Death Valley Off-Road Adventures

Unfortunately as the population increases, all of the really neato places feel the pressure. I do not see a solution.

 

This year, the park is pretty much reservation only. I've seen some video and to be honest, It's nice to see so few people in the park. That said, reservations mean out of town visitors cannot easily plan a day or two in the park as reservations open today for seven days from now. Or living so close, I cannot just buzz up and visit.

I've been to Half Dome twice. The first time, Little Yose smelled like a giant porta potty. Second, not so bad.
What tended to happen on the cables was people would freak and just stop. bringing the up and down crowd to a stop. As we descended the second time, someone dropped a water bottle they were carrying and that caused everyone to just stop and watch it go over the side.

The views back toward Clouds Rest. Oh man. Each time I've gone, I've always left before 0600. On the top before noon and back by dinner. Even the hike up through the mist trail is worth it.

 

I may try to secure a Yose two or three day pass for the near future. Looks promising that I'll spend Labor Day week in Tuolumne for an annual group campout. It will be interesting to see current occupancy.

 

I was fortunate, the time my friends and I went was the last year before the permit lottery started. The following year we went to Clouds Rest to avoid having to go through the lottery. Clouds Rest is nearly as challenging, no permits required and great view of Half Dome from the backside. I highly recommend it if you are staying in Tuolumne as trailhead is nearby at Tenaya Lake.

obligatory pic:

 

Ssssshhhhh. We don’t need that hike blowing up.

It’s fun as a through hike to the Yosemite Valley too. Just need to catch the shuttle.

 

Is anything not blown up in the Valley or the Meadows? I'm glad I got a lot of time in before the crowds got so thick.

 

It's already blown up.

 

Yeah I don’t do much in Yosemite anymore unless it’s for work.

Last time I did clouds rest it was before the permitting on Half Dome so you could do both. It was pretty rare to see anyone on the clouds rest to half dome portion.

 

Also did the Dome a couple of times in the mid 2000's. We went on the outside of the cables to bypass the cluster f*** of people. Also been there late in afternoon when cables were empty. I surmise the permitting system helped with overcrowding a lot. Yosemite is a beautiful place...

 

....?

 

Did the Half Dome hike and cable climb about 6 years ago, we didn't know we were getting a permit until the night before. That was one hell of a hike, we did it all in one day though. 20 something miles. Only one I've done that hurt more than that afterward was Mt. Whitney

 

Which way did you go? From the valley, it's only like 16. I always thought the way up would be most difficult. Nope, down was.

 

Down is always an ass kicker.

 

Yep. Cardio does just fine on uphills for me. It does fine on downhills too. My knees? Not so much. lol

 

I can't remember where we started from exactly, some area where you could stay in little cabins. My dad's wife won't stay anywhere she can't shower in the morning lol.

Yeah going down is always the worst. Was that way with Whitney, too. I get going too fast thinking gravity is on my side, when reality it's adamantly against me

 

Same! One day both times and it was brutal. The down hill ignited fire in my shoes and knees screamed. Hiking poles helped a lot!

lol Yep. Also don't remember the exact starting point, but was from the valley floor. I remember this one section early in the hike where you could easily go off trail and if you weren't paying attention you'd walk off a cliff into the waterfall, Nevada falls lolz

 

Death Valley National Park Draft Air Tour Management Plan
Comment Period: 07/29/2021 - 08/28/2021
https://parkplanning.nps.gov/document.cfm?parkID=297&projectID=103441&documentID=114129

 

are private aircraft tours of the park currently allowed?

 

AFAIK only by permit by the superintendent on a case by case basis. I'm sure some people hire pilots to fly in/around the park but no commercial flights. Grand Canyon has helicopter tours and I don't think it would be a good thing for Death Valley. Even though there is military training there are many times where no training is taking place and the quiet of the park is part of the reason I go there.

 

unbelievable...