2008 Camp Swank

[Disneyphile]

An interesting note I found about Canyon View:

Canyon View is a smaller, less manicured campground where tenters can get away from RVs.

[Not Afraid]

Originally Posted by Disneyphile

An interesting note I found about Canyon View:

This is true, it is much smaller and, frankly, not as nice as Sheep Creek. If I remember correctly, there are fewer trees ie: less shade.

If we get the spots I would like to get at Sheep Creek, they are bordered on the far right by a creek and no other campsites and the river on the "front". The spots are also HUGE! But, Ive never actually stayed at Canyon View, only driven through.

The other info I got in my phone call today was that Canyon View is the first campground they close when it isn't busy. I thought that was odd, of that's where the group sites are.

[Morrigoon]

Originally Posted by innerSpaceman

AND ... being that I'm not willing to wait till 2010 to take the virgins to Yosemite ... I may be organizing a side trip for a glorious day (or perhaps two) in Yosemite Valley. I hope any Yosemite virgins coming camping might be able to go ... and spend a day or 2 there as opposed to another day or 2 in Kings Canyon (which, frankly, has barely 2 days of things to see/do ... less if we don't repeat what we did/saw last year ... but of course we will, since those were sweet ... and none of the Yosemite virgins were there last year anyway).


So... would that be of any interest to Yosemite Virgins who might have been thinking of spending more than just the strict weekend at Kings Canyon???

I actually like that idea, iSm... if the people who wanna start super early go do Yosemite for a couple days first, then the group doesn't need to take as many days worth of Kings Canyon sites.

(budget is a serious consideration for me this year, not that it wasn't last year, but more so)

[Not Afraid]

Well, when everyone decided on what is actually going to happen, will someone let me know? I am not going to drive from Kings Canyon to Yosemite (about a 3 1/2 to 4 hour drive) and back again.

[innerSpaceman]

Well, it's not exactly like that, N.A.

Here's how it works.

The people who want to participate in the Yosemite Valley Adventure add-on drive up to Yosemite (very) early on Wednesday, June 4. (This may or may not be the same day that early arrivers plan to arrive in Kings Canyon ... most likely that will rather be Thursday, the 5th)

Wednesday will be a day of generally exploring the Valley, a visit to Bridalveil Fall, where Gemini Cricket helped save the a young life of a foolhardy boy (and then went no further in the Valley) ... then some rock-scrambling to the base of Lower Yosemite Fall (much safer than the scrambling at Bridalveil) and, lastly ... purely optional because it's strenuous ... an expedition to the base of Upper Yosemite Fall (aka Death Falls) where I witnessed a man fall to his doom from the top of the world's 2nd tallest waterfall.

Thursday the 5th will feature 2 of the most rewarding hikes on the planet. Early in the morning (before the hoards invade this incredibly popular nature area, rendering it un-nature-like) a hike up the Mist Trail, climbing beautiful Vernal Fall, then on up to the top of magnificent Nevada Fall, returning to Happy Isles in the Valley via the Horse Trail, with great views of the waterfalls just climbed.

That afternoon, a drive up the Glacier Point road for the fantastic (less strenuous) hike out to Taft Point with its grand views of El Capitan, and staggering view of the Valley below through the Five Fissures ... then through beautiful forest out along the edge of the Valley to the top of Sentinal Dome for a stunning sunset and a some stargazing.

Friday, June 6, we'd make the four-hour car journey via Fresno to Kings Canyon - - and join the majority of other Swank Campers arriving that day for a long weekend of fantastic group fun.


* * * *

The Yosemite Valley Adventure will be limited to a much smaller group.

I grabbed everything available in the Valley for the nights of the 4th and 5th of June, and it wasn't much. There was no room at the Yosemite Lodge. No cabins with bath at Curry Village. Though cancellations may lead to upgrades between now and June, what we have so far is this:

3 cabins w/o bath at Curry Village for the night of Thursday, June 5. And 3 tent cabins at Curry Village for the night of Wednesday, June 4.

I'm kidnapping Gemini Cricket to share accomodations with me. That leaves room for 4 on the Yosemite add-on. I'm giving first opportunity to Yosemite Valley virgins (as far as I know, that's just Cadaverous Pallor .. and she's free to bring a guest, which I assume would be her husband, Ghoulish Delight). So I'm giving first dibs to them. 2 other spots are available. If the Cadaverous Delights decline, then 4 spots will be available.


Sorry, but I can't wait until 2010. Pfft, Gemini Cricket is freaking about turning 37 in a few days. But I'll be turning FIFTY in 2010. Pardon me if I want to get some mountain climbing in before then. *




* 2 of the 3 hikes in Yosemite, though not really moutain climbing, are considered fairly strenous for their elevation gain. While the hike to Death Falls will be optional, the Mist Trail hike is de rigeur. Yosemite Valley Adventurers should be in good health, free from neck, back and heart conditions, and not pregnant.

[Morrigoon]

I love that no matter how many times I point it out, iSm still can't remember that I haven't been to Yosemite since I was an infant, and am therefore a Yosemite virgin. :P

In other news, I'd love to go, but probably can't afford it

[Not Afraid]

Whatever. (It's actually a 5 hour drive between Valley and Canyon)

I think I'm done. There gets to be a point when too much discussion and changes take all of the joy out of a trip before it even happens.

If you want to do a group thing, do a group thing, otherwise take your vacations on your own. Don't take the helm of a group plan then bow out and fu<k thening up for everyone else.

[Disneyphile]

So, um, how about us non-Yosemite folks plan on Thursday through Monday nights at the reserved group site or the Sheep Creek sites that NA mentioned?

We'll try to save room for the latecomers. I know I'll be taking up a nice shady spot.

[LSPoorEeyorick]

Alas, the LSPoors don't do the tent thing (sleep apnea) and we'll be celebrating our first anniversary that weekend, so maybe we can join a lodge swanking another year. I know you'll all have a wonderful time!

[innerSpaceman]

Originally Posted by Not Afraid

Don't take the helm of a group plan then bow out and fu<k thening up for everyone else.

Huh? What are you talking about? It's an add-on. Subtracting one day that I (and very few others) would have been at Kings Canyon for 2 days at Yosemite. Arriving at Kings Canyon on the very same day that the vast majority do, and staying at Kings Canyon with the big group till just about everyone goes home.


How is that messing things up for everyone else? Because there weren't enough accomodations during that weekday period in Yosemite Valley for 20 people?


I was fine with waiting till 2009 for a big lodge swanking. It's not going to happen that year for me. I AM going to Japan. My entire vacation budget and time for the year will be blown (the budget more than blown).


So instead of waiting till everyone can go in 2010, when I might be in a wheelchair for all I know , I'm going to tack 2 measley days onto the camping trip in another part of the Sierras.


It's just a great opportunity for folks, especially Yosemite virgins, to go with some friends* this year, instead of 2 years later. Lord knows, I tried to swing this year's Swank Camp to Yosemite ... and that just wasn't in the cards.




* And yes, this is for some friends, not a ton of friends. Frankly, the activities and explorations on a limited time scale are not condusive to very large groups. I grabbed every non-Ahwahnee accomodation available ... BUT anyone who wants to try for cancellations OR grab a non-reserved campsite at White Wolf is free to join in. If you recall, the problem with White Wolf was getting 4 adjacent sites. Getting one or 2 on a Wednesday should pose no problem whatsoever.



Again, I don't mean to offend anyone. I just have a yearning to take my younger friends who've never seen Yosemite to explore the Incomparable Valley while I'm still young enough to explore it with them. Tick, tick, and all that. No Time Like The Present.