Re: Recommendation for 3 day, 2 night backbacking trip from Yosemite Valley

Hi All,

A group of 5 of us will be backpacking in Yosemite April 27-30 and are planning out our route. We're all experience backpackers but haven't backpacked or camped in Yosemite (but have done some day hikes and seen some of sites including Glacier Pt). We'll be arriving mid day Thursday (Apr 27) and want to leave the valley by noon on Sunday. We were thinking we'd camp in the backpacker campground in the valley on the first night or the last night so it would be 2 nights in back country. Would like scenic views, particularly wherever we set up camp for the night.

Is there a route that you'd recommend? Where should be plan on camping on the first night and on the second night?

Thanks in advance!

You're going to find a lot of snow in the high country outside of the valley. You can hike up from Happy Isles past Nevada Falls into Little Yosemite Valley...Or you might be able to hike up Yosemite Falls or Snow Creek onto the North Rim. But you're going to find a lot of snow, because in either case the altitude is about 7500 folder or more, and...Did I mention there's lots of snow this year?

I think you're better off spending time exploring the valley...

---

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

Thank you! Don't mind the snow. We're leaning towards Happy Isles-Nevada Falls-LYV for day/night 1 but are unsure what to do for the second night. Will we be able to hike to Clouds Rest and camp somewhere near the top?

Cloud's Rest is at 9930 feet elevation. So you'd be talking about snow shoeing in ~10 foot snowpack. To say the least, it's not easy slogging uphill in deep snow with some sections of trail, especially the last bit just before Cloud's Rest, being quite steep switchbacks. And you may well be trying to find a trail that nobody else has been on since the last snowfall or even longer with ducks, blazes, signs, and markers under snowpack. Storms are coming by daily right now and a light one is forecast for 4/25-6 too. For camping, you are talking snow camping, so any flat area will do. But this is not something appropriate for those without snow experience and good winter equipment.

Wow... yeah that probably won't work. Anything you'd recommend starting at LYV and culminating at a good campsite for the second night?

Read this:
http://yosemitenews.info/forum/read.php?17,88455,88455#msg-88455

---

But ... in direct response... just stay in LYV for as many nights as you want... and do poke around...

Snow situation looks like this:

Z higher country from Choo Choo to Matthess and Echo...


The JMT:


Crossing Sunrise Creek:

---

Thank you all for the input, you guys rock!

One final (possibly stupid) question - are sources of water readily available? We have all the necessary filtration but want to make sure there are ample sources nearby.

Every little creeklet you never knew existed will have water in it.
The only issue is if you go high enough... stuff may be under snow...
but then... there's your water... melt and enjoy.

Have fun

---