July 25, 2012 – Florence Lake to Above Muir Ranch

Title: July 25, 2012 – Florence Lake to Above Muir Ranch

Trail head: Florence Lake

Hike Info:

Trail: Florence Lake to JMT

Destination: San Joaquin River

Distance: 6.7 miles

Travel Time: 5:48

Moving Time: 3:34

Elevation Rise: 1,447'

Maximum Elevation: 7,909

 Description:
Once again went to bed late on the eve of going on a trip. This time got to bed after 11. I got up at 5:30; Andrea was already up. Sherri got woken up at 6. Had breakfast and loaded the car and started driving at 7:40. Our first stop is the ranger station at Huntington since the station at Prather did not open for another 20 minutes. We got our wilderness permit and on to Edison Lake to pick up our food from our JMT trip. We got up there around 10:30 and then headed off to Florence Lake, arriving after 11:30.



We have left the Garcia bear canister at home—not on purpose. So we need to pack all our food into a Bear Vault and its half height brother. We are mostly successful in getting everything in. But things like the first aid kit and garbage will need to be hung for a night or two. We buy our ferry ticket from Dan and also ask him about routes around Hell-for-Sure Pass. He suggests for us to go up through Evolution Valley and go up to Wanda Lake. Then go over to Davis Lakes and onward to Martha Lake. This is the same route as my family took around 1972. We talk about it—Andrea is excited by this option; Gary is interested; and Sherri is game.



At 12:30 we boarded the ferry and we are all set for our adventure. After a 20 minute ride on the Sierra Queen, we hop out and get into some shade. Sherri needs to take some medicine, so we stop and take a bit of Gorp.



We really started hiking around 1:30. It is hot and wearing on us. The trail is dusty and exposed. We start off with a 300' climb. By the time the top of the climb comes, there is little in the way of jocularity—but we still have a good attitude. We just want to get the task done.



We stop for lunch—vegetable sticks, bagel and pepperoni. A little bit of mold on the pepperoni's. So we will need to figure out a way to get rid of some of the sticks, or convince Sherri this will be a healthy addition to our meals. Andrea rests while Sherri and Gary take off.



Because we are flattening out and get into Double Meadow and then onto Blayney Meadows. Sherri makes some pretty good time. When we cross Sallie Keys Creek, we decide to stop and rest, and wait for Andrea. After 45-60 minutes, I go off to find our missing girl. The trails in this section criss-cross the jeep road to John Muir Ranch. So she is not sure she has past us or not. I find her and we are all re-united. We sort of knew that Andrea was behind us since she was sending messages with other backpackers. She even managed to send one with an off-duty forest service ranger.



It is cooler now—almost 5. So we hike with renewed vigor—but the heat has taken its toll. We pass by the John Muir Ranch and hit the John Muir Trail cutoff. After about a mile the San Joaquin River, comes back to the trail and there are several campsites. We find one which is out of the way. As promised to the girls, this site has a measure of solitude, sandy area to lie in,, two trees to put a gal between and a doe to watch over us. Yes, a doe was just over a ridge from the campsite. The river is down from us, but close enough for our group sized filter. The tent gets pitched at 6:30.



Sherri makes dinner while we set up—tastes good and filling. It gets dark shortly afterwards. We hang our non-food stuff and then talk for a while. Andrea has a neat app which allows her to point at the night sky and the constellations shows up—not on the sky, but on her phone. I read a bit more of my Chase (j Smeaton Chase, Yosemite Trails). Then look at the stars and fall a sleep.



Trail Lesson: With a good attitude and some aptitude, there is a lot you can have forgotten and still enjoy. (Partial list: Bear Cannister, Toothpaste, Spork, Measuring Cup)

July 11, 2012, Day 2 JMT, Sunrise Creek to Sunrise Meadow

Title: July 11, 2012, Day 2 JMT, Sunrise Creek to Sunrise Meadow

Trail head: Sunrise Creek

Hike Info:

Trail: John Muir Trail

Destination: Sunrise Meadow-High Sierra Camp Area

Distance: 7.7

Moving Time: 3:43

Elevation Rise: 2,036

Maximum Elevation: 9,726

 







Description:
Got up at 6. The sun is still to be seen. Sherri's mat kept going flat, so she did not sleep that well. Later on today we will see how far we can go to Tuolumne Meadows. We take off at 7:30. Today will be a hard day.



