Re: Cathedral Lakes - YV in the May/June

I would love anyone's input on the condition of the Tuolomne Meadows/Cathedral Lakes trail down to Yosemite Valley in the early season. We have a permit for June 9, but also are looking at the end of May. I recognize that this would include a fair amount of snow travel, but would there be a boot pack on this trail (I assume fairly heavily traveled)? We are very comfortable w snow and winter camping, but are also planning on bringing our 18 mo old in the backpack, so are curious what the conditions and stream crossings might be like this early in the season.

Thanks!

If this year is anything like 2011, you will need snowshoes and superior route finding skills until after Sunrise Lakes. I hiked that trail in the snow within a couple of days after the Tioga pass opened (around June 22), and the trail was not heavily travelled, and therefore not even marked, as it was under 6 feet of snow until after Sunrise Lakes. Then the trails were clear.

I remember that whenever I called the wilderness office prior to our trip the Rangers always tried to dissuade us from going because of the difficulty in route finding. However with a good map, altimeter, patience and pre-programmed GPS we were usually close to the route. We never had to seriously back track, but did have to zig-zag quite a bit to get to our destinations. We did cross lots of snow/ice bridges, but did not actually have to get wet on any crossings. The snow bridges were intimidating but exciting. I suggest keeping the June date, as the Tioga pass may not even open until June. We had great weather: 60's in the day, high 30's at night.

As for the 18 mo old, well......this might become his or her earliest memory.

It may be worse than 2011. 2011 had snow well into July. (hence ur June 22)...
By worse... it's definitely less snow... and snow bridges will be come water crossings.
Though there aren't many... Cathedral Creek... Long Meadow...
but... with right amount of snow... it's a lotta fun... and extra wide and extra water
shows...
it conditions right you don't need snowshoes. if conditions just right... you
will be cursing why you didn't bring them

I always say... have you done it without snow? Maybe do that first. ?
Definitely do not
a) assume there will be bootprints or trail to follow
b) assume bootprints are following trail

I put this picture up to show conditions... it was taken last Thursday...
right there... just to right of CATH ... is Upper and Lower Cathedral Lakes

http://yosemitenews.info/forum/read.php?17,84351,84363#msg-84363

Look at the picture. It's definitely what Coolburn said now.. and will be for a bit...

Have fun

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Since Coolburn mentioned 2011...

Here be too trips of mine from then...

May of 2011 : Jack Main Canyon
http://yosemitenews.info/forum/read.php?3,35489,35489#msg-35489

July of 2011 : Buckeye - Thompson - Kerrick Canyons
http://yosemitenews.info/forum/read.php?3,40408,40408#msg-40408

Enjoys

Wish was there now...

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Perfect info everyone, thanks so much! We will keep the permit for now and keep an eye on conditions/weather until then. FYI, since I wasn't especially clear - I was asking about boot pack more for snowshoe necessity than for navigation (obviously we will bring map/compass/GPS), but I'm glad that I recieved feedback on both points!

Thanks again.

I am confused. What does boot pack mean?

Let me say this... I have only regretted NOT taking snowshoes.
If there are people who have walked in the trail and left posthole
/ boot prints... then using snowshoes in said trail is a pain in the
rump / not fun / probably you gonna just slide to left or right o
trail and make ur own track.

I dunno experience in Sierra. Sorry... but typically the snow
consolidates so much that you can walk on it. But ... it doesn't
hurt to have snowshoes on in those instances either.

I think back to trip with QITNL. I feel bad. I didn't take shoes...
and then I think he decided same... and they really were kinda
needed... to have the most fun / least pain.

Have done lots of spring trips without them... so it really varies...

Anywho. I probably didn't help.

Here's another one of mine in June of 2011:
http://yosemitenews.info/forum/read.php?3,39233,39233#msg-39233

I carried snowshoes on this one...

Have fun!

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Quote
chick-on
What does boot pack mean?

In ye olde days:

Old Doode knows those well.

Where is he anyway? perfect setup for him... and not a peep

Maybe JKW can say she is feeling over 28

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Quote
chick-on
Old Doode knows those well.

Where is he anyway? perfect setup for him... and not a peep

Maybe JKW can say she is feeling over 28

Here's a link https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_IBM_magnetic_disk_drives#/media/File:IBM3380DiskDriveModule.agr.jpg to a picture of the spindle and actuator assembly of the 3380 we spent about seven or eight years developing. Fourteen inch disks and weighed 32 kilos. About 1.5 Gigs. Cost, just for this assembly, was about $35K in 1980. Today you get a 2Terabyte drive that will fit in you shirt pocket at Costco for about $80. The change in cost and capacity ($/byte) is incomprehensible.

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Old Dude



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 05/05/2016 04:47AM by mrcondron.

I guess this thread has drifted off topic a bit, so I'll add to it
I was fortunate enough to get the second desktop (Apple) computer at our company in the early '80s. I was a "heavy" user of their spreadsheet application and I quickly learned the importance of storage. Later, when our IT guy set up our first server, I asked him how much storage it would have. He replied that a gig would do it. I remember thinking a gig...wow !

Yep. And now I carry the curriculum for all the classes I teach on a credit card sized USB drive that fits in my wallet, and has 4 gigs of storage.

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Check our our website: http://www.backpackthesierra.com/
Or just read a good mystery novel set in the Sierra; https://www.amazon.com/Danger-Falling-Rocks-Paul-Wagner/dp/0984884963

At least I got Z Old Dood to talk.


What did you want?

A Three Dee faux toe of Lower Cathedral taken in May?

Ok.


it's so much better if you download the original...
from here:
https://picasaweb.google.com/103089501068510688008/6281201381074880177
(hope that works)

How about Z Old Guy zoomie:


We saw Peregrines heading that-a-way... good example y climbing routes r closed ...


This was in 2013

w/r to conditions... take a look at the Badger / Yosemite Ski and Snowboard webcam...
Something like Monroe Meadow... nuttin but snow... is currently a nice slosh...

Conditions change... be prepared for all kinds... yadda yadda yadda

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Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 05/05/2016 07:10AM by chick-on.

Thanks again for the thoughts on this topic everyone! We had planned to climb Shasta later this week, but with a horrible weather forecast I was about to cancel the trip entirely...then just saw Tioga is opening. If anyone has any more recent information on Cathedral Lakes (or Sunrise) to the Valley, I would certainly be interested to hear and possibly take a crack at a permit.

Thanks!