Tenaya Lake, Clouds Rest, Half Dome, Happy Isles

[chicagocwright]

I am traveling with my family of four from Chicago in August. We are flying into Phoenix, visiting the Grand Canyon, Hoover Dam, a night in Las Vegas, Death Valley, and most importantly, Yosemite.

The relevant portion of the trip begins with my family dropping me off early morning at Tenaya Lake. They will spend some time at Tuolumne and then drive around to the valley picking me up about 12 hours later. I am planning a day hike to top of Clouds Rest, Half Dome (I have a permit!) and then down to the Valley.

I have solicitations for suggestions and thoughts:

1. Will (or could) the trail beginning at Tenaya Lake still require a “wet” crossing August 23?
2. What is the best advice on gauging weather the day before and day of the trip? I suppose the main concern would be thunderstorms but those don’t develop until afternoon so it seems like I probably will make it to Clouds Rest without a problem and access Half Dome like everyone else does later in the afternoon.
3. I know it is personal preference but any thoughts on Hiking Poles? I have a very nice pair I bought at a REI garage sale but can’t decide if I am taking them or not.
4. Water: I am considering carrying 5 liters (HEAVY) and then some type of backup system. I have a 3 liter CamelPack that fits in my backpack and considered taking two Nalgenes. I also have an MSR Hyperflow Filter but reconsidering taking it because of time required to pump and filter.
5. I think I have convinced my wife that the Bears in Yosemite do not eat people. I have a Bear whistle but she has thoughts of the Denali Bears that hunt animals such as moose and remembers the rangers there who suggested Bear “guns”---strong pepper spray for hikes.
6. Will my ATT Blackberry work at the top of Half Dome or Clouds Rest? If possible, I’d like to give the family progress updates. And if they find someone with high powered binoculars or telescope maybe they can spot me.

Finally a non-Yosemite related travel question. We are renting a car in Phoenix and dropping it off in Fresno (will spend a few days there with family). I’ve done one way rentals before but this time every rental car I can find is charging an exorbitant one way fee-up to $500. Anyone know of a way around this? Anyone want to drive a car from Fresno to Phoenix for me for $100?

[dan]

You have lots of questions. I'll try to answer them.

1. I've never crossed the trail dry--it's the outlet of Tenaya Lake and it's always wet to some degree. By late August, you should be able to hop across logs and rocks and stay dry.

2. Weather. I recommend http://noaa.gov/ Also, the weather report at the top of "Yosemite Daily Report" (internal employee newsletter, PDF format). The link is at http://www.nps.gov/yose/parknews/

Afternoon thunderstorms are common in August. For that reason, plan to arrive on peaks such as Clouds Rest in the morning. It's also cooler then.

3. I find them very useful with a pack on. You're top heavy. With hiking poles you distribute the work to more than just your legs and let your arms handle some of the shock and weight.

4. Water: I use Aquamira for water purification. Unlike iodine or clorine tablets, it doesn't have an aftertaste (at least I can't tell, and neither can my wife).

5. Black bears aren't dangerous like the Brown Bears in Denali and Glacier National Parks. The main point is don't leave food or smelly materials in your tent. Use a bear canister--required for most parts of the park and you can rent them. Black bears have never bothered me in several decades of backpacking. Whistles are not effective--they don't carry very far. If you're really worried, talk and make noise on the trail. Pepper spray is light weight. I hate the thought of spraying those poor bears. I've carried pepper spay in Denali and Glacier, but never Yosemite.

6. Here's two threads about cell phone coverage. According to others, ATT works on Half Dome.
http://www.yosemite.ca.us/forum/viewtopic/t=883
http://www.yosemite.ca.us/forum/viewtopic/t=1384

Yeah, people can spot you with binoculars.

Don't know about the rental car one-way rates. Consider flying from Phoenix to Oakland (OAK) or Fresno (FAT)

[chicagocwright]

Dan,

Thanks much for your time. Very helpful.

My kids will get a kick if they can spot me atop Half Dome. I'm not taking Bear Spray--mostly I am teasing my wife.

The one way rate is due the sequence of my trip. Grand Canyon and Death Valley then most importantly the idea that we are going into Yosemite from the East which allows me to do the Day Hike while my wife and kids are driving to the Valley.

[ryanmj]

dans got it covered, i agree you should be able to hop cross the outlet with out getting wet. The poles come in handy but have a place on your pack that you can strap them. Leave early, its going to be a long hike but well worth it.

[kevmc]

here is my input

1. Will (or could) the trail beginning at Tenaya Lake still require a “wet” crossing August 23?

Probably not. I hiked that trail last aug (aug 9th I believe and the water was down to a trickle. There is a lot more snow this year so it might be flowing more but by aug 23, I think you will be fine.

2. What is the best advice on gauging weather the day before and day of the trip? I suppose the main concern would be thunderstorms but those don’t develop until afternoon so it seems like I probably will make it to Clouds Rest without a problem and access Half Dome like everyone else does later in the afternoon.

