In early July we're planning to do a loop to volgensang via lyell canyon and rafferty creek with side trips to ireland lake and some other nearby locations - . It looks really beautiful in my Yosemite book

Wondering about:

- snow

-stream crossings

-mosquitos (read a report they were really bad this time last year)

-are these really rocky trails (loose rocks?)

Has anyone been up recently that could let me know about these .

Also any recommendations about which way the the better route up/down?

Thank you for any info

I was there 3 weeks ago on that same loop.

- Snow - I had to cross 3 spots where there was snow. At most my feet were on snow for 10 steps.

- Stream Crossings - None wider than 5 feet and deeper than 1 or 2 feet. I used the boulders available to cross. My feet stayed dry the whole time.

- Mosquitos - Around the Vogelsang area, they were terrible and swarming. I was glad I had a mosquito net around my face + long sleeves and long pants. Once I got to Evelyn Lake, they cleared up.

- Not many rocky trails.

I liked the hike up Rafferty Creek. I think the grade was a little slighter. The hike back Lyell Canyon was beautiful.

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