Newbie backpacker needing help with weather in June

[potatopants88]

Hello! So I didn't plan on going back to Yosemite this year, but I got the itch and don't know if I can keep myself away. I haven't yet been to the park when Tioga Road is open, so I don't really have much of a concept in my head of what things are like up there, so I hope you can help me know what to expect.

We would like to hike to Clouds Rest and camp somewhere near it so we can continue on to Half Dome early the next day. I'd like to go the last week of June. Tioga Rd should be open based on year's past, but I know anything can happen. I noticed though, that the Tuolomne Meadows campground seems to open almost a full month later than the road. Why is that? And is that any indication of the trail conditions to Clouds Rest? This will be our first backpacking experience and I'm not sure that doing it in the snow will win over any hearts. I'm also considering day hikes to Cathedral Lakes and Mono Pass. And Glen Aulin could be an alternative to Clouds Rest.

I would like to go as early as possible because we have a trip to Glacier NP planned for the end of August, so I want to spread out the vacations as much as I can. But I don't want to camp in the snow. So is the last week of June a good idea, or a bad one?

Thanks!!

[dan]

Just because Tioga Road is open doesn't mean the snow is gone. Usually it's still there. June is iffy for backpacking in the high country. It might work in a dry year, but usually not. Mid-July would be better. Early July might work on an average snow year. You have to watch the weather and snow level--too early to tell yet, although it's dry so far.

[orion]

you should expect snow in the high country in june, even in a dry year. you could consider it a trade off for mosquitos and wildflowers, which will both be running rampant as soon as the snow melts. i would suggest finding the snowline and doing a bit on both sides of it. spring snow is hard, about like a snow cone consistency, and doesn't require snowshoes.