Hello all - question that I probably know the answer to... We have a permit for Cathedral Lakes to the valley- we've done this before, and so I'm looking at how to change things up a bit from our last trip. Is it permissible to hike to Cathedral Lakes from the Medlicott Dome TH on a wilderness overnight permit? It would seem like the answer is probably not, but I'd be interested in anyone's insiby jchapell - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
Happy Weekend! We are working on our summer plans, and trying to decide (in our quiver of options) whether to hike along the JMT from TM south to Agnew Meadows, or North from Agnew Meadows to TM. I realize the permitting is more difficult for Southbound as it requires the Donahue Pass exit JMT permit lottery. *THE KICKER* We will be with our 3 & 5 year old, which means 5-8 miles daysby jchapell - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
Quotenwhkr Quotechick-on We were at Cathedral Lakes two weekends ago. Mo-skee-toez were a 11/10. Day hiked there on July 13th. Mosquitoes were bad on the Cathedral Lakes trail and at the east side of the lake. Not too bad in the swamp Thanks, surprised they're not too bad in the Swamp. Balzaccom, do you mean the ridge W (SW) of lower cathedral lake, or all the way W/SW of upper cathedralby jchapell - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
Thanks again for the good advice here on our upcoming trip...as we are about a week out, I'm curious for a couple more pieces of expert thought: - Are Cathedral Lakes/Sunrise Lakes typically significantly colder thanTuolumne Meadows? NOAA provides the actual temp observations at TM, and the elevation difference would indicate just a couple degrees cooler at the higher elevation lakes...but obvioby jchapell - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
Thanks for the input rgliebe and balzaccom. Here I had planned this trip for August hoping for the mosquitos to have died down, and we have this snow year I'd been torn between either a) staying on the JMT south of the the Sunrise Lakes Trail Turnoff (most direct way toward LYV), or b)going to Sunrise Lakes --> Clouds Rest Trail until Forsyth Trail, and taking that back down to the JMT (wby jchapell - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
Hello everyone - we are planning a family (me, wife, 2 kids) backpack from Tuolomne Meadows - the valley the first week in August (I've been trying for a couple years for this permit!), and I'd love some experienced insight on a couple questions...none are make or break, but would be helpful with my planning. Thanks in advance! (Our tentative plan is relatively slow and steady - Night 1: Cathedby jchapell - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
We are planning on heading up the Mist Trail to LYV on Friday - I'll try and take a shot and send it over (TRY being the operative word).by jchapell - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
Thanks for the info! I'm still curious - what happened if one was currently on a permit? Is my forum hunting correct that you had 48 hrs to get the h out of dodge...and head to _______ (accepting any suggestions)...by jchapell - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Reading "The Last Season" about SEKI ranger Randy Morgenson, it sounded like breaking down man-made structures was a not-too-fun part of the job...by jchapell - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
How far is Tuolomne Meadows to Happy Isles via the JMT if you add Clouds Rest? Or Tuolomne Meadows - Nevada Falls - GP via Panorama down 4 Mile Trail to add in El Cap Views?by jchapell - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
NO POLITICAL OPINIONS/THOUGHTS/RABBITHOLES/ETC. Not to pull up an unwelcome topic, but I'm curious about what happened the last go-round with the Government shutdown in 2013. Hopefully this is a non-issue, but since we are hoping to be in the backcountry on the 28th deadline, I'm curious what happened in 2013; I saw some reference in older forum threads about a 48 hour window to vacate the parby jchapell - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
There is also a turnoff from the Yosemite Falls trail just below Columbia Point. You should have far less visitors here, it is in a clearing kind of around the corner of some bushes (my wife nursed our 2 month old here). It has great views here . I am familiar, because it is here that my most expensive camera lens at the time rolled out of my pocket, down the slope, and over...the....edge Latby jchapell - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
Any wagers on Glacier Point Road opening day? They've made a single pass up to GP...by jchapell - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
The Four Mile trail is currently closed partway up the trail at Union Point, which keeps you from hiking up to Glacier Point (and continuing across to the Panorama Trail). It may be open in early may (others on the forum will have a better read on that). You probably have read that this year was a big'n for snow, impacting a fair amount of higher elevation trails. - Here you can see the historiby jchapell - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
