Yosemite going back to reservation system May-September

Just announced today, in order to “mitigate risk associated with covid”. This is extremely frustrating, and totally roasting climbers as a whole. We’re used to taking last minute weekend trips or on days off heading in to climb when we can, and that’s not an option anymore I guess? This system only benefits fat tourists who never leave the roads, I feel like we’re taking some heavys right now. 

This is BS! the park service is a joke!!! This with the Creek Fire and once again unfair access to the park with un-needed on line registration! this will be the economic knock out punch for the Mt. area community's! 

Tanner Jameswrote:

[Redacted]

Because I'm not happy.

linky

One "temporary" step closer to a permanent reservation system.  I'm not sure if I'm happy or sad about this.

They're not going "back" to last year's system; they're making it worse. Now the reservations will only be valid for three days.

Paul Morrisonwrote:

They're not going "back" to last year's system; they're making it worse. Now the reservations will only be valid for three days.

I’m not trying to be dramatic here but I honestly have no idea how you’re supposed to be able to go actually climb in the valley or like do anything more than just a 3 day visit now. This makes no sense for anyone except again the tourists who go once a decade that never leave the road on their visit it’s totally fucking the climbers. It’s busy going to make people have to break rules to get anything done now 

From the NPS website:

"How can I do an overnight big wall climb?"

A procedure for accommodating overnight climbs will be announced shortly.

Tanner James wrote:

Just announced today, in order to “mitigate risk associated with covid”. This is extremely frustrating, and totally roasting climbers as a whole. We’re used to taking last minute weekend trips or on days off heading in to climb when we can, and that’s not an option anymore I guess? This system only benefits fat tourists who never leave the roads, I feel like we’re taking some heavys right now.

Sucks that a global pandemic that's killed almost 3 million people worldwide and over 500k in the US is causing us to adjust what we're "used to doing." Can't imagine that actually planning your trip ahead of time is thaaat much of a hassle?

Tanner Jameswrote:

I’m not trying to be dramatic here but I honestly have no idea how you’re supposed to be able to go actually climb in the valley or like do anything more than just a 3 day visit now. This makes no sense for anyone except again the tourists who go once a decade that never leave the road on their visit it’s totally fucking the climbers. It’s busy going to make people have to break rules to get anything done now 

So, to honestly give you an idea of how to do more than just a 3 day visit: Make your reservation for 3 days, then, make another reservation for the next  3 days starting on the 4th day if the trip, (if there's nothing available on that day, make a reservation for the day before, thus starting the new 3 day clock on the last day of your first reservation), continue until you have enough days for your trip length. We've all been doing this for the last year or so during the various day use restriction periods. 

have they not yet released reservations?  

edit:  reads like they release the reservations on April 21.

Beginning Friday, May 21, 2021 visitors to Yosemite National Park will need a day-use reservation to enter the park. The temporary day-use reservation system will allow the park to manage visitation levels to reduce risks associated with exposure to COVID-19. 

Day-use reservations will be required for all users, including annual and lifetime pass holders. Each reservation is valid for three days beginning at 8 a.m. on April 21, 2021. 

splitclimberwrote:

have they not yet released reservations?  

edit:  reads like they release the reservations on April 21.

Beginning Friday, May 21, 2021 visitors to Yosemite National Park will need a day-use reservation to enter the park. The temporary day-use reservation system will allow the park to manage visitation levels to reduce risks associated with exposure to COVID-19. 

Day-use reservations will be required for all users, including annual and lifetime pass holders. Each reservation is valid for three days beginning at 8 a.m. on April 21, 2021. 

 

Yes the on line pass is un-needed and a lie sense the park service states that do to the virus rates are too high, (which is fate news!!) In the last week 4 out of the 5 county's that surround the park have changed the color tiers! and the numbers in Calf are at its lowest in the past year!!! This on line pass thing is do to the parks mismanagement, lat of park service doing its job and making false statement about the Coronavirus!!! I Live next to the park and have to deal with the parks bs all the time!!! This power play and handling the park as a hostage to the Mt. community here and the rest of the would be visitors is out of control!!! The park was designed and made for the people and not a few entitled who have access to a smart phone and a computer to gain access to the park so at this point the parks policy is discrimination!!! and should not be tolerate!!! By saying (well thousands of people died nationwide from the virus and you should get a 3 day pass and a new 3 days...) just sends a massage its ok for the park to grant access to a few entitled and its ok for the park service to lie to us??? Living here next to the park the last time i looked no one die by being at the park or visiting the park from the virus!!! Access to the park at this point is unfair unjust and un-needed starting on May 21, where is the Access Fund on this??? is this not a classic case of (Access Denied)???

Mike Arechigawrote:

Yes the on line pass is un-needed and a lie sense the park service states that do to the virus rates are too high, (which is fate news!!) In the last week 4 out of the 5 county's that surround the park have changed the color tiers! and the numbers in Calf are at its lowest in the past year!!! This on line pass thing is do to the parks mismanagement, lat of park service doing its job and making false statement about the Coronavirus!!! I Live next to the park and have to deal with the parks bs all the time!!! This power play and handling the park as a hostage to the Mt. community here and the rest of the would be visitors is out of control!!! The park was designed and made for the people and not a few entitled who have access to a smart phone and a computer to gain access to the park so at this point the parks policy is discrimination!!! and should not be tolerate!!! By saying (well thousands of people died nationwide from the virus and you should get a 3 day pass and a new 3 days...) just sends a massage its ok for the park to grant access to a few entitled and its ok for the park service to lie to us??? Living here next to the park the last time i looked no one die by being at the park or visiting the park from the virus!!! Access to the park at this point is unfair unjust and un-needed starting on May 21, where is the Access Fund on this??? is this not a classic case of (Access Denied)???

Wow. 

Your comments have no merits here about the Yosemite area you do not live here your from the Bay Area ( not a local), this is not Canada!!!  and the restrictions are about lies about the virus rating here in the county's area around the park not the crowds!!! so maybe look up the facts and not the lies!!! Restrictions are not (annoying) but discriminating!!! Ps please do not assume I have not been vaccinated, you know what people say about people who assume!!!

Well, I guess instead of enjoying the great outdoors in Yosemite, I'll just go watch Kong v. Godzilla at the Cineplex.  Much safer in the theater than getting Covid in the Valley!  

Oddly enough, I think there will be very little Covid still floating around on May 21 when this reservation system kicks in.  No matter though.  The Park bureaucrats have figured out that it is much easier to run a park with less people in it. 

bob steedwrote:

The Park bureaucrats have figured out that it is much easier to run a park with less people in it. 

I wouldn’t be surprised if park/concessions staffing played a role in this. If they can’t fully staff the park this summer, there’s no way they’d be able to handle the influx of people without controlling the numbers. Or maybe they’ve seen the writing on the wall and know that things would get out of control without reservations regardless of staffing levels.

Tanner Jameswrote:

This system only benefits fat tourists who never leave the roads

Elitism, body shaming , not a great look.  I'm stoked on the reservation system. The employees in the park are living in single occupancy units until covid is over, or at-least the end of the summer season.  My tent usually houses 3 people instead of 1. Maybe this gives you a sense of the staffing issues here in the park, and why it cant run under normal summer traffic. Sooo sorry you are inconvenienced having to plan ahead...... must be difficult

I drove by yosemite falls and you could not see the trail underneath all the tourists feet. Meanwhile at cookie cliff, there were four people. Maybe admission should be granted when one presents a black alien at the gate.

This combined with Sierra National Forest's  changes to their wilderness permit system (online only and 2 weeks in advance) make it harder and harder to do anything spontaneously around here.  If it is anything like last year I expect to see many permits go unused by out of towners who book wilderness permits and yosemite reservations on line and never show up.   

Pre covid, everyone was complaining about overcrowding - and I agree it was awful and unsustainable - pretty much everywhere outdoors.  What is your better idea - the old nothing but shuttles suggestion?  Been to Zion lately?  I’m not minding the reservation thing, especially if it’s a workable system and kept to peak times.  With the exception of a few days in June, these times are too hot to climb, IMO, the place is a sweaty hell packed full of gumbies and tourists.

If the park service really wanted to limit visitors,  the only services available in Yosemite would be restrooms, camping and trash pick up.  Selling overpriced merchandise  and meals attracts visitors. 

Bill Schickwrote:

With the exception of a few days in June, these times are too hot to climb, IMO, the place is a sweaty hell packed full of gumbies and tourists.

Don’t forget about Tuolumne Meadows, which will probably be at their prime during June.