High Lakes of Yosemite National Park, California

The Trip

Bask in the glorious late summer light while trekking on-trail to the remote Lyell Fork of the Merced River. Leaving Tuolumne Meadows, we cross the Cathedral Range and Vogelsang Pass into a land of idyllic basins beneath the commanding peaks of the Merced River headwaters. Our loop offers panoramas of the Clark Range and up-close views of Mount Ansel Adams and Electra Peak.

Our eight-day loop will cover more than 50 miles, all on-trail. It features one planned layover day, allowing us to enjoy sky-blue lakes amid glacial cirques, relax in lush meadows aside meandering streams, swim in bracing mountain waters, or perhaps climb a peak. John Muir loved to roam this magical region of fabled beauty and we will have the opportunity to follow in his footsteps.

"Walk away quietly in any direction and taste the freedom of the mountaineer. Camp out among the grasses and gentians of glacial meadows, in craggy garden nooks full of nature's darlings. Climb the mountains and get their good tidings. Nature's peace will flow into you as sunshine flows into trees. The winds will blow their own freshness into you and the storms their energy, while cares will drop off like autumn leaves." - John Muir

Day 1: Our official meeting time is 4:00 p.m. at a campground in Yosemite National Park. As we get closer to our departure date, we will firm up our exact meeting place and our campsite the first night. At that time, we can eat, get further acquainted, acclimatize, and engage in our “trailhead talk."

Day 2: After our provided breakfast, we will begin our intrepid adventure. Today we hike nearly 8 miles, gaining 1,500 feet in elevation, to our lakeside camp in the vicinity of Fletcher Peak.

Day 3: Continuing to Vogelsang Pass, a vast panorama unfolds and then we move on to another fine camp near Bernice Lake. We'll hike up to 5 miles and gain about 900 feet.

Day 4: We hike about 9 miles to our idyllic camp along the Lyell Fork of the Merced, ascending 1,500 feet and descending 2,600 feet.

Day 5: We continue our journey to camp near Isberg Peak, adjacent to a wonderful lake with a sandy beach to enjoy, and hopefully bask in the warm sun.  Today, we’ll hike about 6 miles, gaining around 2,000 feet and losing half that. 

Day 6: We'll enjoy a layover day to explore the area and climb a nearby peak. Or perhaps you may choose to relax, read, or do a less ambitious hike.

Day 7: We hike roughly 10 miles, much of it descending, past exhilarating waterfalls to our riverside camp near Washburn Lake, deep in the Merced River canyon.

Day 8: A 9-mile hike and over 2,000 feet of elevation gain bring us to a superb campsite at Emeric Lake, where we'll enjoy the sunset panorama of the Clark Range.

Day 9: We hike 11 miles, crossing Tuolumne Pass, and return to our cars at the beginning trailhead by mid-afternoon.

The above itinerary is not rigid; how far we get each day and where we camp depends on how we feel, the weather, and other factors, some of which are outside our control.

Getting There

The closest major airport is at Reno, about four hours' driving time from Tuolumne Meadows. Trip members flying to California should consider flying to Reno or the San Francisco Bay Area (about a five- to six-hour drive) and sharing a rental car with other participants. We will provide directions and a trip roster well before the trip to assist participants who want to share rides. Note that there is an entrance fee per car into Yosemite National Park. Consider purchasing the annual pass as fees vary on number of days, participant age, and other factors and may change. Consider checking with leader or the National Park Service prior to going to explore entry pass options as they may change.

For public transportation to Yosemite, check http://www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/publictransportation.htm. Trip members should schedule their return flights for the day after the trip ends. Please do not make travel arrangements until the leader has confirmed you as a trip member.

Accommodations and Food

We will be providing all meals and snacks. Note that the first trip meal will be dinner at our meeting place the first night and the last meal will be lunch on the last day. Cooking and clean-up duties will be shared by all members of the group on a rotating basis. The meals will be varied and the base meal will be vegetarian so that the meat or fish can be omitted if desired.

Trip Difficulty

This trip is rated 4, on a scale of 1-5, and thus is strenuous. The maximum single-day elevation gains will be up to 2,000 feet, and the maximum elevation loss in a day will be up to 3,600 feet. We will generally hike 7 to 11 miles on travel days and the highest elevation will be 10,650 feet at Vogelsang Pass. Most days we plan to hike for 6-7 hours (including breaks). There will be some stream crossings on potentially slippery rocks or across narrow logs. Since our trip is at high elevation, very good aerobic conditioning is essential. You must have the ability to hike at high altitude with a backpack weighing as much as 45 pounds. Except for optional day hikes the trip is completely on-trail.

Participants must maintain a regular fitness program, supplemented with weekend practice hikes wearing the boots and pack (loaded with at least 40 pounds) you plan to bring on the trip. Also, taking at least one "warm-up" backpacking trip prior to this outing, at altitude if possible, is recommended. If you are not in good shape, you just won’t have a good time. Be honest with yourself about your high-altitude capabilities. Altitude sickness is unpleasant and can potentially be a serious condition. Trip participants are encouraged to arrive in the area a day or two before the trip so as to begin high-elevation acclimatization.

The High Sierra is renowned for its excellent summer weather. However, extended storms can occur at any time of the year. Afternoon thunderstorms, with sudden cloudbursts of wind, rain, hail, and even snow, are not uncommon. Be prepared for extremes: high temperatures during the day can reach 80 degrees and the temperature could fall into the low 20s at night.

Participation in this outing requires that you be in shape and have reasonable expectations for the trip. Recent backpacking experience and good physical conditioning are essential. A sense of humor and a patient, tolerant attitude are required if the going gets tough. Our objectives are to enjoy the experience of spectacular alpine majesty and to complete the trip safely. 

Equipment and Clothing

We provide the following group equipment items: pots, utensils, stoves, fuel, first aid kit, repair kit, trowel, ropes, bear cans, and tarp. Trip members should bring their own lightweight spoon and a cup and/or bowl. Bears are present and so we will be carrying our food in the provided bear-resistant canisters. Each participant will be issued chlorine-based tablets for water treatment. You may prefer to bring along your own water filter, but it is heavy and not necessary.

Limit your personal gear to no more than 20-25 pounds.  Each participant's share of the commissary load could be 16-18 pounds at the start of the trip, occupying at least as much space as a full grocery sack. Make sure your backpack is large enough to carry the required loads, which on any given day could include both a bear can and a pot set or other bulky commissary gear.  A pack volume of 65 liters or more is strongly recommended.

Sturdy, supportive, fully broken-in boots with rubber lug soles are required. For shelter, tents with rainfly are strongly encouraged, and lightweight waterproof tarps are the required minimum. Tarps should only be considered by those who have used them many times before in rainy and windy conditions. For rain gear, we recommend a waterproof jacket and rain pants rather than a poncho. We will encounter some dry stretches along our route, so a water-carrying capacity of at least two liters is required.

Please check the equipment list at http://www.knapsack.org/basic_equipment.html

References

• http://www.sierraclub.org/john_muir_exhibit/

Conservation

"Wilderness is an anchor to windward. Knowing it is there, we can also know that we are still a rich nation, tending our resources as we should--not a people in despair searching every last nook and cranny of our land for a board of lumber, a barrel of oil, a blade of grass, or a tank of water." - Senator Clinton P. Anderson of New Mexico in American Forests, July 1963

The Wilderness Act of 1964 established the National Wilderness Preservation System, originally protecting nine million acres of national forest lands. In this Act, "wilderness" is defined as "an area where the earth and its community are untrammeled by man, where man himself is a visitor." Today more than 106 million acres are encompassed by the system. We should each consider the level of protection that the Wilderness Act has given to this area and give thought to how we will pass these areas on to future generations.

The leaders will initiate discussions, sometimes while relaxing after dinner, about the history of  Wilderness Protection. Discussion topics will include recent threats to wilderness legislation, changes to wilderness areas  in California, and the need to protect our nation’s magnificent wild public lands.

We will also discuss the history of the Sierra Club and its founding members and the role of Outings in furthering the cause of conservation. The Sierra Club's history is steeped in efforts to preserve endangered habitat and wilderness. The Club was instrumental in expanding protection for Yosemite a century ago, establishing Kings Canyon National Park, and passing the Wilderness Act over 50 years ago. As Club members, we have reason to be proud of these accomplishments when we hike through the region.