Gorgeous pics in your TR, but ambitious hiking mileage! Taking my time over a week is more my speed.by elicali - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
Counter clockwise is the direction I have mainly read trip reports doing... looks like easier with heavy packs too by doing burro pass towards the end of the trip. Thanks for the advice!by elicali - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
Off to backpack in the Hoover and Northern Yosemite area next week: out of Twin Lakes, looping through Matterhorn canyon, Benson lake, back through Kerrick canyon. - Anyone know what is the water availability from the creeks in the area in this drought year? - Advice on doing the loop Clockwise or Counterclockwise? - Taking 7 days to do the loop, would love a basecamp day with good day expby elicali - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
Thanks for all the great reports and pictures! Keeps me adding to my list of "to do trips". The loop through Evolution Basin from North out South lake is on my list already, but now am equally tempted to cover less ground and spend more time at exploring the basins along the way.by elicali - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
Mosquitoes should be bearable without wind, if conditions are the same as last week. Nelson lake walk-in is something like 4? Not certain though.by elicali - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
Yes, that was us on Friday. Saw you with the green tarp camped on the east side of Matthes.by elicali - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
Got back from our trip over to the Matthes/Echo Lake area for the long weekend. It was great to get away from the crowds of Tuolumne (large crowds for the holiday weekend) and go up familiar territory past Elizabeth Lake. Once off the trail and up to the saddle, we would only see 6 other people over the weekend. Echo creek and Cockscomb are a treat after going over the pass. After that we wenby elicali - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
Thanks for all the information and pictures. Will let you know how the trip goes, can't wait to get out there.by elicali - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
Planning a return trip to Nelson Lake area in a month with a group of friends. Last time I went to Nelson and Reymann lake, out through Rafferty creek, as a trial cross country backpacking route. This time, I am considering a different loop trip going to Matthes/Echo lake and out Cathedral lakes (area looks gorgeous from the pictures I have seen here). Main question for the trip is whether theby elicali - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
Quick trail report from last weekend: Spent Memorial Day Weekend backpacking in the Tuolumne Area (even in the midst of Saturday's snow storm). Took Rafferty Creek to the Fletcher lake area. Trails were wet, but not muddy. Snow patches on the trail starting at ~9800 ft elevation., but trail was easy to follow through these small snow patches. Only snow travel was climbing up to the Fletcher laby elicali - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
Thanks for the advice. Looks like the loop is a good choice! Agree that the July timing being less than optimal for mosquitoes. But, not sure I can get away for long enough any other time. Deet and mosquito nets will be my friend this time of year. I am foolishly hoping that the low snow year makes early July more like early August, so that mosquitoes are not as terrible... again, wishful thinby elicali - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
Looking for trip advice for doing a loop through the northern Yosemite area. Current plan is loop in and out of Twin Lakes through Crown Lake, Matterhorn Canyon, Benson Lake and Rancheria Creek, etc. over 5 to 6 days. - Timing - first week of July. Any big crossings or snow covered passes that may be problematic at this time? Is this area really buggy early season? - Clockwise or Countercloby elicali - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
Our trip will have to wait until another time, after this massive wildfire is back under control. I am having a hard time grasping the size of it, and wonder how long it will take for the damaged areas to recover enough to be open again to trail travel. Wishing for success in these containment efforts... very very soon.by elicali - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Great pictures! Looking forward to Day 3by elicali - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
