Technology is making it easier to be able to go camping at Yosemite’s High Sierra Camps.

In the past, prospective guests had to enter the annual lodging lottery by submitting a hard-copy application at the reservations office in Fresno and then wait for three months for an answer. For the 2010 season, the internet will be used to take applications, which are available now through November 1st.

We always have an excuse for not visiting more often, but this weekend we can’t say it’s too expensive. The National Park Service is offering a “Fee Free Weekend” this Aug. 15-16 for each of these California national parks:

Yosemite National Park has always been a victim of its massive popularity.

The more that people visit it, the more this natural wonder is negatively affected by its admirers.

The trick is to strike a balance that gives the public access to the crown jewel of the National Parks System while still protecting Yosemite from the “human footprint” of several million tourists, campers and back-country hikers.

The debate over appropriate usage of the park has been played out many times, and now a court decision is pushing a renewed look at Yosemite’s mission