Youngs Lakes Yosemite Mid-July

[Lesbert]

We r taking a 3 night backpacking trip (first real trip) with two families to Youngs Lakes in July '11. Our plan is to stay put and day hike, explore from that one spot. Anyone had experience here - wondering about where the best spot would be to find running water for purifying or any other information available from people who have done this. We are permitted for the trail that runs by Dog Lake to Youngs Lakes.

[AlmostThere]

You can find water in the lakes? Some sources indicate the top few inches of a lake are likely to be cleaner due to UV exposure, actually. But with a filter you're okay either way.

Water sources aren't generally an issue in the Sierra.

[balzaccom]

The lakes are fine for a water source...and it's a great hike. If you are there for a couple of days, try to climb Mt. Conness--one of the great climbs in the park, and requires nothing but putting one foot in front of the other to the top!

We've got a short report on that trip in the Yosemite section of our destinations pages on our website...

[Lesbert]

Thanks. I was told that moving water was best, hence the question about water other than lakes. We are new to the backpacking and just trying to take advantage of what people may know. Leslie

[gtbhiker]

I have camped at upper Young Lake a few years ago. Filtering the lake water should be fine but there is a stream going into the lake between the rocks at the far end (right side). About a 10 minute walk from the campsite.

[AlmostThere]

Moving or still, the filter should do away with bacteria and cysts well enough, unless you are using one of the lesser quality cheap filters that don't filter down to .02-.03 microns. Most of the pump and gravity filters from MSR, Katadyn, or Platypus should work fine in any water source unless it's really silty or muddy.