About half an hour after leaving camp, we cross a creek. Was this the Sunrise? Was I that far off on our navigation? We shall see. We get to the Merced Lake junction. We come across another JMT'er—Greg who is going out for 23 days. My friend from last night joins us and we have a good chat. We take off and Greg joins us for the trip up the ridge. The trees along the ridge break up the view, but when you do see the sight, it is DDG. Seeing Half Dome, King Peak, the gorge which houses Merced Lake, it is just DDG.



We break at what we think is dried up Sunrise Creek. But after that we see Greg at the real Sunrise Creek—isn't this getting repetitive? Looks like I was wrong about last night-we were short of Sunrise Creek. Even though we have risen up 1000', the hard part is now upon us. We have another 1,200' in a mile plus to go. Sherri and I start up the hike up to 9,700'. We are huffing and puffing. Nevada and Vernal Falls were not as steep as this.



We stop about 2/3 of the way up. Greg has decided to see if Sunrise Meadow will provide better fishing. We have a good talk with him as we rest. He teaches at the US Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs. We also find out that he was raised in Yosemite—his father worked for Curry Company and then for NPS. It is good to get to know people along the trail.

It is 12:40 and we are on top of ridge 9,720'. There was DDG views on the way up. But the top has a lot of small trees blocking the view. Lunch is peanut butter, Nutella and Ritz crackers—the usual. The downhill is a lot easier on us than the steep uphill. 400' down to Sunrise High Sierra Camp. Then it is 400'+ climb back up to Cathedral Pass. We will need to decided on what we want to do—go all the way to Tuolumne Meadows, stop at Cathedral Lake or camp at Long Meadow.



We take our time-ooohing and awing as we come down. By the time we get to Sunrise High Sierra Camp, we are thinking it would be nice to stay close to here. I have told Sherri by hiking at a faster pace we would have more free time. So we pass the HSC and find a spot at the end of Sunrise Meadow, before Long Meadow. It is out of the way, yet there is a lot more water than last night.



We stop about three. Sherri falls asleep and I read a bit. Then I wash up and wash my clothes, then set up the tent. Tonight's dinner is Beef Stroganoff. The mosquito's are starting to swarm, so into the tent we go around 7. The sun is still up.



JMT Lesson of the Day: One Step, One Breath at a time will get you up the steepest slope.

July 10, 2012, Day 1-JMT, Happy Isles to Sunrise Creek

Title: July 10, 2012, Day 1-JMT, Happy Isles to Sunrise Creek

Trail head: Happy Isles

Hike Info:

Trail: John Muir Trail

Destination: Sunrise Creek

Distance: 9.43

Moving Time: 5:11

Elevation Rise: 3,500'

Maximum Elevation: 7,500'

Description:
Got to bed a lot later than expected—about 11pm. I thought we were all packed and ready to go. But things did not seem like we had everything so we went through our stuff and inventoried them again.



The alarm did not go off. But we still woke up around 5:15. Out the door and on the road by 5:45. We stopped in Oakhurst for Breakfast Burrito's at Carl's Jr. Then go to Camp Curry Parking Lot by 8:15. By 8:45 we hopped on board a shuttle bus and got off at Happy Isles to both the bathroom and to start our adventure. This is the start of our John Muir Trail adventure. We are planning on doing this in 20-22 days.



Before we have gone very far, we meet our first two disasters. Sherri does not have her Allegra and did not pack her energy shot's for this leg of the trip. She has packed those in for our restocks. The energy shots she will sorely miss on this section's steep rises/ She adjusts her attitude and onward we go.

Steven walks with us for the first three miles, just above Vernal Falls and about 1 ¼ miles from the top of Nevada Falls. It is good that Steven walked and talked with Sherri. With the couple of things forgotten, it was affecting how Sherri was thinking about this trip. Steven was able to talk through it with her and get her calmed down. After that Sherri was good and walked ok.

