Tuolomne Meadows Trailhead Conditions?

[Moo]

Anyone been lucky and brave enough to venture out (or back) from any of the Tuolumne Trailheads? Sunrise, Cathedral, Gen Aulin, Elizabeth, Dog, Vogelsang and the JMT. Are the bridges passable, flooded crossings or impassable conditions? What are current snow condition? Tracks in the snow, muddy and wet, all of the above? Any reason to carry shoeshoes? Anything to report regarding Tuolomne would be great. I have a week of melt to go, but I do not want to post hole to 10,00 feet. Thanks!

[Wawona1]

Just got back from there today, 6-13-10. Tons of snow. Where there isn't snow, tons of water. Snow shoes, skis, or post-holing is the current up there.

[RR1]

I'm in your same boat! I have permits for this coming weekend from Cathedral down to Happy Isles via JMT. I'm a little freaked by all the snow and potential swampy conditions. Any info on that route is appreciated! Thx!

[KC]

Just got back from a two night trip on the Pohono trail. Plenty of snow on it in forested areas, but it was mostly clear along the rim. The creeks were rushing and I broke through the snow crossing one after going up Sentinel Dome on the way to Taft Point. Just got a boot wet so no biggie.

Based on my experience this weekend, and what I saw looking east-northeast from the various points along the trail, there is still a lot of snow in the back country. Expect it and plenty of water everywhere if you're heading anywhere around the Sunrise Lakes area. This is particularly the case if you're heading up Clouds Rest from that direction. Ditto for the Clark Range, etc.

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[tblock1]

Just got back from a two night trip on the Pohono trail. Plenty of snow on it in forested areas, but it was mostly clear along the rim. The creeks were rushing and I broke through the snow crossing one after going up Sentinel Dome on the way to Taft Point. Just got a boot wet so no biggie.

Based on my experience this weekend, and what I saw looking east-northeast from the various points along the trail, there is still a lot of snow in the back country. Expect it and plenty of water everywhere if you're heading anywhere around the Sunrise Lakes area. This is particularly the case if you're heading up Clouds Rest from that direction. Ditto for the Clark Range, etc.

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Does anyone know about trail conditions for Northern Yosemite, specifically snow conditions starting Robinson Creek trailhead to benson lake and looping back? I URGENTLY need to help because we were supposed to leave tomorrow. We are prepared for cold temperatures but not snow. Please help I heard snow level was 8000 feet.....but how much are we talking about? Will we need snowshoes because much of the trip is 9000+ feet?

[bill-e-g]

Call Bridgeport Ranger Station.

My guess is that you'll have a wonderful time just getting to Peeler.
Coming down from Mule (or going up) south of Crown Point
also gonna be quite interesting.
If you don't expect snow... then you are in for a rude awakening.

Post what Bridgeport tells u please.
Thx

[tblock1]

Call Bridgeport Ranger Station.

My guess is that you'll have a wonderful time just getting to Peeler.
Coming down from Mule (or going up) south of Crown Point
also gonna be quite interesting.
If you don't expect snow... then you are in for a rude awakening.

Post what Bridgeport tells u please.
Thx

They told us 6 feet of snow. But we called the yosemite permit station and they said 4 feet or so, and they said it was hard-packed. I asked them if we could do to without snow shoes and they said maybe...they said the snow only will get harder to travel later in the day. We are prepared for cold, but how hard will it be to hike? We had everything else perfectly planned cant believe we didnt think of this.

[bill-e-g]

4, 6... don't matter...

Those 2 spots... along with crossing the creek after Barney...

Walking on snow is not a problem... going up a 35 degree incline
with the snow not softening up... could be major problem...

Just go... have fun... bring hiking sticks otherwise you'll probably be
falling left and right.. may want an ice axe for Mule Pass..

When you get frustrated or stymied... just turn around and head back out.
Walking on snow is more tiring than on regular trail.
And if there are sun cup... pain in the butt...

Hundreds of PCTers are trudging thru the snow now... no doubt.

Good luck

[Wawona1]

Hundreds of PCTers are trudging thru the snow now... no doubt.

Copy that. I wouldn't want to be on my through hike this season...

[tblock1]

4, 6... don't matter...

Those 2 spots... along with crossing the creek after Barney...

