Recommended Backpacking route for late May?

[mdnb2]

I am planning a trip down to Yosemite around the time of May 26-30. I was initially planning to do Tuolumne Meadows to Happy Valley or vice versa. However, I am unsure if this will be available due to the weather. Could you guys please recommend a good itinerary that would encompass about 20+ miles for a 3 day 2 night trip? I would prefer loop routes. Thanks in advance for your help!

[balzaccom]

Tioga Road will almost certainly still be closed in May...but you could climb up out of the Valley via Snow Creek Falls, and then across North Dome and back donw Yosemite Falls...or work your way up into Little Yosemite Valley. Just about anything over 8,000 will have a lot of snow in May...

[Wickett]

Tioga Road will almost certainly still be closed in May...but you could climb up out of the Valley via Snow Creek Falls, and then across North Dome and back donw Yosemite Falls...or work your way up into Little Yosemite Valley. Just about anything over 8,000 will have a lot of snow in May...

I believe that there is a river crossing between North Dome and Yosemite Falls that will be too treacherous in late May, unless you know of a good spot to cross it, I don't...

[andykee]

I believe that there is a river crossing between North Dome and Yosemite Falls that will be too treacherous in late May, unless you know of a good spot to cross it, I don't...

Do you know which river crossing this is?

[mdnb2]

I submitted my permit for Yosemite falls and snow creek/mirror lakes loop. How will be the snow levels at those elevations?

[bill-e-g]

I mentioned this before. I have never heard Indian Canyon Creek
or Lehemite being an issue to cross. Even at highest flow
you should be able to cross it upstream some via logs.
(wife and I crossed it in winter on snowshoes on a log... so they exist)
Having said this I myself have only been thru later in the year
and in winter.

With the April we are having there will be snow everywhere still
in late May and almost assuredly above 7500 ft. (not atypical anyway).
By then you can usually walk right on top of the snow without
postholing. I'll pretty much go anywhere then w/o snowshoes.

[andykee]

Was up this past weekend - did Snow Creek -> North Dome -> Yosemite Falls. Lehamite was an easy crossing (found an enormous log) but Indian Canyon was a bit of a trick. Couldn't find a good spot, so we had to jump it. Not impossible, but definitely not easy either. We spent a good half hour searching for a suitable crossing before giving up.

Also, there were TONS of fresh bear tracks (including some cubs) on both sides of Royal Arch Creek on the way up to North Dome. Didn't see any bears, but they were definitely there.

[mdnb2]

Ahh thank for the update Andy, how were the snow levels up there?

[andykee]

The trail was completely snow-covered above about 6700' on the Snow Creek side. It was pure cross-country travel from the Snow Creek bridge, behind North Dome, up North Dome, and over to Yosemite Point. There were several places where we postholed to our waists (without snowshoes). The trail above Yosemite Falls (to Yosemite Point) was also snow-covered, but you could easily follow people's tracks. I've included a couple of pictures trying to show the snow coverage and depth.

Snow Creek Bridge


Up the west side of North Dome


Somewhere between North Dome and Yosemite Point

[orion]

nice.