Posting #21 What to TAKE

If you haven't been to Yosemite in a while (or perhaps at all) you MAY be asking yourself 'What should I bring?'  What will I need to be completely comfortable and enjoy my stay.  Here are our recommendations:

• Bring something warm for evenings and mornings. Though day time temps may be quite pleasant and perhaps warm, we ARE at 3,200' in the mountains and the evenings and mornings can be...well...brisk.
• Flashlight(s) for evening walks and, if you're at Camp Curry or the camp grounds, those evening trips to the restroom.  Also handy to spot bears, not that you'd actually SEE some, but you could.
• Binoculars.  These can be great for general site seeing and for spotting the rock climbers on the face of El Capitan.
• Mosquito repellant...and sunscreen, and a hat and dark glasses.  Don't leave home with out 'em.  
• If you're dinning in the evening at the Ahwahnee Hotel guys will want to be sure they have a collard shirt and something besides jeans.  Women will want to avoid shorts for dinner.  The Ahwahnee many years back used to require men to wear sport coats or better but they've relaxed that standard.  We'd recommend you call ahead and ask them if you are at all unsure, BEFORE you finish packing that suitcase.  Breakfast and lunch attire is wide open.   
• Our BBQ event Saturday night is casual dress; wear whatever makes you comfortable.
• Fill up with gas before entering the Valley.  Gas is all but impossible to get once you begin your decent to the Valley Floor.

If you've been there before then you KNOW not to leave ANY FOOD, even an old french fry, in your car at night.  The bears WILL break your window and tear out the back seat to get into your trunk, so when we say NO FOOD we reallly really mean it.