white wolf to tuolumne meadows

[jesse.jaden]

We're looking to hike from white wolf to toulumne meadows via the grand canyon of the tuolumne river and are wondering if 4 full days is enough? Plan on getting to the trail head on a Thursday night after work / camping through the night.... then starting the next morning. Need to finish by Monday late afternoon / early evening. Possible? Also, if we only have one car, is there any kind of shuttle service on Tioga Rd? If not, we've heard hitchhiking is pretty reliable - is this true? Any help is much appreciated!! Thanks!

[balzaccom]

We planned that trip for the same four days. One day gets you from White Wolf to Pate Valley, and that leaves three reasonable days on out through Glen Aulin. And yes, there is bus from Tuolumne Meadows that can drop you off back in White Wolf...on its way to Yosemite Valley.

I'm a bit past the hitchhiking stage, so I'll let others repond to that one.

[ryanmj]

been planning the same trip in the other direction, what was the reason you guys decided to go that way? we also figured on 4 days as well

[jesse.jaden]

balzaccom: thank you for the information - it really is much appreciated and I enjoyed reading your blob / website so much I've bookmarked it!

ryanmj: we planned on that direction because we wanted to get through the tough elevation climbing in the beginning... I could be mistaken of course. when are you planning on going?

[holz]

Hi Ryan,

I've made the trip from WW to TM. I think there are a couple of reasons to go that direction.

First is I believe that WW is a bit higher than TM making an overall drop on the trip. Next, the trail down from WW is pretty steep. One just goes down and down and down. The trail from Pate to TM is much more gradual making for easier uphill hiking.

Finally it is the falls. IMO, the view is nicer when the falls are always in front of you as you move up GCoT.

No matter what, it is a marvelous hike. Have a great time!

[AlmostThere]

ryanmj: we planned on that direction because we wanted to get through the tough elevation climbing in the beginning... I could be mistaken of course. when are you planning on going?

You're not going to climb going from White Wolf - you're going to descend, descend, descend, and descend, and then gradually, slowly, climb up to Tuolumne Meadows. The other direction you gradually descend into the canyon with a big climb in the middle (routes over a rock feature) and then more descent until you are in Pate from which you climb up the switchbacks (it is highly recommended to do this climb - if you do it - in the morning, early as you can) and eventually to WW.

When I did this, I was coming off another backpack - I left my car at WW and was picked up in the morning by a companion on the way to TM, where we started the hike. It would be simple enough to sit with the YARTS schedule and figure out how to leave your vehicle at your exiting point, then ride the bus to the starting point. YARTS was loading up as we prepared to depart WW - we were getting coffee at the store/restaurant when the bus pulled in, somewhere between 7:30 - 8 am.

[ryanmj]

thanks for the info guys. My brother had planned the trip and I was under the impressions that WW was a lower elevation, we planned on leaving the car at WW and busing it to TM but I guess we could do the opposite. We planned on doing this mid June but were currently looking into back up plans

[LVRAY]

A lot depends on whether you like hiking up or down long steep sections. As mentioned, it is down from WW to Pate Valley and then more gradual back up to TM, except for going up and around Muir Gorge. Though I have done both directions more than once, my knees prefer to go up steep sections, so I would go TM to WW.

[crghc98]

def. look into backup plans. I don't think Tioga will be open by mid June.

[AlmostThere]

I got snowed on last weekend at the coast, and it's snowing right now in the Sierra.

I think July is the new June... Maybe think about going southern Sierra in June? I hear Golden Trout Wilderness is nice.

[squirrel]

Did the same trip exact trip last year as you plan. No problem getting done by Monday.

[DouglyStyles]

Me and my girlfriend were origonally going to do TM to WW august 17-20, but couldnt get the wilderness permit for glen aulin. We did however get the permit to do the reverse WW to TM. I was initally bummed, but after reading this thread, it sounds like WW to TM is more fitting for us

As far as parking and transportation, Im wondering if there is still a hikers bus? Or if there are any suggestions for where to park our car (we are coming from San Diego, flying to SF and renting 1 car). We were thinking of parking in Yos Valley and taking a bus to WW, then taking a bus from TM to the valley when we get done. Is there a better way? Maybe park at WW and bus from TM to WW (we are not above hitching it either ). We are trying to get to our car as early as possible on the 20th as we have reservations in Sonoma that night

Also, is a GPS a must? Is the trail fairly obvious?

Have you done your treck yet? How did it go!??

Thanks in advance for any info!

[AlmostThere]

If you don't know how to read a topo map a GPS isn't going to do much good. If you know map and compass, a GPS is a neat tool to have but doesn't replace the map. Either way I doubt you would get lost, trails in Yosemite are like superhighways, wide and maintained more frequently than the NF trails.

I doubt anyone has been on GCT since Tioga Road is still closed and there are feet of snow in Tuolumne Meadows.

I would leave the car at the exit point and ride the bus to the other end. That way if you are delayed you do not miss the bus and end up waiting a day. Look at YARTS schedule - hiker bus takes reservations and can be full. The free shuttles do not run the length of Tioga Rd, so you are limited to YARTS or the hiker bus.

[_Gabe_]

Any update on the conditions of this trail? Last I heard (June) this trail was under a few inches of water. Thanks.

[AlmostThere]

It's still going to be wet, and there's still a lot of water in streams. But people are coming back (in the past few weeks) with pictures from successful trips through the GCT. They're still wading that one part below Glen Aulin tho.