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Pate Valley update

PostPosted: Mon Aug 12, 2019 6:42 am
by Trekking pedro
Have permits out of White Wolf next week. Any word on the progress on the bridge...or water level for a crossing? Also, it the temp down there the same as Yosemite Valley...the look about the same elevation.

If not crossable, thinking of going up to ten lakes and over the pass...any thoughts on that?

Re: Pate Valley update

PostPosted: Mon Aug 12, 2019 7:20 am
by balzaccom
Temps should be the same, or sometimes a degree or two warmer than Yosemite Valley.

The bridge is still out---but there have been some trail reports of people crossing it anyway. The Park Service discourages this. Don't know about wading,

Ten Lakes Basin is lovely, and you could continue around to Tuolumne Peak and May Lake as well...nice hike

Re: Pate Valley update

PostPosted: Mon Aug 12, 2019 1:28 pm
by AlmostThere
Two boards remain, if one or both has not yet fallen into the river. Imagine a bridge being blasted away by the force of water, and two boards left. Imagine those boards somehow make it through two more snow melt sessions, this last one lasting well into July. At this point I'd rather go somewhere that does not force me to cross on two river-beaten boards that are on borrowed time, or climb slowly back out of a canyon when it's so hot my skin feels like it's melting off. There are a great many other such destinations in the Sierra Nevada.

Re: Pate Valley update

PostPosted: Mon Aug 12, 2019 3:26 pm
by Phil
The GCT is a novelty hike. All in all, there are really only a few good reasons to do it this time of year: 1) the view up and down Muir Gorge, 2) the falls complex higher upriver, and that's long past its peak flow and drama, 3) the view down to Hetch Hetchy from up by Morrison Creek, 4) you dig sweltering heat in a narrow canyon?, 5) saying you did it??

Given the option, taking into account no bridge at Pate and no amazing, roaring falls this time of year, I'll take Ten Lakes for just about every other reason.

Re: Pate Valley update

PostPosted: Sat May 16, 2020 6:00 pm
by jennypenny45
Is there an update on the bridge at Pate Valley Tuolumne River crossing? Everything says it was being worked on last fall. Anyone know if it's finished?

Re: Pate Valley update

PostPosted: Sun May 17, 2020 7:21 am
by balzaccom
I haven't seen one....but here is the contact page for Yosemite. Call them or drop them and email---and let us know what you learn!

https://www.nps.gov/yose/contacts.htm

Re: Pate Valley update

PostPosted: Mon May 18, 2020 8:47 pm
by jennypenny45
I heard from Ranger Marianne today and she said that the good news is that the bridge is fixed! Bad news is that we don't know when the park will open this year :(. Thank you for the call back, Ranger Marianne!

Re: Pate Valley update

PostPosted: Tue May 19, 2020 2:41 pm
by balzaccom
Beautiful! Thanks for the info and the good news! And the not so good news. grin.

Re: Pate Valley update

PostPosted: Wed May 20, 2020 6:35 pm
by Phil
They're tentatively shooting for a 06/01 opening. They're talking reservations to even enter the park itself, but I'm not sure how that may or may not apply to wilderness permits and travel. I'm not seeing any updates for plowing and opening Tioga Rd just yet, though.

With the GCT and Pate Valley, you have to remember a couple other things as well, besides the bridge-

Dependent on the snowpack (which is low) and the melt rate, you can get some pretty good trail flooding in a few places. At times the bridge above Glen Aulin can be partially submerged....though not too likely this year. Secondly, regardless of anything but timing a trip for later in the summer, you're virtually guaranteed to have some flooding just past Glen Aulin proper below Wildcat Point; down canyon from the HSC, and ankle to knee deep with lots of mud. Register Creek has also been known to create some problems with crossings earlier on, and is sometimes impassable at high flows, esp in the afternoon. And lastly, you can get some pretty good submersion on the lower end of the canyon just east of Pate; knee deep-ish, but I've seen it waist high and more, although they'll usually close the trail when that's the case.

Lot's of other logistical and practical subtleties and considerations on the trail and traveling it. If you don't know them but do want anymore info, ask.