2 night trip (May 15th) Sunrise Lakes, Clouds Rest, Valley

[scottkidder]

Are we crazy to try this trip this early in the year? With the mild winter I'm hoping most of the snow will be gone as we are not generally winter hikers. But this is our first trip to Yosemite and we really want to see clouds rest since half dome isn't open yet.

Here is my plan and some questions in bold

Shuttle from valley to Sunrise lakes trailhead. Will the YARTS or Hikers Shuttle start earlier in the season if weather permits? If not, what other options are there?
First day (acclimation day) is an easy 4 miles from Tenaya Lake to camp at Sunrise lakes. Are there any recommended campsites at Sunrise lakes?
Day 2 is the climb to clouds rest and then down towards Little Yosemite. We'd like to avoid the crowds at Little Yosemite, any recommended camping sites? Along sunrise creek perhaps?
Day 3 is the quick trip down the mist trail and out to the valley for a celebratory beer!

If you've got experience with this section let me know what you would change, modify, do differently.

Thanks in advance!

[AlmostThere]

i would lay odds that the road will be closed til memorial day. the plow was half done when more snow dropped on the pass last week. i was slogging through 8 inches at 6000 feet last Sunday.

[scottkidder]

Below is an article from April 30th indicating that the road could open as soon as this Saturday (5/3) or Sunday (5/4). Apparently it was scheduled to open last Friday until the weekend storm came.

http://www.fresnobee.com/2014/04/30/3903672/trail-mix-for-51-used-gear-sale.html?sp=/99/330/

We'll see I guess, but even if it doesn't make it this weekend I do think there is a good chance it will open before our trip on the 15th as long as no more storms come through and I don't see anything major in the forecast.

[AlmostThere]

Forecasted snow in the near future... sorry. Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday of next week. It's been snowing roughly every other week.

[scottkidder]

Bummer for our trip, but I know they need the precipitation out there.

What is a good site for weather forecasts in the higher elevations of Yosemite? I've been using this link for weather at Tuolumne Meadows. It shows a 30% chance of rain on Tuesday but that's all.

http://www.wunderground.com/weather-forecast/US/CA/Tuolumne_Meadows.html

Is there a better or more accurate site to go to for higher elevation weather?

I really appreciate all of your responses!!

[AlmostThere]

I use NOAA, where supposedly the weather reporters all get their information, and navigate the map to find the location I am interested in.

Here is Tuolumne Meadows per NOAA:
http://forecast.weather.gov/MapClick.ph ... 2JZZseKw4c

The forecasted lows are precisely what I would expect given current conditions and the pattern of lows we've had. It will be 18F up there Tuesday night. Not sure what is going on with Wunderground but they are likely using the forecast for Yosemite Valley, which is much lower.

The 20% chance will fluctuate as the date gets closer - it may go up, or down, but I suspect it will increase.

[scottkidder]

Thanks again, this is great!

[RickM]

Looks like the road should be open tomorrow midday:

http://www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/conditions.htm

Don't know what will happen with the weather next week, but for now...

Rick M.

[paula53]

The shuttle busses won't be in operation until June.

[AlmostThere]

Likely the campground, store, etc won't open this early either.

For info on the hiker bus call Yosemite Lodge - for info on YARTS, check their webpage. But most things are opening on their normal schedule - sometime in June.

[scottkidder]

I was able to find a private hiker's taxi service to give us a ride to our trailhead.

Below is a link to their site in case anyone else comes across this thread in search of transportation before the public options are open.

http://www.mammoth-taxi.com/index.php