If I was rich enough to add my two cents, I would toss around the idea of keeping the first day of your first couple of trips fairly short, say under 10 miles. Then as you gain experience of your personal needs, you can adjust to go as long as you want. There is allot of difference in 5 or 6,000' and 9,000', especially with a pack. A short day will let your body adjust. From experience, it isby atomicmonkey - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
What a great trip. Having a goal and traveling with great friends is the best. Next year, when you do this again, think of the accomplishment of ending the trip with the climb out of Pate Valley!!by atomicmonkey - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
I enjoy camping at the farthest west lake and hiking around the two lakes to the south, tethered together by their outlet streams. The main, large lake is crowded with people but the north section and outlet stream is very pretty. There are established camps (fire rings) around all the lakes that I went to. Most hikers stop at the first lake, right next to the trail. My suggestion would be to seby atomicmonkey - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
This past weekend we hiked up to Ten Lakes for a very short two nights. The flowers were out in different stages of bloom depending on elevation. There were a few very small patches of snow high up and mosquitoes were fierce in the boggy areas around the lakes, but not as bad as I have seen it and it was easy to find areas free from them. The temps were warm, 60/35. There were several groups of cby atomicmonkey - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
WOW! I was only off by an entire mountain range! I guess I need to get out more.by atomicmonkey - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
Is that shot looking across Tenaya Canyon towards Clouds Rest taken from the top of Mt Watkins? Great pictures.by atomicmonkey - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
We were there also. We were planning on a Ten Lakes hike but postponed it for three weeks to let some snow melt off the north face of the trail down to the basin. We had a great time in the Valley. We looked like total car camping newbies. It was a little funny having our little tent 2' from a strangers tent. They weren't strangers for long! Mirror Lake was a lot of fun but there were linesby atomicmonkey - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
Thank you for the great pictures and trail report. Hopefully the road will be open by Friday and we can go play in the snow at Ten Lakes. With the new snow this week, it will be interesting to see the north east facing trail down into TL basin. Might have to find an alternative spot like Half Moon or maybe Grant Lake with it's south facing approach.by atomicmonkey - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
Great picture...worth a thousand words! Allot less snow than what I was thinking. Now I am excited. Thank you.by atomicmonkey - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
Thanks!! That is great news. I really want the snow around the lakes, that is all good. I am just concerned about the trail down to the lakes. Thanks for the info and I look forward to your always great pictures.by atomicmonkey - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
I could never force this into my lips after that 1970's film "Soylent Green."by atomicmonkey - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
Chick-on, Do you have any pics of the Ten Lakes area showing the snow? Like an idiot, I had it in my pea brain that there was very little snow and planned a trip to Ten Lakes this coming weekend. I do not have a problem with snow or navigating in snow, but the Ten Lakes side of the pass has several steep and exposed areas that I might not be comfortable bringing my family down. It sounds like thby atomicmonkey - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
Tomdisco is correct. Murphy creek trailhead across from Tenaya Lake is a great alternative. It goes by Polly Dome then behind McGee Lake.by atomicmonkey - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
We leave the car unlocked and hide a key inside.by atomicmonkey - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
You can take the Hiker's Buss. That's what we did two years ago. We did the same WW-TM direction. What a fantastic hike! I do not think there were any water crossings. I do remember WW to be pretty cold at night and Pate Valley to be steaming hot. Glen Aulin was a bit soggy. Have fun!by atomicmonkey - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
Nice!! That must of been fun.by atomicmonkey - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Thanks! looking at the charts, it looks like the ranger might be right. I never knew that. Good reason to pitch a tent over 100' away from a riverby atomicmonkey - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
This might sound crazy, but a few weeks ago I spent the night in YV right on the banks of the Merced. While watching the river lazily go by, I became mesmerized by the water and my mind followed every curve, rapid and fall of the river up to the various headlands like the beginnings of Fletcher Creek and Lewis Creek. I was really wishing that I was there. I was thinking of the water that was immeby atomicmonkey - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
Great pictures, I really enjoyed them and they gave a good perspective of the current conditions. Thanksby atomicmonkey - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
That's fantastic! I found the mid June date on the NP website, but I can't find it again. I have been calling for three days to the permit office and it has been busy. Thank you guys for all the great info. BTW: this is the phone # that I have been using from my permit Questions/Cancellations: Call (209) 372-0740, 9:00 a.m. - 4 p.m.by atomicmonkey - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
Thanks for the great pictures.by atomicmonkey - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Thanks, I guess the extra drive time will be in Yosemite and not in traffic at home!by atomicmonkey - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
I'm heading up to Ten Lakes on May 23. I have a permit and I am ready for any snow. It looks like the TM ranger station will not open until mid June, according to the Yosemite website. Can I just fill out a permit and leave it in the box like regular winter time or do you think I need to pick up my permit at another open permit office? I've tried to phone the permit office for the last few daysby atomicmonkey - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
I love the idea of SAR drones. What will be next, though, Ranger drones? Hold up your permit to the drone's camera! Maybe they can be used to deliver pizza... Ok, maybe NOT!by atomicmonkey - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
The research and planning is half the fun. Checking out all the different foods, weighing everything (and ditching tons of things!) and learning how to pack a bear can efficiently are all part of the process. The reward is a stellar trip and a huge accomplishment! Good luck and I hope you do a trail report to this forum with lots of pictures!!by atomicmonkey - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
That's fantastic! Thanks!by atomicmonkey - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Cool perspectives on your pictures. What a great hike!by atomicmonkey - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
We decided to get out of the pollution of LA for the night. So we loaded up the car, threw the kid and the dog in the back and the bikes on the rack and headed up to Yosemite Valley. Since we had the new rescued dog and only a few hours of daylight, hiking was pretty much out of the question. We have only been to the valley as a way to get back in from the back country so we were excited to spendby atomicmonkey - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
Thanks, I appreciate the info. Hard to tell from LA where is is so hot.by atomicmonkey - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Has anyone been up Pine Creek Rd recently? I was thinking of heading up that way for a day hike in the direction of Pine Creek. Not sure the snow conditions on road or trail. Any thoughts would be great.by atomicmonkey - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion