Wow, just read the CNN article listed above, here is the imporant info:
"The cost of national park passes will remain at $80 for the regular annual pass, $10 for the lifetime senior pass and free for the annual military passes and access passes (for those with permanent disabilities)."
We have purchased several anual passes over the years, and for the $80, always felt it was a reasonable price. I have to agree with CJ on this.
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Originally Posted by CJ7ole
I have no problem with a "stable discounted rate", but now it is virtually zero. Is there anybody that wouldn't be happy to get a $10 per year pass to everywhere when they hit 62? I am just saying that they went too far.
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If the regular annual pass is $80/year giving seniors a
LIFETIME PASS for $10 is criminal. I am all for giving seniors a discount, such as half the annual price, but a LIFETIME PASS for $10 is complete BS.
Quote:
Originally Posted by TQ60
We are close to yosemite but rarely go due to too many people.
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Having grown up in the Yosemite area, as a local, we used to always go the weekend before Memorial Day or after Labor Day, never in between. Yes that meant some years we had to climb half dome with snow still on the ground, and the cables were down, and it was sometime very cold going up the mist trail to Vernal Falls, but there were no crowds and nothing a light coat would not solve.
The real shame for me personally, is that I want to take my family to go climb Mt. Whitney, its such an awesome climb. Used to be just show up and hit it, however now due to the demand, you have to make reservations so far in advance, that its pretty much impossible to plan for. The only time the mountain is open is late May-Sept. If you make a reservation and show up, the weather conditions change so rapidly, that if you book a reservation 6-8 months in advance its entirly possible you could show up and have some really nasty weather. Not so bad at the base, but once you get above 8K feet, things change very quickly, and you don't want to be stuck at the summit at 14,500 feet and be in a blizzard.