Of course, the walk up Nevada is drop-dead gorgeous (DDG). The falls, the domes and all. As wonderful as they are we were concentrating on the task at hand-getting to the top of Nevada Falls. It is a 2.000' rise from the Valley floor to the top of Nevada Falls and another 1,000' rise to the junction with the Half Dome trail. By the time we cross what we think is a dried up Sunrise Creek, we are spent.

When did reach the top, we had lunch. Felt good to get the pack off the back and food into our stomachs. After resting and admiring the area for half an hour, it was back on our feet, crossing the Merced River on top of Nevada Falls. I got ahead of Sherri and was wondering where she was. Turned out that Sherri looked like she knew where she was and was giving advice to others about how to get down, where were good views and the usually Gary tourist director stuff. We also stopped by the Merced a little ways into Little Yosemite Valley to restock our water and take a bite of gorp. There we were joined by a snake who encouraged us to move along.



As we went through Little Yosemite Valley, we came across what has to be the queen of latrines, at least in the Sierra's. It is a two story outhouse and always a fascination for me. We both did our business and moved on. As we climb up to the trail junction with the Half Dome trail, we met a ranger coming down from Half Dome. While not asking to see our permit, we did give answers to our travels and where we were going enough that he was satisfied.



We went beyond the Cloud's Rest trail junction before feeling like we needed to stop. Met a fellow JMT'er who camped along the creek. He found some pools of water and is boiling his. We go up a little beyond the creek crossing and find a site on the ridge, east of the creek. Nice site. Even found a place where the water is running—very slightly We are able to catch the water in my filter bag. We dropped our packs around 5:30.



Dinner is freeze dried Beef Stew—tastes good. At a 3,500' climbing day we are glad to be able to do it, but very tired. We go to bed at 8:45 to escape the mosquito's.



Did I mention that it was hot all day? We were sweating like crazy. So when we got to the semi-dry creek which we thought was Sunrise, we were a bit disappointing. Also we thought we were crossing Sunrise Creek and had gone a bit farther. But all in all, we did well for the day.

JMT 2012-Campsites

Campsite Planning

Day	JMT Camp	Site	Description	Total Miles	Day Miles	Altitude Gain	Altitude Lost	Est Hours Travel	Restock	Close Trailhead
0		Happy Isles	Beginning	0.0	0.0	0	0	0	Initial	Happy Isles
1		Illilouette Ck	Permit says we must go to this location	5.7	5.7	2500	715	5.2		Happy Isles
2	1.12	Sunrise Creek	Good uphill	14.1	9.4	2900	509	5.9		Happy Isles
3	2.01	Tuolume Mdws	Cathedral Pass. Backpacker or regular campsite	26.7	12.6	1721	1514	7.6	Steven	Tuolumne
4	2.06	Upper Lyell Cyn	At the end of Lyell Canyon, after your first climb, at a creek crossing.	36.2	9.5	1100	0	4.9		Tuolumne
5	4.01	Island Pass	Donahue Pass, Island Pass. If I remember right, there was a nice pond and some trees on this gentle pass	39.5	3.3	1715	1338	3.4		Silver Lake
6	4.13	Johnson Mdw	Wide area, looked like a packer camp. Close to creek	51.9	12.4	962	1331	6.6		Red's Meadow
7	5.01	Deer Creek	Next water is 5+ miles at Duck Lake	61.1	9.2	1558	669	5.6		Red's Meadow
8	5.12	Squaw Lake or Fish Creek		75.9	14.8	2961	2127	10		Edison
9	6.05	Edison Lake	Silver Pass. Lay over day?	84	8.1	526	3134	5.4	Drop	Edison
10	6.08	Bear Ck (9080')	After stopping at Edison	91.3	7.3	2539	1149	6.1		Edison
11	7.07	San Joaquin River	Sheldon Pass. May need to backtrack a little	105.2	13.9	1701	2969	7.4		Florence
12	7.24	Evolution Lake	Will probably stop about 2 miles before the Lake	116.5	11.3	3000	0	7.5		Piute Creek
13	8.09	Middle Fork of Kings	Muir Pass	130.6	14.1	1000	3242	8.3		Piute Creek
14	8.3	Palisade Lake		143.4	12.8	2789	661	8.3		Piute Creek
15	9.09	Marjorie Lake	Mather Pass	153.6	10.2	2502	2789	7.7		Cedar Grove
16	10.08	Dollar Lake	Pinchot Pass. Just before Rae Lakes	166.4	12.8	2446	3316	9.2		Cedar Grove
17	11.03	Jct w/Bullfrog	Glenn Pass	174.1	7.7	1729	1243	5.4	Andrea	Kersarge Pass
18	12.02	Tyndale Creek	Forester Pass, Little lake by junction	187.6	13.5	3497	3034	10.4		Shepherd Pass
19	12.19	Guitar Lake		199.2	11.6	1793	1446	7.2		Whitney Portal
20		Whitney Portal	Mt Whitney	214.3	15.1	2894	6081	12

