Eastbay1K

SR 140 is closed due to fire. 18 Jul 17.

http://www.dot.ca.gov/hq/roadinfo/di...php?page=sr140

(I assume the link will show current conditions at the time of the click.)

abmj-jr

Adding to the post above -

Anyone considering a visit to Yosemite in the near future should reconsider for now, or at least check with the Park Service before making the trip. The wildfire currently burning near the western boundary of the Park at Mariposa has not crossed into the Park as yet and may not. Firefighters are doing yeoman work in keeping the fire at least partially under control. The problem for Yosemite visitors is that smoke from the fire is blowing toward and into Yosemite Valley. Today, it was so thick that Half Dome was obscured much of the time. Air Quality advisories are in effect in the areas outside and inside the Park.

If the famous views are obscured and the mountain air is not fit to breathe, it is really not a good time to visit. I would recommend a detour south to Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks.

chrisl137

We were in Markleeville/Truckee/Soda Springs last week and weekend and the smoke there (quite far from the fire) could be quite bad - we go smoked out of Markleeville and Truckee during the week before we finally spent Fri/Sat in Soda Springs with clear air. It's going to be much worse close to the fire. You can check air quality forecasts and current air quality at Airnow.gov. Yellow is like a typical LA summer air. Orange (USG) is like a bad day along the edge of the mountains north of LA. Red and above is just plain unpleasant and unhealthy. When there are fires nearby it can vary dramatically and quickly with wind and time of day.

Eastbay1K

http://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/articl...s-11818201.php

Another fire to keep an eye on.

Eastbay1K

http://www.sfgate.com/news/article/T...e-11821383.php


Traffic jams choking Yosemite

"On especially busy weekends, visitors who must wait just to pay an entrance fee of $30 per car may find themselves diverted to alternative routes away from the valley or back out of the park."

abmj-jr

Unfortunately, this has become "typical" for weekends and some weekdays during the summer months. Particularly the last few weeks before schools start back up.

We really are in danger of loving the place to death.

On the up side, starting in late September and into fall/winter, the Park will be delightful to visit again.

edvasquez

Just returned from a weekend at Yosemite (luckily we had a campground and parking). Observations. Smoke filled air. Hazy conditions. You could smell it when trying to sleep at night. Worse part was the congestion and what appears to be a lack of busses. The El Cap bus route says 30 minutes, it was more like once an hour. Then sardine packed. The busses on the interior route were the worst. Numerous bus drivers were clearly frustrated by the lack of busses and kept telling passengers to complain to Aramark. Faster to walk than wait for the busses, tho the heat was high (90's). I'm glad we had campground reservations as we skipped the traffic and were able to enjoy Mirror Lake, Vernal Falls, and Yosemite Falls (took patience on the bus). One of my photos shows the haze. The other shows that Bridalveil Fall still has water.
https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B7...2VVa0JLTW5qZTQ
https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B7...UJxOVFjaVpXMkE
https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B7...zdPelV0RzlkUEk

jaymar01

LA Times did a story last week about the awful traffic at Yosemite.

http://www.latimes.com/local/califor...htmlstory.html

abmj-jr

The Park Service is now evacuating Wawona Village and campgrounds, Pioneer Village, the golf course and the surrounding area due to the South Fork fire. The Glacier Point Road is still open for now but some trails and all campgrounds up there are closed as they are being used by fire crews. Smoke is pretty heavy in the southwestern part of the Park and Yosemite Valley.

Best to find someplace else for that vacation, folks.

abmj-jr

Railroad Fire news (near south entrance.) Fire at about 50% containment.

SR 41 still closed. Wawona has been evacuated. The Tenaya Lodge near Fish Camp was closed and many guests evacuated to shelters. The Sugar Pine Railroad was threatened and sustained some damage to structures but the train was saved. The current fight is to save as much of the Nelder Grove of redwoods as possible. The plan right now is to re-open SR 41 this weekend.

This fire is turning out to be very destructive and difficult. Sadly, international guests still arrive almost every day and have to be turned away. Others enter Yosemite via the more northern entrances but find the Valley full of smoke.

Not a good year for Yosemite.

allset2travel

abmj-jr,
Thanks for your update from time to time. Very helpful!

Am thinking of visiting YNP to view fall foliage. Good idea?

Appreciate inputs and updates from all.

abmj-jr

Yosemite isn't really known for the fall foliage but can have some nice colors from Aspens, California Oaks and Maples in and around the Valley.

The fires that have been causing problems around the Park have pretty much been contained and all 3 western entrances are open. SR 41 (from Fresno) and SR 140 (from San Francisco) are both undergoing some road work which can cause delays of up to a half hour at times. The wildfire smoke is pretty much cleared out except when the wind shifts. Some friends went up to Taft Point Monday and posted some quite nice photos of clear skies and nice vistas.

As for timing, I coincidentally shared a few of my fall images from Yosemite with friends just this week. The one below was made in mid-November a couple of years ago. I'd think November would be a good time.

allset2travel

abmj-jr,

Thanks again for the quick reply.

Am aware of Yosemite not being a major fall foliage area (compared to Denali etc...), but it has so many other attractions to offer.
I am monitoring the official web site as well for "current conditions" update.

Am thinking of going early to mid November.

Your photo showed some great colors against the blue sky with white clouds. ^