Working in Yosemite for the Summer?

I just got a job offer as a housekeeper in the Yosemite Valley Lodge. I'm currently trying to decide whether to spend the summer in Yosemite or stay home in Salt Lake. Either way, climbing is gonna be hot (I'm not concerned about that). Has anyone worked a summer in Yosemite as a housekeeper? Specifically, for Aramark? I think it would be a fantastic experience, but as of now I would be going solo as my friend hasn't heard back from them yet.  If anyone has any firsthand experience it would be greatly appreciated.

Worked as a Porter for Aramark, which is a glorified housekeeper and general maintenance dude. Did it for about 3 months. Left after realizing I had enough cash to not work for a while and just climb.

The good:
-Fellow employees are usually all college age and a lot of fun to hang with outside of work.
-Good community of non-partiers who will be psyched to get on the rock after work and on days off.
-You're living in Yosemite; it's basically summer camp with a paycheck.
-Climbing!!

The bad:
-The work is easy but they will make you work 8 hours a day, 5 days a week.
-Nasty stuff is hidden in some of those rooms.
-The housing isn't the greatest but if you're doing it right, you will only really sleep there.
-Getting good, healthy food is sometimes a crux.

Honestly, I say go for it. Being the Valley in spring and summer is magical. Especially if you are young and want to share some amazing experiences with a lot of like minded people. Yosemite will suit you well. Go in with an open mind and don't take the work all too seriously, just get it done. Have fun, be safe. Hope this is of value to you.

Wouldn't you decide if you wanted the job before you applied?

FrankPS wrote: Wouldn't you decide you wanted the job before you applied?

My friend was the one who told me about it in the first place and got me to apply. Our plan was to go out together, but he still hasn’t heard back yet and I already got offered a job so it’s more a matter if I want to go alone or not. Trying to weigh pros/cons

Sean Kelley wrote: Worked as a Porter for Aramark, which is a glorified housekeeper and general maintenance dude. Did it for about 3 months. Left after realizing I had enough cash to not work for a while and just climb.

The good:
-Fellow employees are usually all college age and a lot of fun to hang with outside of work.
-Good community of non-partiers who will be psyched to get on the rock after work and on days off.
-You're living in Yosemite; it's basically summer camp with a paycheck.
-Climbing!!

The bad:
-The work is easy but they will make you work 8 hours a day, 5 days a week.
-Nasty stuff is hidden in some of those rooms.
-The housing isn't the greatest but if you're doing it right, you will only really sleep there.
-Getting good, healthy food is sometimes a crux.

Honestly, I say go for it. Being the Valley in spring and summer is magical. Especially if you are young and want to share some amazing experiences with a lot of like minded people. Yosemite will suit you well. Go in with an open mind and don't take the work all too seriously, just get it done. Have fun, be safe. Hope this is of value to you.

Hey thanks man! I really appreciate you sharing your personal experience. Thats exactly what I was looking for. I’m definitely pretty convinced! How is the scheduling? Were you able to find time to climb during the week?

Andrew Schafer wrote:

Hey thanks man! I really appreciate you sharing your personal experience. Thats exactly what I was looking for. I’m definitely pretty convinced! How is the scheduling? Were you able to find time to climb during the week?

Scheduling depends. I was pretty upfront with my manager and she was very cool to work for. I asked for two back to back days off with the last shift before my days off being a super early morning shift. I usually had like 2 and a half days to climb. I don't anticipate all managers in Yosemite being this willing to accommodate. She was super chill with me wanting to climb and progress on walls. Honestly, like anything in life, if it means something to you, you will find time to do it. I found a lot of time to climb and go bouldering. Pack up your car and get out there already! 

What are you kiddin me? You are 20 and have the opportunity? Jump on that shit like a cheap Thai hooker!!

I’ll be out there working for employee services, psyched to climb all the time!

Andrew,
I went out there in 1993 with my GF who ended up hating her job and going home after 2 weeks. So I, like you, thought I'd be doing it with a friend and ended up doing it alone. Never-the-less, I look back at it as one of the best times of my life. And when I think about it all, I can barely pull a memory of work at all. It was just in the background. The friends I made, the trips we took, the stupid ideas we came up with (let's play frisbee in the highway tunnel leading into the park in the middle of the night! Yea, let's *do* that!) - that's the stuff I remember. It was a different time, a different company (Yosemite Parks and Curry Company), and i had a different job...but it's the same amazing park that I'm sure attracts the same *kind* of people.  Those people were outdoorsy college kids and retired couples.  The retired couples were nice and all but you'll obviously keep company with the college kids...i did.
I would check to make sure you'll be living in Yosemite Valley, though. I heard some time ago all employees were booted from the valley and get bussed in.
As for my GF...don't be discouraged by that. Her black cloud followed her everywhere, including the paradise that is Yosemite.
I hope you go for it!
Reid

Don't be an idiot.  I wish I could live in the valley but I missed that chance.

My friend's son worked at Yosemite for many years. Don't miss it.

I applied to work there the Summer after Freshman year of college, but instead I opted to do an internship behind a computer.  Regret it now.

Sean Kelly, can you elaborate on "Nasty stuff is hidden in some of those rooms."