Need Advice--Happy Isles-Illoutte - Red Peak Pass-Merced Lk

[scott279]

Doing a 4 night trip. Planning on entering Happy Isles/illoutte TH (permit secured already) to red Peak Pass, merced Lake and then back to HI TH. trying to get advice from those of you that know Yosemite. My 15 y.o. son and I have been backpacking for @ 7yrs. Did Mt Whitney 2 yrs ago. We're in decent shape. Wondering about difficulty and concerned that elevation gain/mileage per day may be too much. Anyone done this loop or similar that could provide info and potential camping spots would be much appreciated. Permit is for 7/22-7/27, but trying to keep it to a 4 nighter, so only 1 bear canister needed.

Thanks.
Scott

[balzaccom]

It is doable in four days, but it will be hard work. Here are the two challenges:

1. Day one, you have to get an early start--not always easy, if you are picking up your permit that morning--to get to Illilouette creek to camp. That's at least eight miles, and the first five miles are a big climb. Once along the Illilouette Creek canyon, you can camp there--but I would try to get as far up as possible. The second day would then take you up to Ottoway Lakes and over Red Peak Pass. That's another long day. If it were me, I would camp at Lower Ottoway---one of our favorite places to camp of all time.

2. Day three then gets you over Red Peak Pass and down as far as Merced Lake. If you made it up over the pass the second day, this shouldn't be a problem....but it's a long day from Lower Ottoway.

Day four then takes you from Merced Lake down to Happy Isles. Another long day, but all downhill.

One thing you may not be considering: all the food for the first day can be outside your bear can...as you will eat it that day. For a four day trip, you only need two dinners, (you'll eat the last dinner in Yosemite Valley) three breakfasts (you'll eat one before you leave, and three lunches (you carry one in your pack, to eat the first day.

We can always get five days worth of food in a Bearvault500 for the two of us following that system,. Remember to repack the dinners into ziplocks so they take up less room, and let the air out of any sealed packaging....

[scott279]

Thanks for the input. We'll possibly camp along the creek the first night and camp at Lower Ottoway on the 2nd night, which would give us fresh legs the next morning to get over the pass and then possibly to Washburn Lake, if Merced Lake is too far. Are you familiar with Washburn and is there camping possibilities there?? Then we could camp at LYV on the 4th night.

Also, thanks for the food advice. I totally didn't think about the food that we would be eating on day 1 would not need to go into the bear vault.

[Grzldvt]

Something to think about, try getting a permit for a Glacier Point start, and save yourself a 2500 ft climb out of the Valley on the first day and then the same drop on the way back. Your overall mileage will be shorter.

[balzaccom]

Or Mono Meadows, which would accomplish the same thing

[scott279]

I initially thought about Glacier PT, but did not want to do that uphill climb at the end, as I am trying to keep it a loop with the same entry/exit point. I don't want to mess around with shuttles and whatnot. It looks like we'll have it tough on the first half of the trip, but should be easier hiking the last day or two.

Anyone know how the camping is at Washburn Lake? ...or is that even a logical camping spot for a 4-nighter??

Thanks. Scott

[AlmostThere]

Personally? If there's a choice between hiking up the trail to Glacier Point wearing a backpack, and tackling the Mist Trail with a backpack - I'm going to Glacier Point. Those steps are MURDER on the joints, and the hundreds of tourists don't give two shakes that you're wobbling on wet granite wearing a backpack, they'll shove you out of the way anyway. Nice sandy trail is kinder to the knees and ankles.

[Grzldvt]

I initially thought about Glacier PT, but did not want to do that uphill climb at the end, as I am trying to keep it a loop with the same entry/exit point. I don't want to mess around with shuttles and whatnot. It looks like we'll have it tough on the first half of the trip, but should be easier hiking the last day or two.

Anyone know how the camping is at Washburn Lake? ...or is that even a logical camping spot for a 4-nighter??

Thanks. Scott

You start and finish at Glacier or Mono Meadow, and it is a loop. no shuttles involved. That climb out at the end is minor compared to going up and back down to the Valley floor.

[scott279]

Thanks for the responses and advice. I think I'm going to stick to my plan. I am not looking foward to the climb on Day 1 and I am sure the advice given here will be in the back of mind all day as we're climbing. Lol Maybe it will make us appreciate the views just that much more.

thanks again for the responses.

[scott279]

Trip report ----(better late than never)

Camped at the backpackers camp the night before.
Day 1: Hit Happy Isle TH the following morning at about 0830. The climb out of the valley didn't really seem to bad. Not saying that it was easy. Maybe we just psyched ourselves up that it was going to be difficult and were prepared for it. Only a handful of dayhikers on the trail going to the waterfalls. Camped along the creek the first night, approximately 3-4 miles from the junction to lower Ottoway and Red Peak Pass. Pretty much uphill the entire way, but not overly difficult.

Day 2: Hiked approximately 6ish miles to Lower Ottoway. Uphill but didn't seem as bad as Day 1. Maybe because only 6 miles. Lot of good camping spots at the lake. Watching the sunrise over Red Peak Pass was pretty awesome.

Day3: Got a much later start then we had hoped and planned. Hit the trail at about 0930. Planned on 0730, but neither my son nor I move very quickly first thing in the morning. We knew this was going to probably be the longest day of the trip, and definitely started regretted the late start as we hit the Pass in the hot sun. Reached the top of the pass, took some pictures and a break. Then we were off again, not knowing if we were going to camp at Washburn or Merced. It was all downhill, or flat, hiking from the Pass. Eventually, we made it to Washburn Lake. Very few camping opportunities here, and they were all taken. My son decided that we would continue to Merced Lake, which was approximately 3 miles from Washburn. The 3 miles were all relatively flat hiking, but we were extremely tired by this time. We finally rolled into Merced Lake HSC at about 8:00 p.m. Found the backpackers camp and set up the bivy sacks. This was our first experience in a High Sierra Camp. I prefer camping in solitude, but i have to admit it, it wasn't as bad as I thought. Met and talked to some good people at the camp. (NOTE: There really didn't appear to be many viable camping opportunities until Washburn Lake)

Day 4: Hit the trail at about 0900 and made it back to the Happy Isles TH at about 3:30. Mostly downhill, but sporadic, short uphill sections too. This day seemed a little tough, but I think it was because we knew we were on the last stretch and looking forward to real food. As we got closer and closer to the Falls, the crowds grew and grew. There were so many people, I forgot we were backpacking. As we got closer to the TH, the crowds got thicker and they didn't care about getting out of the way.

Overall, the trip was great. I am glad we started at Happy Isles, despite the last couple miles coming down. The views on the way up were great. If my math is correct, the trip was about 52 miles. Saw only a handful of people on the trail (not including near the falls and HSC).

Thanks to all those that posted advice.
-Scott

[balzaccom]

Great! Glad that it turned out so well !

[Grzldvt]

Excellent