June 28, 2012 – Middle Velma Lake to Bayview Trailhead

Title: June 28, 2012 – Middle Velma Lake to Bayview Trailhead

Trail head: Bayview Trailhead, Emerald Bay

Hike Info:

Trail: Maggie's Peaks

Destination: Bayview Trailhead

Distance: 6.6

Travel Time: 5:35

Moving Time: 3:13

Elevation Rise: 982'

Maximum Elevation: 8,437'

Description:



Woke up this morning around 6:45 and there was no wind, unlike last night. Nice crisp and clear morning. Breakfast is served and we leave around 8:45. We decide to make a little side trip up to Upper Velma Lake. Middle Velma Lake is only connected to Lower or Upper Velma Lake by name, not drainage. It is a pleasant walk—Sherri and I do it without our packs, but Andrea has hers. We spend some time around the lake—Andrea and I walk out to an island to claim it for our Capture California effort. We name the land, Cat in the Hat Island. There is a nice waterfall coming into the end of the lake.



We come back and pick up our packs and then trot off down the trail. We get to see the three Velma lakes as we climb. While the climb is not bad, the sun is on us and the altitude is a bit for us sea level creatures—how are we to handle the high Sierra's? We stop for lunch in the shade. Then round one of the peaks.



As we round the peak, we start to see Lake Tahoe and then Emerald Bay. In the foreground is Cascade Lake, right next to Emerald Bay. The trail is steep going down—glad we are not going up. As we come down, we meet a couple PCT'ers. There pack is having a problem. We offer some assistance, or at least a ride to town. They said that would help. But about half an hour later when we got down, they found a ride into town already. So we got down around 2pm.



We stopped by the Taylor Creek Visitor Center and did a nice walk around. Met a couple of rangers. Then we were off. Sherri rode with Andrea to Placerville. We wound up following a person who was going 25-35mph, then would speed up when there was a passing lane. Finally passed him and made it to Placerville. We thought we were eating Mexican, but the place had turned in Bricks. Food was good. Keep this on the list of places to stop. Andrea parted ways with us and went on back to El Ceritto. We stayed the night at a National 9 Inn. Pretty basic, but the price was good. Treated ourselves to a dish of ice cream before going to bed.

June 27, 2012 -Cragg Lake to Middle Velma Lake

 

Title: June 27, 2012 -Cragg Lake to Middle Velma Lake

Trail head: Meeks Bay/Cragg Lake

Hike Info:

Trail: Yosemite Tahoe Trail

Destination: Middle Velma Lake

Distance: 8.6

Travel Time: 7:58

Moving Time: 4:18

Elevation Rise: 2,090'

Maximum Elevation: 8,844'

 







Description:

Got up before sunrise at Cragg Lake. All still. Mountains reflect off of the lake. Clear and beautiful. Saw that there was a control valve which governs the flow from the lakes in this area.

