Hetch Hetchy 3 nights - Avondelle Lake?

[jgaffney]

I'm planning a 3-night trip out of Hetch Hetchy for this July. The first night will be at Laurel Lake and the 3rd night will be at Rancheria Falls. I'm looking for input on the 2nd night.

I'll leave Laurel Lake the second day and hike up Morraine Ridge into Jack Main Canyon. Then, at about 7,700 ft, I'll take the trail that cuts across to the ridge between Tiltill Mtn and Tiltill Canyon. Avondelle Lake looks like a good stopping point for the night at around 8,300 ft. Are there good campsites here?

Thanks for the input.

[balzaccom]

WE haven't camped at Avondelle--I recall that area as pretty darn granitic. If you are looking for a couple of trees for a hammock, it might take you a while to find them.

We've camped in Jack Main Canyon below Wilma Lake...and there are lots of places in Jack Main to camp. You are wise to want to camp before you go down into Tilltil Valley--often home to lots of mosquitoes and even a few bears.

[jgaffney]

Balzac, thanks for the input. I don't need to hang a hammock. I just need some flat ground to pitch my tent. If it's granite slabs, I'll sleep in the tent like a bivy bag.

[AlmostThere]

FYI, there was a fire through that area recently. Some of the trail heading to Laurel were very exposed and hot before the fire. Trips out of Hetch Hetchy in the middle of summer, I'd recommend a very early morning start and getting up the Beehive switchbacks well before noon.

[jgaffney]

Almost, yes, the last time I hiked up out of Hetch Hetchy, I slept in and got a late start. Bad idea. I ran out of water before I got to Beehive, and I was seeing stars by the time I got to the spring. I won't make that mistake again.

It's my understanding that the Rim Fire didn't burn much east of Cherry Lake, so Laurel should be OK.