Yosemite- ELMER, ELMER????

[Disneyland1084]

Anyone who's been camping at Yosemite is familiar with Elmer. When darkness comes, campers all over yell for Elmer. But does anyone know the truth about Elmer? I've heard conflicting stories. I don't even know if any of them are true. Or maybe Elmer's just a legend. What I heard was 80+ years ago a little boy went camping with his family at Yosemite and got lost, but was found. What have you heard?

 

[WebmasterMaryJo]

There are so many stories about Elmer. I heard the same story. Was it 80 years ago? And so his mother was calling him, and then nearby campers got into it and started calling him. Then they did it again the next night, and the next night.

We used to camp there every year from '70 to '79, and every night someone would start up with calling Elmer and a bunch of people would chime in. Last year, I was in Sequoia, and someone called out for Elmer one evening. I laughed.

I was in a Yosemite chat room back in the day, and someone claimed to have been there when it started.

Here are some links to the Elmer story. (They say it's been going on since the late 30's )

https://www.nps.gov/yose/blogs/yosemite-valley-a-land-of-beauty-peace-sanctity-and-elmer.htm

https://smile.amazon.com/Story-Elmer-Yosemite-Richard-Barna/dp/1483430839/ref=smi_www_rco2_go_smi_g2609328962?_encoding=UTF8&*Version*=1&*entries*=0&ie=UTF8

https://www.facebook.com/elmerstory/

https://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20110827163519AAxWHI6

 

[bcla]

I've never heard it. The origin seems to be a genuine mystery according to the National Park Service.

https://www.nps.gov/yose/blogs/yosemite-valley-a-land-of-beauty-peace-sanctity-and-elmer.htm

 

[RangerPooh]

I find it to be annoying. Nothing like interrupting a peaceful evening camping there (and elsewhere in CA) with people calling the name. It would be one thing if someone was actually missing. So no, we never chimed in out of respect to our fellow campers. Just rude.

 

[Pacolovestacos]

Elmer Fudd?

 

[bcla]

I find it to be annoying. Nothing like interrupting a peaceful evening camping there (and elsewhere in CA) with people calling the name. It would be one thing if someone was actually missing. So no, we never chimed in out of respect to our fellow campers. Just rude.

There's a lot of loud interruptions while camping in Yosemite. Nothing quite like a peaceful night interrupted by a bear entering a campground. Campers are encouraged to make loud noises to scare off the bears, and the rangers themselves have various nonlethal weapons and noisemakers.

The last time we camped in Yosemite, we woke up when a ranger started knocking on the door of the RV at the next campsite. She was particularly loud telling them that they had a cooler out on a rack on their RV loaded with beverages. I certainly understand the concern and the violation of food storage rules, but they certainly won't worry about peaceful enjoyment - even if most are sleeping.

 

[disneyhand]

It's been a long time since I've camped at Yosemite or thought about Elmer, but I remember this happening every night! We all enjoyed it, especially the kids. We heard all the different versions of why as well.

 

[WebmasterMaryJo]

It's been a long time since I've camped at Yosemite or thought about Elmer, but I remember this happening every night! We all enjoyed it, especially the kids. We heard all the different versions of why as well.

I know this is an old thread, but just saw someone asked about Elmer on Facebook, and when I Googled, this thread was one of the results.