Check the weather in the AM but its always a crapshoot. Also the crowds will be greater at HD, especially if you get their around lunch or shortly after. Even if going up is fine, coming down will likely be crowded so factor that into your time estimates.

3. I know it is personal preference but any thoughts on Hiking Poles? I have a very nice pair I bought at a REI garage sale but can’t decide if I am taking them or not.

I used them and they were very helpful. I would definately bring they. For me they helped immensly on HD and the back side of clouds rest,as well as comming down into the valley.

4. Water: I am considering carrying 5 liters (HEAVY) and then some type of backup system. I have a 3 liter CamelPack that fits in my backpack and considered taking two Nalgenes. I also have an MSR Hyperflow Filter but reconsidering taking it because of time required to pump and filter.

That might be overkill. You can get water at Sunrise lakes ( a bit out of your way but not much, a smaller lake on the way to clouds rest. There is a small stream IIRC on the back side of CR that will be a trickle but works in an emergency, sunrise creek, at the junction of the JMT and Clouds Rest Trail and finally merced river at LYV. Personally, I would only carry 2 or 3 liters

5. I think I have convinced my wife that the Bears in Yosemite do not eat people. I have a Bear whistle but she has thoughts of the Denali Bears that hunt animals such as moose and remembers the rangers there who suggested Bear “guns”---strong pepper spray for hikes.

I would not worry about bears on the one day hike. If you are camping , you need to keep all your food in a bear canister and out of the tent

6. Will my ATT Blackberry work at the top of Half Dome or Clouds Rest? If possible, I’d like to give the family progress updates. And if they find someone with high powered binoculars or telescope maybe they can spot me.

It might work. I didnt try at CR or HD but did get a signal standing on the second floor of the bathrooms at LYV,

[spencewine]

My input:

1. What I remember is that the crossing was pretty dry by late august. I don't even think I got my boots wet.

2. I've got nothing to add on weather that you don't probably already know.

3.Hiking poles are great for the ascent right after Tenaya Lake and the ascent to Clouds Rest and the massive amount of descending that you'll do after, but I'd pack-em up once I get to the ropes at HD. They'll be useless. Also, not sure if you've considered bringing gloves for the ropes. When I climbed HD last year, there was a stash of old gloves by the ropes and it wasn't a problem finding them, but I was there literally at the break of dawn. Not sure what it's like now and how it would be during a busy time of day - regardless, you'll want a pair of gloves that have a good grip to climb the ropes.

4. Water was of great concern for me prior to heading out last year, but it wasn't a problem. If I remember correctly, after ascending above Teneya lakes, there was a big pond right off the trail where water could be filtered or chemically treated. I carried 4 liters of water up that ascent and upon seeing the pond, I cursed myself. After the pond, I think it was dry until you get over Cloud's Rest and approach the John Muir Trail intersection. At the JMT intersection, there was a creek right off the trail on the left side- you can't miss it because you will probably hear it and there will probably be a bunch of people camping by it. I'd fill up here for HD. I'm assuming that HD will be crowded in the afternoon, so you might want to account for the possibility that their will be a line at the ropes. I'm not sure if the permit system has gotten rid of the lines.

5. If you're doing this as a dayhike, I wouldn't worry too much about bears. They're only interested in the food you're carrying, not "you" as a meal. If you put your pack down and walk away from it for any amount of time (and have food in it), then you're asking for trouble. Keep your pack close. I think pepper spray is overkill, but that's me.

Speaking of, this is a pretty epic dayhike. You've got a ton of elevation gain/loss and mileage. Leave as early as possible and carry as little as possible in your pack. I did this same hike in 2 days/1 night, but was also carrying a heavy pack.

Below was my inquiry before I left for the hike. I ended up camping near the JMT intersection and summitting half-dome in the morning and out through Happy Isles by early afternoon.

viewtopic/f=7&t=1337

Enjoy, the hike is astounding.

[Hitech]

How would this be leaving half dome out? Over clouds rest and then down to the valley? Is it doable in about 10 hours? I would obviously be traveling very light. Thanks.

[balzaccom]

Even without Half Dome, I figure that this would be about 19 miles or so...and a bunch of elevation change. If you start very early, you should have no trouble. BUt you mention having your wife drop you off on her way into the Valley--and that might mean a later start. I'd want to be on the trail by 8 a.m. at the VERY latest. That would put me up on Cloud's Rest by about 11:30...and I'd eat lunch up there, because I want to enjoy the view.

From noon to six pm. you'll be hiking downhill...and sometimes in traffic once you get to Nevada Falls. It won't be easy to just race along that trail, both because it's steep and because you'll have lots of company. But it's perfectly doable if you keep at it, keep fed and hydrated, and have a nice hot tub waiting for you at the bottom!

[Hitech]

Delorme topo software has it at about 15 miles. Something for me to think about...

[chicagocwright]

Thank you all for your input. Secured my Half Dome permit on May 1 so I am increasingly excited. I do plan on getting a very early start because I have an appointment in a jacuzzi with fresh strawberries that evening in Fresno at my parent's house.