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Charles' Canoeing Site

Here's my paddling site about water camping and canoeing in the backcountry.

It's dangerous to go out in the wilderness on an overnight trip without these things.

CATCH ANIMALS WITH A ROLLING SNARE

Pick a spot where animals have an easy time passing by surrounded by natural obstacles where they would have a hard time passing through and where there is a small tree.

Find a piece of wood about an inch in diameter and a few inches long, cut a notch in it.

Find another piece of wood also about an inch in diameter but about a foot long. Cut a notch in this piece of wood too close to one end. Sharpen the other end of this stick, the notches on the two pieces should be such that they fit in each other and can take a good amount of pull along their axis but let go easily if the smaller stick is pushed sideways.

Make a lasso type knot on the string you will use and tie the string to the shorter stick in such a way that the lasso reaches the stick when open.
Bang the sharp end of the longer stick into the ground with a rock.

Tie the rope to the tree at an appropriate height and with an appropriate length of string. You may need to adjust this later to get it right.
Hook the notch of the short stick to the notch of the long stick.

Suspend the loop in the air with a couple of small twigs. That's it, all done.

Check your snares often since an animal may be able to escape, if you want you can attach some type of noise maker that goes off when an animal gets pulled up in the air. It's very important that you beat the animal to death before you take it out of the snare since they will bite you if they get a chance.

Yosemite National Park

Yosemite National Park, CA

Yosemite National Park embraces a spectacular tract of mountain-and-valley scenery in the Sierra Nevada, which was set aside as a national park in 1890. The park harbors a grand collection of waterfalls, meadows, and forests that include groves of giant sequoias, the world's largest living things.

Highlights of the park include Yosemite Valley, and its high cliffs and waterfalls; Wawona's history center and historic hotel; the Mariposa Grove, which contains hundreds of ancient giant sequoias; Glacier Point's (summer-fall) spectacular view of Yosemite Valley and the high country; Tuolumne Meadows (summer-fall), a large subalpine meadow surrounded by mountain peaks; and Hetch Hetchy, a reservoir in a valley considered a twin of Yosemite Valley.

CONTACTS

Email - yose_web_manager@nps.gov

Fax- 209-372-0220

Write to
Superintendent
PO Box 577
Yosemite National Park, CA 95389

Phone
Visitor information & Headquarters - 209-372-0200
Visitor information for deaf/heard of hearing (TDD) - 209-372-4726

TRAVEL BASICS

Operating Hours, Seasons
The park is open 365 days per year, 24 hours per day. Reservations are not needed (nor are they available) to enter the park.

The Tioga, Glacier Point, and Mariposa Grove roads are closed from October/November through May/June due to snow (the Mariposa Grove Road may be closed for a shorter period). All other parks roads generally remain open all year, though chains are frequently required.

Some hotels and campgrounds in Yosemite Valley and Wawona, and the Valley Visitor Center are open all year.

Getting There
PLANE - Several airlines serve Fresno Yosemite International (off of Hwy 41), the Merced Air Terminal (off of Hwy 140), and the Modesto Airport (off of Hwy 120).

CAR - There are four entrances to the park:

-South entrance on Highway 41 north from Fresno

-Arch Rock entrance on Highway 140 west from Merced

-Big Oak Flat entrance on Highway 120 west from Modesto and Manteca

-Hetch Hetchy Entrance (to Hetch Hetchy Valley)

-Tioga Pass entrance on Highway 120 east from Lee Vining and Highway 395. The Tioga Pass entrance is closed from the first major snowstorm in November until late May to June due to snow. All other park entrances are kept open all year, but may require tire chains because of snow anytime between November and April.

**Visitors may drive into and around Yosemite Valley. Reservations are not required (nor do they exist) to enter the park.**

PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION - Visitors can ride YARTS buses from gateway communities outside the park into Yosemite Valley. YARTS and VIA buses connect with Amtrak and Greyhound in Merced.

Weather & Climate
Weather can change rapidly during all seasons of the year. Elevation plays a major role in temperature and precipitation.

Yosemite receives most of its precipitation in the months of January, February and March. Summers are typically warm and dry. Spring and fall are transitional months, when warm, sunny days can suddenly become stormy. Clouds can build up during the summer to produce spectacular thunderstorm activity.

For Yosemite Valley and Wawona (subtract 10-20 degrees for Tuolumne Meadows), AVERAGE weather is as follows:

Summer: Typically dry, with occasional thunderstorms; highs in the low 90s, lows in the 50s.

Fall & Spring: Highly variable, with typical high temperatures ranging from the 50s to 70s, with lows in the 30s. Rain is less likely early in fall/late in spring and rain or snow is likely late in fall/early in spring.

Winter: Snowy, rainy, or (sometimes) even sunny days are possible, with highs ranging from the 30s to 50s and lows in the upper 20s.

It is wise to pack for any season with clothing that can be "layered," ready to peel off or add on as conditions dictate. Always include some kind of rain gear.

Accessibility
The park's major sites can be viewed by automobile. Some trails and facilities are wheelchair accessible. Ask at any visitor center or entrance station for more information.

Getting Around
Free shuttle buses are recommended in Yosemite Valley (year round), Wawona/Mariposa Grove (spring-fall), and Tuolumne Meadows (summer).

FEES/PERMITS

Entrance Fee
ANNUAL PASS
$40.00 for Annual

INDIVIDUAL (ON BUS, MOTORCYCLE, BICYCLE, OR FOOT)
$10.00 for 7 Days

VEHICLE
$20.00 for 7 Days
*Credit cards are not accepted for payment of entrance fees and passes. Cash, personal checks, and travelers checks are accepted.

Permits
WILDERNESS PERMIT
$5/person for reservations for One Time
A wilderness permit is required to stay overnight in the wilderness. Permits are free; reservations are $5 per person.

Special Use Permits
FILM AND WEDDING PERMITS

Special use permits are required for weddings and commercial filming and photography.

RESOURCE EDUCATION FEE WAIVER
Free!
School groups may qualify for a Resource Education Fee Waiver.

CAMPING

Campgrounds in Yosemite
Make Reservations by Phone at 1-800-436-PARK
There are thirteen campgrounds in Yosemite National Park. Camping reservations for up to seven of these campgrounds are available five months in advance. Wawona, Hodgdon Meadow, and two campgrounds in Yosemite Valley are open all year.
For More Information on this campground please call 209-372-8502 (info only)

High Sierra Camps
Yosemite Concession Services Corporation operates five High Sierra Camps, which are spaced 5.7 to 10 miles apart along a loop trail in Yosemite's beautiful high country. All lodging is in canvas tent cabins that have dormitory-style steel frame beds with mattresses, pillows, woolen blankets and comforters. Hot showers, soap and restroom facilities are available. However, guests must provide their own sheets or sleep-sacks and towels. Sleep-sacks and Trek Towels can be purchased through Yosemite Concession Services Corporation mail order for confirmed High Camp guests. Due to high demand, High Sierra camps are reserved on a lottery basis. Applications are available October 15 to November 30 annually.
For More Information on this campground please call 559-253-5674

LODGING

Accommodations in Yosemite
Open All Year
Yosemite Concession Services Corporation operates a variety of lodging units in Yosemite. Rates range from as low as $48 per night at Curry Village for a basic tent cabin with nearby bathroom to over $318 per night for a room at The Ahwahnee.
For More Information on this lodging please call 559-252-4848

High Sierra Camps
Yosemite Concession Services Corporation operates five High Sierra Camps, which are spaced 5.7 to 10 miles apart along a loop trail in Yosemite's beautiful high country. All lodging is in canvas tent cabins that have dormitory-style steel frame beds with mattresses, pillows, woolen blankets and comforters. Hot showers, soap and restroom facilities are available. However, guests must provide their own sheets or sleep-sacks and towels. Sleep-sacks and Trek Towels can be purchased through Yosemite Concession Services Corporation mail order for confirmed High Camp guests. Due to high demand, High Sierra camps are reserved on a lottery basis. Applications are available October 15 to November 30 annually.
For More Information on this lodging please call 559-253-5674

FACILITIES

Museums
YOSEMITE MUSEUM
Open All Year at least 9:00 am - 4:30 pm (closed for lunch)
Phone - 209-372-0200
Location - Next to the Visitor Center in Yosemite Valley.
Exhibits - Displays interpret the cultural history of Yosemite’s native Miwok and Paiute people from 1850 to the present. Demonstrations of basket-weaving, beadwork, and/or traditional games are presented. The Indian Village of Ahwahneee is a reconstructed Miwok village. Cultural demonstrations are offered during the summer. During summer, the Museum Gallery displays paintings from the collection of the Yosemite Museum.

Visitor Centers
VISITOR CENTERS AND INFORMATION STATIONS
Phone - 209-372-0200
Location - Visitor centers are located in Yosemite Valley (open year-round) and Tuolumne Meadows (summer only). Information stations are located in Wawona (spring-fall) and Big Oak Flat (spring-fall).

Wilderness Information Centers
WILDERNESS CENTERS AND PERMIT STATIONS
Phone - 209-372-0200
Location - Wilderness Centers are located in Yosemite Valley (spring-fall; visitor center during winter) and Tuolumne Meadows (summer only). Wildernes Permits are also issued at the Wawona Information Station (spring-fall), Big Oak Flat Information Station (spring-fall), and Hetch Hetchy Entrance Station (summer only).

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