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imchauncy
Thanks for your response.
We can -- and have done -- 3000' elevation gains. We've hiked all many areas of Yosemite, as well as Sequoia, Glacier, etc, and I've day-hiked Half-Dome. But this will be my 12 yo daughter's first backpacking trip. She's day-hiked Cloud's Rest, and hiked out of Sperry Chalet in Glacier NP (15+ miles plus elevation), so she can do the work, but I'd like to avoid crossing raging, flooded streams. A spring-time swollen creek? Sure. Something with current and churn? Nope.
Good. You know what you are getting into..
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imchauncy
Our permits are for June 23rd. It's a close call on whether Tioga will be open. And if 120 isn't open up by Crane Flat, that leaves a *long* drive around to the Tioga rd trailhead (another post on this site gave me the impression that 120 may not open until mid-summer). Will they run shuttles that distance? We can't leave a car at both ends...
I had assumed, had Tioga been open, you'd just head straight to the trailhead optimizing your route for 120 the entire way. Didn't realize you were staying in/near the Valley. Yah. Seriously doubt BOF road will be open by then. Will be super-stoked if it is!
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imchauncy
As for Mono/Illilouette, I haven't hiked that area before, but talking the ranger yesterday, he gave no mention of a bridge, and he specifically mentioned dangerous creek crossings. We can't start at GP because it doesn't have enough open permits for us. Mono Meadow does. We'd hike Mono Meadow, then turn left, just before Illilouette Creek, at the first intersection. This will get us us to the Panorama Trail so we can use its bridge to cross Illilouette Creek itself. But between this intersection and Panorama Trail, the map shows a creek crossing. I assume this is the crossing the ranger was referring to. What can we expect at this crossing? There's no bridge here, correct? We'd camp somewhere before or after this crossing (please advise if there are camping spots around here), then head to LYV the next day via the Panorama Trail and its bridge.
The desire to summit HD has put more pressure on certain trailheads. Kinda peeves me, because there is more you an do from that trailhead than just head to LYV. Sigh.
And yah, I wasn't suggesting Mono to the bridge. Only GP to the Illy bridge. You saw Chick-on's link to a post with pics.. That creek isn't even Illy.
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imchauncy
We have HDome permits, and we'd like a night in LYV so we can attempt HDome first thing in the morning.
If HD is your target, I have nothing to offer you. I was going to suggest other really nice hikes you can do.. but they won't get you to HD.
Sounds like you have 3 possible scenarios:
1) reschedule for a later date where your odds of doing HD are greater (you have a decent trailhead and HD permits reserved in a drier time of the year - or another year, since reservations are nearly all gone til late sep for the popular THs)
2) weather works out and Tioga opens in time! Just change your starting itinerary so you can get to the Tioga road more easily.
3) risk it and try for FCFS ticket from Happy Isles or GP to LYV. And be happy with something else and giving up on HD if it doesn't happen.
Others can pipe up if I'm missing something obvious. But what I'm hearing is that you guys want HD.. and well.. I don't have a lot of advice there. Best I can do is wish you luck on getting your permit!