Rob and I made flapjacks with bananas and peanut butter – yum! Woke up to the sound of rain on the tent at around 4 AM. Backpack to Little Yosemite Valley and Hike Half Dome. 1-800-513-8651   [email protected]Make a ReservationContact US. It continued to drizzle throughout the morning. Trip Overview: The 33 mile Grand Canyon of the Tuolumne River backpacking trip is considered one of the highlights within Yosemite National Park. We covered a total of nearly 40 miles with over 5000 feet of elevation gain and 9000 feet of descent. You begin your trek at the Tuolumne Meadows Visitor’s Center, then make your way along flat meadows and meandering streams along the Pacific Crest Trail. Thanks Lorenzo! Backpacking is a great way to get away from the crowds of Yosemite Valley. Photo: Kyle Frost. To celebrate the holidays t, How do you maintain your backpacking lifestyle as, The many shades of one of earth’s most majestic, If you’re looking for a unique charity for Givin, It’s the most colorful time of the year The, Giving thanks every day for the places we love to, Dreaming of days and places like this! I was the only one who had put my boots under the vestibule. In the summer, it’s also possible to take YARTS. Woke up early and began hiking by 6:30 AM. No ranger was present at the base of the sub-dome (we were still too early!) Maynard, our chauffeur spent most of the drive talking about Yosemite’s history and pointing out interesting sites. From there, we continued towards Sunrise Lakes and Clouds Rest. Yosemite Backpacking Part I: Tuolumne Meadows to May Lake . Yosemite Valley, Half Dome, Clouds Rest, Sunrise Lakes are all to the south side of the CA-120 highway.Glen Aulin is to the north side. After setting up camp, we again swam in the Merced River. Which trailhead in Tuolumne did you get a permit for to do this? Our goal this day is to go 6.5 miles to either Boothe Lake (9,845′) or Vogelsang High Sierra Camp (10,130′) for the night. Traditional backpacking is done without the use of porters, stock, or other assistance. Thanks Dwain! After a long lunch at the top, we continued down the other side towards Little Yosemite Valley. Thus, we sort of had a Glen Aulin reservation, but not an official tent cabin reservation or anything like that. After more laughter, he was on his way. I’m not sure how, but we kept the fire going for the next 12 hours or so. (Food in the front-country is not included.) You will be expected to carry all of your own personal gear and a share of the group gear and food in a backpack for the duration of this trip. Not a cloud in the sky and no chill in the air – we had a hot day ahead of us. Located in the eastern section of Yosemite National Park, Toulumne Meadows provides an alternate view from the popular Yosemite Valley section of the park. Check the current schedule here. The hike was easy: only about 6 miles and relatively flat. 7. We planned to visit May Lake and Mount Hoffman on Day 2, but a freak rainstorm kept us at Glen Aulin for a second night. By the time we left Curry Village it was dark and we barely found our way back to camp. What month did you do this hike? Highlights: This popular Half Dome backpacking trip offers a comprehensive Yosemite experience for those seeking an authentic wilderness adventure. Backpacking is a great way to get away from the crowds of Yosemite Valley. Onwards to May Lake tomorrow! We concluded: the new sunglasses really tied his whole outfit together. It's Yosemite's epicenter for backcountry hiking, with the John Muir and Pacific Crest Trails passing nearby. You’ll hike through towering mountain passes, flowering meadows, and alongside sky-high trees—and, if your group is strong enough, you may even want to attempt ascending Half Dome. Though I did CR 4X a few years ago, never any takers from then on. I would recommend this tour company to anyone…”, “This was a life changing experience for me and for the others in my group.”, “Incredible backpacking experience. secure a permit when reserving the backpacking permit. Day 1: Tuolumne (pronounced Two-all'-um-knee) Meadows sits at 8600 feet smack in the middle of the High Sierra Nevada range in Yosemite National Park. Day 1. Also, the hike from Tuolumne is more downhill than uphill, and I preferred hiking downhill at the time. Or did you even have to do that at the time? Tuolumne Meadows to Yosemite Valley For Kathryn and me, this was our first backpacking trip in California. The weight can be expected to be 30-50 lbs and no more than the recommended ⅓ of your body weight. Levels of difficulty listed on our web site are relative and in no way an objective declaration of difficulty, and a regular physical exercise program is recommended prior to going on your adventure. Of course, not the way it was originally intended, but that always makes it better anyways. Day 1. Again, it was a slightly unnerving climb. Camping. The rain was kind of a bummer, but the upside was that it really cleared out the air. A strenuous 2-4 day backcountry trip full of meadows, mountains, and waterfalls Many hikers chose to hike from Tuolumne Meadows to Yosemite Valley starting at Tenaya lake, but this hike offers a slight different perspective, and allows you to stop at the Merced Lake High Sierra Camp as well. Re: Backpacking from Tuolumne Meadows to Yosemite Valley Author: Jon (---.goldrush.com) Date: 09-26-05 17:23 Hi Hai: That's a beautiful route! Groveland, CA 95321 800-513-8651 [email protected], Backpacking With A Baby Part 2 | Gearing Up, A Guide’s Take: Subtle Features Of 2020’s Best Backpacking Gear, How to Go Backpacking With Young Kids: 3 Key Factors, MERRY CHRISTMAS, CAMPERS! Unless you like a hard a ascending hike, knock yourself out. Labeled as one of John Muir’s classic pioneering trails, this route is truly … It can be a bit of a lottery, so it’s good to be flexible and make reservations well in advance. We crossed paths with many more day hikers than we had seen previously. 5. The hike from Tuolumne Meadows to Yosemite Valley is a 27.2-mile section of the famous John Muir Trail. There is a lottery system for day hikers, but it’s also possible to secure a permit when reserving the backpacking permit. We did not need a campsite reservation in Yosemite Valley. Long day! Not quite enough mist or shade along the Mist Trail for a day like today! In 2016 we hiked from Tuolumne Meadows to Glen Aulin on the PCT, right after the road opened in early June. The road from Yosemite Valley to the Cathedral Lake Trailhead is approximately 50 miles and will take you about an hour and half to get there. Note: All trips are subject to Lasting Adventures obtaining the necessary wilderness permits. Even if you don't want to hike or stay overnight, it's an easy day trip drive to … The next night would be somewhere around Sunrise Lakes. We retraced our previous day’s steps for 1.5 miles. Hiking the Golden Triangle as part of our Tahoe to Yosemite backpacking trip means we're going for a "long" version of the Tahoe to Whitney Backpacking Trip. At around 10 AM, Rob magically started a fire with some dry sticks he found under a rock. Almost 95% of Yosemite is designated Wilderness, offering endless opportunities for adventure, solitude, and connection. The towel and socks I had left out to dry the day before were soaked in the morning. As we headed down the trail, we ran into a ranger who checked our permit. We will hike along the famous Mist Trail that descends beside both Nevada Fall and Vernal Fall before ending in Curry Village. Experience Yosemite National Park *NEW* Sample Itineraries. High Sierra Camps. Backpack to Glen Aulin. Cross-Country Skiing . Today’s Mileage/Elevation: 5.3 mi / +100′, -1,300′, Day 4: After a hearty breakfast we will leave Babcock Lake and drop over 1,500′ over 3.9 miles as we hike down to Merced Lake for a lunchtime break. If the road is open, it is easy to find a ride. Rain! 4-Day Trip - Tuolumne Meadows to Yosemite Valley Our most popular trip, this four-day backpacking journey goes from Tuolumne over Vogelsang Pass to Merced Lake and on to the Yosemite Valley. After a quick lunch at the Tuolumne Meadows Grill, we hit the road and headed back to reality. Tuolumne Meadows Lodge. Today we will hike 6.7 easy and downhill miles past incredible backcountry waterfalls and cascades. Hi Chris. Our most popular trip, this four-day backpacking journey goes from Tuolumne over Vogelsang Pass to Merced Lake and on to the Yosemite Valley. Views were amazing. Please refrain from making travel arrangements until we have confirmed dates. Yes – the mosquitoes were bad. If time allows before dinner, explore some of the Valley’s iconic features. We ate, sat around, and met other campers including a PCT hiker named Eddie who provided some entertainment in the form of board games! 1. Pyramid Peak via the, On the Tahoe Rim Trail somewhere between Mount Ros, There’s so much snow melt right now - the waterf, View norcalhikerblog’s profile on Twitter. This is a 7-mile round-trip, +2,700’/-2,700′ elevation change hike from Little Yosemite Valley. I have the permits and the trip starts in Tuolumne Meadows and ends in the valley. Yosemite National Park issues backcountry permits based on trailhead... Yosemite Valley to Half Dome, Clouds Rest, and Sunrise. The trails are still more heavily travelled than many others in the Sierras, but the scenery is unbeatable. Did you have to reserve a campsite at Yosemite Valley or was your wilderness permit sufficient since you were backpacking? Took lots of pictures, ate some snacks, then headed down. Have you ever done this hike in the opposite direction? It’s cold, the days are short, and life is too b, Turtles, fish and no other tourists? We skipped May Lake and headed straight towards Tenaya Lake (to the south).