backpacking - CR and ? Vogelsang area?

[smdavis]

Hi, Friend and I have 5-6 days to spend in the backcountry late June. We normally prefer less impacted ares, but friend has it in her head that cloud's rest must be part of the route. Any advice for a route that works in CR and then a good sampling of less heavily traveled High Country? We are experienced hikers, not adverse to moderately long days and big climbs, cross country OK.
Thanks!

[balzaccom]

Sure, YOu could start at the Nelson Lake (Elizabeth Lake) trailhead, and go cross country to Nelson Lake. Follow Nelson Creek down Echo Canyon, all XC, until you get to Echo Valley. From there you can hike up and camp on Sunrise Creek, do Cloud's Rest, and hike out to Tenaya Lake.

Want more fun? Stay on the south/east side of Tenaya Lake, and then go XC up along Cathedral Creek to Cathedral Lakes...and from there, you can get back to Tuolumne MEadows...not far from the original trailhead.

[smdavis]

Sounds good...do you have a particular spot to recommend for camping along Sunrise creek? How about Echo lake, Mathis Lake or Sunrise Lakes? We do like to swim:) I was thinking we could do CR as a dayhike from one of those camps. Would it be crazy to then drop back down and up Lewis creek, camp somewhere in the Vogelsang area (recommendation?)-, then out via Evelyn lake and Lyell fork trail?

[balzaccom]

Sorry--I was in Tuscany for a few days!

WE don't usually recommend specific campsites---but you can certainly find nice place to camp in those areas. And if you don't mind a short hike, Emeric Lake is nice, near Tuolumne Pass, below Vogelsang

[smdavis]

Quick trip report: 5-day trip from 6/17-6/21: Nelson Lake (thanks for the tip, spectacular scenery all down Echo canyon, easy route finding for a x-country adventure). Bugs wicked at lakeside, absolutely non-existent 100 yards away at our campsite-with-a-view. Day 2 down canyon then UP to Sunrise = wow! HSC deserted, backpackers camp had several groups, love that composting toilet:) Long meadow was amazing as were the views from our campsite. Day 3 past Sunrise lakes, up Cloud's rest (left packs at the junction), then down to camp between Sunrise and Echo canyons along the trail towards Merced Lake - grand views and total solitude! Next day passed Merced Lake (HSC abuzz with set-up activity) and UP Up Up to Volgelsang - not too cold and of course lovely. Out via Rafferty to make the drive home in daylight. There were mosquitos in some of the meadows but not one in any of our campsites. Almost no snow. Wildflowers more sparse than in wetter years but still ever present. Meadows green and lush. We saw no one on the lesser-traveled trails, lots on CR trail and between Merced Lake and Volgelsang. Spectacular weather with sunny days and cold nights (frost:). Can't believe our luck at hitting perfect conditions!
Thanks for the advice, it was a memorable and grand adventure!

[balzaccom]

That;s great! We want photos!