Thanks for the pictures, although I suppose I should feel bad that I couldn't locate the northern terminus from the Ten Lakes Trail despite knowing exactly where it should be... I'll blame the mosquitoes that were distracting me Although I can wait for your follow-up post, I'm curious if you did any exploring along Cathedral Creek--I believe the same usenet posting that referred to the Mysteby basilbop - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
The picture in the link above appears to be of LeConte falls. This is Waterwheel: Waterwheel has one big waterwheel, which is hard to get close to (but is well worth it if you don't mind the risk; I didn't climb down to the waterwheel in the picture above...), and the pictures of the one waterwheel of Waterwheel Fall will almost always have a tree in the foreground since a few big treesby basilbop - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
I'm happy that you confirmed the existance of the northern portion of the Mystery Trail, even if it takes some of the mystery out of it... (It was almost certainly part of the original Glen Aulin - May Lake trail, and was probably abandoned due to the excessive elevation gain and potential for late-season snow creating difficulties for the horses/mules doing the HSC loop...) Oh, and don't thankby basilbop - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Mirror Lake was dammed to make it bigger. You can still see some concrete from this effort among the rocks where this dam used to be. A long time ago I remember there being steel beams among these rocks, but I haven't seen them recently. I believe the dam was partially removed as part of the general restoration effort for this area.by basilbop - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
In general, the High Sierra Camps open when 1) the horses/mules can get to the camps along the normal stocking routes (this generally means little-to-no snow or significant flooding, deadfall, or mud on the trails); and 2) the water and septic systems for the camps are usable and pass the necessary sanitation tests (all the camps have septic systems or leach fields, even those that have compostinby basilbop - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
I was in the area last weekend... there was snow on the trail from where it crosses Cathedral Creek (before the switchbacks and spring) until past the turnoff for the lower lake. A few day-hikers lost the trail when we were there, but if you're familiar with the area, there shouldn't be any navigational issues. Things were then clear until near the top of the pass. In general, I would expectby basilbop - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
One thing to think about: if you were to "clip into" the Half Dome cables and slipped, the carabiner would slide down the cable to the next pole until it abruptly stopped the fall. It seems that this very well could result in injuring the hands of everyone holding onto the cables between you and the next lower pole. Also, unless you are using a dynamic device specifically made for thiby basilbop - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Quotemrcondron Don't get caught with a Murphy Creek permit south of 120 on your first day or even the second day. You might have a hard time explaining how you got there so fast. Worst case you get a ticket and kicked out of the park. I'm not sure it's that bad... when we attempted the High Sierra Loop as an overnighter last year, we started (and intended to finish at) Murphy Creek, althby basilbop - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
IMHO, Matthes Lake is more scenic than Nelson, with Reymann running in second. But they are all nice and worth visiting!by basilbop - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Ummm, the Murphy Creek trailhead generally can't be used for heading to Sunrise Lakes, unless you go to May Lake (or some other north-of-Tioga Road destination) first, then continue on the High Sierra Loop to Sunrise (or beyond). The off-trail segment near Echo Lake and Matthes Crest is easy navigation-wise: follow the Echo Creek trail from Sunrise toward Merced Lake, then go upstream when itby basilbop - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
I was in the area (again) last weekend. Conditions were a lot better than what I posted here: http://yosemitenews.info/forum/read.php?3,41154. The snow is melting fast, and the water levels were generally much lower. The Fletcher Creek crossing was much safer--the water was probably a foot lower. There is still persistent snow between Vogelsang and Tuolumne Pass, but going down Rafferty it isby basilbop - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Drat, foiled by the stuffed pink "chicken" again! I was planning on a romp in the Double Rock area in the next week or so... By chance, did you get down to Lake 8752, or at least get a look at it? It looks like it could be interesting, at least on the maps and Google Earth. Great pictures, as always--it looks like the clouds really added to the atmosphere of the trip!by basilbop - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Somewhat off topic question: Is the Yellow Pine that this campground is named after the same (now long dead) tree referred to here as "The Giant Yellow Pine of Yosemite": http://www.yosemite.ca.us/library/cone-bearing_trees/western_yellow_pine.html (and also maybe here: http://www.yosemite.ca.us/library/trees_of_yosemite/ponderosa_pine.html )?by basilbop - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
The toilets at Merced Lake, at least, were closed. Didn't check at Sunrise or Vogelsang.by basilbop - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
I carry two cameras... the small Lumix on scenery mode generally does fine with snow. For the big Canon, I underexpose on purpose so I don't blow out highlights in the snow. If I had more time, I'd adjust the curves in the shots so they aren't so dark, but this takes time... time better spent cleaning from the previous trip, or packing for the next one :-)by basilbop - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
