Sierra Nevada Adventure

Part 1: Yosemite National Park: July 20 - 21, 2006

 

 

Intro/Summary: Nicole and I took a week off from work and then headed up to the northern Sierra Nevada for a backpacking trip (July 20 - 25, 2006). Nicole had never been to Yosemite National Park, so we made a mandatory 3 day stop at the park to see the sights before heading out to the eastern side and Little Lakes Valley. We spent the first day touring the valley and camped that night up along Glacier Point Rd at Bridalveil Creek Campground. The weather that day (and most days) was very tropical. In fact, that week was a record setter in CA for heat and humidity. T-storms were with us everyday... but on the plus side, it never got cold at night, not even above 12,000 ft... but on the downside, because of the warm temperatures, the mosquitos were horrendous, even well above timberline! Anyway, our campsite was completely flooded out that first night, which forced us to rethink our method of choosing suitable tent spaces during the rest of the trip! We spent the next morning drying things out... after it finally stopped raining! We took a quick trip up to Glacier Point and then it was off to Tuolumne Meadows. Harry and Christa were to meet up with us that evening at the camground. After we arrived, Nicole and I took a short day hike up to Elizabeth Lake. It was beautiful up there but the mosquitos were just aweful. To stop for even 5 seconds meant instant inundation. Clouds of those buggers. The next day we headed out to Little Lakes Valley and day 1 of our backpacking trip. Another beautiful morning turned into a noisy afternoon. We had barely arrived at Heart Lake when the T-storms began their thunderous march into the valley. We retreated to the tent where we spent the rest of the afternoon, only exiting to briefly cook dinner during a lull in the action. Luckily we had bought some cards in the Valley the previous day, so that kept us entertained for awhile. The next day it was up and over Mono Pass (12,045 ft). We base camped at Trail Lakes (11,200 ft) and day hiked into Pioneer Basin the next day. An insane number of blood thirsty mosquitos drove us to the point of retreat within 15 minutes of arriving at the first lake in Pionner Basin. I snapped as many quick photos as I could and then we jetted! T-storms again on both days. The fourth day, we were out of the tent around 6:00 am and up and about in T-shirts! A first for me. I can't recall being able to walk around at 11,200 ft in the Sierra wearing northing but shorts and a t-shirt at 6:00 am! Mornings were quite warm that week. It never even came close to freezing on any night. After breakfast we headed back over Mono Pass into Little Lakes Valley and then back to the trailhead. Overall the trip was nice, but the weather and the mosquitos made for some not-so-pleasant moments! Enjoy the photos.

 

The trip has been split up into 4 parts. The following is part 1. You will find links to the other sections at the bottom of the page.

 

Our first stop in the valley and already rain is beginning to fall.

 

Rafters make their way down the Merced River. Upper Yosemite Falls is in the background.

 

When floating down a river, does it really matter if it's raining? These rafters don't seem to mind.

 

 

Yosemite Falls in all it's glory. Not bad for late July. A banner year for snow made for some great late season magic.

 

The weather continued to deteriorate, so we headed back to camp.

 

On the way back up Glacier Point Rd, we began to encounter large hail drifts. Soon, we were painfully aware how bad the thunderstorms had become while we were out exploring the Valley. This photo is of our tent's footprint burried under water, mud, hail, and debris. Our tent was under about 6-8 inches of mud and water, and most of everything inside was soaked!

 

Our poor tent. You can see some of the mudlines on the rainfly, but this photo was taken after the tent had been "cleaned" somewhat by the rain.

 

Day 2: Half Dome, Vernal Fall, and Nevada Fall from Washburn Point.

 

Nicole and I at Washburn Point.

 

Half Dome.

 

Half Dome, eastern Yosemite Valley, and Tenaya Canyon.

 

Cathedral Rocks.

 

El Capitan.

 

El Capitan.

 

Me in front of El Capitan.

 

El Capitan from near the Gates of the Valley view. From here we left the Valley for Tuolumne Meadows.

 

The outlet of Elizabeth Lake.

 

Nicole walks along the worn trail to Elizabeth Lake. This is the point at which the mosquitos launched their reign of terror!

 

Elizabeth Lake (9,487 ft) and Unicorn Peak.

 

Elizabeth Lake (9,487 ft)

 

Thunderstorms building over Elizabeth Lake.

 

Nicole hops across a cold mountain stream.

 

Hard to see in this shot, but by the time we left the lake, our clothes were covered in mosquitos! When we stopped to filter water, I must have been attacked by at least a couple hundred of those gals... that's right, only the female skeeters suck your blood!