You might also try for a condo at Yosemite West...these are not in the Valley, but about a 20 minute drive away.

bookmarking

Ah I am slightly worried now about Curry Village, i have read so many dodgy reports.
We are staying at the Dorchester in London for a couple of nights before we fly and then the Wynn in Las vegas and then Curry Village haha oh god what a difference..
The thing is i would rather be in a central location than drive more when we get there when we would have already been driving enough and also uif the traffic is bad there I would rather be central so we can walk and forget the car.
I do not mind basic living or camping at all so if that's the case then I'm ok with Curry village I just dont like the idea of not being able to move etc ??
I have just been on yosemite website and it will be 1600 for the three nights in the Ahwahnee, is it worth it? I was trying to economise on this bit and splurge on a plush hotel near the coast..?

Anyway I'm gutted about the highway 120 (how inconsiderate of it ha) I have heard it's a very nice route, so how will we get from LV to yosemite now (15, 58, 99, 41?) What's that route like? Do you not think th eroad will be fixed by then?
oo i've just found this
http://www.nps.gov/yose/parknews/bofreopen.htm

Ok so The half dome is a hassle getting a permit etc so will miss that then. I found this website blog which was good to read
http://www.sarahlavendersmith.com/20...te-grand-slam/
I will definately do the early morning runs to Mirror lake from curry village and then another morning to sentinel beach as they seem to be on a path?
Shame you can not remember the numebr of your tent tom ..
So do you guys suggest just turning up and then talking to a ranger about walks??
Renting out bikes sounds good ..
aparently the sunset at glacier point is good ?

Keep trying/checking the other accommodations besides the Ahwahnee if you have some concerns about Curry Village. I think however - if you do wind up in Curry - request a "quiet" section - and also - they will work with you if you said you have someone too noisy next to you. People check out every day and it's not that hard to move from one tent to another, and there are quite a number of tents.

As for where to splurge - the Ahwahnee is marvelous - and if you got a place on the Coast with a view - to me that is the most important amenity.

Will also ask my wife if she can remember the tent number. I have a number in mind but hesitate giving it if I am not sure.

You can check ahead online to see what Ranger talks/walks/programs are offered/scheduled - and then when you arrive - they can tell you more. As far as I recall - you just show up - and don't need a formal reservation. We also went on a Photography walk - again with no reservation/charge.

Usually - there is also an evening program/slide show in the Curry Village ampi-theater, which can be fun.

The sunset is/can be great at/from Glacier Point -and sometimes in the summer - they let Astronomy clubs set up their telescopes and offer free viewing to Park guests - in exchange for being able to camp there free. The first time I looked through a big scope and saw the different clusters in the Milky Way - (they start with M's as I recall) - it was a veritable eye opener.

Hey - maybe if you buy one of the great Wynn robes - and wear it in the Curry Village tent - you might feel more upscale, eh?

Another fun run is along the trail that leads out to and beyond the main Yosemite Falls. There are some great viewing spots along there - including a window to the lower falls.

It's also fun to run/bike along/around the meadows and in the morning or the late afternoon - you can sometimes see deer just casually munching away.

BTW - if you are in good shape and want to do Half Dome - have at it. Start early - take some water - and you will beat much/most of the crowds, and it's nice to be walking back down the trail as people are still huffing up it. Just be sure that it looks clear - as if I didn't mention it -when you get to the top and have to climb up the last part - - there is a sign: Warning - Lightning strikes every month of the year on Half dome.

LOL. Just read Sarah's great post and she is spot on - and definitely - start early if you are going to do Half Dome.

I just skimmed her blog - and will read it again - but think she said you only need permits on Fri and Sun - or during the weekend?

Way back when I was in good running shape - I was partially inspired to climb/hike Half Dome by a guy in my office in San Diego - as he said he and his wife camped up there for his 40th BDay - and at night - they could lean into the wind and not fall down.

Just consider Curry Village an adventure. I can fully enjoy something in Vegas and then an adventure in a National Park as well. Just totally different way of doing things. You could always rent an RV and do it that way. Or even real tent camping. It's really fun to me any way. I must admit my wife doesn't really care for that type of thing though. She will stay about anywhere as long as there is a bathroom in the room.

Well the Curry Village tents are just that -- alternative accommodation to the campground without the luxury of a fire-pit. The only difference is that the tents have twin beds, and electric lights. Food must be kept in lock boxes by the parking lot. Communal bathrooms and showers.

But the upside to these sparse accommodations is that the cafeteria is there, the amphitheatre is there, the Curry Village pool is there, and it is surrounded by some of the most gorgeous scenery ever. Bike rentals and river raft rentals are there. The free shuttle is just outside the parking lot. So you can take the shuttle up to Happy Trails, Yosemite Village, Yosemite Falls, and the Ahwahnee. Or you can rent a bike and bike there, or take a walk or run there.

If it were me, and I was going to be there for 3 nights, to conserve $$, I might spend one night at the Ahwahnee, the two in the tents. I'm a huge fan of the Ahwahnee, but because it is an historic hotel, it does not have all the modern conveniences and the rooms are, in general, very small. So many would say it's not worth it because it is very expensive.

Instead, you can go there, enjoy the bar, the restaurant, the common rooms, and the outside area. Everything, I guess, except for the room itself and the small pool.

I personally like the pool not at Curry Village but the one at Yosemite Lodge -- which you CAN go to -- I think they upped the cost to $5 for the day, but that includes towels and use of their shower facilities. There is another bike rental place right outside the pool.

I'm not reading through the whole thread again (too many multiple posts to digest) -- so someone else may have posted this: I saw where you are disappointed about hwy 120:

The rockfall was to the west of Yosemite in January and will have NO effect on your visit in August (they expect full repair by some time in April). And besides - you are coming in from the east so it wouldn't have effected you in any case . . .

>>wouldn't have affected you

what about that effect on you visit? I'm not sure either way. lol I would have to look that one up. Hey, it only took you and hour.

Did you by chance miss the webpage about 120 reopening? http://www.nps.gov/yose/parknews/bofreopen.htm

Tom: That is old news - after the initial slide. But the road was seriously damaged. Perhaps you missed the current situation???

http://www.nps.gov/yose/parknews/bof...closure212.htm

spirol: Nope - it only took me about 3 seconds -- when I came back to check in on the thread that typo jumped out and bit me.

And the road being closed in Feb for a few weeks will affect August how?

And if you decide to try it - here is a Curry Village Map (click on first prompt below) and it looks like they may have closed where we used to stay - which was just below "enter" of the "Area closed - do not enter". (Think that was out of concern for occasional rocks dislodging/falling from the cliffs).

Again, if you call/email the front desk - and request a "quiet" area - perhaps all the way to the right - or the far left - I think they will try to reserve/hold one for you.

The second page shows what a two cot tent looks like. Quite comfortable really, especially if you have a couple of "beverages" before turning in.

And the 3rd is a pic of the cafeteria - which has decent food - but seems to have become a bit pricey. They do have a separate coffee counter and pastries, etc - or we used to like to wander over to the visitor center for morning coffee and rolls - or check what's available in the store.

The last one is the webpage for making reservations - which it sounds like you have already done?

http://www.nps.gov/yose/parknews/bofreopen.htm

http://www.yosemitepark.com/Accommod...ngDetails.aspx

http://www.yosemitepark.com/Accommod...tServices.aspx

http://www.nationalparkreservations....FQ0FRQodZV6KzQ

Not sure if I properly cut and pasted the Curry Tent location map - but here is an older map of the tent layout (again - different from the one I was trying to find - which shows the closed areas) and we used to stay in the tent area numbered in the mid 70's, but think that is closed now. It was pretty quiet - not far from the Nob Hill showers - but far enough.

Below that - is a bit bigger one of the area. The bus stops right in front of the entrance to Curry Village - just ask someone or listen and watch for where it goes. You can also see the bus symbols on the map.

And the third one is for Yosemite Lodge - which we also liked and from their dining room - you can see upper Yo falls.

http://www.yosemite.ca.us/maps/curry_village_map.jpg

http://www.yosemite.ca.us/maps/curry...e_area_map.png

http://www.yosemite.ca.us/maps/yosemite_lodge_map.jpg

Dang - can't seem to find the pdf that had the latest/current layout for Curry Village - showing the closed area - but if you contact/email? the Curry Village Front desk - they could probably provide a link or possibly mail you one.

And here is an overview map of the Yo Valley Floor, and the second one of the shuttle bus routes, and the third one has some of the hiking trails/routes. It's also fun to hike upside Yo Falls (a good little climb) - and friends of mine camped up there too - but that was a long time ago. Not sure if they allow that anymore.

http://www.yosemite.ca.us/maps/yosem...erview_map.png

http://www.yosemite.ca.us/maps/yosem...map_summer.png

http://www.yosemite.ca.us/maps/yosem...g_map_2006.pdf

Well the time stamp is about an hour different


You can search on Youtube for Curry Village and Housekeeping camp to see video