Was thinking more like this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UnBlst3T7bYby Dave_Ayers - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
If you do head upstream through Muir Gorge, the trail along the T should be passable without wading if the Gauge Height above Hetch Hetchy (http://waterdata.usgs.gov/ca/nwis/uv?11274790) is below ~13 feet. During higher flows, there may be some easy (ankle deep, level ground) wading in the vicinity of the creek coming down from Mattie Lake, about a mile or so downriver of Glen Aulin.by Dave_Ayers - General Discussion
It's a good list of valley stuff. But for me, I'd much rather spend a single visit in the higher country. For day-hiking, I'd camp at WW, Porcupine, or TM and do day hikes along 120 like Cloud's Rest (as Basilbop mentioned), Cathedral Lakes/Columbia Finger, Lyell Canyon, Budd Lake and/or Elizabeth Lake, Mt. Hoffman, etc.by Dave_Ayers - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
Well the author included a graph in the paper which has numbers on the axes in Newtons (1 Newton = ~0.225 lbs.).by Dave_Ayers - General Discussion
Congrats to Paul on his Journalist of the Year Award: http://www.mercurynews.com/bay-area-news/ci_26772188/bay-area-news-group-staffers-win-top-journalism . Interesting that the Yosemite weekly and annual passes are proposed to rise by 50% but there is no increase in the America the Beautiful pass. With the Yosemite Annual pass at $60 and the America Beautiful at $80, I'll probably switch ovby Dave_Ayers - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Ultimately how much training you do is a personal choice depending on your goals. If you just want to hike 4 miles to a lake and camp, you can get away with little. If you want to do the JMT at 16 mi. a day, much more is required to avoid suffering. MY comments below are more in line with the latter. I've done many things over the years, but the most helpful is to hike with your weighted paby Dave_Ayers - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
This trip is particularly pleasant early in the season for two reasons. One, in addition to all the falls and cascades on the Tuolumne itself, there are numerous waterfalls and cascades coming down the canyon sides that dry up later in the season so it's more scenic early. And two, Pate Valley is only at ~4,300 feet and can be pretty hot in July-August and is usually cooler in June.by Dave_Ayers - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
Camp 4 can be found west of Yosemite Lodge near shuttle stop 7, see http://www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/upload/YOSEmap2.pdf or http://www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/upload/valleyhikes1.pdf .by Dave_Ayers - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
That water plan seems workable, just be aware of the 2 lbs per quart extra weight. And you'll want to treat the water from those sources. Once you get to the JMT there are many decent camp sites, including perhaps 20 near the junction. Crowding is the usual concern there, but that late in the year it shouldn't be a problem and you can shop around. I don't think sleeping at 4,000 feet is mby Dave_Ayers - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
OP's text in black, replies in blue. This is assuming the area is reopened after the fire. Friday – start out at Tuolumne meadows (trail head of Cathedral Lakes) and pretty much follow the John Muir Trail to Cathedral Lakes, do lunch. Then move on down and camp overnight at the Sunrise Lakes. Sunrise Lakes are at ~9,400 feet, so you will want to be sure that everyone in your party can handleby Dave_Ayers - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
I cannot give perspective on camping in the Valley. But if you are interested in higher elevations like White Wolf, I could provide some input and stories.by Dave_Ayers - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Great pics, thanks for posting!by Dave_Ayers - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
WL stands for....wet location? Haha, it's "Water Level".by Dave_Ayers - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
There is always water in Sunrise Lakes and in the tarn about 1 mile south of the HSC/Sunrise TH/Cloud's Rest trail junction. Be prepared to treat the tarn water. The small creek about 0.6 mi south of the tarn was skimpy and greenish in mid-July. A poster in another forum said was now dry. I wish I could recall exactly to supply a link. Edit: I remembered the link: http://www.whitneyzonby Dave_Ayers - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion