Does anyone know of a good, relatively bear free camp site near or just past Moraine Dome? (hiking southbound) My permit indicates that I need to get past Moraine Dome before I camp, but after doing Half Dome I don’t think I’ll want to go all the way to Sunrise Camp. I’ve also heard a lot of bear stories from the Half Dome trailhead through the area where the trail crosses Sunrise Creek.
Any thoughts or suggestions?
Thanks, Weez.
Weez
The first place to camp past Half Dome is the Cloud’s Rest junction. We camped there last July without any bear visits. There were three other groups in the area and no one had any problems. Before the final climb to Sunrise there is camping near water where I have read about bear raids.
If you wanted to dry camp, you could fix dinner at the base of the final climb and camp at the top. There is a large flat area that would make a decent stealth camp.
Snowball
We didn’t camp at the Cloud’s Rest Jct., but the people who DID had bears in camp that night. But with your type of permit and wanting to do Half Dome, i don’t know of any better options. You can try to stealth, but the bears there probably know every spot suitable to put a tent on. In retrospect, i’m very glad we had the first night in Little Yose Valley so we could do Half Dome early and make it to Sunrise HSC the next day.
markv
Snowball and Markv–Thanks for the comments. I guess I’ll just play the odds and get past Moraine Dome and stealth camp somewhere. If my legs feel up to it, I suppose I will try for Sunrise Camp and then just take a short walk/rest day the following day.
Thanks again,
Weez
Weez