#tenaya lake wedding

[j0sgomez-blog]

Todd Arndt backpacking in Yosemite’s Grand Canyon of the Tuolumne River

Michael,

First, let me say that I enjoy your trip reports, gear reviews and especially the photographs. I also love kids and your adventures with them are a joy to read. Your website inspires me to want to get out West and experience the wilderness. With that in mind, I have the opportunity to attend a wedding just outside the South Entrance to Yosemite National Park the weekend of Veterans Day. I have never been to Yosemite and I would hate to miss an opportunity to see the sights. I would like to stay a few days after the wedding to hike and possibly backpack. Do you have any suggestions for dayhikes and perhaps someplace to camp?

I have started reading Jeffrey Schaffer’s book and he says, “After October 15 I don’t backpack more than a few miles from a trailhead, since if a snowstorm does hit and drop a foot or two of snow, I can still plod back to my car.” That sounds like excellent advice and putting safety first. I will probably be by myself unless I can get one of my sons to stay, so I may or may not want to venture into the wilderness alone on an overnight trip. Being alone in bear country doesn’t sound fun. I am 67 years old, live in Illinois (low altitude and no bears), in good health and am not looking for hikes with 4,000+ foot elevation gains or lots of snow if possible. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

I also emailed the park and shown below is their reply:

“Hello,

“If the Tioga Road is still open and we haven’t had snow, some trails off the Glacier Point and Tioga Roads, which are all described in that book, could be good options (it may be chilly up there). If we have had snow (but the road is still open), it’s probably not a great idea to use those trails because even a little snow can completely obscure the trails. Otherwise, trails on the floor of Yosemite Valley should be nice if the weather has been dry. You can also hike just partway up the Yosemite Falls Trail (to Columbia Rock), Four Mile Trail, and Mist or John Muir Trails.”

Thanks,

David Antioch, IL

  View from John Muir Trail above Nevada Fall, Yosemite National Park.

Hi David,

The advice you got from the park ranger is good. If you’ve never been to Yosemite before, you should definitely hike in Yosemite Valley, especially because you’ll be there at a time when there are fewer tourists, which will make it a much more pleasant, wilder experience. My story about dayhiking to Yosemite’s waterfalls will give you some ideas; even though the waterfalls are not as impressive in November, and Yosemite Falls may be dry (it dries up every fall), these are still very scenic hikes. I’d also recommend the trail at the eastern end of the Valley to Mirror Lake and out below the massive face of Half Dome. Besides the Glacier Point Road, the Wawona Road out to the Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias may also be open.

  Find your next adventure in your Inbox. Sign up for my FREE email newsletter now.

  If the road to Hetch Hetchy is open, that corner of the park is at relatively low elevation, and the trail above the north shore of the reservoir is spectacular.

If Tioga Pass Road is open, that opens up some nice options. Tuolumne Meadows is my favorite area of the park from which to base multi-day hikes, but it’s a great destination for dayhikes, too. The trail around Tenaya Lake is one of the prettiest, easy hikes in the park. The John Muir Trail south from Tuolumne Meadows to the Cathedral Lakes, below the distinctive spire of Cathedral Peak, ascends just a bit over 1,000 feet gradually over about three miles (you’d return the same way).

Grand Canyon of the Tuolumne River, Yosemite National Park.

On my most recent trip to Yosemite, I backpacked an 86-mile loop north of Tuolumne Meadows, including the Grand Canyon of the Tuolumne River (lead photo, above, and photo at right), which is like a wilderness version of Yosemite Valley that’s twice as long, without the roads, cars, and thousands of people. Its bottom end, in the Pate Valley, lies at a lower elevation than much of the park, so a backpacking trip in there will have milder nights than other places along Tioga Pass Road. It’s about 30 miles of hiking from the White Wolf Trailhead east to Tuolumne Meadows, and you would need a shuttle. (The free Tuolumne Meadows shuttle bus operates from June through around mid-September, although for some reason it did not operate in 2018.) If you don’t have time to make that full traverse, you could hike in and out either from White Wolf or Tuolumne; coming from Tuolumne gets you to the great views faster.

When you’re ready for a backpacking trip in Yosemite, check out my downloadable e-guides to three trips of varying lengths and difficulty in the park.

