Here's the route plan for our 4 day trip this weekend (Tuolumne Meadws to YV):
Our plan is to get on the trail just before the Tuolumne VC by noon on Sat and head for the valley just beyond the Cathedral Pass (Long Meadow) for our first camp. That?s about 6 miles in, mostly uphill.
Next leg (Sun) will be from Long Meadow to Echo Valley via Cathedral & Echo Creeks, about 8 miles.
Next day (Mon) will be a shorter hike day so we can relax a little. We have two choices here, either go from Echo Valley back up to the JMT and around the back of Moraine Dome and camp in the flat area there. Or go down the Merced River to LYV and camp under Moraine Dome.
Day 4 (Tue) we hike into the Valley and get some beers!
So my questions are:
1) am I nuts to think we can make Long Meadow on the first day?
2) Is there anything important I need to know about any of these locations or routes?
3) Any opinions on my two routes out of Echo Valley? How are they different and is one way better than the other?
4) Are there trout in the creeks we will be passing along the way? (Cathedral, Echo Merced)
5) And finally, has anybody been up to this area In the past week? What?s it like right now weather and snow wise?
Thanks,
Dave