We want to do a warmup day hike near Tuolumne meadows the day before we set out on our 4 day wilderness hike. I'm wondering if we should expect Gaylor lakes to be frozen in late June. I don't think it would dissuade us from it either way, it seems like a good way to spend 4 or so hours to get acclimated to the altitude on a trail that offers a very different type of landscape that we won't otherwby jizdepski - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
Any consensus for a decent estimation of when hwy 120 may open this spring?by jizdepski - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
Yes, I see exactly where you mean now, that looks to be the only way that makes physical sense....we will see. May just be content to follow echo creek, it's a new area for us anyway. The idea of emeric and Babcock mainly came from discussions with my uncle about that area and his hikes from Ireland lake and Vogelsang, but that was probably out of Lyell canyon.by jizdepski - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
Wonderful photos..We will certainly see some of those exact sites. Our route is going to be from the cathedral head to Budd creek and Budd Lake, then cut around Cathedral peak to upper cathedral lake before going through Cathedral pass to the cathedral fork creek to Echo and Mathes lakes (spending a night beneath Mathes Crest). From there, we will follow the outflowing creek from Mathes lake bacby jizdepski - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
I will post the route entirely, my thinking is if we followed echo creek all the way to Clark Canyon we'd then have to go back east to Merced lake...,just considering a different approach, that may have different views of some peaks in the far eastern edges of the park. I haven't hiked this specific area yet. Only hikes north of 120 and and the valley, north rim, parts of Tenaya canyon (been in bby jizdepski - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
You might have some further info...I'm only looking at topo maps and google earth, and going by other trip reports I've found to look at options for our route from near sunrise lakes to merced lake... Do you know if it's doable (reasonable) to go off trail from the cathedral fork/echo creek junction and cut XC over to babcock lake, then follolw fletcher creek to Lewis creek, then on to Merced lakby jizdepski - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
Thanks, trying to be as light as possible, just wanted some reassurance. High hopes for this trip, as it was delayed from last summer!by jizdepski - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
It seems this is shaping up to be a fairly dry winter. Do any of you know how reliable creeks are in drier conditions? We don't want to carry full water bottles, ideally just fill as needed. Our hike seems like it won't ever be too far from water sources....mainly wondering about the echo creek drainage/cathedral fork area to Merced lake. I know it's early, but if it stays mostly dry all spring wby jizdepski - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
Hi. I'm going with a group this June, 3rd Yosemite hiking and backpacking trip I'll be doing in as many summers. Last year we had hoped to do the cathedral range and clouds rest but our timing prevented that as 120 didn't open til later than we we able to go. Our sights are now on going back to tackle some of that area, starting from Tuolumne meadows and exploring cathedral lakes and the surroundby jizdepski - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
And yes, will post plenty of photos whichever we decide. The maps I've looked at don't have a name for the "big rock" you're referring to, that sits at 8700' directly between the summit of Watkins and the quarries. Does that have a name?by jizdepski - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
We want to get a glimpse of Pywiak cascade from Mt Watkins, thinking it's guaranteed to have some impressive flow. After that the decision will be to either press up to Olmsted point, and then tenaya lake, or to circle around Indian ridge and follow along lehamite creek back down to the rim and descend back into the valley. I'd personally love to see what tenaya lake will look like at this time.by jizdepski - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
Will crampons be necessary/a good idea for the snow creek trail to Watkins in June mid June? We want to do some off trail trekking, I'm well aware of the snowpack this year, just want to know an estimate of what to expect between 7000 and 8000' around then. Beyond the potentially formidable creek crossings, should snow also be something to prepare for?by jizdepski - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
Thank you so much! Great photos and reports as well. This is all very valuable info and I think we'll proceed with more anticipation of limited access given the current snowpack...but also with hopeful spirits. Looking forward to a beautiful trip.by jizdepski - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
