The skinny-I was scheduled to climb Half Dome this Memorial day with another meet up. However, unfortunately those plans fell through. Rather than sitting around and pouting I searched like the ocd fiend that I am and scored the ONLY dates available to summit Half Dome left that allow us to camp closest to the trail! Hiking is now via permit as is camping and I got 7 spots. All are hikers. There will no longer be crowds at the cables this time of year and much less people on top when we arrive. There will be warm temps this time of year and again less crowds overall. Wanna come? Do read this twice in full as I worked hard to include everything I think you need to know. I can no longer answer questions that reflect you have not read the writeup. Such as how much, how do I pay etc This is a wed Sept 29-sat Oct 2nd trip. :) The stats in a nutshell~ This is a backpack NOT a car camp. You carry all your own food, drink, bedding, clothing, water,tent, etc etc. on your back but only for a short way and only for 48-52 hours. There are no Sherpas going. You must bring a way to clean water from the stream or carry all your own h2o. Giardia is a risk. Itinerary~ Wed Sept 29th leave LA whenever you want. I want to leave around noon. I am spending the night in Yosemite at Curry Village less than 1 mile to our trail head... Just for the record there also is a fee, 20 bucks to get in Yosemite itself so please carpool. Hit up each other to share rooms too. My cabin at Camp Curry Village sleeps two and my room is full. I reserved two others tents with two beds for 4 more people. The unheated cabin/tents come with beds, towels and sheets and are inexpensive when shared. In fact, they are cheaper than hotels outside the park. Bathrooms and showers are shared-cool just like college! It is very rustic like camping. If you choose to stay elsewhere that is fine just tell me as I paid for rooms. Please be at the trail head at the set time 7am or we will leave you and you will not be able to hike either trail as permits are required for both trails. If you want to purchase from me one of the beds I already reserved the price is 24.00 each and that includes a pay pal fee. If you rather get your own room book below and tell me so I can cancel mine. Here is the link below to first night lodging. Do get driving directions while at the site. http://www.yosemitepark.com/Accommodations_CurryVillage.aspx Lodging on 29th= Curry village. Book yourself or buy my already reserved room. Thursday Sept 30th We can get a nice breakfast in the area, get our permits, then head to the trail head with our big packs. The cars stay. I want to hit the trail promptly by 7am!!!! Everything is right there no driving required. Trail is "Happy Isles trail to Little Yosemite Valley campground." Hike is 4.5 miles to our camp, 2000 feet elevation gain. Amazing views! We can take our time. It will be tough. Once at "Little Yosemite Valley Campground" there are compost toilets, and communal fire rings and bear lockers, and Merced river for water. That is about it. We will set up camp in daylight and relax and acclimate at 7000 feet. Friday Oct 1st-Leave big packs and tents in camp and take day pack with water/food/clothing etc to climb half dome. Est leave time 7AM. Distance from here is ONLY 6 miles Round trip. Let's have brunch on top of half dome! Elevation gain today 1800 ft! We will be back at camp by 12-2pm where we can relax and spend night or if you feel like it we can hike 4.5 miles back to town!!!! Lodging the 30th and 1st are at Little Yosemite campground included in your fee to me. Sat Oct 2-Leave Little Yosemite campground when we feel like it. 4.5 miles back w packs. Real food and showers can be found in Curry area. You can go home Sat or we can explore the park further since we are already there. Sat night-nothing planned for sleeping there yet we can arrange that together after u commit if u like. I would be up for Curry village again. Due to the immense difficulty at getting these spots we would need to reserve something very fast though. Sat lodging in air. ***You must pack in and out all of your your trash to the campground. I mean EVERYTHING even used TP. I will provide campground rules to those coming. There are bears!!! They have lockers though. Extra bear canisters welcome. Again mileage is 4.5 on Thursday, 6 on Friday and 4.5 on Sat. Most people do the 15 in one day. I wanted to spread it out for more enjoyment. This time of year the waterfalls are not as impressive as in the spring but there are other perks such as idea weather and again no crowds. Costs~ 20 to enter Yosemite-unless guard not there hehehe so carpool!!!!! 23-100 each for curry village depending on what you book. Camping 2 nights -10.00 Again- Cost of 2 nights camping, climbing permit and paypal fee~10 bucks per person to me or 34.00 total if you want the curry village room at paypal.com using "[masked]" I don't do checks. So do not ask. I don't do cash either. But I do do paypal. I am not refunding this time around. If you bail I can't get a refund. I do need the dough immediately when you sign though to save your spot as I already paid. I will wait list you immediately if I have not received payment when you sign up. Also just because you may see a waitlist does not mean I can refund you. I have done this 8 years now and my experience shows once on wait-list always on wait-list. I want to give you the experience of a lifetime so am limiting this trip to those really wanting to summit half dome.. Fine print~ Google/Research yourself if curious about half dome climbing and back packing. It really is not "climbing" it is walking up a rock on an incline with cables on either side to steady you. I am not a paid guide. I am not a Yosemite expert. I make no profit off these trips but can provide life saving skills if required. It is up to you to know your fitness level. The trails are well marked and if you get tired you can quit at any time but do not expect others to quit with you. Due to the tremendous amount of time these trips take to coordinate I will only be answering questions from paid participants unless the question is really a good one. My writeup is pretty darn thorough. All guests must abide by club rules and be members and fax or email me the required waiver upon request. Carpooling is discussed after payment and the guest list is final. Again refunds are not being offered for this trip and no plus ones. DON'T FORGET/This is Not a complete list. Sunblock Earplugs Way to purify water-REQUIRED hat gloves to handle cables-REQUIRED warm light sleeping bag light food backpacker stove tent layered clothes camera Broken in hiking shoes with great grip-REQUIRED good socks 4 pairs-no cotton! blister prevention Water proof bags for trash head lamps with extra batteries bug spray-they are light this time of year Directions to Curry Village-REQUIRED Now all you guys that work for the man got to get the days off!