Spring Above the Grand Canyon of Tuolumne, California

The Trip

This early, subalpine trip will take us above the Grand Canyon of the Tuolumne, one of the highlights of Yosemite National Park where Cold Canyon, Conness Creek, and the Tuolumne River meet near Glen Aulin. We will backpack mostly on well-maintained trails above the canyon to the upper scenic lake basin and the headwaters of Yosemite Creek.

Nestled among granite peaks, we will find opportunities to explore several remote and serene blue lakes, expansive vistas, cool streams and meadows, and perhaps hike a nearby peak or two.

Our route will begin with a moderate, steady climb and ascend a short segment of steeper switchbacks as we make our approach to the upper reaches of the basin. We will make camp at two different locations with time to explore the area, soak in the abundance of nature, and/or rejuvenate during a planned layover stay. This outdoor adventure is well suited for the intermediate backpacker who is comfortable with early season patches of snow, possible wet terrain conditions, and traveling with a group mindset.

The entirety of the trip will take place on the ancestral lands of the Miwuk people, the last of whom were forcibly removed from Yosemite in 1969 by the park service.

Day 1: The trip officially begins on Monday afternoon at a campground near Yosemite (TBA). We will introduce ourselves to one another, review trip details, and share an early dinner together. After dinner there will be time to answer questions and finalize our group gear.

Day 2: Our hike will start at the Yosemite Creek/Ten Lakes Trailhead (7,500 feet). We will continue up the well-used trail about five miles to a junction near Ten Lakes Pass (9,500 feet). On a clear day, views near the pass are spectacular. We will take the use trail to Grant Lake (9,250 feet) for our first night (about 6.5 miles, ascending 2,000 feet, descending 300 feet).

Day 3: Today we will retrace our steps and return to the main trail. We will pause at Ten Lakes Pass to take in the spectacular view and have an opportunity to climb a summit. Colby Mountain, named for the third president of the Sierra Club who served for some 50 years, is very close and an easy climb. From the summit, we’ll look straight down some 4,000 feet into the Grand Canyon of the Tuolumne. Flexibility and weather conditions will give rise to our decision to climb the peak, as well as our next camp selection. We will continue down into the lake basin to make camp at one of the more secluded lakes (3 miles, ascent and descent are both less than 1,000 feet).

Days 4-5: On these planned layover days we can hike the main trail, explore remote lakes, or hike to nearby rocky formations and vistas with a daypack. The extra days can also be a time for quiet reflection, solace, and rejuvenation near our camp. During the layover, we will initiate group conversation about your experiences in nature, conservation, and native land acknowledgement.

Day 6: Today we will continue our journey, retracing our steps on the main trail toward the Pass. This will be our longest day on trail, but with much lighter packs. After we descend the upper switchbacks, we stop at Halfmoon Meadow for lunch. Today we descend nearly 2,000 feet on 8 miles of trail to conclude our trip.

Getting There

All trip members are responsible for their own transportation. The trip will officially start and end at a campground in Yosemite National Park, where we will meet at a campground the day before our hike begins. The next morning we'll drive to the trailhead. We will provide directions to the campground and a trip roster well before the trip to assist participants who want to ride share.

Yosemite is located on the west side of the Sierra Nevada, about 100 miles from Fresno, 175 miles from the Bay Area or Sacramento, and 220 miles from Reno. Trip members arriving from other parts of the country should explore the option of flying to one of these major cities and sharing a rental car or arranging a ride. There is an entrance fee per car into Yosemite National Park. Consider purchasing the annual pass as fees vary on the number of days, participant age, and other factors and may change. Consider checking on the entry fee with the leader or the National Park Service prior to arriving.

For public transportation to Yosemite, check www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/publictransportation.htm.

Trip members should schedule their own arrival and departure flights for the day before the trip officially begins and the day after the trip ends. Please do not make travel arrangements until the leader has accepted and confirmed you as a trip member.

Accommodations and Food

All meals are included beginning with dinner on day 1 and concluding with lunch on the last day on trail. Meals will be healthy and vegetarian friendly, featuring some organic and non-GMO items. Some food sensitivities might be accommodated. However, please let the trip leaders know of any food allergies or dietary restrictions when you apply. Boiled water and a gravity water filter system for treating group water will be provided for camp use. All trip participants are responsible for their own personal water treatment method while hiking during the trip. Trip participants will share in the responsibility of preparing daily meals, fetching water, and camp clean up during the trip. Throughout the trip, we will adhere to all land agency regulations and guidelines as well as the principles of Leave No Trace (LNT).

Trip Difficulty

High-altitude backpacking is physically demanding and our route will require participants to be in excellent physical condition. A disciplined training and conditioning program will be necessary to achieve the level of fitness required for this hike. Our route will include hiking moderately steep switchbacks above 9,000 feet, which contributes to the difficulty and rating of the trip. Your leaders will discuss a fitness regimen with you upon sign up.

This trip is rated a 3 on a scale of 1 to 5, with 1 being the easiest and 5 the most difficult. This early season trip has an overall distance of approximately 16 miles and is designed with short moving days between two camps. Our two planned layover days provide an array of exciting hiking opportunities to explore remote cross-country routes, lake basins, streams and meadows without the weight of a full backpack. Our first backpacking day will be the most challenging as we hike with fully loaded packs and climb nearly 2,000 feet in elevation. Campsites will all be located at high altitudes between 9,000-9,500 feet. Most backpacking will be on-trail, except for short segments off-trail.

Participation on the outing requires that you have some hiking experience at altitude with a loaded backpack. Your backpack baseweight of personal gear should be kept to less than 20 pounds. Our intention is to enjoy spectacular and scenic wilderness beauty together with reasonable pack weight. You will be expected to carry an additional 11 to 13 pounds of group commissary gear, including a bear canister. The overall weight of your backpack, including the added commissary and 1 to 1.5 liters of water, should be 35 pounds or less. Carrying this load at elevation requires that you be in good physical condition and have a routine that builds physical and aerobic strength. Hiking on rough terrain requires good balance, and backpacking with others requires patience, flexibility, and a sense of humor. Early season backpacking is less crowded and brings cooler mornings and evenings. Weather could change unexpectedly with sudden rain, hail, snow, and colder temperatures. Daytime temperatures can be moderate, while nighttime temperatures can drop below freezing. It is essential that you be prepared for extremes in weather conditions and be adaptable should we need to change our route to accommodate the unexpected.

Equipment and Clothing

The Sierra Club will provide all group cooking equipment, a group first-aid kit, a group water filter system for camp use, and bear-resistant food storage canisters (participants are responsible for their personal water treatment method while hiking). As noted above, at the start of the trip you will be given a full bear canister and a portion of the group gear with a combined weight between 11-13 pounds. It is very important that you limit your personal gear and pack weight to no more than 20 pounds, so that together with 1-1.5 liters of water your total pack weight will be less than 35 pounds. We require that you bring or plan to share a tent (highly recommended) or lightweight tarp (at a minimum), sturdy and comfortable broken-in boots that provide good ankle support, a sleeping bag that will keep you warm in freezing temperatures, a small personal first-aid kit, and a waterproof rain jacket and pants.

The leader will send detailed equipment recommendations to participants well in advance of the trip. More information regarding personal gear may be found at http://www.knapsack.org/basic_equipment.html.

References

• Tom Harrison Maps: Yosemite High Country
• Swedo, Suzanne, Hiking Yosemite National Park.
• Tuolumne River Plan: https://www.nps.gov/yose/getinvolved/trp.htm
• Tuolumne Band of Me-Wuk Indians: https://mewuk.com/cultural/history/
• Laws, John Muir, The Laws Field Guide to the Sierra Nevada. California Academy of Sciences.
• Secor, R.J., The High Sierra: Peaks, Passes, and Trails. The Mountaineers Books. An excellent general reference to climbing routes, cross-country routes, and trails in the Sierra Nevada.

Conservation

The Sierra Club is an environmentally focused entity. We are concerned about conservation and sustainability of resources, both locally and globally. Our work is accomplished by volunteers and aided by a salaried staff, encouraging grassroots involvement. Our Outings seek to empower participants toward greater understanding, advocacy, and participation in the goals of the Club.

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 the 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.

While the area we're visiting has been protected, it continues to be threatened by outside forces such as climate change and pollution. We'll have an opportunity on our outing to discuss such threats, the importance of large, protected areas for habitat resilience, and what we can do to support work on these issues. Participants are also encouraged to share information about other environmental issues such as those in their local communities.

Sierra Club National Outings is an equal-opportunity provider and will operate under permits obtained from U.S. federal land agencies.