For my wife and me, our Yosemite traditiion is spending Thanksgiving in the valley... every one since 1989. (I think we've had at least one reservation for accommodations in Yosemite continuously since the early '90's...) We used to do anniversaries at the lodge (or, one year, Curry 819) as well, but those morphed into backpacking trips around the same time. So put us both in the Yosemite &by basilbop - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
FWIW, when we did this trip, we didn't carry a canister, but that was because we knew our "bail" options (Sunrise, Vogelsang) also have boxes, and given the elevation of Merced Lake, there was zero chance all 10 or so boxes would be unusable (due to snow, for example). I have also done this trip, or at least parts of it, many times. This is probably the only Sierra trip I would do witby basilbop - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
We did see the bear boxes at Sunrise, not sure if they were functional--sometimes they get damaged during winter. Many of the campsites at Sunrise were still snowy or flooded, but a few seemed to be usable. But I agree with Katy--take a bear can, and camp a the lower lake (clear of snow) or... dry-camp at the view west of the Sunrise junction (9242' on the map--carry water from the stream you'lby basilbop - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
I don't currently have access to my unposted pictures, but I don't recall seeing any snow on the north rim of the GCT from anywhere below Glen Aulin/California Falls.by basilbop - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
The north side of the pass between Elizabeth Lake and Nelson Lake holds snow fairly late, but it is not that steep, except maybe a short section at the top. The south side could very well be melted out from the top. If you have never done it, continuing down this fork of Echo Creek makes for another nice way to get to Merced Lake from Tuolumne--easy cross-country, nice meadow, and good cascadesby basilbop - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Another good overview map is the John Muir Wilderness set published by the USFS. It covers mostly the Eastern Sierra and Sequoia/Kings Canyon with three large sheets.by basilbop - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
The Harrison maps are good--much cleaner cartography than some of the better-known brands that use way too much color for my tastes. The Harrison maps are good enough for on-trail use, but I think you really need the 7.5' quads for cross-country. I also like the National Geographic topo program, which provides statewide seamless USGS quad coverage--this is what I use for waypointing and printinby basilbop - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
The Fly Creek did OK in the snow, but it is a small tent, so it was a challenge to pack up in the morning while it was snowing. The fly did sag a bit and touched the inner walls, and I never could get a satisfactory pitch, especially with the side pullouts. Once everything in the tent was a packed--while in the tent--I had to pack the tent itself, and it was hard to keep the inner tent dry whilby basilbop - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
I believe John Muir was among the first to use Anderson's cable route up Half Dome, so it is hard to tell what he would say... Mather, on the other hand, was generally in favor of maximizing visitation to parks, even at the expense of what we might now consider over-development or over-use, so he would probably would have been all in favor of accommodating more visitors--and hiring people to cleby basilbop - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Red Peak Pass wasn't all that difficult or dangerous, compared to the steam crossings below Ottoway Lake. However, if you have never been over the pass, I would recommend waypointing the trail and using a GPS--it doesn't go over a particularly obvious low-point. You might be able to make out bits of the trail rockwork sticking out from the snow near the pass, at least from the south, but who knby basilbop - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Unfortunately the wife had to sit this one out, too :-(. We are hopeful for next weekend, though. Btw, just flew (business trip) over the Northern Emigrant--saw Cherry Creek Canyon and Buckeye Creek, which reminded me of your recent trip there... Still lots of snow elsewhere in the Emigrant...by basilbop - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Actually, the Buena Vista traverse was mostly snow-free between Buena Vista lake and Merced Pass since it's south-facing and generally open. There was, however, deep snow around Buena Vista lake and between the saddle north of Moraine Mountain to, well, just below Red Devil Lake. The traverse is mostly a hands-in-the-pockets walk; the only rough spot is some talus at the part of the crest southby basilbop - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Another attempt to do the High Sierra loop in a weekend thwarted by conditions and the makeshift permit system in place at Tuolumne... we ended up doing only the south-of-Tioga-Road portion of the loop, but it was still a spectacular trip. There was hardly a cloud in the sky, and just a hint of mosquito activity at Merced Lake. Pictures Conditions: Tenaya Creek was crotch-deep (34&quoby basilbop - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Tried to do the entire thing, but failed mostly due to: 1) late start because we had to pick up permit at Tuolumne at 8:30am and 2) slow going through the snow and trying to avoid a few water crossings, especially around Vogelsang. So it was Sunrise Trailhead -> Sunrise -> Merced -> Vogelsang -> Tuolumne. Still, an excellent trip; pictures forthcoming...by basilbop - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
I'll write more tonight, but... 100% snow coverage from just below the upper Sunrise Lake (still ice-covered) to about where the High Sierra Camp is. Also, 100% snow coverage from about halfway up the switchbacks to the Clouds Rest/Sunrise Lakes junction. The snow is still 3-4' deep at the pass between the lakes and the high camp. Long Meadow has snow fields, swift and deep water, and is floodby basilbop - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion