I never visit National Parks at peak season, so I have never dealt with the overcrowding spoken of. We were in Yellowstone in 1998 the first week the park opened in early May. The lake was still frozen, the roads were, in places, cut through 20 foot snow drifts, the Yellowstone Falls still had a snow bridge at their base, the lodge, stores and stations were all still closed and there were about 50 people at Old Faithful. It was awseome! Yosemite is MUCH prettier and the falls MUCH stronger in late spring than in Summer. Even in early June, as soon as the kids get out of school, most parks are not that crowded(we visited Yellowstone on the Harley in 2004 the first week of June and it was amazingly easy to get around). We were at the Grand Canyon last spring during Easter(there, I said it!)break and it wasn't that bad either. One of the reasons was that we entered the park very early in the morning befor the real tourists got there. We had no problems parking or getting food or whatever.  When we exited the park the line of cars to get in was about two miles long! Maybe one of the answers is for people to be a little more selective about when they go instead of everyone and their brother going on July 4th or similar summer dates. Sometimes it seems that it's not the number of people who visit, but rather, what time of year and day they do so.

If we don't restrict use,  parks will soon look like Main Street,  Disneyland.  Everything paved, plastic and overpriced.

Amen Rob

I don't mind the idea of limiting the number of visitors, but this can be done while still allowing people to see the valley. Perhaps day visitors could only be allowed to enter the park on buses that take them around the valley and have them park outside. Camping and staying in cabins, or the hotel could still be allowed, but only with reservations. I've been to Yosemite during very busy times and during slow times, and I can say first hand that the busy times are really lousy. Too many people can totally ruin a nice peaceful time in one of the most beautiful places on earth.
That being said, it's important to keep the park in tip top shape, and if a little development is the way to do it, then let's fix what needs to be fixed. Doing things like putting up a verizon store or another McDonalds or Starbucks is not what we should be focusing on. People should be able to go to Yosemite and be able to connect with nature. That's why we set aside that land in the first place.

When you figure out how to restrict the number of people in Yosemite, please apply the fix to all of California!

I read the story on the park and like you Steve, want to see it preserved for all future generations.   I'd give up my car as well to see the valley preserved.  At least then the sky would be clear. But when 3.4 million people visit the park, there has to be an infrastructure in place to deal with those people.  There has to be some development for this reason if the park is going to remain open to all visitors. 

Development in our parks does not alway come in the form of a parking lot or fast food.  The El Tovar Hotel, sitting right on the rim of the Grand Canyon, was built at the turn of the century by Fred Harvey and the railroads.  Today it is considered a landmark, as well as the majestic Ahwahnee Hotel and the lodge at Zion.  There are numerous other parks with similar structures which are now also preserved for future generations because of their now perceived beauty and historical significance.  We have the capability of striking a balance. 

 I would like to see a plan that preserves the ability of future children to camp along the Merced River as we did as children.  I still can still even remember the "Fire-fall" from atop Glacier point.  That was discontinued  to help stop the valley crowds and because it was a man-made attraction.  The crowds still came.  Yosemite is the 3rd most visited park in the nation.

Elimination of all development will close the park to only people who can hike in.  Some would say that's not a bad idea.  But I would like to see the park open to all who wish to view its majesty, and teach them all, only leave your footprints behind.