Mosquitos are almost non-existent by August 3 in TM. Very few except in the early morning and late evening.by Ulysses61 - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
It's not difficult at all if you're in shape. The better route (to me), is to just hike the 22 miles from Sunrise to the Sunrise HSC and on the JMT, down the Mist Trail and into Happy Isles. It's a very straightforward route. I sleep at Curry Village and return the next day to my car that I leave at Sunrise. The elevation gain is all on the second leg, not the first leg, which is only about 2200by Ulysses61 - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
The problem is that temperatures in the High Country are WAY below average and this minimizes snowmelt, obviously. I seriously doubt that on June 27 you will be able to go from Cathedral Lakes, past the Sunrise HSC and descend via either the Mist Trail or the JMT into Happy Isles. The trailhead alone is deluged with snow, I was there 4 days ago. From word of mouth, I heard that the snow was prohbby Ulysses61 - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
There's no question that this year is far worse than 2006 in terms of trail conditions and lingering snow. I was able to do Clouds Rest on June 21, 2006 with no problem except for the initial water crossing 2 minutes into the hike (then it went up to my lower chest). Based on what I saw last week, 2010 is epic in lingering snow compared to 2006.by Ulysses61 - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
I hiked to upper Yosemite Falls last week and also Four Mile Trail. The mosquitoes on the Four Mile Trail were fairly bad the first two miles, but there were none within 2 miles of Glacier Point. However, the bugs on the Yosemite Falls trail were awful. With all the melt off this year, the mosquitoes will be bad until late July, especially in the High Country.by Ulysses61 - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
I just got back from Yosemite and found the snow conditions for the High Country to be incompatible for current hiking unless you're experienced with route finding and snow hiking. I checked out the trail conditions for Cathedral Lakes, Ten Lakes, Young Lakes and Clouds Rest. Postholing began quickly on all the hikes except Young Lakes and Ten Lakes, where I was able to go about 1.5 miles until tby Ulysses61 - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Forget Clouds Rest unless you approach it via Happy Isles and ascend the "back way." The trailhead in the High Country has a stream crossing 2 minutes in up to your chest and snow past the Sunrise Lakes junction. Why not the Four Mile Trail accessed on the Valley Floor? Hike that up to Sentinel Dome, distance 13 miles, elevation gain about 3800 feet. An outstanding day hike.by Ulysses61 - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
I would definitely not suggest hiking Yosemite Falls as an alternative to Half Dome. The Yosemite Falls trail is extremely rocky and the downhill portion is slow-going and strewn with rocks which make pace next to impossible. The far superior alternative is the Four Mike Trail to Glacier Point and then up to the Sentinel Dome. The views are spectacular. The RT distance on this hike would beby Ulysses61 - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
I sure hope this is true. My friend from Germany has seen the Valley Floor countless times, but wants to see the High Country, which is also my favorite part of the park to hike in and just admire. Thanks... keeping fingers crossed.by Ulysses61 - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Hello all. I know that the subject of Tioga Pass' possible opening date has been discussed here in the past week. I am starting to get anxious because I have a hiking friend coming from Germany to visit in Yosemite the week of June 14-June 19. Their entire trip is based around getting into Yosemite via Tioga Pass. The official Yosemite site still says, "No opening date is projected."by Ulysses61 - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion