Ten Lakes Basin in late June

[mozierfamily]

I applied for a wilderness permit around the 3rd week in June and received my second choice, a May Lake to 10 Lakes Basin trip (the first was a Glacier Pt to Merced Lake trip). I realize this may or may not pan out depending on whether Tioga Rd is open or not. But assuming the road is clear, what type of conditions would you typically expect in the 3rd week of June around 9000' elevation? Ideally our group would like to go by way of May Lake and the passes around 9900' elevation to get there, but I'm also aware of a lower elevation (and shorter) route via Yosemite Creek. Not sure if this will be too high up for June 20 or so. Does anyone have experience or thoughts on this? I'm wondering if I should come up with a good Plan B just in case we have heavy snow this winter. We're going to do the Vogelsang loop in July and we're looking for a good early season trip as well.

[dan]

Typically patchy snow at that elevation. Snow is melting fast in June. During high-snow years, it's too much to hike through. During high-snow, Yosemite Creek (south of Tioga Road), El Cap, and North Dome are good alternatives. If the snow is real high, you can hike out of Wawona or Hetch Hetchy.

[mozierfamily]

Thanks Dan. Would those that you mentioned be overnight trips or would any be something you might spend a couple of nights doing an out and back or loop trail? I was wondering about Mono Meadow also as an alternate trailhead to Glacier Point, but have never been up that way.

[dan]

Yes those are overnight trips. Not very difficult though--you can quickly see the north rim country in a 3 days or so.

Starting from Glacier Point or Mono Meadow trailhead are about the same difficulty (Mono is a little bit longer than from Glacier Point)--if you're heading to Merced Lake. However, I greatly prefer Glacier Point as a trailhead for a few reasons:

* One of the best views of Yosemite Valley
* Ice cream when you're done
* View of Illouette Fall along the way--rarely seen or known, but worthwhile to see if you're in the area.

[mozierfamily]

Those both seem like good options. For North Rim, which is the nicer out-and-back trail? Tamarack to El Cap OR Yosemite Creek to the falls?

I looked at the topo map for Mono Meadow and was wondering where you're technically allowed to join the route to LYV...can you just hike north to the trail junction with the Panorama Trail or do you take the east fork and hook up closer to the Nevada Fall area?

[dan]

Tamarack to El Cap is better, but longer, because you can also see North Dome and Yosemite Point along the way.

A shorter trip is just along Yosemite Creek to the falls.

As for Mono Meadow trail and the trail east of Glacier Point, they both join in a few ways. I would hook up with the Panorama Trail as soon as you can (in other words, just hang left at a trail junction near Illilouette Creek). Don't miss Illilouette Falls!

[mozierfamily]

Thanks Dan - we've got loads of good options now.

[mozierfamily]

I realize this is an old topic, but any thoughts on how bad the mosquitos might be? My point of reference is a trip we took about 10 years ago down to Glen Aulin the last week of June. Days were pleasant but early evening was pretty heavy. Just wondering how this upland area is going to compare along Yosemite Creek from Tioga Rd down to Upper Yosemite Falls where we've opted to do the overnighter...

[Grzldvt]

Difficult to tell, but we have some some very cool weather it will delay the mosquito outcoming. With the very low snow level and a hot May they may be at prim in early June versus mid to late, if May is cool, I would plan on heavy mosquito's.

[oakroscoe]

I was up Cherry Creek out of Cherry Lake at about 5300 feet in the Emigrant Wilderness last weekend and the mosquitoes were just starting to hatch, so I suspect that they will be in their prime come June.