Yosemite National Park Permits

[mts4602]

Here's the short version:

I want to backpack in Yosemite in July starting on the JMT at Happy Isles and ending at Tuolumne Meadows (I don't mind doing the reverse instead). All of the reserveable permits are gone. Does anyone have any experience with getting permits on the first come first serve basis the day before your hike? Is it even remotely possible that I could get a permit?


Here's more if you feel like reading.

I'm visiting my aunt this July in San Francisco and I'm planning on going backpacking with her.

My planned trip to Mt. Whitney (I posted about earlier) looks like it might have to happen another day due to the fact that it is quite a bit farther from San Francisco than I originally thought.

Yosemite is MUCH closer and backpacking there would be great but practically all of the reservable permits are gone for the popular trails which is what I want to do.

The website says 40% of the permits for each trailhead are first come, first serve which you can get one day before the start of your hike. I realize this is pretty much the most popular trail but it's what I'd like to do.

Thanks,

MTS

[Phreak]

I can't speak from experience but I hear from those I know who have hiked the JMT area that getting 'first-come first-serve' permits is easy.

[Cookerhiker]

There are nearly always no-shows among the permitees so go for it. When I hiked the JMT in '06, I had reserved 2 permits - 1 for me and one for a hiking partner who decided not to go so I turned it in when I got there.

[modiyooch]

pm or email me your email address and request. I have thru hiker friends working the park this summer. I can forward your email request and see what happens. Hurry though because I'm leaving for the trail in a few days.

[MOWGLI]

I had a JMT thru permit starting July 21, but it will be abandoned. We changed our plans due to my daughter injuring her knee and now we're doing a walk-up to go from Tuolumne to Bishop Pass (or the pass to Independence) and out. They hold 40% of the permits for walk ups.