AIR TIMES: • October 22, 2009 4:00 PM EST

For a true adventure, dodge the crowds and ride pack mules into the park's backcountry, where a tent-cabin camp provides full meals and blissful solitude. Then, after a fun scramble on a rock face, retire to the Ahwahnee Lodge for a tasty dish of organic lamb and seasonal vegetables.

Resources

Yosemite National Park
PO Box 577
Yosemite National Park, CA 95389
Phone: 209-372-0200
www.nps.gov/yose
(Popular national park offers a multitude of outdoor activities, lodging, restaurants, programs, guided tours and more.)

Yosemite Stables
Russ Koehn, Corral Boss
P.O. Box 578
Yosemite National Park, CA 95389
Phone: 209-372-8348
http://www.yosemitepark.com/Activities_WarmWeatherActivities_StableRides.aspx
**Stable offers guided mule trips from two hours to multi-day options**

Yosemite High Sierra Camps
Sean Lassiter, Operations Manager
P.O. Box 578, Yosemite National Park, California 95389
(559) 253-5674
http://www.yosemitepark.com/Accomodations_HighSierraCamps.aspx
**Offers tent cabin lodging, meals, hot showers in the Yosemite backcountry**

Yosemite Mountaineering School
Dave Bengston, Director
P.O. Box 578, Yosemite National Park, California 95389
(209) 372-8344
http://www.yosemitepark.com/Activities_MountaineeringSchool.aspx
**Offers climbing classes and private guiding/instruction, guided backpacking trips, and guided Nordic skiing and snowshoeing in the winter**

The Ahwahnee Lodge
P.O. Box 578, Yosemite National Park, California 95389
(559) 253-5635
http://www.yosemitepark.com/Accommodations_TheAhwahnee.aspx
**Luxury accommodation and fine dining in Yosemite Valley**