Yosemite Forum

I have a wilderness permit reservation with Half Dome included. The permit is for Sun rise Lakes TH on 6-22-19. If Tioga road isn't open, or if the trail remains too snowed in, will I definitely lose my HD permit if I need to adjust to an alternate trip with a walk up permit?

If you can get a alternate trailhead that could have HD in it (I.E. not entering way up at Hetch Hetchy), they will probably transfer the HD permit.

Tioga Road is supposed to open sometime around Memorial Day so that shouldn't be a big deal, but you might have to hike in snow shoes that time of year. June is always dicey and there's a lot of snow up there this year.

bbmq wrote:Tioga Road is supposed to open sometime around Memorial Day so that shouldn't be a big deal, but you might have to hike in snow shoes that time of year. June is always dicey and there's a lot of snow up there this year.

The projection is mid June, and there will be a lot of snow left on trails, plus, and this is much more concerning than patches of snow, the melt will have all creeks going full tilt and dangerous. It remains to be seen what the crossing of the outlet of Tenaya Lake will be like.

I hate to say this Mike, but I wouldn't count on any of it happening by the 22nd. The road may or may not be open by then, Tenaya Creek will be huge, and there's still going to be an enormous amount of snow cover up there. Enough that you'll have troubles keeping track of the trail.

As an alternative TH with access to HD, since Glacier Pt Rd is scheduled to open on 05/10, and because it's a lower elevation, I would try for either coming in from Glacier Pt or Mono Meadow, assuming you can safely ford Illilouette Creek that early.

Even if it works out, don't forget the mosquitoes.

Thanks for the responses. I agree that at Glacier point TH start would be a good alternative if I can get a walk up permit. I just hope that they will transfer my HD permit if that happens.