Andrea and Sherri gets up around the arrival of the sun. Normal breakfast. A bit slow in getting off. Leave camp around 9:30. But the day is cool and the grade is moderate, so we make good time. We stop at Stony Ridge Lake. It is pleasant enough-actually a really nice lake. Andrea and I claim a rock as our Capture California island. We wade/swim to it. Water is a bit cold, but the lake bottom is nice to walk on. Also we do a picnic lunch for CC as well. Oh yeah—and we were visited by a friendly little snake. But this pleasant time comes to an end. We start hiking again and it is up, up and up. The view is pretty good of the lake. We cross over a ridge which separates the drainage between Meeks and Emerald Bay. The scenery changes dramatically from forested, to rock. Both are pleasant, just a contrast.

We continue on toward Phipps Pass, 8800'. The pass itself is not impressive. But it does mark the end of a long uphill, we descend for a couple of miles, regaining some of the trees. I take time off and read more of Dracula, getting too engrossed. Sherri takes a head start. In my effort to catch up, I take a spill, scrapping my shin. More blood than pain. But a reminder to not rush, enjoy.

I catch up with Andrea and Sherri at the PCT junction. Mosquitoes are attacking me with full force and become grumpy towards Sherri lack of speed. We finish the next two miles to Middle Velma Lake. Andrea does some exploring and comes up with a campsite. Wind is blowing pretty strong. At least it diminishes the number of mosquitoes.



After dinner, Andrea hits the sack. Sherri and I are not too far behind. Long day, but I am glad to be with Andrea and Sherri.

June 26, 2012, Meeks Bay to Cragg Lake

Trail head: Meeks Bay

Hike Info:

Trail: Tahoe-Yosemite Trail

Destination: Cragg Lake

Distance: 6.0

Travel Time: 3:27

Moving Time: 2:42

Elevation Rise: 1,549'

Maximum Elevation: 7,523'

Description:
Last night getting packed after hosting House Church potluck. Got to bed at midnight, then got up at 6:15. We packed up and left at 7:40. We met up with Andrea at the Emerald Bay Bayview parking area. She had gotten the wilderness permit at the Taylor Creek Visitor Center. We then moved down the road to Meeks Bay. We had lunch and leaving around 2:20.

The first 1.4 miles is along a blocked off service road. When we reach the Desolation Valley Wilderness Area. The road is an easy uphill. Then the Tahoe-Yosemite Trail takes off uphill. Our pace does slow down, but we get some good views of Tahoe.

The trail follows Meeks Creek. It goes up good, then levels off and goes up good again. Three or four shelves likes this brings us to Lake Genevieve. This has all been forested area. We drop our packs and rest for a few minutes. Andrea and I go to the next lake and see if campsite pickings are better. We find a place and come back for Sherri. So on the trail, it is five miles and and another mile to find a campsite.We did find a pretty decent place at Cragg Lake, just a short distance up the trail. The camp spot is up on a small rise, but pretty flat.



First time, putting up the tent which Andrea gave me. Pretty good. It is easy to put up and has lots of room. Good choice by her. Thank you.

Andrea makes a noodle/peanut butter/turkey combination. Lots of it. Mosquitoes have come out so it is time for us to go in. But we did stay out. First we play a vigorous game of Frisbee. Then we took a walk down to the lake and just enjoyed the dusk light, watching as it darkened. When it gets cold enough, we turn in. Lights out around 10,

June 21, 2012 – McGee Lake to Murphy Ck/Tenaya Lake

Title: June 21, 2012 – McGee Lake to Murphy Ck/Tenaya Lake

Trail head: Murphy Creek

Hike Info:

Trail: Murphy Creek

Destination: Murphy Creek Trailhead

Distance: 7.6

Travel Time: 5:46

Moving Time: 3:26

Elevation Rise: 1,129'

Maximum Elevation: 8,738'

Description:
Its a record! We got up at 5:30 and hit the trail by 7:00Surprises of this sort is good—it brings hope for our JMT effort.



The trail skirts along McGee Lake for its length, about a third of a mile, pleasant walking. Sherri took off about 10 minutes before me. Even at a 3 mph pace, I am not catching her. Refreshing forest.




I cross a creek and start on uphill. Finally I catch up with her and in a nick of time. She has the toilet paper. Found a really wonderful place off trail—should have created a waypoint. The logs formed a good seat.



