Re: Thoughts on North Rim for 6/12 for Yos newbie

I have never been out to Yosemite and I have no experience with snow or serious river crossings.

There are 2 of us and we originally planned to do a hike from TM to the valley, but now we are considering a North Rim hike; something like Snow Creek > North Dome > Yosemite Falls overlook > Eagle Creek > El Cap > OBOFR. We wanted to go the other direction but couldn't get those permits but will still try to get them the day before.

Any thoughts on what the snow cover and stream crossings will be like?

If this is a bad option right now, any other thoughts on what we should do? We are looking for a 3 night trip. This is our first trip to Yosemite and we won't be coming back for a long time.

I appreciate any advice I can get.

I wouldn't recommend you go out OBOFR.
Tamarack Creek will be running high and swift. Crossing it may be a big big issue.
There's logs but getting on them is not simple.
I recommend that you camp in the vicinity of Eagle Peak... then dayhike to El Cap
and back... then go back down Yosemite Falls Trail.
Eagle Pk. Meadow area will be nice and yummy but you should be able to navigate
your way thru it. If you get stymied or it's too much just turn around.
Worse case you should be able to get over to North Dome and then come back
down Snow Creek.
Just go with an open mind and be safe. No reason to cross a stream or creek
you're not comfortable with.
This early ... this much flow even Ribbon Creek may not be fun to cross.
You'll run into plenty of people... ask them how it went on your way.

Have fun

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Thx for the quick reply.

So you think Snow Creek > North Dome will not be a problem. The elevation gets up to 8000 so I am worried it will be deep snow. Do you think there has been enough foot traffic to show a good trail and not have to posthole too much?

On June 1st I was at Yosemite point and an older gentleman had just come from snow creek up to North dome and across. He said that there was some snow but had no problems.

Could that older gentleman have been the Chick-on whisperer?

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Old Dude

Bill-e just said "wha! Gonna Mess u Up!"

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While I got your attention, how bad are the mosquitoes right now?

Would it make sense to hike over and camp near El Cap instead of backtracking on our last day from Eagle Peak to El Cap and back? I guess I am really asking how the campsites and views are from El Cap as compared to Eagle Peak.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 06/09/2010 09:47PM by daintree_parks.

Dunno how buggy it is yet. Up on the rim I doubt there is much.

Mi tinking waz dis.
Day 1 - North Dome
Day 2 - Eagle Peak area (NOT EP... do not camp ON it)
(go up the trail maybe 1/8 mile and then head east)
(the little knob on the topo map)
(yes, you have to carry water)
(same w/ El Cap)
Day 3 - Dayhike up Eagle Peak... Dayhike to El Cap... Explore... come back... sleepy
Day 4 - Out Yose Falls Trail

If you were a reg.... then I'd say that you should go over Ribbon using logs and
then down Rockslides... but I'd rec. going back down Yose Falls.

Why dayhike on 3? Well... Been thru that area in April before and we floundered around
for quite some time trying to get thru EP Meadows area. Came up from Yose Falls
and we got below the area where I said to camp and we said "ok, we go up this
hill here and camp, don't care what it looks like"... And ta-da... Incredible view...
We dayhiked the next day to El Cap and back (you should explore DOWN to the edge)
(which is > 500ft. down... and go down around it)

Views from both you will love.

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Quote
daintree_parks
. . . snip . . . I guess I am really asking how the campsites and views are from El Cap as compared to Eagle Peak.

The view from Eagle Peak is one of the best in the park. I don't find the El Cap view very interesting. Although I've never hiked all the way down to the edge.

Gigapan of the view from Eagle Peak

Thanks for all the great advice. I can't wait! Leaving in 36 hours...

Have fun! Post up a report when you get back!