water?

[luke]

mid-september we're planning to bp tenaya lake to clouds rest to half dome back north JMT to tuolumne meadows.we have tentative plans on miles per day/nights out.we're in no hurry.wondering what water sources will be available mid to late september.any other thoughts welcome.

[dan]

There's never much water after Tenaya Lake and over Clouds Rest. The best water is at a (terrific) campsite at the junction of the trail leading southwest from Clouds Rest and the JMT. There's a reliable branch heading north from Sunrise Creek that always has water. There's one or two stale ponds of water between Clouds Rest and Tenaya Lake, and also a small creek crossing the trail (which may be dry by Sept.). Bottom line: bring water for the first day or be prepared to filter and use some heavily-stale and murky water.

After the campsite mentioned above and in Little Yosemite Valley there's plenty of water. Sunrise Creek and Merced River are reliable water sources. There's water at SUnrise Lakes and Cathedral Lakes.

Edit: See also this thread:
viewtopic.php?t=431

[johnstream]

We stayed at that site. It is great. There is a stream right behind the camera and the trail coming down is just on the other side of downed trees. The photographer is sitting on top of a giant rock which is a great resting point as well as an outstanding firepit.

[bill-e-g]

Luke, so I don't just repeat myself... hopefully this link works:

http://www.yosemite.ca.us/forum/viewtop ... ight=#1163

[luke]

thank you dan,johnstream,and bill-e-g.if we score the permits we're gonna take our time.the backpacking i've done has been in rocky mountain np.reserved sites.this is kinda exciting in that i'm figuring that backpackers from differant trailheads have access to the same already-established sites.first-come first-served.right?second :we are scrambling nuts.we like to set a base camp for a couple of nights so we can ditch the heavy packs and play on the rocks for an entire day.if we we're to camp at sunrise backpackers camp our last night/nights from looking at my topo it looks good for that.yes or no?never been to yosemite.can't wait.

[bill-e-g]

I would scramble around Sunrise.. (go to first Sunrise Lake and salivate).
Around Upper Cathedral Lake... (Tresidder Pk , Columbia Finger).

[luke]

thanks bill-e-g.do you guys live near the sierra nevada?man, i'm here in ohio.i've got the cuyahoga valley within a half-hour's drive. there's some decent day hiking just to get into the woods but folks that live out west...man you guys got the real deal.

[bill-e-g]

Yeah, I live in San Jose.
It's close enough that I pretty much run up there every other weekend
Spring to start of Winter. Also get to get in a few 4 day trips and weeklong
trips every year. Also lucky the wife loves to do it too and she doesn't
get jealous of my "mistress" when I solo or go with other friends.

You should take a peek where you are going to head in Google Earth.
You might be able to get a real good idea of what is there.
(I use it alot to scope out xcountry routes...)

Been thinking about putting some site together with details on trips
in Yosemite. By that I mean pretty much every trail and trip you
could think of in the park.. w/ elevation profiles and where is water,
suggestions for campsites, ... crap like that. and pictures...
(let's just say I've been there a few times...)

Anyway, hope you have a great trip...

[oakroscoe]

Hey Bill, that would be sweet if you put together a trail guide resource like that on a website. I think it would be a lot of work for you initially, since it sounds like you've been damn near everywhere in the park. But once you got the site up and going, it wouldn't be that difficult to update it with new places you check out.

I found another site that is somewhat similar to what you propose: http://www.thebackcountry.org/trailhead.php I traded a few emails with the creator of that site and he seemed like a decent enough guy. My complaint with that site is that he sticks to the trails and doesn't go cross country much, and that's the real info that I'm always curious about.

[belowi]

I was thinking of almost the exact same trip, but in late June. Is this a feasible route that early in the summer, or is it likely to still have too much snow still?

[bill-e-g]

oakroscoe,
Yeah, I checked that site out too. Agree with you...
Feel free to email me or post msg with any cross country stuff you
are thinking about. I may have done it...
Also check out really old topos for old trails... although I got my
butt kicked 2 weekends ago hiking the "old" trail up from Poopenaut
Valley. Should have just checked out the lake south of Swamp
Lake from the trail to North Mountain... o well...

Late June should be ok for the Clouds Trip and all. At least that is
what my opinion is at the moment...

[_Gabe_]

I a newbie backpacker going on 4 day trip from TM to Yosemite Valley...I have been doing hours of research on all kinds of subjects, one of which is water.

What do you recommend in terms of equipment? I already have two water bottle purifiers which I plan to take with me. I also have backpackers stove on which I plan to boil water to fill up two 32 oz water containers.

I was recommended I should hike with no more than 64 oz of water per hike.

I guess to summarize my question...what equipment do you use for water purification and how much do you carry.

The hike we are taking is day 1: Tm to Sunrise Camp. day 2: High Sierra to Clouds Rest. day 3: Clouds Rest to Half Dome. Day 4: Half Dome to Yosemite Valley. This is in late June.

Thanks!

[bill-e-g]

_Gabe_

I use the "Katadyn Hiker Filter". 65 dollars
take off the plastic pieces on both ends which are just dead weight.
put the screen filter back on and cover that with a coffee filter.
pump it to clear out the initial charcoal before first use
after using it take it apart and let it dry

How much water?
Well... I'm notorious for not drinking copious amounts of water so I
never carry more than 1 litre of water. I used to carry 2 litres but
would always have 1 full litre at next water spot... so I ended up
always carrying 2 extra pounds for nothing...
So I would agree def. that you should not carry more than 2 litres.

However!

For your trip.. you hit water at first Sunrise Lake less than 4 miles into
your trip. So you decide on 1 or 2 litres there.
Regardless of where u stay on day 1... on day 2 after you leave the
first lake towards clouds just have 1 litre.
When you go by the big pond you will soon cross a stream. This is
where you REALLY need to water up. I am assuming that you are
planning on staying on Clouds or very near the top..
Well, I would plan on no water up there unless you want to chance things
and hope for some snow fields to extract some water from.
I'd fill up my 2 litre hydration pack ALONG with a 2.4 "Platypus 2+ Water Bottle".
That should give you enough water until you hit definite water at the JMT
trail junction below Clouds on your way towards Half Dome.

You should plan on camping somewhere near that junction and then
getting up the next day early to summit Half Dome.

Have fun

If you want to avoid carrying alot of water up Clouds then stay near the
stream and dayhike up and back... or just have 2 litre to get up and over clouds.