Is this 5-night route reasonable?

[mclaffey]

Here's the route: http://i.imgur.com/hDGLP.jpg(also attached).

We'd be heading clockwise in a 6 day / 5 night trip with camps around 1st) El Capitan, 2nd) North Dome, 3rd) Teneya Lake, 4th) Merced Lake, 5th) Clouds Rest.

I have done several backpacking trips before but have never been to Yosemite. I've looked at the trail distances but am looking for a sanity check.

Group is 4 thirty-somethings in reasonably good running shape.

We are planning on June 19th-26th, so any feedback on weather, stream crossings, travel over snow would be much appreciated.

First time here, was pointed to this forum by reddit.com/r/yosemite, thanks in advance!
Mike

[balzaccom]

Defintely doable. But it would help to have a bit more information about you.

Have you been to Yosemite before? I been there a lot, so the idea of hiking to Merced Lake doesn't make sense on this route. Too much hiking to spend a night with too many other people. From Tenaya Lake to Merced Lake is a good hike...

And given that you are aiming for June, there is a good chance of having a lot of snow on parts of this trail--so drop us a note in six months and we'll be able to give you more info on that part of things.

[mclaffey]

Thanks so much for the reply!

To answer your question, I have not been to Yosemite before. This route is all based on reading what people recommend seeing, so if you have any suggested changes or other areas we should try, please let me know.

Re: Merced Lake - good to know, we may drop that then.

Re: snow - any feedback on which of these areas are most likely to be ill-advised?

Thanks,
Mike

[QITNL]

Hey Mike -

Welcome to the discussion. Forums like this are a good source of info, particularly when it comes to current conditions and such. But I'd recommend you start with a book. This one is fairly standard, its pretty good:

Yosemite National Park: A Complete Hikers Guide [Paperback]
Jeffrey P. Schaffer
http://www.amazon.com/Yosemite-National ... 0899973833

He covers the trail you sketched, with details regarding campsites, water sources, trail difficulties, scenic points, side trips, history, geology, flora and fauna, etc. It will give you the basics and ideas for other areas of the park.

Last year we had a surplus of snow; in June quite a bit of your path was covered but not impassable. Hiking out of the valley was the only option at that point.

This year we are running at a deficit. That could change if we get a monster dump in the next couple of months, but if the Tioga Road is open mid-June and conditions permit, you may wish to start from one of its trailheads. Less effort, and way less crowded.

Have a great trip.

[bill-e-g]

Of course I will mention yosemitenews.info

Ok, I'll say a few other things...
If you are thinking 1/2/3/4/5 is where you are camping... you cannot camp at Tenaya Lake.
You would have to go up to Sunrise.
I never hike BY Olmsted Pt. when the road is open. Why? Well... the last thing I want to do
is go on a hike and be in the middle of it and run across THAT many people.
Perhaps you want to split it into a couple of trips?
The reason being... I think you are overestimating ... yes, it meets the 10 miles/day...
but there is sooo much to explore... you MAY be missing alot. For example, if you
don't go up Eagle Peak... and you went over to El Cap... then you made a mistake...
and if you go to El Cap... well... you should REALLY go right to the edge...
and that involves a 500 ft. climb down and back up.
With respect to Merced Lake... sure, maybe you don't want to camp at the HSC
there... but it is definitely worthwhile to go to the outlet at the minimum b/c
there is some great cascades there...

Anyway, best of luck and enjoy
(and please Leave No Trace)

[bill-e-g]

I forgot to mention that I second the recommendation of Shaffer's book.
I bought my copy many years ago now.. and it's dog eared to no end.
Lots of great information on the trails and the geology of the park.

[mclaffey]

bill-e-g, QITNL, balzaccom - just wanted to say I've been reading all posts and very much appreciate the help!

If anyone else reads this posts and wants to add their two cents, even if just to second what has already been said, please feel free to chime in.

Thanks all!
Mike

[SoCalCPA]

I have planned a five day trip right after you are there - Balzacomm turned me on to this trail and you might want to check it out as an alternative - It's the Ottoway Lake loop - starts at Mono Meadows going south and loops back to the Valley at Happy Isles - You can visit backpackthesierra.com and see his notes and pictures on the hike - Great site

Another great site I found through the links was Sierra Trails page at http://www.doylewdonehoo.com/sierratrails.html - Another excellent resource for this hike and many others in Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada

Have fun!

[Grzldvt]

I am with the majority, this looks cool on paper but for us that know the park, this is not a good backpack trip. I like the Ottoway trip, also, look at starting at Glacier Point, going up the Illilouette Canyon, over Red Peak Pass, onto the Merced HSC through the Merced River Canyon and back to Glacier Point. The slug up Illouette is boring IMO, but once you reach Ottoway and beyond it is one of the better areas of the park. Not a big fan of staying in Little Yosemite Valley, but we stayed on the outskirts and it was not a bad site at all.
The recommendation to get Shaffer's book is the best. He has put together many awesome trips.

[mclaffey]

We are leaving for this trip this week and I just wanted to ask about any mosquito / snow / weather / trail concerns.

I appreciated previous responses that suggested some better backpacking areas, but for a variety of reasons we elected to stick with this route and have a wilderness permit out of Happy Isles. That being said, open to route modifications.

Going counter-clockwise:
Day 1 - Happy Isle trailhead up to camp at Echo Valley
Day 2 - Visit Merced Lake, up to camp in Sunrise Creek (reasonable to camp here?)
Day 3 - Visit Cloud's Rest, camp at Sunrise Lakes
Day 4 - day hikes, don't change camp
Day 5 - Visit Tenaya Lake, head southwest to camp around Snow Creek (reasonable to camp here?)
Day 6 - Continue southwest, visit North Dome, Eagle Peak (unsure of camp location)
Day 7 - Visit top of El Capitan, hike down into valley

[Grzldvt]

Mosquitoes will be horrendous along this route. Snow will be clear based on my trip last week. Enjoy

[bill-e-g]

There's next to no snow. It's crazy. Just ridiculous.
If you find some... count yourself lucky.
Welcome to Mosquito season. It's gonna be bad for a few weeks.
I'll take hiking over the 4th in 100% snow cover over 100% mosquito cover.
Have fun

[mclaffey]

Yikes on mosquitos and thanks for the heads up. Our wilderness permit is out of Happy Isles, is there a different route we should take or specific areas to avoid?

[Grzldvt]

Yikes on mosquitos and thanks for the heads up. Our wilderness permit is out of Happy Isles, is there a different route we should take or specific areas to avoid?

Not really, welcome to early season in the Sierra. Sunrise may be your worst bet for skeeters and less around Cloud's Rest, but I would make sure you are very, very well prepared, and if you have a chance, pick up some ExOfficio mosquito repellent clothing.

[mclaffey]

grzldvt & bill-e-g,

Thanks for your recent responses and again for your earlier posts.

We've got DEET, permethrin sprayed clothing and mosquito nets following your warning.

Thanks,
Mike