Yeah I imagine that illilouette creek is gonna be very high, and admittedly it's gonna be a good idea for us to avoid high crossings as much as possible, I've only done a few later in the season, and in much drier years. Would there be potentially similar issues with crossing bridalvail creek on the way to Ostrander lake? Looks like getting there and exploring the Horse Ridge to maybe Edson lakeby jizdepski - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
We're spending 7 nights, 8 days in the park. i mentioned the tioga road and switching gears because we had already mapped out the first 3 nights doing clouds rest, sunrise lakes, Matthes crest and cathedral lakes. Those hikes will have to be replaced, and wed rarther go to other trails not solely centered in and above the valley as we've already done pohono, 4 mile trail, yos falls etc. We plan tby jizdepski - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
Thank you. Most of us are active and fairly avid hikers, in early to mid 30s so not too afraid of some distances. We are having to switch gears preparation wise as 120 appears it won't open buy June 7. Want to find a couple over night backpacks outside of just the valley and off glacier point road that will be somewhat lesser tracked.by jizdepski - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
Experience hiking part of the Clark Range without doing the 40 mile loop in entirety? Is it worth it/possible to hike part of it as an overnighter and backtrack a different route XC?by jizdepski - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
No problem at all. We'll proceed with that knowledge in mind and jetboils in pack.by jizdepski - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
I'll be certain to post pictues and report on this crossing, set for the first week of June. We're very excited, having gotten permits for the Sunrise Lakes trailhead, in addition to Happy Isles to Sunrise/Merced, with 2 days in between to recover. I'd like to camp at Lake Matthes on our second night of our Tenaya Lake-Clouds Rest-Matthes Crest-Cathedral Lakes trek. I know that people camp at Echby jizdepski - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
Thank you, that clears it up more. fingers crossed that going early week opposed to weekend might help with procuring permits!by jizdepski - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
Main question is would be using cathedral lakes as an exit trailhead be ok if we are starting out from sunrise lakes trailhead. On our way out we don't plan on camping overnight near Cathedral Lakes or along the John Muir trail, just hiking out that way our second day after camping near clouds rest.by jizdepski - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
Hi. I'm planning on backpacking this June (or whenever Tioga Road opens) up to clouds rest, starting out from tenaya lake (sunrise trailhead). After summiting clouds rest, trekking back and camping below it. We'd like to spend the next day hiking back to the Tioga Road by a different route, cutting over towards cathedral pass and cathedral lakes, eventually ending at the cathedral lakes trailheadby jizdepski - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
Thank you. Bringing a hammock in addition to the tent...conditions look great early next week.by jizdepski - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
I'm wondering which tent is appropriate for me to bring backpacking north of the tioga road. We'll be backpacking/camping at May lake, somewhere near the south fork of the Tuolumne at base of Tuolumne Peak, and also at the Ten Lakes basin. Is it all hard granite surface? Should I go for the tent that doesn't have to be staked? My smaller, lighter tent is the one I hoped to bring, but it has an 'Aby jizdepski - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
Very much appreciated info thanks! I'd only seen the YARTS and Tuolumne meadows shuttle schedules and knew there had to be a better option. This will help greatly with planning and give us some optionsby jizdepski - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
I'm wondering if it's possible to leave our car parked at the yosemite creek/ten lakes trailhead and shuttle back to it after finishing our hike two days later at Tenaya Lake. Is a better option to do the reverse and leave the car at Tenaya Lake, or somewhere near where we'll end up, and shuttle to the Ten Lakes trailhead? Which shuttles run this route and are they frequent enough to rely on?by jizdepski - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
We will be there on September 2nd. I'm hoping it's a little less than 16.7 as we plan to camp on the edge of the easternmost lake, so long as there is availability. Still that's a good haul for the day and I suppose an early start would be best. Was also wondering about the water levels, thanks for that info. We'll be sure to have plenty.by jizdepski - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
Would like some info on this hike....mainly the distance from the ten lakes basin area to Glen Aulin's HSC. Hoping it's doable in a nice long day. We are planning on it being the second day of a 3 day hike, beginning at yosemite creek/ ten lakes trailhead and ending near Tuolumne meadows campground.by jizdepski - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra