Before you enter Yosemite from any direction, it’s advised to top off your tank. There is NO GAS in the valley. If you arrive/depart through the Arch Rick entrance you had been able to fill up at the automated Shell station. But that spot’s been out of commission for a long time.
Here’s the latest. The vendor who has been operating the station is no longer involved. The NPS wanted the station to stay open but the profit margins are very low on stations that do not have a mini-mart tied to it. So, Delaware North Company (DNC) agreed to manage it and work with Chevron to set up a new automated pump station – with no human attendants. The El Portal Food market agreed to provide maintenance to the restrooms and tidy things up.
To get the station up to date, the underground tanks had to be replaced and the infrastructure of the building modernized. The target to open up is mid-August. I’m sure gas won’t be at bargain rates, but you will be able to fill up there soon.
Unrelated thought worth quoting: “We live in a fast-paced society. Walking slows us down.” - Robert Sweetgall
MrHalfDome™ – Rick Deutsch – www.HikeHalfDome.com
One Best Hike: Yosemite’s Half Dome
Comment on Facebook