Dream Hikes Canceled: Yosemite Mountain Camps Stay Closed for Sixth Year
The famous High Sierra Camps in Yosemite National Park won’t open this summer. This marks the sixth year in a row these special wilderness camps have remained closed.
The camps are important to many nature lovers. They offer a unique way to enjoy the wilderness with some comfort. Hikers can sleep in canvas tent cabins and enjoy hot meals without carrying heavy backpacks.
Staff shortages
The decision to keep the camps closed came from park managers and Yosemite Hospitality, writes Time Magazine. They pointed to staff shortages, money problems, and lack of basic services as the reasons.
“Unfortunately, the utilities which support the High Sierra Camps — potable water and toilets — will not be available and the camps will not be operated this summer,” the announcement from Yosemite Hospitality, a subsidiary of Aramark Corporation, states. “This decision was made in collaboration with the National Park Service (NPS), which manages the utilities necessary to run the camps.”
50-mile hiking loop
The five camps form a 50-mile hiking loop through Yosemite’s wilderness. They have existed for more than 100 years. Getting a spot at these camps is very difficult – thousands of people try to book the limited spaces each year.
Not everyone is sad about the closures. Some environmental groups worry that the camps and the mules that supply them damage the mountain environment. Supporters say the camps help more people enjoy the wilderness who otherwise couldn’t hike with heavy gear.
The future of these historic camps remains unclear as park managers struggle with balancing tradition, environmental concerns, and the challenges of running services in remote mountain areas.
