Yosemite - any advice for first timers.

[Byrne]

I’m trying to plan a trip for me and my wife to Yosemite for hiking and getting away from normal everyday life stuff
Thinking about June for a Monday to Friday thing
Probably not camping but considering a 2 day hike with an overnight maybe

I’m not sure my wife is up for the challenge of half dome, which might bum me out a little, but looking do do moderately challenging long hikes

I’ve been looking into it a bit, but it seems like a trip you can plan right or plan wrong. So I figured maybe sine most of you have been there, maybe you’d tell some good Yosemite experience stories. Maybe I learn something, and maybe just read some good stories

So, anyone been there?
Tell us your stories

[jaffa1949]

Not quite sure about helping you here , this a surfing forum. And most travel queries are of the sort,; what are the waves like in the Philippines , Indonesia etc, but as an adjunct if the super volcano of Yellowstone erupts the new west coastline of America will be great

[billie_morini]

Never fear, Byrne & Jaffa.
before billie surfed, he backpacked.

Byrne, four points about Half Dome:
1. It's 10 to 14 hr hike round trip at altitude with sincere elevation increase on the outbound
2. You need to get a permit for part of it (see #3)
3. learn all the critical details at this webpage -- https://www.yosemitehikes.com/yosemite- ... f-dome.htm
4. Only do part of it to see exactly where and how. Save rest for later - see suggestions below.

Suggestions:
1. Your trip is short duration, so make it fun for wife
2. Use the bus system for major site seeing locations in the east valley (1 of many links: https://marydonahue.org/yosemite-valley ... huttle-bus)
3. Make this yiur introductory trip in which you learn a lot about Yosemite
4. Make a grand adventure in the future with a buddy or two that match your gusto and stregnth

Be sure to take wife to one or two of the majestic waterfalls accessible by paved road. She'll thank you fod it and you'll be a little bit impressed, too. Mrs. Morini and I did this on motorcycle many years ago. The printed color photos from this gentle adventure still exist and I scored major points with Mrs. Morini.

[jaffa1949]

Jaffa's bucket list include this,Mrs Jaffa will be having double knee replacements so maybe just cable car to high places may be the only option.
Hint do the tough stuff young enough!
Im going emerald hunting in the Austrian alps dad and son trip.
This weekend surf the river wave

[unrooted]

June will be quite warm in the main Yosemite Valley, I'd recommend doing a day or two of sight seeing in the valley, and if you are doing an overnight backpacking trip then do it up in the Toulumne Meadows area, which is gorgeous. Bring lots of bug spray though, mosquitoes are horrible in the early summer. I personally use a simms bugstopper hoodie to reduce how much Deet 100 i have to use. . . Ex Officio makes similar hoodies that work well.

[Oldie]

I would definitely try to do the Half Dome. I did that 27 years ago and it is an experience you never forget. It is definitely exhausting. Get up when it is dark, enjoy the hike and the outlandish views from the top, and afterwards enjoy a bath in Merced River (not sure that is still allowed).

Tuolumne Meadows is indeed wonderful!

If you don't want to camp, you might want to book accomodation asap.

Take a camera, and get it out when the light is great (early morning, later afternoon, blue hours).

[billie_morini]

Jaffa's bucket list include this,Mrs Jaffa will be having double knee replacements so maybe just cable car to high places may be the only option.
Hint do the tough stuff young enough!
Im going emerald hunting in the Austrian alps dad and son trip.
This weekend surf the river wave

Jaffa, you generously shared photos and information about river surfing in Österreich (Austria). Thank you.

You also shared plans for "hunting" emerald (a gem stone) in the Alps with one of your sons. Emerald is a gemstone name for the mineral The general Beryl formula is Be3Al2(SiO3)6 or re-written as Be3Al2(Si6O18). Beryl that contains trace concentrations of the element chromium (Cr) can be called Emerald. Cr provides the beautiful green color. Nearly identical green hue can be created by the inclusion of iron (Fe) instead of Cr, but the "good" stuff is colored by Cr.

Emeralds form from hydrothermal solutions (very hot water) or pegmatites (granite chemistry magma). Something very unique is that Emerald contains Cr and Be. This is unique because these two metal elements are geochemically incompatible. The high temperatures in these specific hydrothermal solutions and pegmatite magmas "allow" or "force" these incompatible elements to co-exist.

Questions for Jaffa because inquiring minds would like to know:
1. Where specifically did you go looking for emeralds?
2. Did you find any emeralds?
3. Did you find beryl that was not green in color?
4. Assuming success and minerals and gems were found, were they formed from hydrothermal solution or by pegmatite?
5. Will you share photos of the "hunt" or related walking, please? We'd love to see the area.

billie

[waikikikichan]

Found this warning sign:

[billie_morini]

Found this warning sign:

Y9kMz.jpg

Waiki,
you are a stinker. That sign is for British Columbia, CANADA!! (Still funny, though)
billie

[billie_morini]

FYI August 2018: There are so many large wildfires in NorCal this Summer that Yosemite is closed indefinitely.

[billie_morini]

FYI end of August 2018: Yosemite re-opened. No fire damage.