el portal/140 bivy

I was referring to the river around el portal, outside the park. Anywho, yeah run up manure pile buttress and sleep on top. hmmmmmm

The ledge at Reed's maybe. 

From a TR on Supertopo:

"Morning of the climb we woke up somewhere near El Portal (not the sandlot, lesson learned after a night there a while back)..."

I've been staying in the sandlot consistently every other weekend or so (when it's not raining) for the last 6 years or so. I've never had an issue, save for a single time my first month (6 years ago) where we got rousted and had to move up to Island in the Sky for the night. Even then, the CHP just said we've got an hour to pack up and be gone or else there'd be tickets upon his return and then he left. No clue if he even came back considering there were cars that arrived after he left and setup camp despite our warnings. 

Park service thinks it's their jurisdiction or CHP's jurisdiction depending upon who you ask (or who is shining a light in your truck) and CHP is has been pretty much the same with waffling about who has jurisdiction.

Point is that 99% of the time, the sandlot is going to be fine (and judging from the heavy boondocking traffic between the sandlot and the gate, you're probably just as fine at one of the closer pullouts so long as you're not parking beneath a no trespassing blah blah blah sign.)

I've been there deep summer when the Merced families come up and will have three separate bonfires raging all night and no one came to roust anyone. I've been there the dead of winter when I wish someone had rousted me because I was having some freaky Blair Witch flashbacks but alas, I was forced to deal with my fear all night long in peace. I've been there when CHP has rolled through lighting up people's cars and then just driving away. I've been there when Caltrans comes in the morning to grab sand/dirt form the huge mound on the left and they just went about their business. Had park services drive by hundreds of time never stopping. 

I try to stay sober so that if I do get rousted, I can drive away without falling into the dui trap, but other than that, I don't worry too much.
As always, your mileage may vary.

Whatever you do just don't be an ass to the Rangers when they do come knocking. Be respectful and be smart. Even if they are a dick, kill them with kindness You are representing a fine community of dirtbags/climbers/vandwellers. And most of the time we are on the fringe of the rules or outright breaking them. Lastly, please shit and dispose of human waste responsibly.

I can tell you all that no one who lives in that canyon is excited about your campfire.  Or your cathole.  Try and do the right thing, please.

FYI, I just noticed yesterday that the sandlot has been closed to public use. I have not been up the 120 in a while, but I don't imagine that hardin flat has been closed as well, anyone know?

RyanO wrote:

FYI, I just noticed yesterday that the sandlot has been closed to public use. I have not been up the 120 in a while, but I don't imagine that hardin flat has been closed as well, anyone know?

Sleeping on the side on the road in your vehicle at the Yosemite sign (before road starts going up the hill for Parkline Slabs) though not technically legal, has been relatively fine since the sandlot was closed off. 

I'd definitely be interested in knowing if anyone has done the Hardin Flat bivy (or evergreen) recently

kevin deweese wrote:

Sleeping on the side on the road in your vehicle at the Yosemite sign (before road starts going up the hill for Parkline Slabs) though not technically legal, has been relatively fine since the sandlot was closed off. 

I'd definitely be interested in knowing if anyone has done the Hardin Flat bivy (or evergreen) recently

Harden Flat is good to go, and has been all summer.