Clouds Rest from Happy Isles daytrip. Water sources?

[sonorasierra]

So now that the weather is getting warmer and the wildflowers are starting to bloom I can hear the hiking trails calling my name. I recently got the crazy idea to hike to Clouds Rest from the valley floor. This hike is intriguing to me because of the physical challenge. It's a gain of about 6,000 vertical feet from Happy Isles to Clouds Rest and I believe it's about 19 miles round trip. I hiked Clouds Rest two years ago but I started from the Sunrise Lakes trailhead. I have also hiked Half Dome so I’m familiar with the usual water sources on the trail. I would like to avoid getting water from the Merced River downstream from the backpackers campground in Little Yosemite Valley. I will be using Iodine tablets. When I hiked Half Dome it was late summer so there were not any smaller creeks running or other water sources other than the Merced River.

I plan to do this hike around late May or early June considering how much snow there might be in the higher elevations. Looking at the map it appears that there is a creek that crosses the trail in between Little Yosemite Valley and the Half Dome and Clouds Rest trail split. Is this a reliable early season water source? If I could get water there it would also save me from carrying the extra water weight from the Merced River. Are there any other water sources I can count on in between Clouds Rest and the Merced River below the Little Yosemite Valley campground?

Has anyone here attempted this hike? Any advice would be appreciated.

-Aaron

[dan]

There is reliable water from Sunrise Creek, including at the junction of the John Muir Trail (JMT) and Clouds Rest Trail (NOT Half Dome Trail). Look at the map. The HDT and CRT split from the JMT at 2 different (but close) locations.

After that, there is no water (until you're well up and over the other side). I never went up from there (but I went down several times) and I know it's a long grind with lots of switch backs. Much of the trail is in shaded (overgrown) forest though.

Consider using Chlorine dioxide (Aquamira) instead of iodine. It doesn't have the bitter aftertaste of iodine.

[sonorasierra]

I see the creek on the map that is near the JMT and Clouds Rest Trail junction. But it looks like it's after the trail split, meaning I would have to backtrack to go up the Cloud Rest Trail. Considering the length of the hike I probably would want to avoid any extra miles. Do you remember how close it is to the trail junction?

[dan]

No. The creek is right there about 10 feet away (south of the junction). I've camped there many times. At the junction of the JMT and Clouds Rest Trail is a campground. The CRT heads north. The creek is a few feet away to the south. Get your water there--it's a dry trail to the top (except possibly in early spring with snow runoff).

[dan]

No. The creek is right there about 20 feet away (south of the junction, within sight). I've camped there many times. At the junction of the JMT and Clouds Rest Trail is a campground. The CRT heads north. The creek is a few feet away to the south. Get your water there--it's a dry trail to the top (except possibly in early spring with snow runoff).

[sonorasierra]

Thanks for the help Dan. I over estimated the distance when I glanced at the map. That looks like a great spot to camp along the JMT.