Glen Aulin May Lake trip report
Posted: Mon Jun 23, 2008 8:36 pmFirst off, thanks to all the veterans who answered my questions posed before this trip. you helped make it a memorable experience!
I arrived in Tuolumne on Thursday the 19th. The main campground was still closed (it opened on the 20th) but the backpackers campground was open to people with permits. It was nice to have the whole place to ourselves. After arriving did a warm up hike up Lembert dome, taking advantage of clear afternoon weather.
Friday headed off to Glen Aulin, leaving the car and extra supplies at the Wilderness Center parking lot. Beautiful weather, and as pleasant a hike as I could hope for. For me the first day of a back packing trip is grueling as I get into the rhythm, and the first day of the first trip of the season really wore me out.
I was in a stupor as I strode up to the bridge to Glen Aulin, until I looked up and saw a bear coming across the bridge from the opposite direction! This bear has become quite the pest, and I saw it on three separate occasions in and around camp. If I had to do it again, I don't know that I would camp in Glen Aulin. The nearby waterfall is nice, but the campground really seems to attract the mosquitoes, flys, and bears, and you also seem to get a larger than average contingent of new backpackers who do things like throw their leftovers behind the tents, leave food out, not have bear containers, etc. Depending on which direction I was going in, I would probably camp below Glen Aulin or near McGee Lake.
Day two I took a day hike down to Waterwheel falls. All the falls along the way were spectacular, and the wildflowers were also in plentiful supply.
Day three I hiked up to May Lake. The only challenge (other than walking uphill all day) was the ford at Cathedral Creek, and that was due to the swarm of mosquitoes that attacked as soon as I sat down to take off my shoes.
Camp May is still not open, and I had the backpackers camp to myself, a coyote, and a really obnoxious marmot who insisted on parking himself in front of my tent and chirping at full volume for an hour.
Day four (this morning) I proceed up Mount Hoffman, but I couldn't see anything because of the haze and smoke. It was getting real bad. I couldn't even see the lake below me, and the sun was casting an orange light. I hiked out, and headed home. If I can figure out how to post pictures I'll post one of the friendly bear and my marmot mascot.
I arrived in Tuolumne on Thursday the 19th. The main campground was still closed (it opened on the 20th) but the backpackers campground was open to people with permits. It was nice to have the whole place to ourselves. After arriving did a warm up hike up Lembert dome, taking advantage of clear afternoon weather.
Friday headed off to Glen Aulin, leaving the car and extra supplies at the Wilderness Center parking lot. Beautiful weather, and as pleasant a hike as I could hope for. For me the first day of a back packing trip is grueling as I get into the rhythm, and the first day of the first trip of the season really wore me out.
I was in a stupor as I strode up to the bridge to Glen Aulin, until I looked up and saw a bear coming across the bridge from the opposite direction! This bear has become quite the pest, and I saw it on three separate occasions in and around camp. If I had to do it again, I don't know that I would camp in Glen Aulin. The nearby waterfall is nice, but the campground really seems to attract the mosquitoes, flys, and bears, and you also seem to get a larger than average contingent of new backpackers who do things like throw their leftovers behind the tents, leave food out, not have bear containers, etc. Depending on which direction I was going in, I would probably camp below Glen Aulin or near McGee Lake.
Day two I took a day hike down to Waterwheel falls. All the falls along the way were spectacular, and the wildflowers were also in plentiful supply.
Day three I hiked up to May Lake. The only challenge (other than walking uphill all day) was the ford at Cathedral Creek, and that was due to the swarm of mosquitoes that attacked as soon as I sat down to take off my shoes.
Camp May is still not open, and I had the backpackers camp to myself, a coyote, and a really obnoxious marmot who insisted on parking himself in front of my tent and chirping at full volume for an hour.
Day four (this morning) I proceed up Mount Hoffman, but I couldn't see anything because of the haze and smoke. It was getting real bad. I couldn't even see the lake below me, and the sun was casting an orange light. I hiked out, and headed home. If I can figure out how to post pictures I'll post one of the friendly bear and my marmot mascot.