Top products from r/Yosemite

I completely understand where you're coming from (and I think what you're after).

I picked up this book right in the Yosemite Village Store (as I was leaving Yosemite for what I feared might be a long time). The Yosemite Grant

It's a very detailed history of the early years of the park (1864-1906) in a nice larger format book.

For other ideas, I'd browse around here are well.
Yosemite Conservancy In fact, pulling up that link just inspired me to order a copy of "They Yosemite Valley and the Mariposa Grove", which I hadn't seen before.

If you haven't already, definitely get a copy of "The Yosemite" by John Muir. He's an incredible writer and a crazy man at times - very adventurous. There are endless variety of publications to choose from, and it's a free eBook too. All of Muir's writings are worth your time.

From another angle, I actually also found this book to be really enjoyable: Geology Underfoot in Yosemite National Park. Not for everyone, but it's a very accessible geological history, shedding light into how the landscape formed. As I hiked around the valley loop last fall it was very cool to note, as we crossed a high sort of berm that stuck out like a sore thumb, that it was in fact the terminal moraine of the glacier that carved the valley, and later acted as a damn to fill the valley, giving it its flat floor. The book gave me a better appreciation of what I was seeing within the park. (high nerd factor there though, not for everyone)

And finally, if you want to go waaaay back to some great source material, everything that is in the public domain seems to be cataloged and digitized here Yosemite Online

Enjoy!

By no means am I an expert on the hike, but I can help for sure.

The gloves I was recommended were these and they worked great. They have similar brands/types at Home Depot.

As others have said, especially on a day hike, it'd be best to only fill up a little water at a time. The Vernal Falls footbridge station was closed and has been for a month or more.. so check the status or ask around before you go. Bring a filter so you don't have to rely on it and fill up at Little Yosemite Valley. There is water access above each waterfall, but use caution on where you decide to pull water. Basically, in this photo, fill up on or near the sand beach where the background people are.. avoid rocks and fast-moving water.

Start early, like 5-6AM early.. pack the 10 essentials (or most of them at least) and just be sure to check the weather before you go.

Get a Supertopo climbing guidebook and look up the climber trails. These trails are unofficial climber maintained trails and are generally safe but more difficult hiking with frequent route finding by following rock stacks. The approaches to El Capitan, Washington Column, Glacier Point Apron, and Middle Cathedral offer some really great views most tourists don’t get to see. The hike to the base of Washington Column (look up the climb “Astroman”) puts you directly across from Half Dome. The hike up to El Cap (look up the climb “Pine Line”) is an easy 15 min walk. Once you get to the base of El Cap, go left and follow the base for 5 min. There is a gigantic ledge that looks strait up the Nose of El Cap. The Glacier Point Apron trail (look up the climb “The Grack”) starts at the parking lot across from Upper Pines campground and cuts into the forest to the base of Glacier Point. Once you get to the base, go left and follow it along the base.

> thanks again. one last question - are most trails clearly marked?

Assuming there's no snow obfuscation you'd have to really really screw up to lose any of the trails you'll be on.

> any recommendation for maps / guides and where to best get them?

My favorite maps of the park are the National Geographic Trails Illustrated series. You can find these everywhere (And don't need all 4 if you won't be going into the far corners of the park)
http://www.amazon.com/Yosemite-National-Bundle-Geographic-Illustrated/dp/1597754064
(And that's my photo is on the cover of the Hetch Hetchy one :) )

> assume there's no cell service so using online guides is out.

Cell service in the valley is far better than it used to be but I wouldn't ever count on it being available.

I bought two sets of these for a trip last year. Might be cheaper than renting them. Used them twice; they're surprisingly well made and definitely got the job done.

Staying in Wawona campground, but will be exploring the hits in the Valley. Won't be headed north of the valley since we're coming back on Sunday and time is precious.

Planning on floating down the river... have a ton of these and these, so if you see just such a flotilla on Friday or Saturday, that's us! Too bad there's no secret Redditor hand signal ;)

Edit: or IS there?!

I recommend a particulate respirator if anyone is going to be in the thick of it. I wore one in Yosemite one year when it was really smokey during my visit, and it's like breathing in clean air even when it's smokey. Hike on.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0002YKBV2/ (Not sure if that Amazon link is still pointing to the one I purchased awhile back since that one says sanding, but these are ones I used: http://www.3m.com/3M/en_US/company-us/all-3m-products/~/3M-Particulate-Respirator-8511-N95-80-EA-Case?N=5002385+3294780243&rt=rud)

I bring this and 2 Nalgene bottles with me when I hike in the Sierras. Worth every penny. You can get fresh drinking water from any river or stream.

https://www.amazon.com/MSR-56425-MiniWorks-EX-Microfilter/dp/B000BBF2RY/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1504405572&sr=8-5&keywords=water+filter+pump

While it's not free, it's wayyy better than the NPS map. The Nat Geo Yosemite map has Topo lines, mileage, and generally more detail than the basic NPS map... Only 10 bucks too. I don't think NPS will send you one of theirs for free unfortunately.

Usually, the envelope you put the money in will have a detachable ticket you place under a clip or something on the numbered stake indicating the site. You'd put down things like your name, the date, and the site number and 'reserve' it by paying the fee. I've never had a problem doing this and then leaving to go do other things. Sometimes I'll leave a chair or something I don't care too much about on the picnic table so it's clear that the site is occupied.

Check out this book:

https://www.amazon.com/Eastern-Sierra-Valley-Camping-Privacy/dp/1515196208

http://www.amazon.com/Mr-Heater-F215100-3800-BTU-Propane/dp/B001CFRF7I

https://www.amazon.com/Off-Wall-Yosemite-Michael-Ghiglieri/dp/0970097360

I am a woman and I 100% suggest this. Best purchase I have ever made.

https://www.amazon.com/pStyle-Lavender/dp/B002AA8GDG/ref=sr_1_6_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1524606196&sr=8-6&keywords=pee+funnel

Get some freeze-dried chicken, add some veggies, cook over a stove to make soup or a stew.

If you have an Edison bulb to outlet, you could get some power from the light bulb in each cabin. I would not suggest leaving it plugged in as it might be against the rules, especially when housekeeping comes by.

Two things I've worn while hiking in the rain made all the difference for me:

• Frogg Toggs rainsuit: This thing kept me totally dry except for around the wrists (I wasn't wearing gloves): https://www.froggtoggs.com/the-frogg-toggsr-ultra-lite2tm-36729/
  
  
• Waterproof socks. I wore Randy Sun socks that I got from Amazon (I can't find a website for Randy Sun). https://www.amazon.com/Certified-RANDY-SUN-Waterproof-Breathable/dp/B01GFO3U3I