4 day trip in June

[aqueous]

Hi all,

My boyfriend and I are planning on taking a 4-day backpacking trip in Yosemite in June. We're both in decent shape, but he hasn't been backpacking before, so we preferably like to keep the mileage to around 10 miles/day or less. Our possible dates are either starting around June 6th or the 20th. We have looked into a few possible itineraries, but would appreciate any feedback or suggestions you might have!

1) Lyell Canyon/Rafferty Creek to Vogelsang
2) Glacier Point or Mono Meadows to Ottoway Lakes (we thought about doing the loop that continues on through Red Peak Pass, but it seemed a bit early in the year snow-wise and a bit long mileage-wise for a four-day trip with someone who hasn't backpacked before)

We'd be very open to other suggestions for 4-day trips (loops would be great!) from trailheads that still have wilderness permits available.

Does anyone have any perspective on what the snow conditions will be like at that time of year (early-mid June)?

Also, we read that the hiker's bus only runs on weekends until July, but may start daily service earlier. Does anyone know anything about this? If it's not running, we'd be restricted to hikes starting/ending at the same trailhead.

[balzaccom]

It's always hard to say at this point in the year. Seems like it has snowed more in the last two weeks than all of the previous months of so-called winter. Right now snow level is down below 4500 feet....but you can expext that to change.

The Mono Meadows to Ottoway trip should be pretty easy===since the trail is fairly clear, and just heads up the canyon. You can stop at any point along illilouette Creek and it will still be pleasant.

Lyell Canyon is a light higher, so will carry snow longer. And Rafferty below Tuolumne Pass will certainly have snow, as it is on a north slope for a while.

Best to check conditions closer to the date. If you are only going to walk through/on top of some snow from time to time, it's nothing to worry about. And that's what I would bet on at this point.

But camping on snow is a whole different kettle of fish...so check before you hit the trail. We had snow at 5,000 feet a few years ago by Lake Eleanor in June....

[AlmostThere]

Ten miles a day is really ambitious for someone who's never backpacked. You should take him on an overnight or two before going high elevation and four days. If the pack doesn't fit right or the shoes don't work, better to figure it out on a four miles out/back trip than a 30 miler.

I would take him to Saddlebag and go easy on the loop there.

[AndersonSmith]

Having lived in California for awhile, I believe that the snow is more-or-less gone during that time. Moreover, a friend in Mariposa says that it becomes very hot and dry at that time.

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online bus ticket

[AlmostThere]

Well, someone in Mariposa would find it dry - that's low elevation.

Snow depends on the weather in the months preceding. A foot of snow was dropped on Tioga Pass last week and it is snowing again. While it's spring snow and nothing like a typical winter, the high country could very well have some inches left in early June.Just a few inches can obscure a trail. So that may have an impact on trip plans for those who are not able to navigate themselves well without a trail.

You may have lived in California for "a while" but it's clear you haven't gone to high elevations much. In a typical snow year there's still quite a lot above 9,000 feet in June in the Sierra. Some years, the PCT thru hikers have to yoyo north and come back to do the high Sierra in August after the passes finally clear enough. Those veteran backpackers who like long trips without snow or mosquitoes that hatch during snowmelt often have to wait til September.

[AlmostThere]

You can observe the difference between elevations on Wired's PCT blog from 2011.
'11 was one of the low snow years, and yet, repeatedly there are miles of snowy hiking at higher elevations. In July.

http://www.walkingwithwired.com/p/pct-2011.html

Click on Day 66, and then check out days 67-68. Wawona is roughly the same elevation as Mariposa. The JMT is a higher route than the PCT, which, as you click around, you see the PCT also had some snow that year...

This year is different, but there is still some snow. It can also snow any month of the year up there, any year.