From this point, we climb 8-900' to the May Lake/Murphy Creek trail junction. While not steep, it is continuous. Most of the time , a climb like this is not bad. But today we are fighting a scourage of diminutive Dracula's which want our blood. But Deet works better than mirrors or trying to drive a silver dagger through a mosquito's heart.



But we reach the top, now it is all downhill, following Murphy Creek to Teneya Lake. We stop about a mile and half from Tenaya Lake for a picnic lunch. The usual—pepperoni stick, crackers, jerky and peanut butter/nutella. Good meal.



Murphy Creek is no Tuolumne River, but a small creek. The trail takes us through forests, inter weaved with long slabs of granite. We get to Tenaya Lake at 11:30, not in time for the first shuttle. We waited for about an hour and when the shuttle did not stop—we are not at a designated shuttle stop. So we walked another half a mile to the east end of the lake where the shuttle picked us up.



It lets us off at Lembert Dome parking lot. I then walk down to the car and come back and pick Sherri up. There is a low tire pressure light on. Stop at the gas station and fill it up with air—very flat. We make it home without further incident, of course stopping at Todd's.

June 20, 2012, McGee Lake to Waterwheel Falls

Title: June 20, 2012, McGee Lake to Waterwheel Falls

Trail head: McGee Lake

Hike Info:

Trail: Waterwheel Falls

Destination: Waterwheel Falls

Actual Destination: Top of Waterwheel Falls

Distance: 9.5 miles

Travel Time: 8:00

Elevation Rise: 1,500'

Maximum Elevation: 8,100'

Lost the GPS Track

Description:
I woke up at 6:15 and do something unusual. I lay in bed reading, and enjoying the restful time. I read 1 John. After an hour, Sherri gets up before—another first. Oatmeal for breakfast—more mossying around camp. Then off on a day hike to Waterwheel Falls.

At 9:30, we take off on the Tour de Falls. And what a tour it is! First, we see more of the White Cascade than we did last night. It is even more spectacular than what we saw. We cross another footbridge and come to the junction of the PCT, Glen Aulin and the Grand Canyon of the Tuolumne trails. It is 3.3 miles to the top of Waterwheel Falls and a drop of 1,200' from this junction. But what a glorious drop. We first see Cataract Falls. This is a small one, but it is nice, with a lot of water flowing.

We then hit a flat area for the next mile and a half. Marmot, Jays, Crows, Woodpeckers, butterflies, all inhabit this area. Sherri is carrying the pack down. We get to the top of the next drop and we see the long cataract of water flowing down. Slick rock—probably over a ¼ mile in length. And as you travel down California Falls, you get the feeling of power and largeness. We eat lunch at the base of this falls, enjoying seeing the water rush by.



Quickly the water slows downs and widens into some pools. The next set of cascades do not have a name, but they should. But I guess if you have that much falling water, not everything can have a name. We walk on enjoying the wonder.



The third set of falls, and they are sets. They do not have straight drops but cascade down or slide. LeConte Falls has ruffles. So as the water slides down, it is forced back up into the air, creating these large waves. We are fascinated for the longest time.



At the bottom of these falls, we hit a bit of flat ground for a little ways. It is fascinating that above each fall there is a place of calm waters. And then it goes over the side. For as much as I have been looking forward to Waterwheel Falls, these are a bit of a disappointment. Especially after what we have seen today. These are not up to expectations—still they are wondrous.

We do not go very far down. We decide that as it is 1:30 and we need to head back up the 1,400' drop we just walked down. We have a second look at Waterwheel Falls, then start up. It is hot and a good climb. But then, there are many stopping points, both to rest and gawk. Going up has its own unique eye-candy. For example, when we reach the top of Cataract Falls, for the first time we can appreciate the White Cascade. It is a lot more appealing. Then when we have seen it before. Reminds you of a miniature Nevada and Vernal Falls.



We get back to camp before 5:30. Tired, but good with what we saw today. Dinner is black bean mix. At 7, Sherri hits the bed and I follow after climbing up a 100' and enjoying the view of the sun reflecting on the mountains. 7:30 and I am in bed with Dracula.