|
Post by exileonmainst17 on Aug 10, 2020 12:43:24 GMT -8
Hey everyone,
My girlfriend and I are going to be setting out on a 4 nighter in the Yosemite backcountry in September. Our starting trailhead is Rafferty Creek->Vogelsang and our ending one is Cathedral Lakes. I tentatively have our camps for the night as follows:
- Night 1: Vogelsang HSC area, which can mean camping near Boothe Lake or along Rafferty Creek, or Bernice Lake if we're feeling ambitious. - Night 2: Merced Lake HSC area, or near Washburn Lake or other direction toward Echo Valley. - Night 3: Below Clouds Rest. I've seen posts on other websites on good areas to camp near Clouds Rest. We're planning to climb it the next morning. - Night 4: Sunrise Lakes. Camps somewhere near one of the lakes.
Now I know you have to camp in designated areas at the HSCs but I just listed them as a general area to stop at. So based on those camps, y'all kinda get the route we're going. So just curious if anyone with more Yosemite experience can give me any information on water availability throughout the trip, is this a solid route, should we do X instead of Y...etc.
Any information is gladly appreciated!
-Exile
|
|
|
Post by High Sierra Fan on Aug 10, 2020 14:07:42 GMT -8
First blush: that’s a lot of elevation gain, loss, then gain again climbing to Vogelsang Pass, down to Merced Lake then back up to Cathedral... but with cooler weather and 4 days (eta: I missed that’s 4 nights, 5 days at first) certainly doable.
For that same th an alternative would be head left up to Ireland Lake then down Lyell Canyon for the return, a twindge short for 4 days but a day base camping out of Ireland up towards the peaks would be time well spent. Were this early season high water flow I’d say Bunnell Cascades etc. would be worth the elevation, and the crowds, but at the endl of the season water features aren’t much of a spectacle.
You’re following bigger streams so water won’t be an issue unless Sunrise is dry, which happens. I do like the Lewis Drainage for its cascades, Fletcher isn’t as scenic imho and a lot of the trail is a sandy slog. Bernice, being off the route, can have a nice isolated feel.
Since you’ll be by that way Clouds Rest is worth the detour.
Hmmm. 4 nights, 5 days, you might look at, after descending the Lewis drainage, heading out along the High Trail above the Merced towards the upper Lyell Fork of the Merced, continue around to the junction at the Triple Fork of the Merced, head downstream to Washburn and Merced Lakes and back up Fletcher Creek and out to your start? It’s not unlikely that once you cross Vogelsang you’d meet just about no one that entire route. As a consideration.
With no Tuolumne Meadows shuttle running getting back to your trailhead car is either more road walking or a chancy hitch. Or the forested JMT, boring.
|
|
|
Post by exileonmainst17 on Aug 10, 2020 14:38:37 GMT -8
Thanks for the input. I thought maybe water wouldn't be an issue with all the streams that seemed to be about but just wanted to double check. I actually looked at that route you mentioned last, have you done it personally? I was curious how that was because it sure looks like it would be more secluded. We'll probably stick to the route we chose, mostly because there are a lot of notable highlights along the way and it's my girlfriend's first trip to Yosemite, so I figured it would be a great first impression. I also haven't been in this area either, so it'll be a good second impression for me haha.
|
|
|
Post by High Sierra Fan on Aug 10, 2020 14:57:02 GMT -8
Well, other than Sunrise Creek itself water is reliable enough. Though anything intermittent would be long dried up except directly after rain.
Yah I’ve done that section as part of maybe six different routes, from over Donahue with a loop back from the headwaters of the North Fork of the San Joaquin over Blue Lake Pass (Ropers High Route ish) to starts at Glacier Pt out over Red Peak Pass as well as starts from Rafferty Creek TH.
With no TM shuttle I suppose my only pause is getting from Cathedral TH to the parking lot past the Wilderness office. A walk through the Meadows I guess. Maybe 4 miles or so.,,
|
|
|
Post by exileonmainst17 on Aug 11, 2020 3:54:02 GMT -8
How is that route you mentioned compared to the route I originally stated?
Also, I thought the way the wilderness permit system worked was you have to state your exit TH and stick to it, which would be Cathedral Lakes in my case. So we wouldn't be able to exit at the same TH we started, right?
|
|
markskor
Trail Wise!
Mammoth Lakes & Tuolumne Meadows...living the dream
Posts: 651
|
Post by markskor on Aug 11, 2020 5:44:31 GMT -8
Also, I thought the way the wilderness permit system worked was you have to state your exit TH and stick to it, which would be Cathedral Lakes in my case. So we wouldn't be able to exit at the same TH we started, right? Other than a very few designated Sierra exit routes (IE Whitney), you do not have to state (or even stick to) any prre-stated "exit" TH plans. The only rules are: you must start out only at the permit-stated TH...you must start out on the designated TH only on the day written down on the permit..and you must not have any more people along than what is clearly stated on the Wilderness permit. There are some first night stipulations sometimes on first-night camping areas, where allowed, but these are mostly from the THs coming out of the Valley. (Happy Isles or Glacier Point)..not from your TM TH. Plans change when on the trail...the Rangers realize this too and are OK with it... as long as you start out legal. Suggest: Exiting Happy Isles after (no Clouds Rest). TM... Voglesang - Bernice - Washburn - LYV....(maybe HD?), stay Valley BP, and next day YARTS back to TM and your car. or TM - Voglesang area - Reymond - Matthes - Sunrise Lakes - Clouds Rest - down to Tenaya. One to hitch-hike back to pick up car. ETA...We once did a 19 day fishing trip: Sunrise Lakes - Matthes - Nelson - Reymond - Upper Townsley - Bernice - Florence - Cony Crags - Harriet Lakes - Edna - Adair - Washburn - Merced - LYV - Happy Isles.. All it stated on the permit was: two people, 15 days, and a Sunrise TH to start out. mark
|
|
|
Post by High Sierra Fan on Aug 11, 2020 7:05:22 GMT -8
^waves^
One thing in the consideration: do you have a Half Dome cable permit approval with your wilderness permit? While I’m not a fan it is a rather unique experience and worth holding to.
That asked I’d neglected YARTS running! I like that Happy Isles exit route, Emerald Pool, down the river passing Nevada and Vernal Falls which even in late season are reliable water features. The Mist Trail. One tweak I’d make but I’m unsure if the timing would work out is driving in the morning of your entry (per the Covid daily entry reservation rules) in time to drop your car in the Curry backpackers lot and snag the YARTS bus UP to TM to head out, that fits with my preference to hike towards my vehicle, hence my preference for loops and lollipops in my suggestions.
The High Trail travels some very different terrain to the through route you’d laid out is all. High alpine turf lawns on a trail barely a boot wide (Roper warned when descending from Blue Lake Pass it was easy to miss, just step over it and risk just keeping going...) with views stretching to other ranges plus literally zero people. Also the Triple Peak Fork of the Merced is a delightful descent down a granite slabbed drainage that reminds me of some of the best of the Grand Canyon of the Tuolumne. Washburn Lake is an isolated grand Sierra lake. But it all is always there for other times,,,during wildflower season it’s very nice up there.
Yeah: one of the major things I love about Sierra backpacking is that freedom to wander, the mandatory campsite or zone reservations at Yellowstone (though understandable given grizzlies) Grand Teton and Great Smoky Mountains give me vibes of claustrophobia. My in date and out date are fixed; I like everything else being at my control for the out there conditions. So while you’re committed to your entry date, trailhead and number of people you’re free to modify the route and exit: for safety it’s a reasonable thing to inform the ranger during your orientation phone call.
|
|
|
Post by exileonmainst17 on Aug 11, 2020 7:50:16 GMT -8
Thanks guys! I don't know why I was thinking we had to exit at a specific TH. Yeah Half Dome is not going to happen this trip because we don't have the permit, and I actually ascended it on my one previous trip to Yosemite. Pretty cool experience!
I thought about exiting Happy Isles but one thing I forgot to mention is we will be spending 3 nights in an AirBnb just outside the park after our backpacking portion of the trip. We plan to spend a couple days in the valley doing the touristy trails, so I was thinking the Mist Trail and Little Yosemite Valley would be a good option to do on one of those days (but maybe not considering it'll be September and the waterfalls won't be at their most majestic?).
The High Trail sounds wonderful and one I should add to future trips. I selfishly want to see Clouds Rest so I think I need to stick to that, so our route might be made up considering where our starting TH is and where Clouds Rest is. Unless Clouds Rest can be a day hike too? I was thinking it would be a nice experience to camp near the bottom of CR and hike up it in the early morning though.
I'm a little hesitant relying on hitchhiking in the era of Covid, people may be adverse to giving a ride to strangers because of it. Speaking of, I've read a little bit on this, but have either of y'all been in Yosemite during this crazy time? Just curious what is open, not open, etc.
|
|
|
Post by High Sierra Fan on Aug 11, 2020 7:58:32 GMT -8
You’ll like your route a lot. Hopefully Bunnell Cascades will perform. I’ve not been yet, that’s September into October for me, so I’d say the best guide for what’s open etc is the activities guide they put out seasonally. www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/upload/yg20-6.pdfYou’ll Ultimately want the one for your date range as they start shutting things down and shifting to winter mode during September. The two “touristy” things I’d recommend are Glacier Pt as the road will be closed all of next year for rebuilding and as they’re a unique thing, the Giant Sequoias in the Mariposa Grove if you’ve not been to Sequoia Kings Canyon to visit the groves there. Oh and as September moves toward October up high and out from under cover hard freezes at night are usual so protecting your water is best. Any snow will be moderate and melt off pretty quickly, though the trail might be erased for a while.
|
|
|
Post by exileonmainst17 on Aug 11, 2020 8:29:53 GMT -8
Great! I am very much looking forward to this early fall trip to the beautiful Sierras. Thank y'all for helping think through a few things!
|
|