See all of my stories about Yosemite National Park, including these:

The 10 Best Dayhikes in Yosemite Ask Me: Where to Backpack First Time in Yosemite Ask Me: Hiking Yosemite’s Half Dome Best of Yosemite, Part 1: Backpacking South of Tuolumne Meadows Best of Yosemite, Part 2: Backpacking Remote Northern Yosemite

I hope that’s helpful. Have fun, I’m sure you won’t be disappointed wherever you hike in Yosemite.

Best, Michael

  Hi, I’m Michael Lanza, creator of The Big Outside, which has made several top outdoors blog lists. Click here to sign up for my FREE email newsletter. Subscribe now to get full access to all of my blog’s stories. Click here to learn how I can help you plan your next trip. Please follow my adventures on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Youtube.

  John Muir Trail below Cathedral Peak, Yosemite National Park.

Michael,

Thank you so much for your list of great suggestions for visiting Yosemite in November. I am really looking forward to my trip. I can see that one trip to Yosemite will only give me a brief picture of the opportunities that exist there. I will send you a trip report after I return home.

It is amazing that you take the time to help individuals like me as well as all those who read your website. I hope to be able to thank you in person some day. Please tell your wife and children that the time you spend sharing your knowledge and experiences with others provides us with help and enjoyment.

David

David,

You’re very welcome. Yes, by visiting Yosemite you will commit yourself to a lifetime of wanting to keep returning. I’ve been several times and I’m still working on my list of things to do there. Have fun and I’d love to hear how your trip goes.

Best, Michael

  Tell me what you think.

I spent a lot of time writing this story, so if you enjoyed it, please consider giving it a share using one of the buttons below, and leave a comment or question at the bottom of this story. I’d really appreciate it.

  I can help you plan the best backpacking, hiking, or family adventure of your life.

Got questions about hiking, backpacking, planning a family adventure, or any trip I’ve written about at The Big Outside? Email me at michael@thebigoutside.com. I’ll answer your questions to help ensure your trip is a success. See my Ask Me page for details.

—Michael Lanza

[marciomagalhaessilva]

#Repost @yosemiteconservancy (@get_repost) ・・・ "Up and away to Lake Tenaya, — another big day, enough for a lifetime. The rocks, the air, everything speaking with audible voice or silent; joyful, wonderful, enchanting; banishing weariness and sense of time." — John Muir, "My First Summer in the Sierra" (1869) What does your Sierra summer look like? Share your Yosemite photos from this summer (or past ones) with the tag #MySierraSummer for a chance to be featured on our blog — and a chance to win a park pass, good through the end of this year! Winners will be chosen by random selection. Deadline: Wed., 8/31 at 5 pm PST. [Photo] Scot Miller #Yosemite #MySierraSummer (em Yosemite National Park)

[invitationbyrsquared]

Destination Wedding: The Wild, Wild West

The western United States offers tons of glorious locations at which to host your destination wedding.

There are so many!  And you know us … at Invitations by R Squared, we love LOVE, and we LOVE weddings!

After a very interesting discussion with our associate, Maya Ruby, about hosting a destination wedding in Yosemite Park, we felt we needed to look at the west again.  Sure, we’ve talked a lot about planning a destination wedding out west – look here and here – but we haven’t looked hard at an often-overlooked resource – our National Parks.

National parks will require a special use permit for a destination wedding.  Fees will vary on this, and the reason seems to be tied to the popularity of your choice of location.

There are so many western National Park locations just perfect for a destination wedding, that we found it really hard to choose our favorites.

Yosemite, California – Our #1 Favorite – Whether you envision vows in a grassy meadow, a waterfall fete or a winter-white wedding that takes advantage of the ice-skating rink, the home of Half Dome has a wide variety of spaces. It also boasts several indoor venues, including a wooden chapel and The Ahwahnee, a 1927 luxury lodge with Arts and Crafts touches.

The only issue: This sought-after park is often booked more than a year in advance.

As is true at all national parks, a special use permit is required for any destination wedding or commitment ceremony held at any location within Yosemite National Park. The permit cost for Yosemite is $150.

Destination weddings or ceremonies may be scheduled in any National Park up to one year in advance and more than 21 days prior to your event.

You can take a look at, download and complete the application to hold your event in Yosemite here.  When completing any application for a national park destination wedding, be sure to include any special needs of your party (e.g., access for persons with disabilities, elderly guests, etc.).

Yosemite Park offers a list of ceremony sites within the park.  If you are sending in your application for a Yosemite destination wedding, you will need to specify a site.  You can find the list of ceremony locations right here.

The park service will review your application for a destination wedding.  Once approved, your Special Use Permit will be prepared and mailed to you for signature. Upon receipt, please review, sign and return the permit to the specific park service office for final approval. After the permit is approved, the park service will send you an authorized copy.

The approved permit must be in your possession at the time of the ceremony.

Entrance fees into the park are not waived for either ceremony participants or guests.

Close by to Yosemite Park, you’ll find the Tenaya Lodge.  Hold your actual destination wedding ceremony in the park at one of a number locations, and schedule your accommodations, welcome party, and reception at the Tenaya!

Their Lodge Rooms offer the refined details destination wedding couples, and their guests, would expect in a Four-Diamond Yosemite resort — deluxe baths, plush bedding, flat-screen TVs, mountain charm and access to limitless recreation.

The pinnacle of Yosemite luxury lodging, Tenaya Lodge’s spacious suites – perfect for a destination wedding night or honeymoon stay – with custom in-room amenities complement the alpine grandeur that surrounds the resort.

For those couples seeking a private and hidden getaway, the Tenaya has just the ticket!  Nestled among towering Sugar Pines and Incense Cedars of the Sierra National Forest, the Cottages at Tenaya Lodge provide a unique, secluded escape. Cottage Rooms offer private outdoor sitting areas, fireplaces and rustic charm among the evergreens with easy access to the main lodge.

Say “I do!” at the fifth-oldest national park, Crater Lake,

where several promontories along the volcanic rim overlook the very blue, very deep namesake lake and its forested islands.

Keep in mind that this area averages 44 feet of snow a year (it’s often still blanketed come spring) and has no indoor destination wedding facilities.

Groups can overnight and dine in the 71-room Crater Lake Lodge between May and October. Built in 1915, it’s full of old-timey charm — stone facades, a crackling lobby fire and no TVs.

Olympic, Washington – This is a delightful location for any adventurous destination wedding couple.

At this diverse park, covering nearly 1 million acres of the Olympic Peninsula, you can explore tide pools at the ocean, chase waterfalls on a rainforest hike, and climb a legit mountain in the same trip.

Lodging varies from Spartan campgrounds to warmly appointed lakeside resorts. Lake Crescent Lodge’s westerly view over clear glacial waters makes for exceptional sunset unions. Lake Quinault Lodge features a gazebo on a manicured lawn and a ballroom with cathedral ceilings.

Bonus: Both lodges are on the National Register of Historic Places.

Warmly thought of as the Switzerland of North America, Glacier National Park is snuggled against the Canadian border.

Tie the knot in a tree-lined outdoor amphitheater like Rising Sun, Avalanche Creek or Many Glacier, or opt for the pebbly shore of Medicine Lake.

Stay at the circa-1913 Lake McDonald Lodge, where trademark retro red buses congregate, making for a stellar photo op.

Grand Canyon, Arizona – This is one for the destination wedding books!

Grand Canyon National Park offers a variety of indoor and outdoor locations for destination wedding ceremonies and receptions. To be married in the park, obtain an Arizona marriage license, acquire a Special Use Permit from the park, and arrange a Justice of the Peace, Municipal Judge, or an ordained clergyperson to perform the ceremony.

If you are not bringing along your own officiant, there are several churches in the area whom you can contact for your destination wedding.  Clergy from Grand Canyon Village will often perform wedding ceremonies, however, counseling prior to the wedding may be required. You can find a current list of churches in Grand Canyon National Park right here.  Favored ceremony spots (Shoshone Point, Grandeur Point) at this gorgeous natural wonder are isolated and rustic, or require short hikes.

Retreat to the Thunderbird Lodge (picture a fireplace and a balcony overlooking the Colorado River and South Rim) for your reception, but retire to El Tovar, a throwback to the golden age of railroad travel.

Zion, Utah – Possibly our second favorite location!  The beauty of Zion Park in Utah is truly unbelievable.  Desert meets forest in this peaceful preserve of vertical walls, sandstone plateaus, crimson rock formations, vivid wildflowers and curious wild turkeys, ready and willing to crash your destination wedding and photo bomb at every opportunity!

Zion National Park in Utah is one of the most unique places for a Destination Wedding.

