The road has only been plowed and open for a couple of days so you may not get feedback from anybody who has hiked the Glen Aulin trail yet. I've done the trail shortly after the road opened in past years and conditions are probably similar now. The trails are quite wet and muddy. Once you get into the trees there will still be some snow on the ground. Delaney and Dingley are wet fords, waterby KatyAnderson - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Hikerchick wins again! Congratulations!by KatyAnderson - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
The bear boxes are outside the cabin.by KatyAnderson - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
link to this mornings report of the Saturday incidentby KatyAnderson - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Great plan. Here is a slight variation that takes it slower on your first day. Check out of your hotel in Oakhurst, pick up permit in Wawona, maybe breakfast in Wawona, drive to Tuolomne Meadows, stop to admire the view a few times along the way, you probably won't be starting at the trail head until almost mid day. Day 1: Sunrise TH at Tenaya Lake to one of the Sunrise lakes. 3.5 miles Theby KatyAnderson - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Thanks for the fabulous photosynch ... and the reminder to submit comments on the Merced River plan, deadline is tonight, just got mine in.by KatyAnderson - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Lovely photos, thanks for posting. Snow conditions look a lot like what I saw at May Lake last weekend. Thar is snow in them thar hills.by KatyAnderson - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Yup, that is a classic spot much used by folks doing Half Dome or Clouds Rest the next morning.by KatyAnderson - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Sorry, no time for a trip report but did want to put up a few pictures from this weekends hike to May Lake. The camp kitchen isn't open yet. Admiring the view from behind camp. This is where the Snow Creek trail crosses Tioga road. No signs of any plows. It is all quite a contrast to the Valleyby KatyAnderson - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
A permit is for a specific date and trail head. For some trail heads there is also a restriction on where you can spend the first night. Beyond that you can go wherever your feet can carry you. Almost... If you return down into Yosemite Valley, you will need a new permit for heading back up again. So for example the itinerary you have further back up this thread where you are going up Yosemite Fby KatyAnderson - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Little Yosemite Valley campground is definitely "a bunch of people camping around each other." But look at the bright side, you are only there for one night. If you really don't want to stay there you can continue to the next nights camp site, but that would make the day long. Nights in May/June can still get cold, sometimes, although not often, down to freezing.by KatyAnderson - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
You will need to reserve a permit for Glacier Point -> Illilouette for this trip. Indicate on your permit that you would like to climb Half Dome. Day one: arrive in Yosemite Valley, go to the wilderness center and pick up your permit for tomorrow, do a little sight seeing around the valley, maybe rent bikes and enjoy the sights that way, stop by the Ahwahnee hotel for an evening cocktail orby KatyAnderson - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Lovely photo - thanks for posting!by KatyAnderson - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Just for fun a little guessing game. The park service says that plowing starts around April 15 and provides background info including past years opening dates here. Right now it looks like it will be even earlier than last year, my guess is Friday May 3rd. I hope I am wrong though and that we get another couple of wet storms coming through.by KatyAnderson - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Thanks for the recap of the meeting. What kind of questions came up during the Q and A session?by KatyAnderson - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
The hike up along the Merced river canyon is beautiful and a perfect early season hike. I don't find Merced Lake all that exciting and if you camp at the lake you are limited to the backpackers campground. For that reason I would only go as far as Echo Valley, a fabulous place to camp and explore. So here are a couple of variations on your itineraries one and two. Itinerary one is a mellow tby KatyAnderson - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Hang on to those Glen Aulin permits. Perfect time of year for it, with the waterfalls at their best. The hike from Tuolomne is about six miles, mostly gentle down hill. Spend two night there so you have a full day without the packs to just explore.by KatyAnderson - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Take the water-taxi over Saddlebag lake and camp in 20 Lakes basin. No real distance at all, several lakes, no big elevation changes and yes, the scenery is indeed spectacular!by KatyAnderson - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
16 miles.by KatyAnderson - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Lovely photos - thanks for posting!by KatyAnderson - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
You never know with the weather, but odds are in your favor for warm and sunny in late June. You might want to look at your daily itinerary / hiking schedule though. Tuolomne Meadows to Vogelsang is 7 miles, Vogelsang to Merced is 8 miles, so a comfortable days hike between those camps. However that means you have a full 15 miles from Merced HSC back to Tuolomne Meadows. So unless your camp reby KatyAnderson - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Thanks guys! I am familiar with Mather as we've been to family summer camp there a couple of summers. Even think I recall that water tank, somewhere, all fenced in I seem to remember, hmm, maybe that's a different one. On the map it looks like Highway 120 to Evergreen, Evergreen to Evergreen lodge, then onto a little one-lane-at-best-dirt-road named 1S32 to 1S19 to where it ends at a gate. Sby KatyAnderson - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
OK, you've got my attention. Where is Base line Camp Road and its TH?by KatyAnderson - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
I like Hetch-Hetchy for a spring trip and have been wondering if it would be possible to park at the Hetch-Hetchy entrance gate and walk in? Two issues come to mind though: Are there good parking spots so you are not blocking the roadway? Would the entrance gate still be staffed so they could issue you a permit?by KatyAnderson - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
It is about 9 or 10 miles skiing along Glacier Point road from Badger Pass to the area that in the summer is the parking for Sentinel Dome. Then it is a mile or so hike or ski from there up to the top of Sentinel Dome.by KatyAnderson - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Perfectly legal in winter. Discussed my plans in detail with the ranger at Badger Pass when I got my wilderness permit. Only concern was human waste disposal, but as there was a vault toilet at the Sentinel Dome parking area, I used that.by KatyAnderson - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Camped on Sentinel Dome.by KatyAnderson - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Could this be Horsetail Falls? Photo taken from Sentinel Dome on Wednesday 02/13/13 around 5:30 pm.by KatyAnderson - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Thank you Frank for this long and detailed trip report. Thoroughly enjoyed it! My trips north of Tioga road thus far have been limited to easy weekend destinations such as Glen Aulin and Youngs Lakes. Reading this inspires me to plan a week long trip exploring these canyons, meadows, peaks and lakes. Pulling out my map now...Matterhorn, Kerrick Canyon, Peeler, Robinson, Rodgers, Benson ... Sumby KatyAnderson - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Apparently there is a webinar today. From the Yosemite FB page: "Join us at 1pm PST today (February 5th) for a short presentation via webinar on the Preferred Alternative of the Merced Wild and Scenic River Draft Plan and EIS. The presentation will be followed by Q&A. Sign us at http://yose.webex.com/ "by KatyAnderson - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion