Once you take our final trip up the cables and your deity decides your number is called, then what? Depending on your belief, you may want to be buried or perhaps you want to inform your survivors you elect cremation. But your presence in Yosemite can “live” on.
Did you know it’s legal to have your ashes scattered in the park? The bureaucracy follows you to the beyond, with a permit being required (no lottery this time). Make sure your family knows your wishes.
The deed has to be done out of sight of others and has to be at least 100 yards from any trail, road, walkway, parking area, developed facility, watercourse, or body of water. You can’t be dropped from a plane and your remnants can’t be in a clump – they have to be spread out. No tangible memorial can be erected.
While we’re discussing end-of-life planning, you can also include Yosemite in your estate and bequeath it all to the Yosemite Conservancy.
Unrelated thought worth quoting: “I’m not scared of dying , and I don’t really care . If it’s peace you find in dying , well, then let the time be near. If it’s peace you find in dying and if dying time is here, just bundle up my coffin’ cause it’s cold way down there. I hear that it’s cold way down there.” – Blood, Sweat and Tears
MrHalfDome™ – Rick Deutsch – www.HikeHalfDome.com
One Best Hike: Yosemite’s Half Dome
19. July 2012 at 8:22 am
My father-in-law’s ashes were spread atop Stony Man in Shenandoah NP as per his wishes and the park’s regulations back in 2004. We hike there annually near his Oct.1 birthday and find it a very inspiring place to visit Poppy. His heart was always on the mountain – some of his formative years were spent in the CCC camp that built the park – and his spirit remains there. I can see why some may want Half Dome as their final resting place…
18. July 2012 at 4:44 pm
Blood, Sweat, and Tears ??? not! or not the original!
Laura Nyro (born 1947) wrote “And when I die”, sold it to Peter, Paul, and Mary.
I think they were the first to record it.
18. July 2012 at 4:50 pm
I try to use the most popular versions – not the original necessarily. Have you ever heard Bob Dylan’s original “all Along the Watchtower? Compare that to Hendix – NOT even close.
18. July 2012 at 10:49 am
So how do you get a permit????
19. July 2012 at 8:51 am
This link provides the info to get a permit to spread ashes.