Couples travel from all over the world to be amazed by towering sandstone cliffs of Zion and enjoy the charming town of Springdale which lies at its entrance. We are always in awe of magnificent natural spaces for hosting a destination wedding, and the cliffs and canyons of Zion National Park pretty much leave all other locations in the dust.

There are few wedding destinations more beautiful in the world. Wedding guests who travel to Zion for the first time are always blown away by its absolute beauty and vastness. Over the years, Zion has become a perfect destination for adventurous couples for many reasons.

The giant sandstone cliffs and canyons are known by nature lovers around the world.

Cottonwood trees line the Virgin river cutting through the sandstone behemoths. There are many locations both in and outside of the park where you can hold your wedding.

One of the best parts of planning a wedding at Zion National Park is its accessibility from anywhere in the world. Zion is only about two hours from Las Vegas and its international airport and little more than 45 minutes from St George and its Airport. There are many lodging choices in Springdale, Rockville, and Hurricane, not to mention the lodge inside of Zion National Park.

A permit is required to hold a wedding in Zion National Park regardless of group size, with a permit fee of $100.00.  Applications must be submitted three weeks in advance to receive consideration.  You can learn more about the application process here. (http://ift.tt/2pNgi4g)

Co-opt shuttles for eco-friendly transportation to six outdoorsy sites like the campground amphitheater or Temple of Sinawava, which has a river beach.

Zion Lodge catering can whip up a brunch buffet after a sunrise ceremony, as well as provide accommodations for your party, and help you plan some super fun activities in the area.

Grand Teton, Wyoming – This peak-filled playground provides group activities aplenty, from Elk Island cruises to whitewater rafting. Jenny Lake Lodge begs for a welcome party, while two chapels vie for your vows. Up to 600 guests can mingle under the antler chandeliers at Jackson LakeLodge.

Once you’ve chosen your location from one of these absolutely amazing destination wedding sites, and decided on a date, get in touch with us!

We’re here to help.  Fran is ready to talk about your Save the Date cards, destination wedding invitations, colors, fonts, and more.

In the meantime, check out this collection of curated destination wedding images to inspire you!

We know that your wedding day is going to be magical, memorable, and absolutely perfect!  And simply your Best Day Ever!

  The post Destination Wedding: The Wild, Wild West appeared first on Invitations by R2.

from Destination Wedding: The Wild, Wild West

[j0sgomez-blog]

Todd Arndt backpacking in Yosemite’s Grand Canyon of the Tuolumne River

Michael,

First, let me say that I enjoy your trip reports, gear reviews and especially the photographs. I also love kids and your adventures with them are a joy to read. Your website inspires me to want to get out West and experience the wilderness. With that in mind, I have the opportunity to attend a wedding just outside the South Entrance to Yosemite National Park the weekend of Veterans Day. I have never been to Yosemite and I would hate to miss an opportunity to see the sights. I would like to stay a few days after the wedding to hike and possibly backpack. Do you have any suggestions for dayhikes and perhaps someplace to camp?

I have started reading Jeffrey Schaffer’s book and he says, “After October 15 I don’t backpack more than a few miles from a trailhead, since if a snowstorm does hit and drop a foot or two of snow, I can still plod back to my car.” That sounds like excellent advice and putting safety first. I will probably be by myself unless I can get one of my sons to stay, so I may or may not want to venture into the wilderness alone on an overnight trip. Being alone in bear country doesn’t sound fun. I am 67 years old, live in Illinois (low altitude and no bears), in good health and am not looking for hikes with 4,000+ foot elevation gains or lots of snow if possible. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

I also emailed the park and shown below is their reply:

“Hello,

“If the Tioga Road is still open and we haven’t had snow, some trails off the Glacier Point and Tioga Roads, which are all described in that book, could be good options (it may be chilly up there). If we have had snow (but the road is still open), it’s probably not a great idea to use those trails because even a little snow can completely obscure the trails. Otherwise, trails on the floor of Yosemite Valley should be nice if the weather has been dry. You can also hike just partway up the Yosemite Falls Trail (to Columbia Rock), Four Mile Trail, and Mist or John Muir Trails.”

Thanks,

David Antioch, IL

  View from John Muir Trail above Nevada Fall, Yosemite National Park.

