Big thanks to the pros here who have helped me learn how and where to backpack after years of day hikes my my wife and kids. This was my first time going alone for so long. Soon will be back for a short trip with my wife to Clouds Rest and around Sunrise!
Ted
Stayed first day at Tuolumne Backpackers Camp just walking the meadows to get used to the altitude. No real hiking as got to the park later than planned.
Planning day 1 from Rafferty Creek Trailhead
Setting forth the next morn. Always amazes me how the different light makes familiar places new in Yosemite (as do seasons). I think why Muir called it not the snowy range but the Range of Light. Beautiful morning with rain drops. I took some video w the camera and will have to learn how to post that here too as you could see the steam rising from the ground from the previous night's thunderstorm.
Fletcher and Vogelsang come into view...
Looking back...
Approaching Vogelsang after few downpours that day
Margarita time at Fletcher Lake under Fletcher Peak
Climbing above Fletcher Lake next morn along waterfall to find Townsley Lake
Townsley...beauteeeeful....
Side trip to Evelyn and some other spots:
back to Vogelsang Lake area to camp
Froze my keister off here. gusts up to 40-50 so could not keep rainfly on tent which left it open even though I had my tent behind a big rock. my 30 degree bag w the winds did not cut it. waited until 1030 next morn to warm up and had to hike up to get into the radiant sun to warm up! chilly.
Stars over Fletcher Peak that night at Lake Vogelsang. Nearly full moon....did a timelapse too which I will post later
morning warming up and then off over the pass
Gallison Lake
Bernice Lake
Not sure what the 3 spires r in the middle or the other mountains but they were pretty!
Below treeline at 10000 feet it was like spring came out with more trees and green appearing. a different world from above....
First glimpse of Lake Merced w backside of Half Dome in the distance
Lake Merced. Stayed at backpackers camp and met a ranger there who works for a family friend in the park my wife grew up with who heads up Education at Yosemite. Also met some other interesting hikers
heading down the Merced river to lower land...
coming thru Lost and Echo Valleys
Half dome Liberty Cap and Nevada Falls from a vantage point I think most mist trail hikers never see and don't realize Half Dome is right there!
Helen from Belgium, 1 of 2 cool hikers I met along the way. When I met her she was stalked night before by a mountain lion outside her tent near Sunrise and was really scared. Two deer just outside her tent that suddenly disappeared and the mountain lion was outside her tent staring at her and there all night long making noises as she banged on a pan. She did not come out till hikers came by next morn. Also met a cool guy who was doing Red Peak Pass that is on my list (not sure if clockwise or counter clockwise from Happy Isles is best - I will have to explore the forum to find out!)
Next morning had to wait 90 minutes for Pizza Deck to open. Ate a large and had two Mammoth Epic IPAs (almost as good as a specialty Lagunitas!).
