Spring is a perfect time of year to visit Yosemite. The waterfalls are flowing full force, the temperature in the valley hasn’t gotten hot yet, and most important, the crowds haven’t overrun the place. It’s a great time to hike, and an excellent time to take pictures in the park.

We’ve reserved 2 riverside tent cabins in Housekeeping Camp in Yosemite Valley for Sunday and Monday nights. More information about Housekeeping Camp is included below.

Arrive when you’d like on Sunday afternoon. We can spend the afternoon scouting locations for the perfect picture.

Each day we’ll go on a different hike, led by your experienced Outdoor Adventure Club guide. We’ll pick the hikes based on the interest of the group, and the trail conditions. Maybe a charge up the Yosemite Falls trail? Maybe a saunter to Mirror Lake?

Each afternoon, in the “golden hour” of light that makes photographs amazing, we’ll head to one of the many postcard perfect spots in the park to capture the beauty on film- does anyone still use film?

The hit list for photography could include:
Half Dome from Curry Village
Half Dome from the Yosemite Falls Trail
The waterfalls from the valley floor
El Capitan from El Cap Meadows
El Cap from its base- a perspective that only climbers usually see
Half Dome, El Cap and the entire valley from the Wawona Tunnel
The Merced River and its bridges, from many spots
The Muir tree

If we’re feeling really spicy, and the weather cooperates, we can set up some double or long exposures of the rock walls and the full moon.

Digital Photo Slideshow and Contest:
On Monday night, as we gather around our campfire, we’ll have a slide show of the pictures we’ve taken so far. We’ll pick our favorite, and the winning pictures will be showcased on the Outdoor Adventure Club website. There’ll be a separate category for point & shoot, and SLR cameras. Winners will also receive a nice bottle of wine-perfect for sharing with friends around a Yosemite campfire, hint, hint.

We’ll be balancing the desires of everyone there- if you are more interested in hiking, let us know. If you are more interested in photography, let us know.

Housekeeping Camp Tent Cabins :

Housekeeping Camp is located along a section of the Merced River in the center of Yosemite Valley. This is the ideal location for those who like to camp outdoors without the bother of setting up a tent. Housekeeping Camp features sandy beaches for swimming and sunbathing, plus great views of Yosemite Falls and Half Dome. Housekeeping Camp is also the only lodging facility that allows guests to cook their own meals, with each unit having an outdoor fire-pit and grill.

The units consist of three concrete walls, a concrete floor, double canvas roof and a fourth curtain wall. The curtain separates the sleeping area from a covered patio that's furnished with picnic table, bear-proof food storage container and a privacy fence.

There is a store, laundromat, and showers available in the Housekeeping Camp area.

Strangely, there is no housekeeping in Housekeeping- Don’t ask me, I don’t get it, either!

Be Bear Aware!

Yosemite National Park is home to hundreds of black bears. Bears have a strong sense of smell and are attracted to anything they think will lead them to human's food. To prevent unwanted contact, each tent will be assigned a private bear locker. Use this locker to store all items that have a 'scent' to them. This includes all food items, sunscreen, toothpaste, shampoo, gum and candy.

Includes:
* Tent cabin shared accommodations for Sunday and Monday nights
* Guided hiking in Yosemite on Sunday afternoon, Monday and Tuesday
* Meals included on this trip are breakfast, lunch and dinner on Monday, and Tuesday breakfast and lunch.

Pricing:
OAC Member: $159
Non-member: $199

Although Housekeeping tent cabins can theoretically hold 6 people each, we are limiting this trip to 6 people total so we aren't sleeping on top of each other. Sign up early!

Sounds fun- Sign me up!!

Sounds fun- Sign me up!!