Monday-Friday August 17-21, 2020

Yosemite High Sierra Camps

Approximately 640 Miles and 10 1/2 Hours from Central Phoenix “stack”,

Type: Backpack Max Rtg/Pts: See Desc. Elev. Change: See Desc Length: 32 miles

Start Time: TBD Duration: 5 days Max No of Part: 8 Last Scouted: Explor

Coordinator Alternate Major Hike: Name Lisa Nguyen Cross-Country: Work Phone Exploratory: Home Phone Individual Effort: Cell Phone 623-451-4791 Options: Email [email protected] Pass/Fees Rqd.:

Required Equipment: backpack, water, snacks/lunches, layered clothing for all types of weather, rain gear, first aid supplies, sun screen, sleeping bag/sheets for cots, head lamp, flash light, radio, extra batteries

Recommended Equipment: hat, sunglasses, hiking poles, water filter, comfortable shoes to walk around camp in, towel, soap, ear plugs, cards, frisbee. Here is a suggested packing list from the Yosemite National Park website: https://www.travelyosemite.com/media/549612/high-sierra-trip_packing-check-list.pdf

Cautions and Special Preparations: Whatever your plans are before this hiking trip, please plan to meet up in front of the Tuolumne Meadows Lodge between 8:30 and 8:45 am on Monday, August 17th. We will start our hike from here no later than 9 am. I plan to have breakfast at the Lodge Monday morning before the hike, so if you care to join me plan on meeting at the Lodge at 7:30 am to eat. We will need to park our cars at the Dog Lake parking lot which is very close to the Lodge.

Description: At this point in time, I do not know when Yosemite will open or if they will even open at all this summer. I am going with the assumption that they will open eventually but will be actively monitoring the national parks website for updates. I will forward any updates via the weekly Kactus Kicker’s emails from Bob as I learn more. I currently have 8 spots for this trip and 7 of them have been claimed. There is one open spot available. If this last spot is not claimed by anyone by Wednesday, July 8th, it will be cancelled. The cost for this trip is $686.72 and I would like payment for the trip by June 30th.

I have not done any of these hikes before so these will all be exploratory and will be considered individual effort hikes. Radios will be required so we can stay in contact with each other.

This will be a backpack trip with five days of hiking. Reservations have been made to stay in the Yosemite High Sierra Camps. We will be sleeping in canvas tents that have a bed with a

(Form update 04/18/2016) mattress, pillow, three woolen blankets, and a comforter. The tents are co-ed dormitory-style and sleep 2-6 guests. Our reservations include dinner (6:30 pm every evening family style) and breakfast (7:30 am every morning family style). Lunches can be purchased at check in for $15.50 (cash or credit card) and picked up the following morning at breakfast. Here is an example of the meals that the Camp provides: https://www.travelyosemite.com/media/820937/high-sierra-camp-menu.pdf

Water is available at the Camp sites, but I plan to bring a water filter to share just in case we need to filter water during the day while hiking. All camps have restroom facilities. Merced and Sunrise have hot showers when sufficient water supply is available. There is no electricity at any of the Camps, but solar lanterns are provided. I would suggest you bring whatever light devices you need just as if you were backpacking without the luxury of the Camp. Wood burning stoves are in the tents at Vogelsang and Sunrise, not at Merced. All Camps have food storage lockers and must be used for bear prevention. Each Camp has a store that is open from 1 to 5 pm. Here is a link to what is at the stores should you forget to pack something or need something on the fly(scroll down to the bottom of this web link page): https://www.travelyosemite.com/lodging/high-sierra-camps/trip-preparation/

Pre High Camp Plan:

I plan to do a hike in Tuolumne Meadow on Sunday, August 18th, to help get accommodated to the high altitude. My tentative plans right now are to stay the night in Lone Pine, CA, on Saturday, August 15th. Then drive up to Tuolumne Meadows on Sunday, August 18th, to do a loop hike of Lembert Dome, Dog Lake, and Soda Springs (~4.5 miles) or hike to Elizabeth Lake (4.8 miles round trip). I plan to stay in the Tuolumne Meadows area the night of Sunday, August 16th. If you wish to join me for this pre High Camp hike, please let me know and we’ll arrange a meet up time.

High Camp Plans:

Day 1 - I would like to leave for Vogelsang no later than 9:00 am to start our hike up to our first camp which is 6.8 miles and 1,400 foot elevation gain from Tuolumne Meadows, so please plan to meet me in front of Tuolumne Meadows Lodge between 8:30 or 8:45 am. I will have my cell phone with me and my radio on should you have difficulty finding me. If everyone would like to leave earlier than this, that is fine with me as well. Here is a link to the Tuolumne Meadow area: https://www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/upload/tmhikes.pdf

Park at the Dog Lake parking area. The hike begins across the road from the Dog Lake parking area (Tuolumne Meadows Shuttle Stop #2). The first two miles of the John Muir Trail are relatively level as they follow the Lyell Fork of the Tuolumne River. At the Rafferty Creek junction, the trail begins its 1,200-foot ascent to Tuolumne Pass. Follow the signs to Vogelsang High Sierra Camp, another 160 feet higher in elevation. This camp is at 10,100 ft. There are 12 tents (42 beds) at this site, no showers, and compost toilets. Since this first hike is relative short, there will be an option to hike to Emeric Lake along Emeric Creek before hiking to Vogelsang. If we take this side loop hike, this will add 5.91 miles to our hiking day.

(Form update 04/18/2016)

Day 2 – This will be a day to hike around in the high sierras. Possible options are Evelyn and Ireland Lakes, Booth Lake, Emeric Lake, Vogelsang Lake, Pass and Peak. We can discuss what everyone would like to do, split off into groups, or just enjoy the day lounging round Yogelsang.

Day 3 – I would like to be on the trail as soon as possible after breakfast so sometime between 8 and 9 am. We will be leaving Vogelsang and heading toward Merced Camp today. There are two ways to get to Merced-either along Fletcher Creek (7.8 miles) or Lewis Creek (8.5 miles). At the moment I’m inclined to take the Lewis Creek route as it will go by Vogelsang and Bernice Lake. Since we have all day to get to Merced the extra .7 miles shouldn’t be a big deal, I hope. The Lewis Creek route will require a 500 ft accent to Vogelsang Pass before starting a nice 2,950 ft. decline down to Merced Camp. There is a spur trail (I believe 2 miles round trip) to Bernice Lake if we would like to take it for a view of the lake. The last mile or two into camp is steep, I believe, and requires walking on small boulders. Merced Camp is at 7,150 ft so it is a little lower and warmer here. There are 18 tents (60 beds) at this site. Showers are available and flushing toilets.

Day 4 – Again, I would like to be on the trail as soon as possible after breakfast so sometime between 8 and 9 am. This day we will be leaving Merced Camp and heading toward Sunrise Camp. Here is a write up from AllTrails on today’s hike “This hike starts out westward along the Merced River, with the water flowing over hard granite, with stark rock faces all about. As the trail crosses Echo creek, you can follow the creek up stream about 300 yards to a lovely hidden waterfall. At a junction a few miles from Merced Lake, the trail heads due north towards Sunrise camp. This section of trail has breathtaking views, but much of the forest appears to dying from a beetle infestation. At about 8 miles or so into the hike the trail moves west, then south, dropping into the spectacular long meadow. Sunrise High Sierra Camp is set on a bluff overlooking this meadow and has one of the loveliest settings in the Sierras. This hike is 9.5 miles and 2,500 ft elevation gain in six miles to the camp. Sunrise Camp is at 9,400 ft. There are 9 tents (34 beds) at this site, showers are available, and compost toilets.

Day 5 – This is our final day on the trail and will take us back to our cars in Tuolumne Meadow. I would like to start this hike no later than 9 am. This hike is 7.5 miles and has a 750 ft. ascent before dropping 1,340 ft into the Tuolumne Meadow area. We will walk by Upper Cathedral Lakes which I hear is a nice place to stop for lunch. There is also a side option to Lower Cathedral Lake (1 mile round trip) which would be nice to see if we have time. The end of this hike will take us to Shuttle Stop #7. Our cars will be at Shuttle Stop #2. We can either take the shuttle back to our cars or walk the 1+ mile to them.

My plans are to stay in Lone Pine, CA, again on Friday, August 21st, before heading home on Saturday.

Driving Directions: From Phoenix, the east entrance into Yosemite National Park is approximately ten and a half hours away. There are multiple ways to get there so I suggest you Google directions and see what works best for you. In Tuolumne Meadows, park at the Dog Lake parking lot where we can leave our cars for the 5 days we will be hiking. You may also leave your car at the Wilderness Center. Reference this map for the Tuolumne Meadow area. https://www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/upload/tmhikes.pdf

(Form update 04/18/2016)

(Form update 04/18/2016)