I have a permit to go to the Clark Range in the second half of August. We'll enter at Glacier Point, ascend Illilouette Creek and cross Red Peak Pass, and descend the Merced River to return to the trailhead. This will be my first visit to most of these trails (except the short stretch that overlaps "ye olde" Happy Isles to Half Dome route). I have a couple of concerns: a) Snow on Redby iivvgg - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
Hi all, Can you recommend a website where I can put in a route and get an elevation profile? I found one such site a couple of weeks ago, but I had to trace the trail on the map with my mouse, and then it gave me an image small enough to fit on a postage stamp.by iivvgg - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
Last September, all those creeks were dry. d-: I dunno if anyone can tell you what conditions will be like this year. Best to check back once the road opens and the rangers get out there... which won't be for a while yet.by iivvgg - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
I just got back from Sequoia. Sherman Tree has about 1 foot of snow, increasing rapidly to 4 feet at Wolverton and >6 feet at Panther Gap (8500 feet).by iivvgg - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
@Backpacker87, I think camping and dayhiking is a good choice considering your constraints. One hazard that may not have been mentioned yet is the risk of high-elevation snowstorms. Probably unlikely in April at the elevations you're looking at, but potentially disastrous if you're not prepared. I also want to chime in about bears. I've learned to be rather afraid of Valley bears, not throuby iivvgg - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
I hiked a similar itinerary last September, but in reverse and with a variation. I'm a young buck myself, but my companion was (is) getting over a chronic health condition, so we took it easy. Here is my (very brief) trip report. We entered and exited at different trailheads, but it wasn't a problem. We left our car at Dog Lake parking and took the Tuolumne shuttle bus over to Murphy Creek. Itby iivvgg - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
I'm taking some friends to Yosemite next weekend (Feb 25th). They've been there only in the summer, if at all, and I got them all excited about snow. But with the combination of heavy precipitation and high snow levels I'm not sure what to expect. How high do we have to go to see snow? How high can we get in hiking boots?by iivvgg - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
Ooh, a whole group coming to Yosemite for the first time. Wonderful! You're in for a treat if you play your cards right. In August, even the Tuolumne Meadows area is pretty crowded, and Yosemite Valley is a zoo. The trailheads out of the Valley will be either jam-packed, butt-kickingly steep, or both, not to mention hot. So my personal suggestion would be to stay off the beaten path (and off oby iivvgg - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
Just got home about an hour ago. No photos, but here's what I found. Entry: Murphy Creek, 9/8 Exit: Dog Lake, 9/12 Campsites: north side of Tuolumne Peak, Glen Aulin H. S. C., Lower Young Lake Water: No flowing water between Murphy Creek TH and the Tuolumne River. Conness Creek at Glen Aulin is low but very much alive. Delaney Creek at the Dog Lake trail is a trickle. Both tarns on the noby iivvgg - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
NOAA begs to differ. They don't have a single report for the entire season, but if you click through a few of the individual reports you'll get the idea. Moderately warm and dry, particularly in the south. Also note that the last two winters were drier than NOAA predicted. That said, a moderately dry year would still be an improvement over what we had in '14--'15.by iivvgg - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Thanks for the photos! The Tuolumne River looks great for so late in the year. I'll be up there next weekend. Where's the first set of photos? I've hiked your route before and I don't recognize them at all.by iivvgg - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
I was in Emigrant two weeks ago, and the streams were looking pretty sad. We saw water more or less only where USGS said it could be found, and even then many of the smaller creeks were starting to stagnate. We did get a bit of rain the first day, but it didn't make much difference. I don't think waterfalls will be a worthwhile destination in the late season this year... unless you're one of thosby iivvgg - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
Wow. Very nice pictures. I hadn't thought much of that area, being so low in elevation and so far west.by iivvgg - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
Thank you for the tips! I'll take another look at an itinerary joining Harriet and Red Devil lakes. The dayhikes from Twin Island are not too steep? Camping under the Ritter Range sounds very nice, but I see a lot of countour lines on my map.by iivvgg - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
Thanks! I wasn't sure about the difference between scree and talus. Now that you point it out, I agree completely. Trouble is, I'm going with my mother, who has a history of knee trouble and dislikes talus probably even more than scree. Are we better off avoiding the area east of the Clark Range altogether? Maybe we should just stick to Emigrant Wilderness.by iivvgg - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
Hello folks, I'm trying to plan a 3--4 night trip with some cross-country. The area between Isberg and Foerster peaks looks promising. What I want to know right now is, is there a scree-free route over the ridge between these two peaks?by iivvgg - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra