Yosemite-Tuolumne Meadows August trip!

“I'm planning a week in the beautiful Tuolumne Meadows area of Yosemite, Ca. August 19-24. It's just me and my brother so far.

I'd like to do the Glen Aulen trail and do a loop. Still researching the options though. There's so many!!!

At that time of year, the weather is perfect for swimming in gorgeous alpine lakes with temps in the high 70's to mid 80's, surrounded by plenty of granite domes & peaks.

Overnight permits are required & I'll check how early I can request one on the site this weekend. Bear cans are also required & they can be rented at the ranger station which is the same place to pick up the permit. Although, last year at that time, I think they only had two left so we'd be taking our chances. Might be a good idea to rent or buy them from someplace like REI ahead of time.

I'll get back, if there's any interest & let you know more details!”

“Hi everyone,

Even though no one has responded :), I thought I'd bring this back up to the top in case the post got lost among all the others. There are 5 people confirmed. One gal from Missouri who read this post but only responded to my personal email. So we have two guys and three girls going so far. That's a first! More girls than guys!

We're leaving on Aug 17-21. A Saturday through Wednesday.

The loop I want to take is below & if any interest, I will post the total mileage later.

Start at the Soda Springs trailhead north to Glen
Aulen on the Pacific Crest Tahoe trail, then south on
same trail to McGee Lake, down past Murphy Creek to
Tenaya Lake. Follow the trail south to Sunrise Lakes,
then to the Sunrise High Sierra Camp. Then north on
the John Muir trail to Colmubia Finger to Tresidder
Peak to Cathedral Lakes towards Cathedral Peak then back to the Soda Springs trailhead.”

“hikerchic5,
I might be interested in doing at least part of the trip (Saturday to Monday). I say part only because time off work may be hard to come by. Keep me posted as Yosemite is in my backyard...well almost!

The Backcountry”

“Put me down as tentative. I can do the Sat/Sun part of the trip.”

“Hi everyone!
Glad to hear that you might be coming along hikin Mike and snow nymph!

Ok, I have a few more details about the trip. I'm going to get the permit for 8 or 10 & will either call them tomorrow or mail it if I can't get through.

My friend did these figures starting at the Cathedral Lakes parking area but it's about the same as Soda Springs parking area I believe:

28 miles total length
4557' total elevation gain
4642' total elevation loss
Approximate average gain or loss per mile: 328 feet

There is only one part that I would say is kind of strenuous and that's the Tenaya Canyon area to Sunrise Lakes. I think it's a 1000' elevation gain in 1 mile. The rest is really pretty level.

If anyone else would like to go with the group after tomorrow, go ahead and reserve a spot for the same trail by either mailing or calling the park & then watch the posts closer to the date for the times to meet. So far, it's 5 for sure and 2 tentative.”

“Hikin Mike, Thanks for sharing that link. Great pics and info!”

“hikerchic5,
Your quite welcome, glad you liked it! Thanks for signing my Trailhead Register also.

Hope to go on part of your hike in August, if Mt. Whitney doesn't do me in! Just got my day hike permit reservation letter for August 7 a few days ago!

The Backcountry”

“hikerchic- Looks like a solid trip plan. That section From Glen Aulin to Tenaya is going to be incredible. Never done that.

It would be great to join you, but I've got my permit for the JMT leaving about a week earlier. Not sure how far I'll make it.”

“It's too bad that you can't join us. It would have been nice to meet you! Next time!

Have fun on your trip and good luck!

Hikin Mike, I called last week and reserved the permit! Hope you can make it! Good luck up on Whitney!”

“Hikin Mike are you doing the HST? I am planning a trip to do HST and Whitney next summer. I'd be interested in a trip report!

Have a good time all.”

“Tango313
Sorry, no High Sierra Trail. I'm doing Mt. Whitney as a one-day "Death March", as one member of our group calls it, August 7, 2002. I will add the Mt. Whitney trip report/photos to my website The Backcountry when I return.

hikerchick,
As I told you previously, I won't be able to do the whole hike. I put August 17 & 18 on my calendar, so I'm going to try and make it. Where do you plan to spend the first night?”

“WLD and I are doing the dayhike Aug 5th!”

“hikerchic-

Next time sounds good here. Make sure to take that camera with you. Just too much to miss and forget. You hafta make the outing unforgettable. Immortal.”

“Roger that, Tango.

Did that trail a couple of years ago. Check it out here: High Sierra Trail

Over and out.-”

“Snow Nymph,
How many days will you be up there? We are coming up August 6 and leaving August 8. We are staying at the Whitney Portal Campground, space #23 I think.”

“I'll be there for the dayhike. Driving up the 4th from Los Angeles, or maybe a roll thru from WY. We're dayhiking Mt Whitney and I expect to be back at the trailhead between 4:30-5:00. Hopefully I'll be home by 10 or 11 pm (3.5-4 hr drive). Gotta get back to work. Looks like we'll miss you by a day. WLD & JDSmiling might stay another day. I think WingDing might be there too.”

“Well hello there SN, been awhile, hope all's well eh. Hey HC5, I have some fambly due on that week, if it pans out I'll be there for the weekend with yuns, at the very least. At the very least I can hike to campsite 1 and meet everyone. I have ya scratched in on my calendar, so I'll keep in touch.”

“Hikerchic, I'm sorta playing it by ear on this one... we'll be coming off two weeks on the JMT on or about the 17th, and though I haven't worked out transportation from Whitney, doing another few days up your way is intriguing. I'll probably have to head up that way by thumb anyway, then head into Yosemite Valley to try and connect with transportation to my ride. That'll probably mean my car ends up at a friend's place near Fresno, but haven't even discussed that one yet.

If I'm up to it, I might consider joining you, but probably would be a spontaneous thing... I'll keep you posted.

Tekapo, when are your JMT dates? Might we see you on the trail?”

“Obi,
If I do this one, I might be able to pick you up at Lone Pine Fri night. When do you think you'll be coming out? I can take 2 people w/2 packs in the truck.

NA,
Would be nice to see you again.

Gotta get my calendar together.”

“hikin Mike, I was thinking the backpackers camp. If we get up there around noon, we should have a good chance of grabbing a site there. If not, we can head on towards Glen Aulen and then camp anywhere as long as it's at least 1 mile from the Glen Aulen camp ground. I just didn't want to start a long hike that day because I wanted to get acclimated. Once we get there, I will post a message on the bulletin board in front of the store which is in front of the backpackers campground. For anyone who is familiar with this area, do you have any other suggestions?

tekapo,I will for sure have my camera and take plenty of pics! I will also do a trip report. Wow! What a site! As in website! Very impressive! Thanks for sharing that! Yep! I agree with you that we hafta hafta make it unforgetable & immortal!!!! You're going with us next time, right!?

Hey naked! Sure hope you can make it! It would be nice to finally meet you! Will your wife be joining you if you come? How do you like your new town? You're in Vacaville right?

Obi!!! It would be great to see you again! I'm glad to hear that you are cutting your JMT a little shorter because weren't you going till the 20th? Did you see snow nymph's offer? Hopefully you can hitch a ride with her since she's going to try coming up this way anyway.

I got the reservation letter in the mail the other day! I'm getting excited already!”

“hikerchic,
Are you talking about staying at the backpacker-only camp at the Tuolumne Meadows Campground (Aug 17)?”

“Hey it looks like I might be able to get up there Monday thru Thursday, where would you plan to be on Monday? I might be able to do a cross country route to meet up with your group, or find another trail to that point.

Let me know, it would be great to meet some of the people I keep typing to on TT. Besides, I live in Fresno and can be there in a flash.

^^^”

“Those are great photos. I'm Jonesn' even more to do the trail! Can't wait till next year! I sure want to 10-33 (expedite) 10-4?”

“SN, At this point, I can't really say exactly when we'll be coming out, though I know that one should be easy. Since I've never hiked this section, I can only go by what my maps tell me, what I feel confident I can do in mileage each day, and also anticipate diversions from that schedule.

I haven't allowed much time for "layover" days, but if push comes to shove, we'll adapt. Day 12 is the 16th, so that's what current plan is expected to end up with.

In your experience, how many times have your scheduled plans taken a diversion, for whatever reason?”

“hikerchic5- Please keep me in mind for up-and-coming trips you might have. Something might actually work out.

Obi Wan- The JMT trip starts 8/10 with a pace of about 8 to 10 miles per day. Give or take. I think I may have found some partners to go along too. It's gonna be a busy busy season.

Tango- Of course you know that once you do a trip like that, it just doesn't end. Something happens out there. You shed. You might come back banged up a bit, but you're the better for it.

After this year's JMT, the PCT's gonna get in the blood. I just know it.”

“hikin Mike, Yes, I planned on the backpackers only camp in Tuolumne Meadows. Are you familiar with that store that's right in front?

hey thinair! It would be great to have to you! Let me take a look at the map and see approx. where we'd be on that day. I think we'll be doing about 7 miles per day so I'll get back to you.

tekapo, you got it!”

“I know the campground and store. Since I only have Saturday and Sunday, and you guys aren't hitting the trail (it seems) until Sunday, I don't think I'll be there.

If I find myself in that area for a day hike (very possible) I'll stop in to say hi, as I would like to meet you guys!”

“Ditto to you too HC5, I like to meet as many as I can out West here, it's hard with all these lil people runnin' around the house tho. I'll be solo if I come, my deaarest does the kinda hikin' that's under a fancy roof, hehe. I'm in Fairfield, I like it pretty good, more due the fact that it's sorta centrally located for a good many adventure. Are you close to here?”

“Like Mike, I will want to hike or do something while I'm out there. If the JMTers aren't out when I drive by Lone Pine, I'll probably hike Sat & Sun, and meet up with you on Sat night at the TM campground. I'll keep checking this thread.”