Re: Water along Yosemite Creek Trail in September?
Posted: Tue Aug 21, 2018 7:01 am
Based on your map, which I've now looked at, I'm going to respond to your route and daily itinerary. I'll do it over a few posts, because I haven't had enough coffee yet.
Day-1: Yes, good.
Day-2: Yes, good.
* The only revision I would suggest is that you try to take that hike to Upper Young the evening of day-1. If you're dead set on spending the second night of your trip at the backpackers camp at TM, you're fine doing it the second morning, but I would instead get down and to the permit office earlier rather than later, and if you're up for it, get your new permit and go. If possible, get Rafferty Creek, not Lyell Canyon.I would try to skip the TM camp if you can.
Day-3: No. As I said, try for Rafferty Creek instead (see the earlier start on day-2). First night at Boothe Lake. If all you can get is Lyell Canyon, stopping short at Ireland Creek is nicer than Ireland Lake, and it will save you the climb up for the next morning, when it's cooler and you're fresher. Skip Ireland Lake altogether. It's desolate and windy, and it doesn't offer much in the way of camping. If you are able to go up and over towards Vogelsang that day , drop down from the backpackers area up there and just hit Boothe. And that 3 miles you spent in and out on the trail up to Ireland is almost your entire remaining distance to Vogelsang...use that energy well and better. It also shortens day-4 considerably.
Day-4: If you can and are able to follow my suggestion, depending on how you look at it (TM backpackers camp yes/no?--Rafferty Creek instead of Lyell Canyon yes/no?) you've gained yourself at least a day and night. With my way, Bernice Lake becomes day-3, or per your itinerary, it's still day-4. Other than that, looks good.
That's half. More later.
Day-1: Yes, good.
Day-2: Yes, good.
* The only revision I would suggest is that you try to take that hike to Upper Young the evening of day-1. If you're dead set on spending the second night of your trip at the backpackers camp at TM, you're fine doing it the second morning, but I would instead get down and to the permit office earlier rather than later, and if you're up for it, get your new permit and go. If possible, get Rafferty Creek, not Lyell Canyon.I would try to skip the TM camp if you can.
Day-3: No. As I said, try for Rafferty Creek instead (see the earlier start on day-2). First night at Boothe Lake. If all you can get is Lyell Canyon, stopping short at Ireland Creek is nicer than Ireland Lake, and it will save you the climb up for the next morning, when it's cooler and you're fresher. Skip Ireland Lake altogether. It's desolate and windy, and it doesn't offer much in the way of camping. If you are able to go up and over towards Vogelsang that day , drop down from the backpackers area up there and just hit Boothe. And that 3 miles you spent in and out on the trail up to Ireland is almost your entire remaining distance to Vogelsang...use that energy well and better. It also shortens day-4 considerably.
Day-4: If you can and are able to follow my suggestion, depending on how you look at it (TM backpackers camp yes/no?--Rafferty Creek instead of Lyell Canyon yes/no?) you've gained yourself at least a day and night. With my way, Bernice Lake becomes day-3, or per your itinerary, it's still day-4. Other than that, looks good.
That's half. More later.