For those who have been to the area recently, how bad is the smoke in the park north of 120? Just read White Wolf is closed due to smoke, and am worrying about the air quality during our trip next weekend.by elicali - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Thanks for all the suggestions. Now I am debating exiting through May Lake versus spending an extra day exploring Grand Mountain and all the different lakes... I guess can't go wrong either way. Chick-on - By hike from 9636 to 9048, do you mean hike slightly north from the trail between those two markers on the USGS topo map? Also, how are the lakes numbered? HikingMano - I will be there oby elicali - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Planning a 3 day trip late August, permits for Ten Lakes trailhead. We will be camping at one of the Ten Lakes the first night, but have no plans after that. I am looking for some advice and suggestions on going from Ten Lakes with an exit through either May lake or Murphy Creek trail. - Any suggestions on which of the Ten lakes to camp at? Any favorites? Is there good fishing? - For the secoby elicali - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
You could try to reserve a campsite from recreation.gov at any of the campgrounds in the National Forest areas off 180/198 or if there is availability at Lodgepole in SEKI. I recently stayed at Princess Campground off 180 for a recent trip to Kings Canyon.by elicali - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Thanks for the suggestions! Already getting new ideas for trail meals from backpacking.net after seeing a link to the honeyville grain website (Lots of dehydrated stuff to buy in large quantities).by elicali - General Discussion
Always looking for good internet reading. What other backpacking forums or blogs do you follow?by elicali - General Discussion
Nice snake, awful plant. ;-) Thanks for the warning on Poison Oak at low elevations! I have suferred from poison oak only twice. Both times when I was backpacking in the Lost Coast. It is everywhere in that area, and hard to avoid in overgrown trails.by elicali - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
The snake was a colorful surprise. Was hiding beneath a large flat rock I was resting on. Looked it up after the trip to ensure it was indeed not venomous. NPS says it is a docile Sierra Mountain Kingsnake.by elicali - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Gorgeous trip up the Merced River Valley over Memorial Weekend! Had never been to the valley in the summer avoiding the crowds and "traffic jam" I had heard about. Pleasantly surprised by how peaceful it was - no problem getting in Friday afternoon (no traffic and minimal crowds). Stayed at the Backpacker's campground in North Pines on Friday, met other backpackers and shared storieby elicali - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Memorial Weekend: 3 days, Happy Isles up to the Merced River valley August: 8 days, Rae Lakes Loop Plus Labor Day Weekend: 3 days, Ten Lakes (prob thru hike to May Lake) Can't wait for summer!by elicali - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
This forum is always a fantastic resource. Thanks for the information and quick replies! So, below are two options for the trip itinerary. How do these sound? Itinerary 1 - total mileage ~26 miles? Day 1: up the Mist trail, then following the Merced River past LYV to at least Moraine Dome for camping Day 2: hiking to Merced Lake and camping at the backpackers campground Day 3: hiking bacby elicali - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Reposting from General Discussion Section Got wilderness permits for memorial day weekend starting at Happy Isles to Merced Lake (pass-through). Never been to the valley in the summer (only winter). Feeling lucky after getting permits and spending the long weekend exploring the area. Would love suggestions: - Preferences to hike up the mist trail or the JMT? - Suggestions for a trip routeby elicali - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Got wilderness permits for memorial day weekend starting at Happy Isles to Merced Lake (pass-through). Never been to the valley in the summer (only winter). Feeling lucky after getting permits and spending the long weekend exploring the area. Would love suggestions: - Preferences to hike up the mist trail or the JMT? - Suggestions for a trip route for 3 days. Thanks!by elicali - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Yes, I saw a large-ish group of tents to the side, right before getting to Dewey Point. Nice spot to spend a night. And it looked like an easy overnight option for winter backpacking at under 4 miles each way. I bet the sunset from Dewey point would be spectacular!by elicali - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Sharing some pictures I finally uploaded from MLK weekend at Yosemite. The conditions that weekend were great: sunny with warm temperatures but still plenty of snow around. And due to the warm weather, the falls were flowing nicely with all the melting snow. We did some site seeing in the valley, relaxing at the Yosemite Lodge bar, and snowshoeing to Dewey Point for great views. Dewey point wby elicali - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Going up to Yosemite this weekend. I can't believe Tioga Rd is still open! When I first planned the trip, I was planning to try out some winter activities, go on a snowshoe hike, etc. Plans are definitely changed to hiking instead. How is the hike to Cathedral lakes for snow and ice? Do you need for special equipment? Other suggestions for hikes over MLK weekend? Also, where can I rentby elicali - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion