conditions for Cloud's Rest, Mt Hoffmann and Mt Dana

[bwg999]

I am interested in current conditions for Clould's Rest (from Sunrise trailhead), Mt Hoffmann and Mt Dana. Next Fri (Aug 5) my nephew and I will attempt Mt Whitney (14.5k) and planned to use these 3 Yosemite peaks for acclimtization (10k, 11k, 13k). I am an experienced hiker and have done all three hikes before, my specific questions are about current conditions due to the heavy snows last winter.

Specifically:

Cloud's Rest (from Sunrise trailhead): I heard recently that the outlet from Tenaya lake means you have to wade through knee deep water. Still true next week? I assume the current is slow so the issue is not getting swept away but getting cold and wet? Is the wade for 10 meters or so...or more like 100 meters? Would taking socks off (to keep them dry and then putting wet boots back on over dry socks) do it?

Mt Hoffmann: I drove along Tioga Road a couple weeks ago and it looked like Mt Hoffmann had a LOT of snow and at the time could only be summitted by winter mountaineers (which I am not). Any guess if this will be true next week? If so, could one get close to the summit (up to the nice view of Half Dome, etc.) without the need for crampons, ice axe etc?

Mt Dana: When I drove past Mt Dana I saw more snow patches than I am used to in the summer (no surprise). I asked the ranger if one needed either crampons or microspikes to summit, and he said no, just be careful. Can anyone confirm this?

Once again I have done all 3 hikes before, I am just not a winter mountaineer so was inquiring about conditions.

Thanks in advance for info on any or all of these 3...or other acclimtization suggestions if these 3 requir crampons etc.

[dan]

You ask a lot of questions--I'll try to answer.

Personally, I don't have problems with altitude until 11k, then I'm light headed. I can get use to it up to 12k, but I almost always feel light headed higher than that. The more nights you camp or sleep high, the better you are. During the trip the saying "climb high sleep low" applies--sleeping at low altitudes help the body recover. Of course, everyone is different and it other people have different symptoms or none at all.

As for the Tenaya Lake outlet--you can see it it from the road. There's a parking area and bathroom and just beyond the outlet. It's about 30-50 feet (10-15m) across if I remember correctly. Some years I've hopped across on rocks and only got my boots wet. This year is definitely a stream crossing until late in the season. Take your socks off and your insoles. Cross with your boots on and shake the water out on the other side. It helps if you have a second pair you can change to after a few minutes. Then you can hang your first pair to dry on your backpack.

The outlet is from a lake and you won't be swept away if you're careful. Use a hiking stick (or poles) and watch your step. If you slip, you'll get wet but won't be washed away. It's a wet marshy area, not a steep river ravine.

About the snow. It's summer--not winter. You are not winter mountaineering, even if there's snow on the ground. The snow will be soft and slushy on top. You do not need crampons or ice axe. What you need is good waterproofing on your boots and multiple dry pair of socks to change into when they get wet. Hiking sticks with snow baskets are very useful also.

[AlmostThere]

The usual route to Hoffman is clear of snow.

People are going up Dana - we watched them from Gaylor, making their way around the large snowfields.

I would wade barefoot across the outlet stream at Tenaya - even when flowing higher and stronger it's not a difficult crossing. Water levels have dropped overall (the Merced in the valley is 10 ft lower than just a couple weeks ago) and so this crossing will not be hard.