by Phil » Tue Jul 16, 2019 11:43 am
No, I have not been up there this season.
Via Lyell Canyon, it's flat to slightly uphill, but it's easy. From the TM trailhead it's about 6+ miles to Ireland Creek. That's a nice area for campsites if you walk around. Might be a perfect place for you guys to stop the first night and save the slog up and over to Vogelsang for the morning when it's cooler. Yeah, from there up to the Ireland Lake spur is kind of not the funnest, but there's plenty of water and it's mostly in the shade. Beyond that a long walk across the meadow and you're right in the Vogelsang backpacker's camping area.
As a beginner, just pace yourself and stay hydrated. Also be really diligent about food storage from the get-go. Expect mosquitoes around swampy areas or water, so invest in a headnet and a little more repellent than you think. I wouldn't expect snow to be a problem even at 10k the end of this month. Walk through it, over it, around it if you come to it. Check the weather forecast before you go, and always carry at least a rain jacket and pack cover for afternoon thunderstorms if the forecast calls for them, which is usually the summertime norm as you get toward the Crest. If altitude starts messing with you, turn around and get lower if it's bad. Don't overpack. Don't pet rodents.