Hi all, this is a trip report for my 8-day YNP backpacking trip July 19-26. This originally was planned to be a 9-day, but a week before I had to shorten by a day, which caused an entire re-do of the itinerary, and then my food shipment didn't arrive on time causing another itinerary re-do on about 12 hours notice. But it all worked out and I had a great time.
Part 1: Mono Meadow to Starr King
Set out from Mono Meadow trailhead with Old Dood, chick-on and Catalonian Burro. We had lunch at the Illilouette Creek crossing. We then split up, Old Dood and I headed south and the other 2 went exploring up to the east. Some rain moved in shortly after that, and we sat it out in the forest for about an hour. Then we all rendezvous'd and headed up to a beautiful campsite just below Mt. Starr King. We had our own private dome to climb around on for sunset.
Next morning we split up, Old Dood and CB headed back to the car at the trailhead and were to meet chick-on and me later that afternoon. Chick-on took me off trail to Mt. Starr King, where we climbed the southern-most and middle domes. At this point a major storm moved in and came upon us pretty fast, lightning moved right on top of us. Yikes! We scrambled down around the northern Starr King dome, over the saddle that runs to Dome Baez, and back towards the trail, getting pelted by rain as we crashed through the manzanita and thorn bushes. Multiple spontaneous waterfalls streamed down off the domes. Followed the trail that heads from that area up to the Panorama, where we headed down towards Nevada Fall. The weather started clearing by this point, and the skies were party blue by the time we connected to the JMT. We then met the other two in the Valley at the cars, and we headed out of the park.
On the way out we stopped at the permit office for me to get a permit for the next day, not knowing what would be available or what my itinerary would be. My first choices, Rafferty and Lyell, were full, but my third choice (WW to Pate) was open and so my itinerary was set. Back to Old Dood's place for the night and plans/hopes to retrieve my food shipment next morning.
P.S. I hardly took any pictures the day of the storm, chick-on had plenty of time to snap some while waiting on my ass, so many thanks to him for his contributions here:
Next morning, heading up Starr King:
From top of the southern-most Starr King dome:
Heading up the middle Starr King dome:
Storm rolling in:
Spontaneous waterfalls streaming down Dome Baez:
Busting through the manz and thorns. The yellow arrow is pointing at me:
Note to self: next time I go bushwacking with chick-on, wear the zip-on legs! "Zip-on with chick-on!"
- Billy Joel
