Yosemite Forum

I am backpacking Yosemite next week, planning to go : Tuolumne Meadows (Rafferty) to Emeric; then to Bernice, and then cross-country to Ireland lake (pending snow), with a rest day there, and then out- I was wondering whether anyone could describe the route from Bernice to Ireland lake, and how hard it is? Anybody been there recently and know what the snow situation is?
Any other advice would be appreciated as well.

Thanks, Gerd

Gerd,
Last weekend from Dana I could see Evelyn and there was about
70% snow coverage around it.
I'm off in an hour for a week of goodness in the North of the Park...
so any questions here are just rhetorical questions.
The only route I see from the topo is to go to the lake above 11,000
and head towards the saddle N of Simmons... then traverse
NW towards Ireland. The saddle E of Parsons looks like it might be
too steep.
I've run all around above Bernice and it's just beautiful. Don't have
other computer on so I can't peer at pictures to give an idea about
the terrain to Ireland. It could be that the saddle E of Parsons is
do-able ... just not sure..
Ok... anyway..
Have you been by Fletcher and Townsley?
If you haven't then I would suggest you go the easier way
past Fletcher and Townsley and xcountry the saddle N of
Ireland between Townsley. That area is beautiful.

Have a great trip. Please let me know what you end up doing.

Bill,
thanks for your suggestions- We ended up exploring the lakes above Lake Bernice for a whole day- snow level is about 11,000 feet in that area. Climbed up to the 12,000 foot ridge that tops the bowl due East of Lake Bernice for fantastic views. Going over the ridge to Ireland lake looks doable for the skilled, but it is pretty steep and very eroded (we did not see what it looks like from the Ireland lake side, but I suspect there would still be some snow right now).

Cool. Could you see any of the Lyell Glacier from that saddle?
From what you said looks like you went to the saddle just
north of Simmons.

When I was there last year the wifie said no mas before the
lake at 11,000. (funny thing is tho.... next day we xcountried
directly from Bernice to Florence Lake...)

Got any pix of McClure Lake on the other side? or any from Saddle?

Def. do the xcountry from Townsley to Ireland someday.
And also check out Hanging Basket...