3 nts out / snow ?s / Tuolumne Meadows / HHetchy

[chicagoman]

Looking to do three nights out in the backcountry next weekend with friends. All experienced backpackers, but no climbing & very little experience hiking through snow. We wouldn't want to camp on snow with our gear.

Originally I was hoping we could go out of Tuolumne Meadows trailheads and head up toward some of the lakes via Rafferty Creek Trail or Lyell Canyon. I had heard conditions were very dry and thought that maybe we'd be lucky to go early. Had great weather early May last year in King's Canyon. I'm wondering if anyone can comment on routes up to any of the 10k foot lakes on any of the trails in the area?

Assuming there's too much snow in that part of the park, does anyone have suggestions for other routes that may be available? Could we do Lake Vernon from Hetch Hetchy area? It'd be great if we could do a figure eight up the Moraine Ridge Trail and up towards Lake Avonelle, but that's 8k feet so that might be snowy there too?

Any help much appreciated. Can't wait to hit the trail!

[AlmostThere]

Last week, there was snow above 9000 feet. This weekend it's melting out.

What there will be lots of is mosquitos, at some point in the near future, and the trail past Wapama Falls is buried under a rockslide. You'll probably be fine going from Beehive to Vernon.

[chicagoman]

Thanks for the info on the rockslide.

If the snow is melting out this weekend, so you think next weekend will be clear to go through the Vogelseng area without snow gear/training. That was my original plan and top choice, though I've also since read that Rafferty Creek sits on the north face and is often snowier. That was my plan back out to the trailhead.

What about Red Peaks Pass? If snow is melting, maybe we could do a big loop past the Ottoway Lakes > Red Peaks Pass > Merced Lake and back out? Does anyone have information on the snow melt up there?

[balzaccom]

I have read that the trail to Rancheria Falls is now open...

Red Peak Pass will still have a ton of snow on the North Side. A good place to use your snow and ice skills. That's not a trip I would like to do right now...

[chicagoman]

Yeah, after reading more, it looks like Red Peak Pass will have more snow obstacles than Vogelsand.

Does anyone have an update (last week or so) from the Vogelsang / Catherdral Peaks or Lyell Canyon area / trails? I'm heading there this weekend and will report back when I return. Hoping for some more information before I head out so I don't have to turn back if I encounter too much snow. Would rather do a loop in HHetchy in that case.

[chicagoman]

So we went out of Tuluomne Meadows from the Wilderness permit station. Leaving on Sat. morning (6/7), we went up Rafferty Creek and camped the first night around Vogelsang. There was still a bit of snow up there on a few patches of the trail, but everything was pretty much wide open. Plenty of dry ground for camping and beautiful views with snow up on the sides of the peaks.

Sunday we went down past Emeric Lake and toward Merced. A few of the meadows were pretty buggy, but Vogelsang wasn't bad. We booked it through the meadows where there was stagnant water to keep out of the bugs. There are some beautiful cascades this time of year along the trail. We went on past Merced HSC into Echo Valley to set up camp on Sunday night. Quite pleasant and plenty of water in the area.

Monday we headed up again (-3000 day before, and +3000 this day) toward Sunrise. We had heard it was buggy up in the area, and the reports were accurate. We didn't head into the camp, but got water in a meadow at the trail junction. I've never seen mosquitoes so thick! Luckily as we hiked north again we got out in the open a bit and the breeze picked up. Bug nets that my friend brought saved us. We hiked on along a while getting close to Upper Catherdral Lake to camp. The lake was gorgeous @ sunset and we got up for sunrise as well. We booked it out the last section and then spent the afternoon in the Valley swimming in the river under El Capitan!

Wish I could get out to the Sierras more often! Hope this report helps some people with plans. I wouldn't worry about snow @ all. It was a hot week and last weekend everything was fine already. Get out and enjoy!

Sorry no pics, my wife is in charge of them and she's busy....