Hi David,

The advice you got from the park ranger is good. If you’ve never been to Yosemite before, you should definitely hike in Yosemite Valley, especially because you’ll be there at a time when there are fewer tourists, which will make it a much more pleasant, wilder experience. My story about dayhiking to Yosemite’s waterfalls will give you some ideas; even though the waterfalls are not as impressive in November, and Yosemite Falls may be dry (it dries up every fall), these are still very scenic hikes. I’d also recommend the trail at the eastern end of the Valley to Mirror Lake and out below the massive face of Half Dome. Besides the Glacier Point Road, the Wawona Road out to the Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias may also be open.

  Find your next adventure in your Inbox. Sign up for my FREE email newsletter now.

  If the road to Hetch Hetchy is open, that corner of the park is at relatively low elevation, and the trail above the north shore of the reservoir is spectacular.

If Tioga Pass Road is open, that opens up some nice options. Tuolumne Meadows is my favorite area of the park from which to base multi-day hikes, but it’s a great destination for dayhikes, too. The trail around Tenaya Lake is one of the prettiest, easy hikes in the park. The John Muir Trail south from Tuolumne Meadows to the Cathedral Lakes, below the distinctive spire of Cathedral Peak, ascends just a bit over 1,000 feet gradually over about three miles (you’d return the same way).

Grand Canyon of the Tuolumne River, Yosemite National Park.

On my most recent trip to Yosemite, I backpacked an 86-mile loop north of Tuolumne Meadows, including the Grand Canyon of the Tuolumne River (lead photo, above, and photo at right), which is like a wilderness version of Yosemite Valley that’s twice as long, without the roads, cars, and thousands of people. Its bottom end, in the Pate Valley, lies at a lower elevation than much of the park, so a backpacking trip in there will have milder nights than other places along Tioga Pass Road. It’s about 30 miles of hiking from the White Wolf Trailhead east to Tuolumne Meadows, and you would need a shuttle. (The free Tuolumne Meadows shuttle bus operates from June through around mid-September, although for some reason it did not operate in 2018.) If you don’t have time to make that full traverse, you could hike in and out either from White Wolf or Tuolumne; coming from Tuolumne gets you to the great views faster.

When you’re ready for a backpacking trip in Yosemite, check out my downloadable e-guides to three trips of varying lengths and difficulty in the park.

See all of my stories about Yosemite National Park, including these:

The 10 Best Dayhikes in Yosemite Ask Me: Where to Backpack First Time in Yosemite Ask Me: Hiking Yosemite’s Half Dome Best of Yosemite, Part 1: Backpacking South of Tuolumne Meadows Best of Yosemite, Part 2: Backpacking Remote Northern Yosemite

I hope that’s helpful. Have fun, I’m sure you won’t be disappointed wherever you hike in Yosemite.

Best, Michael

  Hi, I’m Michael Lanza, creator of The Big Outside, which has made several top outdoors blog lists. Click here to sign up for my FREE email newsletter. Subscribe now to get full access to all of my blog’s stories. Click here to learn how I can help you plan your next trip. Please follow my adventures on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Youtube.

  John Muir Trail below Cathedral Peak, Yosemite National Park.

Michael,

Thank you so much for your list of great suggestions for visiting Yosemite in November. I am really looking forward to my trip. I can see that one trip to Yosemite will only give me a brief picture of the opportunities that exist there. I will send you a trip report after I return home.

It is amazing that you take the time to help individuals like me as well as all those who read your website. I hope to be able to thank you in person some day. Please tell your wife and children that the time you spend sharing your knowledge and experiences with others provides us with help and enjoyment.

David

David,

You’re very welcome. Yes, by visiting Yosemite you will commit yourself to a lifetime of wanting to keep returning. I’ve been several times and I’m still working on my list of things to do there. Have fun and I’d love to hear how your trip goes.

Best, Michael

  Tell me what you think.

I spent a lot of time writing this story, so if you enjoyed it, please consider giving it a share using one of the buttons below, and leave a comment or question at the bottom of this story. I’d really appreciate it.

  I can help you plan the best backpacking, hiking, or family adventure of your life.

Got questions about hiking, backpacking, planning a family adventure, or any trip I’ve written about at The Big Outside? Email me at michael@thebigoutside.com. I’ll answer your questions to help ensure your trip is a success. See my Ask Me page for details.

—Michael Lanza