In reply to gabriel_m:
> (In reply to UKC News)
>
> Most climbers drive to the park, pay as little as possible by staying at Camp 4 and many do their best to cheat the park systems in some way for the sake of a few dollars.
I think climbers tend to stay in camp 4 mainly as you have to book the other sites at least a year in advance, and they are expensive. And part of the reason that people cheat the system is that the system is draconian. You queue for hours, only to be told you haven't got a place. What do you do? Head home again? Or doss for the day/night somewhere and try again. Even more draconian rules won't change this.
I have very mixed feelings about Yosemite. It is an amazing place, and people obviously want to see it. In that respect, I see the valley floor as a sacrificial lamb - it is busy and bustling but keeps other areas clearer. Walk 15 minutes though, and you can be totally alone. Most people don't leave the main areas. To be fair to the park, for the number of visitors they have, I think that they manage it very well, and the impact is kept to a minimum. Banning cars from entering may be an idea, but would require the traditional family campsites to close, as it isn't practical to carry family tents etc on a bus.
I too travelled to the park by train/bus and it was actually very easy, and the shuttle buses are excellent.