Walking on snow is not a problem... going up a 35 degree incline
with the snow not softening up... could be major problem...

Just go... have fun... bring hiking sticks otherwise you'll probably be
falling left and right.. may want an ice axe for Mule Pass..

When you get frustrated or stymied... just turn around and head back out.
Walking on snow is more tiring than on regular trail.
And if there are sun cup... pain in the butt...

Hundreds of PCTers are trudging thru the snow now... no doubt.

Good luck

Okay we decided to go anyway. But we modified the trip a little so at most we will go to Rodger's lake and back. But we are going to stop by REI on the way there tomorrow and maybe pick up some crampons. I'm thinking we might want them for on the way to Peeler lake. Thoughts??? Also does anyone know what the parking fees are for mono village?

[bill-e-g]

REI - Return Every Item

Heck you might have trouble even getting any now.
Might as well get some yak trax or something like that.

As I said... even getting over the creeks after Barney and
before Peeler may be interesting to say the least.

Dialing it down is not a bad idea. Benson Pass may be too much too.

Here's what you have to go thru to get up or down Mule btw.
This was from June 28th LAST year (much much much lighter snow year):

(taken from Crown Pt.)

I can't remember the price for Mono Village but pretty sure it
was something < 20 bucks for a week. I'm thinking 10 or 15.

Anyway... be safe... have fun!

[tblock1]

Thanks for all the help we are so pumped about the trip! So do you think crampons would be worth buying then? We have hiking poles and from that picture I am guessing hiking poles and crampons would be a must to get up mule if we did the whole thing. Do they rent cramps at rei? We're gonna bring sandals for the creek crossings....how gnarly would you expect them to be? Are we talking about almost a river of water? Thanks again and sorry for all the questions

[bill-e-g]

I mention the crossing above Barney (Robinson Creek)....
There are two about the same before Robinson and the outlet
of Peeler split.
If it's so bad (def. gonna be worse than this) then you can
probably avoid both by going into the rocks and staying
north of the creek (never had to do it... so dunno how much
pain it is). The good thing is that the trail across both is pretty
level so you shouldn't all of the sudden drop down into a hole.
Here's the first one:


Just go with an open mind... and the plan that you don't HAVE to be
anywhere besides in your sleeping bag nice and warm at night.

If I were doing the trip I'd bring crampons for this year and
go into Slide Canyon first. Only getting below the Sawtooths is
spectacular and a worthy goal for right now this year.
(although personally I'd prefer to hear how it went thru Peeler since
I wanna get into Thompson very soon)
(Prob convince the wife to go over 4th of July.. "it won't be THAT
bad honey" "maybe we won't have mosquitos for once" )

Maybe Bridgeport RS will have more info for you (some of the issuing
stations really don't know squat though)...
ANYWAY... HAVE FUN!

[cjoz]

Do they rent cramps at rei?

I checked into renting snowshoes at REI and Mel Cotton's locally (Bay Area) earlier this week and they said all their winter rental geat is put away for the season, so I'm assuming that means crampons too but worth a call (maybe an REI closer to YOSE keeps them year-round). You may also want to check with the Yosemite Mountaineering School. They say they rent crampons.

http://www.yosemitepark.com/Activities_RockClimbing_Rentals.aspx

[orienteering]

Anyone been lucky and brave enough to venture out (or back) from any of the Tuolumne Trailheads? Sunrise, Cathedral, Gen Aulin, Elizabeth, Dog, Vogelsang and the JMT. Are the bridges passable, flooded crossings or impassable conditions? What are current snow condition? Tracks in the snow, muddy and wet, all of the above? Any reason to carry shoeshoes? Anything to report regarding Tuolomne would be great. I have a week of melt to go, but I do not want to post hole to 10,00 feet. Thanks!

We hiked last weekend (6/12-14) from Sunrise over Clouds Rest to Yosemite Valley. It was compacted snow all the way up to Clouds Rest. Neither snowshoes nor crampons were needed. Hiking poles came in very handy. Navigating with no visible trail is a must. The crossing at Tenaya Lake was hip deep, but all other creeks were easy to cross. You can find some pictures of our trip here http://daniels-eagle-scout-project.webs.com. Just go to "Hiking the JMT" and then "Preparation Hikes". At the bottom of that page are photos from the creek crossing, the snow conditions, etc.

Enjoy your hike!