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Clouds Rest water and camp spot

PostPosted: Mon Sep 26, 2016 8:50 am
by HollyR
Can anyone tell me water options close to clouds rest summit? if any? I saw this description, which sounds like a great camping spot, but wondering if last water option is all the way back at sunrise creek?

"Sunrise Lakes to Cloud’s Rest (5.8 mi/9.3 km). When you are ready to leave Sunrise Lakes you will head southwest on the trail and quickly pass the third and final lake. You will head south for about 2.2 miles and then continue southwest towards Cloud's Rest. The trail winds through the forest and the elevation gain is slow and steady until the last half mile. The final portion of the trail narrows to about 20 feet in diameter as you reach the summit. Cloud’s Rest sit’s at 9,926 feet so it gives you a great view of the surrounding area, which includes Tenaya Canyon and the iconic Half Dome. As you descend the south side of the mountain there is a great spot to camp about half a mile down from the summit. You are low enough on elevation where you can start a fire in the existing fire ring, and you can go to sleep and wake up with a front row view of Half Dome. This campsite is easily recognizable and is approximately 200 feet west of the main trail."

Thanks!
Holly

Re: Clouds Rest water and camp spot

PostPosted: Mon Sep 26, 2016 9:13 am
by AlmostThere
This is a really popular question, there are probably a dozen threads in the forum on water near Clouds Rest. Yes, Sunrise Creek is where you'll need to get the water before you head to the camping spot you describe.

If you're going now, I hope you're prepared to sleep cold -- perching on the edge of a canyon can be breezy and nights are already plunging below 32F up there. Fires are a poor way to cope -- a hot water Nalgene in the sleeping bag does a much, much better job and doesn't run the risk of sending sparks flying on the breeze into a very very very very very dry forest aka tinder box...

Re: Clouds Rest water and camp spot

PostPosted: Mon Sep 26, 2016 2:00 pm
by Caminante
FWIW, this is a website that I use in the Smokies pretty reliably. In particular, it's nice because it gives forecasts by mountain at different elevations. Definitely looking a bit nippy this weekend as AlmostThere mentions!

http://www.mountain-forecast.com/peaks/ ... casts/3025

Re: Clouds Rest water and camp spot

PostPosted: Mon Sep 26, 2016 8:23 pm
by Phil
Directionally:

From the JMT x Cloud's Rest junction- Sunrise Creek, and possibly, a small trailside spring about two miles up. Hope for the latter if you need it, but by no means should you count on it for more than anything but a possible supplement to what you're already carrying.

From the JMT x Forsyth Trail junction- Sunrise Creek only.

From Sunrise Lakes- A small pond roughly a mile past the Sunrise Trail junction where it descends to the trailhead at Tenaya. Usually, there's also a stream about another half mile past that towards CR, but current reports are indicating that it's not a reliable source at this time. From that campsite, this is also where you would go if you find yourself short.

That's it. Bring extra Nalgenes. For CR, I usually figure on an absolute minimum of 3L per person, all things considered: hike in, dinner, breakfast, hike out till next water.

Re: Clouds Rest water and camp spot

PostPosted: Tue Sep 27, 2016 8:27 am
by HollyR
Thanks all for the information. we are planning for some very cold nights, as temperatures are dropping quickly at night. I may end up buying a liner, as my 20 degree bag might not be enough. :-(

According to today's report, and hopefully it stays that way for a week:
"Water is available in Sunrise Creek at the Clouds Rest/JMT junction."

My concern is once we go up and over Clouds Rest, heading for LYV, where will we find water on the trail? Will it be all the way down at LYV area or something before there? thanks.

Holly

Re: Clouds Rest water and camp spot

PostPosted: Tue Sep 27, 2016 8:29 am
by AlmostThere
It's not that far from Clouds Rest to LYV that I would even worry about water. Yes, you won't find water until you get to the Merced River.

Liners are hyped by retailers but don't add much warmth, and get tangled and twisted up. A real sleeping bag is better. I start carrying around a 0 degree in October. You'd be better off with heavyweight base layer and wearing your jacket to bed than a liner. Or rent a 0 degree bag from somewhere like lowergear.com.

Re: Clouds Rest water and camp spot

PostPosted: Tue Sep 27, 2016 1:01 pm
by Phil
No, the CR x JMT junction is two miles up from LYV. That's your next reiable water after CR. Then it's the Merced at LYV itself.

Yeah, it's not too far from CR to LYV that you'll become dangerously dehydrated, but I'm not one to run dry for more than a little bit. It weirds me out, and I sip constantly out of habit.

And yes, I completely agree, liners are silly. The warm Nalgene and/or lightweight jacket/heavy socks/stuff your clothing in the footbox of your bag method works a lot better.

Re: Clouds Rest water and camp spot

PostPosted: Wed Sep 28, 2016 3:20 pm
by HollyR
Well its great to hear that the liners may be a complete waste of money, they are not cheap, so I'll pass. Weather might be coming in around 40, so I'll go with wearing my down jacket to bed and stuffing the rest of my clothes in with me.

Thanks for the suggestions!

Re: Clouds Rest water and camp spot

PostPosted: Wed Sep 28, 2016 8:33 pm
by Phil
If you have a decent tent that isn't the size of a cavern, you're going to pick up maybe 5-10 degrees of temperature increase inside. Some might argue it, but for one thing, cold air settles and drops, you radiate heat and create a convective current that rises and expands, and the tent helps keep that heat in, and the colder air out. It might still be cold, but just not as cold.

If you do have some money to throw down, a higher R-rated ground pad is a lot cheaper than a new bag, and a lot more effective than a liner. And eat not long before you go to bed so that the digestive process is active and heating your core.