1. I'm not a fan of High Sierra camps in general, but with them closed, they are all but worthless (no water or toilet). Upper Sunrise Lake is one of my favorite lakes in the park, but it will be heavily used with the HSC closures. You might find a spot at one of the other Sunrise lakes, although the campsites are not as nice, but still adequate. 2. Sunrise Creek should still be running whenby rgliebe - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
When I did it many years ago, I found a nice place near the junction with the trail that goes west along the north rim of the valley (towards El Capitan), about two miles from Yosemite Falls. That area might be a bit wet at this time of year because Eagle Creek is probably flowing well still. There are a few nice bluffs along the trail that you can camp at that are not far from the water once yby rgliebe - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
It looks like I missed the reopening of Lower Cathedral Lakes to overnight camping. It probably happened between 2005 and 2008, since I have it in writing in the book "Sierra North - Backcountry Trips in California's Sierra Nevada" on page 185 in the 2005 edition that the lower lake is closed to camping. I also found postings in 2008 from hikers who camped there and had their permitsby rgliebe - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
I went to Gaylor Lakes after a backpacking trip in June the year after the drought ended. There was no snow near Tioga Pass, just on the peaks around it. However, after I hiked over the ridge from Tioga Pass to the lakes, I found the other side totally covered in snow and the lakes were still mostly frozen, but not enough to walk on them safely. There was only a few inches of snow in most placby rgliebe - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
When I have been there in early season, the area to the east of Upper Cathedral Lake has been a giant muddy swamp. Everything else except for granite slopes is usually covered with a thin layer of snow. They recently rerouted the trail around it up near the granite wall, whereas the trail used to go right through the swamp. If there is solid snow coverage like you see in the video, you won't bby rgliebe - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
OK, your map is pretty close to the best route, and you are pretty close to nailing my route down to Emeric Creek. Keep in mind that the meadow south of Nelson Lake could be pretty swampy still. The south shore of Emeric Creek was very swampy when I was there, so I crossed over it as soon as I could to camp on the dry north side. I envision this meadow to be much like the area east of Upper Caby rgliebe - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
I've seen it full often by 6 pm on weekends and 7 pm on weekdays that are not Friday. When it's full or near full you will have a tough time sleeping there prior to midnight, so earplugs or another place are highly recommended. I've had to go outside the park on the east side to get a campsite a few times. Usually at least one of the walk-in campgrounds on the road to Saddlebag Lake has spaceby rgliebe - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
I was just there three weeks ago trying to go cross country from Emeric Lake to Nelson Lake and then onto Matthes and Echo Lake before exiting via Cathedral Lakes. I went a little too far west under heavy tree cover and had to drop down to Echo Creek about 2 miles downstream of Nelson Lake. I could have corrected my course by backtracking to the northeast face of this 500 foot cliff, but becausby rgliebe - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
The story I got from the rangers in the Tuolumne Wilderness permit office last week when I asked why backpackers were not allowed to use the campground (for backpackers) at Tuolumne Meadows this year was very interesting. They claim that last year some of the people who used it pooped in the campground on the ground and did not bury it or use the portable toilets near 120 that are about 1/4 mileby rgliebe - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
I was in the southern part of the park last week, and the snow is in fairly small patches now up to 10K feet with 5% to 10% coverage, so I never got to use my crampons. Many of those patches are still fairly high and often are snow bridges over the trail, which is sometimes turned into a small runoff stream, so you may need to leave the trail and go around them. Make sure you tackle areas withby rgliebe - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
I was up there this past week, and those pictures look exactly like mine. The biggest issue is not the snow, but downed trees, and the combination thereof. I saw almost as many trees across the trail as tall snow patches when I went through the Cathedral area into Tuolumne Meadows on July 16. The good news is I met a trail crew as I arrived at Tuolumne Meadows heading out to cut the trees andby rgliebe - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
I went up Rafferty Creek on July 12 and through Tuolumne Pass on July 13. Snow coverage was about 10% in the pass, with the longest field less than 100 feet long on the trail. It was very shallow, so it is probably all gone by now due to the heat wave in Southern California. I would expect most of the remaining patches of snow to be above 10K feet, but there are some well shaded areas under 10by rgliebe - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
120 opened last Thursday over Tioga Pass and the estimated official opening date of the Tuolumne Meadows campground is August 1, so July should be a quiet month up there except for backpackers. I've never seen a full YARTS bus up there yet, but reservations aren't a bad idea. The last time I used it there were just five of us on the bus, but that was during the Rim Fire when they couldn't gby rgliebe - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
If you want to do a long trip using the Phono Trail, consider heading towards Wawona using the old road. If you start on the east side of the Phono Trail (Glacier Point, Bridalveil Creek, or Sentinel Dome trailheads) and head west towards the Wawona Tunnel, before you drop down all the way to the tunnel you will hit the old road, which starts near the parking lot for Bridalveil Falls and climbsby rgliebe - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
I've had good luck over the years with crampons plus gaitors anytime I hit solid snow in the summer. I even like to use gaitors for stream crossings and swampy areas. I've seen some people use walking sticks instead of crampons, but they don't work as well for me. They are useful to help avoid problems with postholes and snow bridges that you can't see. Snowshoes are just too bulky for me toby rgliebe - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
