Per Morrigoons post above, at the site Disneyphile suggested you can't reserve a specific campsite just a place at that campground. So we wouldn't be guaranteed together or at those sites.

I must have looked wrongly if there are lots of sites. April 18 would be far enough apart from Memorial Day that I might even be able to join for a weekend only. I wouldn't need to worry about Lani's schedule since there is no way she'll be camping when it is as cold as it can be up there in mid-April (the average is about a high of 49 but last April the 15th was a high of 32).

whoo hoo! real camping!

Reserve-able site IN the Valley proper are Upper Pines, Lower Pines and North Pines - which are all right next to each other.

Other areas OUTSIDE of the Valley are Wawona (about an hour from the Valley), Hodgdon Meadow (off 395/120 and about 1 1/2 hours outside of the Valley and about an 7-8 hour drive up 395/120). The other area is Tuolumne Meadows which is appears is not available at all (and may not be open that early in the year due to road closures and elevation of 8000 feet.)

The Valley is not that bad. I would NOT camp in Tuolumne in April. I camped in August one year and it was 29 at night.

According to weather underground that was the high for the valley floor last April 15 (not that I mind). And when I was there a couple of years ago a week after Labor Day we got snowed on (that made coming down off Half Dome in shorts and t-shirts a lot of fun).

Again, that is not the standard, but people probably need to be prepared for the possibility (nothing sadder than a campsite full of people sleeping in their cars with heaters on) of it being pretty cold.

Are there camping sites available where your vehicle is not within sight of your tent?

Oh yeah, it will be cold in April. I just don't think it will be unbearable during the day. A large fire at night and some warm sleeping bags will be a big help. And lots of lesbian outerwear. ;)

Yes, they are called Backpacking or Wilderness Camps.


Have fun.

IT's called "Riding with me..." :rolleyes: