Of course, Sonora Pass was closed Wednesday evening/Thursday morning, with CalTrans posting snow pictures from the pass. A bare covering, but snow nonetheless, quickly melted. I went swimming in Boothe Lake...for a couple minutes, no longer.
When I picked up my permit Saturday morning the ranger noted that the park is well on its way towards record visitation, with overnight wilderness trips also headed for a record. She also noted that there's been a problem with people not following leave no trace...the things she seemed to most call out were 1) people not packing out toilet paper (three pounds of the stuff recovered from Cathedral Lakes!), and 2) campfires burning into duff then re-igniting a couple days later (something I noted from the Hoover Wilderness, here).
Water: For the most part, lakes only. There was some stagnant water in the ponds at Tuolumne Pass, and some fresh water in lower Rafferty Creek just near the top of the initial switchbacks, no water higher up. Seasonal flows had no water, though in a couple cases there were puddles from the recent weather.
Bugs: None.
Swimming: Boothe offers nice swimming, quick access to deep water, and a bottom without lots of sediment.
Pictures:
Boothe Lake:
Fletcher Creek and Emeric Creek Valleys:
Boothe Lake and Vogelsang Peak:
