th of July, Memorial Day). We had a pretty ok time, but they were all gone by lunchtime the day they opened. Be ready to have your entire group spam-refreshing the booking site.

Wednesday, 10/9 — go/no go call

Driving

The drive to our likely lodging spot is ~3 hours, and the drive from there to the trailhead is ~1 hour.

Insert carpool arrangements here.

What to bring

The weather should be above freezing, with a max of 70-80s. 

• Good hiking shoes/boots (waterproof)
• Extra pairs of socks
• Layers (thin windbreaker, winter jacket, t-shirt, hoodie)
• Long pants (do not wear shorts for climbing unless you like scuffed knees)
• Hiking poles if you have them
• Lots of reusable water bottles and/or a filtration system
• (For climbers) hiking shoes, chalk, brush, harness, crash pads
• Bug spray
• Trail Snacks
• Board games / cards
• Toiletries and anything else you need to comfortably stay over a couple nights
• Good instant coffee
  • Editor’s note: expensive craft instant coffee is way worse than any regular coffee, but still orders of magnitude better than nescafe or whatever. It’ll get you up in the morning for sure!
• Liquid IV, energy gummies, any other electrolytes/supplements

Lodging

The drive up to Yosemite from the bay passes through the town of Groveland, which is ~3 hours from the South Bay and ~1 hour to Yosemite Valley.

• Groveland has a grocery store! So we can potentially cook dinners.
• There are closer options, which are more expensive but will be more convenient to get to/from the trails.
• Most of the town of Groveland resides in a HOA.
  • Lake access with beach, rentable kayaks, BBQ, tennis/pickleball, golf, shooting range
  • We’ll need to get parking permits which will let us park anywhere near the lake ($44 per car)
  • • https://www.pinemountainlake.com/amenities/

Activities / Ideas

May split climbers/non-climbers for part of a day if needed.

Rock Climbing (Top Rope / Lead) - https://www.travelyosemite.com/things-to-do/rock-climbing/

book a (human) guide and learn outdoor rock climbing (Top Rope / Lead)

Hiking

Half-day hike = <5 miles, full-day hike = <15 miles

• Half Dome (the non flat side)
• Cables will probably be down when we arrive, so no permit is needed.
• Yosemite Falls
• Mostly chill, some scramble at the top so bring decent shoes
• Insert more trails here

Biking?

Hardcore Mountain Biking

• Nope lmao

Bikes are available for rent in Yosemite Valley for a chill, relatively flat, paved road biking experience.

Bouldering

• Yosemite is one of the best places in the world for bouldering (maybe only surpassed by Fontainebleau and Bishop) so let’s not miss out!!
  • Editor’s Note: Got by without a guidebook; there are usually plenty of dirtbaggers projecting at Camp 4 who more than happy to help spot you as you fall off the easiest problems in the area.

Lake day

• Hang out in Groveland, lots of things to do (swim, kayak, tennis, etc)