3-Day Hikes from White Wolf

[njg123]

Hello - every year I plan a Yosemite backpacking trip for my family (Dad, sisters, husband). I've been accused of making these trips too hard - our last 3-day hike was Hetch Hetchy to Lake Vernon with has over 9,000' elevation gain/loss and very little tree cover for most of the first day and I was NOT popular.

The request this year was something easier, ~7,000' g/l or less, around 20 miles. I planned to do Glen Aulin to Waterwheel Falls with perhaps a side trip, but couldn't get the permits. The permits I got were White Wolf entry and exit for Aug 2.

Any suggestions? 2-day hikes are ok, because we can do side trips and just stay in the backcountry longer. I am going to suggest White Wolf to Smith Peak, but my worry is that the trail may sometimes be hard to find (the last time we did Smith Peak we lost the trail and whacked through thorn bushes, although we entered at Smith Mather).

Maybe White Wolf to Ten Lakes?

Any suggestions, please give me an idea of the mileage, rough estimate about elevation and where to camp. More mileage is ok if the elevation gain/loss is less. Shade is a huge bonus.

[hotrod4x5]

Unfortunately this forum is a ghost town these days. Go here and ask your question http://yosemitenews.info/forum/index.php

[dan]

From White Wolf you can hike down to Pate Valley then up the Tuolumne River past Waterwheel Falls and Glen Aulin. Come out at Tuolumne. You can also hike down then back up to White Wolf. The problem is it's a long, hot hike heading uphill returning to White Wolf. Coming out of Tuolumne is more gradual. Either way, it's lower elevation at Pate Valley and hoter.

You can hike south from White Wolf toward Yosemite Creek and explore the creek all along to Yosemite Falls.