Hiking out of Mirror Lake / Snow Creek

[tmrettig]

I've got a permit to hike out of Mirror Lake to the backcountry for late July. Any suggestions of where to camp, where to loop and visit over the next seven days? Exiting out of Little Yosemite Valley early August.

[Wickett]

July on the Snow Creek trail is going to be hot and directly in the sun for a lot of your initial hike out of the valley. I killed 2 liters of water and wished I had more. I camped my first day at the top of Snow Creek, cross the river at the bridge passing over the creek/river and make a right. Keep going until you have an awesome view of half dome.

I climbed Mt. Watkins from there, awesome view once again, and looped around to Olmstead Point then went down and stayed in Tenaya Canyon, not allowed, then followed the Canyon to the valley. Do not do Tenaya Canyon unless you know how to rappel and are comfortable with rope and anchors.

I am envious, I am moving to the East Coast in June so my Yosemite trips are going to get a lot more difficult to plan.

[tmrettig]

Haha, I understand that! I've been hiking Yosemite for 20 years and recently moved to NC. Its been a challenge to plan the transportation and such for trips back to the Sierras!

Although, not my preference, the Mirror Lake/Snow Creek permit was all that was available this late in reserving permits. We're not going to be doing any rappelling, so do you think it is feasible to simply hike trails from Snow Creek area to Tuolumne? Its a bit unclear on the topo map, but there 20 miles is listed as the distance from ML to TM. I'm thinking of doing the High Sierra Camp Loop.

[Wickett]

I am moving to NC too, Elizabeth City.

The rappelling is in Tenaya Canyon, an area that you purposefully have to find a way into. There are plenty of excellent trails out that way and I am sure that the others who have more experience in that area will chime in shortly.