Camp 4 Queue

Does anyone know at what time you can start lining up for a spot at Camp 4?  I know the ranger station opens at 8:30 but we're hoping to dawn patrol it to get a spot. Thanks for your help!

I think as long as you are obviously awake they won't bother you... If you get there by ~6am it is should be good enough to get a spot in my experience.

was there last week and it was so crowded had to sleep in line the night before, good luck

Was there in June.  Even in the middle of the week people were lining up as early as 8pm the night before.  The rangers didn't bother people sleeping in line but I've heard people say they are more strict and may hassle you on the weekend.  Everyone in your party (even children) needs to be in line the whole time.  Some people tried to hold spots in line the night before and add a bunch more people (kids, etc) in the morning.  They got called out by people further back in line (there was name calling and physical threats), and kicked out by the rangers.  I would say about half the people in line actually got a spot the next day.  Maybe it's not always like this, but in general no one in line was friendly - the atmosphere was very cut throat.  If that's your idea of fun then have at it!

There are too many people climbing

You should probably stop.

Thanks for the helpful info.  To Stiles and Nate Farr who troll the internet like a bunch of assholes, i feel sorry that you don't have something more fulfilling in your life to pass the time.

Seems like its damn near impssible to jam yourself into camp four. You dont agree with me? What are your plans once into the campground? Wait in line again? No being an asshole, but genuinely curious as to what might be open in The Valley once you squeeze yourself in. 

And mp forums are my poop diversion at work. My poor but true joke was simply a bump for you, as answers to your query are indeed interesting insight into climbing in CA. 

In Nate's defence, l think he was telling myself to be the change l want to see in the world and quit climbing. 

I'm trolling 

Fuck that noise. Go in the shoulder season and its self-register, always room. 

You'll get a spot in camp four if you are in line early, like way before 8:30. If you can, go friday morning, or even better thursday.

stiles, if one walks a bit, there are tons of empty moderates. Just find a comprehensive guidebook, as well as the supertopo, just make sure you dont try one rated 4 or 5 stars in supertopo, or even better, isnt in the taco. Pennies on the dollar its empty. Also pennies on the dollar if its a 4 or 5 star taco  under 5.11 its packed

Waited in line a Thursday in mid sept at 6:15am or so. Was #11 in line. From what I understand they post the amount of spots to become available for walk ins the night before in the window at the ranger station. So you can base your arrival time depending on how many it looks like will open up. Also they started issuing around 7:45-8am. 

Right on, Rafael. Good beta. Makes sense. Difficult, obscure, lower quality routes that are more out of the way.  How bout winter aid routes.  Same story, I'd imagine?  

Stiles wrote:

Right on, Rafael. Good beta. Makes sense. Difficult, obscure, lower quality routes that are more out of the way.  How bout winter aid routes.  Same story, I'd imagine?  

obscure yes, difficult? maybe. Low quality? Its a dice roll, could get a hidden gem, or bit by a billion angry ants.

dunno about big walls in teh winter, I'm not an aid climber.  if you can catch a good weather window you'll be fine, I imagine, and no lines. But the winter storms are pretty dangerous