Despite an all-too-early departure, we didn't start hiking from just outside the Tioga Pass entrance gate until after 10:00; the recent daylight savings adjustment would bring nightfall before 5:00. We had managed to reach OD and the pink one via radio while passing through Tuolumne Meadows; they were en route to the same destination as ours: Young Lakes.
Unfortunately, we had forgotten to pack a few things--none essential: the battery for my main camera, our water filters, JKW's headlamp... fortunately, nothing we couldn't do without.
The climb up to the ridge above the Gaylor Lakes was slow, but we were soon greeted with a view of the mostly snow-free high country.
The Cathedral Range appeared to rise from the far shore of the lake.
Our route would be mostly cross-country, especially after a brief lunch stop at lower Gaylor Lake. From there until we reached the Dog Lake/Young Lakes trail, we saw no human footprints.
Our route passed through a few lovely unnamed meadows.
The largest was on Delaney Creek.
After a short section where there were numerous trees that had blown down by the windstorm from a few winters ago, we reached the trail.
The sun was already low as we passed through the meadow south of Ragged Peak.
We were soon at the Dog Lake/Soda Springs junction; from there we walked briskly to the lower Young Lake.
We reached the lake with just enough sunlight left to set up camp and start preparing dinner.
We were treated to a wonderful sunset as we finished our meal and prepared to retire for the night--at 6:30 or so.
The nighttime had not been too cold, but the sun was slow to rise from behind the surrounding peaks, so our frozen shoes didn't thaw until we were on the trail.
OD and JKW were to return to the Tioga Road via the Soda Springs trail while the two bird-brains planned on a more "interesting" and "delicious" route. We climbed to the upper Young Lake, where the pink one identified a notch that he had taken previously... maybe.
The notch worked and we were soon above the highest lake.
The snow was thicker on the north-facing slopes, and while often snow is easier to travel on than talus, this isn't the case when it's still unconsolidated.
We (by which I mean "I"
eventually reached the saddle between the Young and Skelton lakes basins.
The climb in the shade and snow had been chilly, but once on the south-facing slopes, the day was downright warm, and snow became a non-issue.
We tried a "new" route to the main Skelton Lake that from afar looked do-able if not a bit brushy. Both were true.
Along the way we encountered a rappel sling and ring left behind on a tree (which we removed); it probably took us less time to hike to the bottom of this rappel than it had to rig it, put on harnesses, and descend.
We were soon free of the brush and shortly reached the shore of the main Skelton Lake, where we stopped for a snack and water fill-up.
We didn't want to leave the others at the trailhead for too long, so we were soon on the move again.
We popped over a small saddle before dropping to the lower Gaylor Lake.
If Van Gogh's medium had been wood carving instead of painting...?
We soon reached the lake, where I had lunch again--no complaints at all.
After lunch we had one more climb to face: a slow ascent to the middle lake, then a brisk climb back to the ridge above Tioga Pass. Along the way we had heard from the others on radio that they were at the Lembert Dome parking lot.
We eventually were looking down upon Dana Meadows; shortly thereafter we were at our cars and on the way to Lembert Dome.
Since we had made good time leaving Young Lakes, we decided while driving out that we'd make one more stop--to try to locate a small section of abandoned trail, at which we did succeed.
All in all it was an excellent and enjoyable "winter" weekend trip.
More Pictures
It's just that after what happened Thursday and Friday night, I wasn't feeling too well and we did seriously consider bailing... But after bailing on those two on the Moose Lake trip.. I wasn't about to give up without a fight.