If you can get to the Tuolumne Meadows' backpackers campground, you can camp there. I've done it a few times after 120 has opened, but the main campground is closed. It's very quiet, since there are usually only a few other backpackers there and some of the staff working on the campground. The backpackers doing the PCT don't seem to want to camp there. There are also campgrounds on the east sby rgliebe - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
Which trailheads are you looking at? Keep in mind that anything at a lower elevation will be mosquito heaven by July 18 if there are trees or water nearby. I do expect 120 to be open over Tioga Pass prior to your trip, in spite of the latest posting. They may not have any services available other than the ranger station and permit office, which is typical the first week or two after the roadby rgliebe - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
I've camped a few times in the backpacker's campground at Tuolumne Meadows right after 120 opens over Tioga Pass when they are still preparing the campground for drive in visitors. It's nice and quiet because there are just a few other backpackers in the campground and the campground host is camped near the drive in entrance. Chick-on described my favorite scenic route from Happy Isles to Nevby rgliebe - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
1. No need to show up until 11 am to get your permit, since that is the earliest time they will issue a walk-up for the following day. 2. Make sure you have the permit before you camp at the backpacker's campground. Take a hike to the top of Lembert Dome as a warm-up hike. It's much easier than either CR or HD, but it will help you adjust to the higher altitude. 3-4. This is a very ambitioby rgliebe - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
I have dealt with many black bears in Yosemite, including several along the same trail you were on, as they seem to congregate in popular areas of the park. They enjoy using the trail at times to go places. Most of them still have a healthy fear of me, so I can enjoy watching them from a safe distance, but the ones that don't fear me (and don't have any cubs), get rocks thrown at them while I cby rgliebe - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
Sorry, I was thinking of Moraine Dome when I said Lost Valley for some reason. I haven't been there since the fire, so it's probably not very shady or pleasant anymore. Falling trees and a distinctive wood burn smell are two new drawbacks to that area. There really isn't room there for more than three groups without turning it into a crowded area like LYV. The only other place I have campedby rgliebe - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
Keep in mind the bridge over Morrison Creek into the Glen Aulin HSC collapsed this winter, likely due to heavy snow. Since the HSC system is not opening this year, I doubt the bridge will get repaired this summer. The only way to get to the Glen Aulin campground right now is to go cross country off the PCT before you cross the first bridge over Tuolumne River, and come back that way. Also, theby rgliebe - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
Anytime you are near any sort of water or in a shady area with a lot of trees (or both), you should expect mosquitoes if it has been above freezing at night prior to your trip through there for a few days. For example, the weather this weekend will stay above freezing to about 9K feet, so that will probably hatch mosquitoes at lower elevations where they are not at full strength yet. If it freeby rgliebe - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
I highly recommend Upper Sunrise Lake for the first night. The best campsites are near the middle area of the lake on the south shore, farthest from the trail. This lake is popular, so try not to arrive late in the evening, as all the good sites can get taken. It is a long hike to get here from the Sunrise trailhead in Tuolumne Meadows. If you run out of gas for the final 400 foot climb, youby rgliebe - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
1. I climbed Red Peak Pass in early August 1998, which was similar to this year in having a huge snowpack, doing a trip similar to yours, but in reverse. The Illilouette side was nearly clear of snow to the top, but the Merced side had a few feet of snow on average for the final 500 foot climb (the side I came up) and it was totally freeform. We missed the pass and had to backtrack through a fby rgliebe - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
There shouldn't be any problems getting up to Cloud's Rest in a month. It's a very exposed area, so snow will melt off there faster than forested areas lower down. Your biggest challenge is likely to be dealing with swarms of mosquitoes, so be prepared for them. Upper Sunrise Lake is one of my favorite lakes in the park, but it is a long day to get there from the Sunrise/Cathedral Lakes trby rgliebe - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
The old Big Oak Flat road that turns off from 120 to go to Tamarack Creek campground is always closed unless the campground is open, and you cannot park by the gate. Certain areas in the parking lot at the Tuolumne Grove trailhead are marked for day use and park employees, but there are overnight spots and I do recall seeing both trash cans and bear lockers there. I recommend you start at tby rgliebe - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
Aside from the bridge, which is in three sections that are metal, and one is often part of the waterfall at this time of year, you will have quite a slog in Tiltill Valley. I went through it in early September several years ago, and the weeds were over my head and very dense. A machete would have been helpful, especially after the trail disappeared into them and I couldn't really tell where I wby rgliebe - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
It appears that the 4 Mile Trail is now open, as it is no longer listed as a closed trail. See: https://www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/conditions.htmby rgliebe - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
I hiked the Panorama Trail right after Christmas during the drought years when the snow wasn't low enough to be within 1000 feet of it. The main problems were downed trees and ice on the trail about a half mile from the top of Nevada Falls. There is an area near the falls that drops off steeply into the Merced, and water running off from snow melt higher up pools near the top where the trail coby rgliebe - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra