With the history of Camp 4 and the fact it's on the National Register of Historic Places, does it seem odd that the rule changes surrounding the length of stay there? The reason is Camp 4 is what is is....or was, now has been changed. Granted I guess some might have f#cked it up for others but why not keep the nostalgia and allow the the climbers that cared about the site kick those out, or the rangers kick them out that trash the area?

Seems it should go back to the old ways. This link states various regs but I spoke with a SARS dude this past weekend and he said the days you can stay are down to 7?

http://www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/camp4.htm

That is the evolution of life. At the rate things are going on this planet, our stay here is soon going to be down to 7 days.

I know that the rest of the planet would love that. Non-human entities that is.

It looks like it's not just a Camp 4 thing - it's parkwide. You can't stay in the Valley, anywhere, for more than 7 days, cumulative, from May to mid-September. So, for that whole stretch of time, you can only camp in the valley for a total of one week, and then stay elsewhere in the park for another week.

Steve1215 wrote:.

...waaay bitd you could spend months camping in the talus behind C4 ...but generally you were stark naked, blazing on LSD, and hurling raccoons at your partner



...those were the days!



.

Yup!

That goes for pretty much every where else.... JT, RR, Zion, Arches, Kane Creek, Indian Creek etc.


BITD, there weren't all these climbers out there. We were sparse and and stayed outta sight of the LEW's. They did not appreciate our fine dinning via the local dumpsters and Dirtbagging squatting attitudes.

eperb wrote:They can't control that, how the hell do they know how long you have been around for.

Ah, let's see. You pay, get a ticket that indicates the day you paid. Then place the ticket at the designated tent site. If your tent is in a site that outdated, bam. See ya.

eperb wrote:Then you go some were else in the park for a few days and come right back.

Wow. you're a genius.

It's really just designed to keep out someone who sets up shop for the season with tarps and clotheslines and such like they own the place. Anyone who keeps most of their gear in their car and keeps a light footprint on the ground can stay in the park pretty much indefinitely.

Based on the conversation I had with Paul, (Yosemite SARS dude) this past Saturday, you are mostly right Bob. But some of the campers had tents not make shift stuff and the problem was "mega partying" too late into the night, garbage being left everywhere, some fighting amongst campers, giving the rangers shit, etc. He said the rangers were being very diligent on keeping tabs on the campers. Not as easy as epervert want to make it out to be.

He also said the climbers that were being respectful to the camp and fellow campers tried to police the camp but that caused problems as well.

Hmmm. Wonder if that "mega-partying" is pretty commonplace? Weekenders?

When my son and I camped In Camp 4 a couple of summers ago, it was a pretty quiet night. . Though, that was only one night, and a midweek one at that. .

does anyone know if there is a cap on the number of people allowed in the valley each day? seems like that's something that the nps is gonna have to start managing eventually.

jareds wrote:does anyone know if there is a cap on the number of people allowed in the valley each day? seems like that's something that the nps is gonna have to start managing eventually.

They should purchase the land outside the park, there are some rolling hills/grass lands that would be a perfect spot for a parking lot. Limit the amount of vehicles and have trams take visitors into the valley floor. It's ridiculous the amount of traffic in there, it really takes away from the beauty of it all.

The park service never liked climbers. We didn't spend any money.

The park service used to get a lot of its operating capital from a commission on concession sales. That's why the park service ignored its own 1980 General Management Plan that called for a massive reduction in commercial activity and development within Yosemite Valley. That's why the park service cracked down hard on anyone who wasn't spending money.

You used to be able to stay in Camp 4 for months. Even for free, if you just showed up at Camp 4 in the evening and packed up before 8 a.m. I'll never for the first time I was awakened at 3:00 a.m. by rangers and ticketed for not having a camping permit. Bastards.

Then they started hunting us down in the talus with infra-red imaging. They were that desperate to rid the valley of vermin.

Follow the money, that will help you understand the motivations of the park service.