Quotechick-on Quotejchapell Quotechick-on Correct. The snow from last week pretty much melted. There was a BIT of snow... but it was trivial. The most snow is always on the southern trail. Take the northern trail. Even if it snows between now and then... it will be pretty clear by your trip. You should be able to get to the HD jct on the JMT without any snow (there wasn't any yesterdaby jchapell - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
Quotechick-on Have you been before? 4 Mile Trail probably still only open to Union. Yosemite Falls to lookout will be fine then. To LYV is no snow. No snow in canyon until twin bridges... more or less... No snow until HD junction at moment... melting fast... Thanks for the update Chick! Are you saying there is no snow to LYV currently even after this past weekend's snow? Or are yoby jchapell - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
Thanks for the info all - time for backup plans!!by jchapell - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
I realize this question may border on the annoying... Once they start plowing, is there a reasonable/usual amount of time before GP road opens? I see in 2011 it didn't open until may 27, but I think they are plowing earlier this year. I'll be there with my dad/brothers the April 27-May1, and as the designated planner trying to think through options if the road is/isn't open. Thanks!by jchapell - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Quotebasilbop QuoteBilko I don't believe you can pre-book wilderness permits for trip before the 1st of May because there are no quotas so you can just walk up to the ranger station and get one the day before, you can also rent your bear canisters here. There is also another benefit of having a wilderness permit in that you can camp in the backpackers campsite a night before and after you trip. Tby jchapell - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
Uh oh. Had planned to arrive on Friday... :-Oby jchapell - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Thanks again for the thoughts on this topic everyone! We had planned to climb Shasta later this week, but with a horrible weather forecast I was about to cancel the trip entirely...then just saw Tioga is opening. If anyone has any more recent information on Cathedral Lakes (or Sunrise) to the Valley, I would certainly be interested to hear and possibly take a crack at a permit. Thanks!by jchapell - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
Perfect info everyone, thanks so much! We will keep the permit for now and keep an eye on conditions/weather until then. FYI, since I wasn't especially clear - I was asking about boot pack more for snowshoe necessity than for navigation (obviously we will bring map/compass/GPS), but I'm glad that I recieved feedback on both points! Thanks again.by jchapell - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
I would love anyone's input on the condition of the Tuolomne Meadows/Cathedral Lakes trail down to Yosemite Valley in the early season. We have a permit for June 9, but also are looking at the end of May. I recognize that this would include a fair amount of snow travel, but would there be a boot pack on this trail (I assume fairly heavily traveled)? We are very comfortable w snow and winter campiby jchapell - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
Great info everyone! We are driving in tomorrow (the 17th). We'll be coming from Sacramento - does anyone have some beta on coming in 120 at currently? I've checked CalTran and it looks like there aren't any chain restrictions on the highway, but would love to hear anyone's thoughts. Thanks for the info! Jordanby jchapell - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Thanks! I'm glad you enjoyed it. The photo you see is an HDR combo of an under exposed and overexposed shot. I took it with our big camera (a Sony Nex6) and did the HDR conversion on my iphone, but at some point I'll do a better version on the actual computer. Regardless, it is an awesome capture of a magical morning for my wife and I. Thanks again for the advice/thoughts from this forum that helby jchapell - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
Here is a trip report from our trip last month, including Half Dome. It's a bit after the fact, but given the loads of info I gleaned from this site, I thought I'd hopefully educate/entertain a future hiker and keep the cycle going... Enjoy! http://14ers.com/php14ers/tripreport.php?trip=14977&cpgm=tripmain&ski=Include We had planned on heading up with the cables down on May 14th (haby jchapell - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
Can anyone comment on the weight of the cables when they are down? We will be out next week, and my wife's only hesitation on a harness/prussik trip up HD is the reference in some reports of the cables being heavy. Is it just tiring after a while, or are is there actually a meaningful heft to the cables as you go up?by jchapell - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra