skibum9995
New member
A bit old by now, but here it is anyway
Yosemite Valley to Little Yosemite Valley - 4.4 mi
I got up at 5:30 and enjoyed my last shower for 2 weeks. I packed my pack while eating some mini donuts and headed for the park and ride to catch the shuttle to Yosemite. I ended up sitting in front of a guy who wouldn't stop talking for the whole ride. I called the Wilderness Office to have them hold my permit for me from Tuolumne Meadows. Once I got to the park I went to pick up my permit and then fought the crowds in the shuttle to get to the trailhead. I parked myself on a bench to eat lunch and make my final preparations. I started the climb out of the valley and was immediately overwhelmed by the amount of people hiking up to the falls. Once the JMT split from the Mist Trail the crowds subsided a bit. I took a short break at Clark Point to enjoy the view and take some photos. The top of Nevada Falls was hot and crowded so I just kept on going to the campground at Little Yosemite Valley. I picked out a campsite, filled up my water, and then cooked dinner. After eating I checked my watch and realized it was only 3:30. I just kicked back for a couple hours until it started to thunder. I scrambled to set up my tarp and secure my gear. It rained for about 2 hours. After it stopped I adjusted the pitch of my tarp to give me more room, then went to sleep.
Little Yosemite Valley to Tuolumne Meadows - 18 mi
I got up just before 6:00 and started packing up my wet gear. I hit the trail after eating some breakfast and began the climb up to the junction with he trail to Half Dome. After the junction the crowd thinned out and the trail had a nice wilderness feel to it. I refilled my water bottle at Sunrise Creek and kept going. A quick break at the Forsyth Junction??? and then onward. the climb got tough as it got closer to its high point at about 9900 ft. I recovered on the descent and stopped for lunch beside a stream just before the ??? Junction. It was a nice relaxing walk through Long Meadow, then a short climb and descent to Cathedral Pass. I saw a very tame deer in the meadow just below the pass. It was sort of hottish out and I was feeling the fatigue from the elevation so even the smallest climbs became a pain but I eventually made it to the Tuolumne Meadows campground as it was starting to thunder. I raced through the campground to find the Backpackers Campground and set up my tarp before the storm hit. I picked a spot and it started sprinkling so I rushed to set up and through my pack into a bear box and jumped under the tarp to ride out the storm. The inside of the tarp was still wet from the night before so I got misted each time a rain drop by the tarp. It rained and hailed for about 30 minutes, I then got up to properly pitch the tarp and cook dinner. I ate and chatted with Glacier about the Sierras and the PCT. After eating I took a walk down to the store to use the payphone to make some calls. I went to bed early but woke up cold about midnight so I added some clothes and went back to sleep.
Tuolumne Meadows to Lyell Forks Bridge - 10.7 mi
I knew I had to wait for the post office to open so I could get my resupply package so I slept in and finally got up a little after 8:00. I packed up, dried my tarp of as good as I could and headed for the post office. I got my box, emptied it into my bear can, and then sat down to eat breakfast. After eating and drinking some OJ given to me I set off for the trail. There were lots of people in Lyell Canyon enjoying this nice day. The scenery was nice, but long flat stretches of trail wear me out. I took a long break under a tree by Ireland Creek and relaxed until the bugs drove me crazy. I knocked off the last 3 miles of flat and started the climb out of the canyon. I felt good as I started the climb but got more and more winded. At the GOP of the first section of the climb I started looking for a campsite and found a nice one between the trail and the river just before the bridge. I took the opportunity to stop early, relax, wash up in the river, and get another night of acclimating in. It was a nice night so I took the opportunity to not set up my tarp, and use my bivy by itself to keep the mosquitos at bay. I wore extra clothes to bed, anticipating a chilly night, but still woke up cold a one point. I put my down jacket on and went back to sleep.
Lyell Forks Bridge to Rosalie Lake - 16.5 mi
I woke up and was cold after getting out of my bivy so I left my tights and long sleeve shirt on to start the climb up to Donohue Pass. I was afraid this climb was going to kill me seeing that the pass is at 11,060ft and I was sucking wind at 9,700 yesterday. I felt great on the climb. I paced myself and didn't feel any effect from be elevation. The view from the top was awesome so I took a break up there. I left Yosemite behind and continued my trek in the Ansel Adams Wilderness. On the descent I saw tons of people on their way up and stopped to chat with most of them for a few minutes. A very high percentage of people commented on my gaiters and how they like them so much, as they should. I stopped for lunch at Rush Creek and tended to a hot spot on my right pinkie toe that formed on the descent. After eating came the climb to Island Pass, on which I felt terrible for a reason I don't know. At the top I stopped for water and a snack and felt much better on the way down. Thousand Island Lake was impressive, as were Emrald, Ruby, and Garnet. Each lake had a climb after it, with a steep one away from Garnet. I was feeling good on those, if not hot due to wearing my long sleeve shirt all day to keep my arms from frying in he strong sun. The descend to Shadow Lake seemed to take forever and it was followed by a 700ft climb, one of the steepest yet. I felt good on the climb and it was shaded and switchbacked very well so it didn't seem so steep. After that it was a short descent to Rosalie Lake where I looked around a while for the best campsite and picked one above the lake, behind a big rock to block the breeze.
Rosalie Lake to Upper Crater Meadow - 12.6 mi
I woke up after my best night of sleep yet and after eating and packing, took off for Red's Meadow to get my resupply box and get some sunscreen. The day started with a short climb to Gladys Lake, then an even shorter one over the ridge, then it was mostly all downhill to Red's. I made great time down to the junction to go past Devil's Postpile, which I chose to skip. I had passed a hiker going the other way who said all the trail junctions were confusing, and hat he got lost both times he has come through. I found the junctions signed well and had no problems. However, getting to Red's became an adventure. I started the climb and made it to a junction with a sign indicating the direction of the resort so I headed that way. About 100 yards up that trail I remembered that the guidebook said that there were 3 entrances, and that he third was the best so I turned around thinking that there was a better way. I got always downhill to a sign with a map that showed that I needed to take that turn I turned around on so I went all the way back up the hill and eventually got to he store after almost having another miscue along the way. The store didn't sell sunscreen so I waited to take the bus to Mammoth to get some. When the bus arrived a lady asked me how many days I had been out and if I was going to a different trailhead. I told her that I just needed to go into town to get sunscreen and she offered to give me hers. I went back to the store, picked up my package, packed it's contents into my bear can, set my solar charger in the sun, made some phone calls, and went to he cafe to get a burger. It took forever to get it, but it was good. I then grabbed my gear and headed back to the trail. It went through a burn area so there was little to no shade and the sun was blistering. I was very glad to have the sunscreen. I made it to the top of the first climb and saw a nice campsite, but I needed to keep going. I then got to a junction with a sign that lead me to believe that I came up the PCT instead of the JMT, which confused me but I kept going thinking I was on the rig track now. It turns out I wasn't. I should have crossed the creek at that nice campsite and I didn't leading me on a big loop adding multiple miles. I figure I did about 3 extra miles between both wrong turns. I finally got back to the JMT, found a campsite, and set up camp. Firewood had already been gathered so I used it and made a fire to dry out he shirt I spilt my ramen water on. The ground was really sandy so I had trouble getting my pole that I attach my bivys bug netting to to stay standing. I made it to sleep only to wake up freezing and to find my quilt soaked from condensation in the bivy. I decided to ditch the bivy since I was only using it to keep the mosquitos away. I didn't sleep that well the rest of the night because I was cold.
Upper Crater Meadow to Tully Hole - 13.9 mi
I woke up to find the reason I was so cold last night was because the temp dropped below freezing. My water bottle had big ice chinks in it and my quilt was covered in frost from the condensation freezing. I made the decision to make it a lazy morning and sit out in the sun to dry all my stuff. I finally started hiking just before 10:00 and made the short climb and even shorter descent to Deer Creek where I filled up my water for the long gradual climb that was about to start. The guidebook describes this section as monotonous, and its right. I stopped for lunch at the start of the short descent to Duck Creek. The climb was steep and exposed, as was the descent to Purple Lake so I was getting hot from all the sun. Leaving Purple was a good little climb and then a quick drop to beautiful Virginia Lake. I wish I could have camped there but it was too early to stop. I made another steep, exposed descent to Tully Hole, where I found a nice campsite right by the creek. I stuck my feet in the cold water and washed my feet, legs, arms, and face. I felt great after, however the mosquitos are insane. My orange bottle of Ben's 100 takes care of that problem though.
Tully Hole to Bear Ridge - 16.6 mi
Today I awoke up to swarming mosquitos like I have never seen before. They were completely out of control so I packed up as fast as I could and hit the trail, eating breakfast as I walked. The trail crossed Fish Creek then began the 3.5 mile climb to Silver Pass. The climb started steepish, but eased off near the top. I stopped partway up at Squaw Lake to lather up with sunscreen because I could feel the sun getting strong. After the pass came a long descent to Mono Creek which was hot and exposed for a good part of it. I stopped for lunch near the bottom and prepped myself for the grind up Bear Ridge. It turned out to not be that bad. It was switchbacked efficiently and never too steep. I'm camping about a mile past the junction with the Bear Ridge Trail at a nice campsite with a great view.
Yosemite Valley to Little Yosemite Valley - 4.4 mi
I got up at 5:30 and enjoyed my last shower for 2 weeks. I packed my pack while eating some mini donuts and headed for the park and ride to catch the shuttle to Yosemite. I ended up sitting in front of a guy who wouldn't stop talking for the whole ride. I called the Wilderness Office to have them hold my permit for me from Tuolumne Meadows. Once I got to the park I went to pick up my permit and then fought the crowds in the shuttle to get to the trailhead. I parked myself on a bench to eat lunch and make my final preparations. I started the climb out of the valley and was immediately overwhelmed by the amount of people hiking up to the falls. Once the JMT split from the Mist Trail the crowds subsided a bit. I took a short break at Clark Point to enjoy the view and take some photos. The top of Nevada Falls was hot and crowded so I just kept on going to the campground at Little Yosemite Valley. I picked out a campsite, filled up my water, and then cooked dinner. After eating I checked my watch and realized it was only 3:30. I just kicked back for a couple hours until it started to thunder. I scrambled to set up my tarp and secure my gear. It rained for about 2 hours. After it stopped I adjusted the pitch of my tarp to give me more room, then went to sleep.
Little Yosemite Valley to Tuolumne Meadows - 18 mi
I got up just before 6:00 and started packing up my wet gear. I hit the trail after eating some breakfast and began the climb up to the junction with he trail to Half Dome. After the junction the crowd thinned out and the trail had a nice wilderness feel to it. I refilled my water bottle at Sunrise Creek and kept going. A quick break at the Forsyth Junction??? and then onward. the climb got tough as it got closer to its high point at about 9900 ft. I recovered on the descent and stopped for lunch beside a stream just before the ??? Junction. It was a nice relaxing walk through Long Meadow, then a short climb and descent to Cathedral Pass. I saw a very tame deer in the meadow just below the pass. It was sort of hottish out and I was feeling the fatigue from the elevation so even the smallest climbs became a pain but I eventually made it to the Tuolumne Meadows campground as it was starting to thunder. I raced through the campground to find the Backpackers Campground and set up my tarp before the storm hit. I picked a spot and it started sprinkling so I rushed to set up and through my pack into a bear box and jumped under the tarp to ride out the storm. The inside of the tarp was still wet from the night before so I got misted each time a rain drop by the tarp. It rained and hailed for about 30 minutes, I then got up to properly pitch the tarp and cook dinner. I ate and chatted with Glacier about the Sierras and the PCT. After eating I took a walk down to the store to use the payphone to make some calls. I went to bed early but woke up cold about midnight so I added some clothes and went back to sleep.
Tuolumne Meadows to Lyell Forks Bridge - 10.7 mi
I knew I had to wait for the post office to open so I could get my resupply package so I slept in and finally got up a little after 8:00. I packed up, dried my tarp of as good as I could and headed for the post office. I got my box, emptied it into my bear can, and then sat down to eat breakfast. After eating and drinking some OJ given to me I set off for the trail. There were lots of people in Lyell Canyon enjoying this nice day. The scenery was nice, but long flat stretches of trail wear me out. I took a long break under a tree by Ireland Creek and relaxed until the bugs drove me crazy. I knocked off the last 3 miles of flat and started the climb out of the canyon. I felt good as I started the climb but got more and more winded. At the GOP of the first section of the climb I started looking for a campsite and found a nice one between the trail and the river just before the bridge. I took the opportunity to stop early, relax, wash up in the river, and get another night of acclimating in. It was a nice night so I took the opportunity to not set up my tarp, and use my bivy by itself to keep the mosquitos at bay. I wore extra clothes to bed, anticipating a chilly night, but still woke up cold a one point. I put my down jacket on and went back to sleep.
Lyell Forks Bridge to Rosalie Lake - 16.5 mi
I woke up and was cold after getting out of my bivy so I left my tights and long sleeve shirt on to start the climb up to Donohue Pass. I was afraid this climb was going to kill me seeing that the pass is at 11,060ft and I was sucking wind at 9,700 yesterday. I felt great on the climb. I paced myself and didn't feel any effect from be elevation. The view from the top was awesome so I took a break up there. I left Yosemite behind and continued my trek in the Ansel Adams Wilderness. On the descent I saw tons of people on their way up and stopped to chat with most of them for a few minutes. A very high percentage of people commented on my gaiters and how they like them so much, as they should. I stopped for lunch at Rush Creek and tended to a hot spot on my right pinkie toe that formed on the descent. After eating came the climb to Island Pass, on which I felt terrible for a reason I don't know. At the top I stopped for water and a snack and felt much better on the way down. Thousand Island Lake was impressive, as were Emrald, Ruby, and Garnet. Each lake had a climb after it, with a steep one away from Garnet. I was feeling good on those, if not hot due to wearing my long sleeve shirt all day to keep my arms from frying in he strong sun. The descend to Shadow Lake seemed to take forever and it was followed by a 700ft climb, one of the steepest yet. I felt good on the climb and it was shaded and switchbacked very well so it didn't seem so steep. After that it was a short descent to Rosalie Lake where I looked around a while for the best campsite and picked one above the lake, behind a big rock to block the breeze.
Rosalie Lake to Upper Crater Meadow - 12.6 mi
I woke up after my best night of sleep yet and after eating and packing, took off for Red's Meadow to get my resupply box and get some sunscreen. The day started with a short climb to Gladys Lake, then an even shorter one over the ridge, then it was mostly all downhill to Red's. I made great time down to the junction to go past Devil's Postpile, which I chose to skip. I had passed a hiker going the other way who said all the trail junctions were confusing, and hat he got lost both times he has come through. I found the junctions signed well and had no problems. However, getting to Red's became an adventure. I started the climb and made it to a junction with a sign indicating the direction of the resort so I headed that way. About 100 yards up that trail I remembered that the guidebook said that there were 3 entrances, and that he third was the best so I turned around thinking that there was a better way. I got always downhill to a sign with a map that showed that I needed to take that turn I turned around on so I went all the way back up the hill and eventually got to he store after almost having another miscue along the way. The store didn't sell sunscreen so I waited to take the bus to Mammoth to get some. When the bus arrived a lady asked me how many days I had been out and if I was going to a different trailhead. I told her that I just needed to go into town to get sunscreen and she offered to give me hers. I went back to the store, picked up my package, packed it's contents into my bear can, set my solar charger in the sun, made some phone calls, and went to he cafe to get a burger. It took forever to get it, but it was good. I then grabbed my gear and headed back to the trail. It went through a burn area so there was little to no shade and the sun was blistering. I was very glad to have the sunscreen. I made it to the top of the first climb and saw a nice campsite, but I needed to keep going. I then got to a junction with a sign that lead me to believe that I came up the PCT instead of the JMT, which confused me but I kept going thinking I was on the rig track now. It turns out I wasn't. I should have crossed the creek at that nice campsite and I didn't leading me on a big loop adding multiple miles. I figure I did about 3 extra miles between both wrong turns. I finally got back to the JMT, found a campsite, and set up camp. Firewood had already been gathered so I used it and made a fire to dry out he shirt I spilt my ramen water on. The ground was really sandy so I had trouble getting my pole that I attach my bivys bug netting to to stay standing. I made it to sleep only to wake up freezing and to find my quilt soaked from condensation in the bivy. I decided to ditch the bivy since I was only using it to keep the mosquitos away. I didn't sleep that well the rest of the night because I was cold.
Upper Crater Meadow to Tully Hole - 13.9 mi
I woke up to find the reason I was so cold last night was because the temp dropped below freezing. My water bottle had big ice chinks in it and my quilt was covered in frost from the condensation freezing. I made the decision to make it a lazy morning and sit out in the sun to dry all my stuff. I finally started hiking just before 10:00 and made the short climb and even shorter descent to Deer Creek where I filled up my water for the long gradual climb that was about to start. The guidebook describes this section as monotonous, and its right. I stopped for lunch at the start of the short descent to Duck Creek. The climb was steep and exposed, as was the descent to Purple Lake so I was getting hot from all the sun. Leaving Purple was a good little climb and then a quick drop to beautiful Virginia Lake. I wish I could have camped there but it was too early to stop. I made another steep, exposed descent to Tully Hole, where I found a nice campsite right by the creek. I stuck my feet in the cold water and washed my feet, legs, arms, and face. I felt great after, however the mosquitos are insane. My orange bottle of Ben's 100 takes care of that problem though.
Tully Hole to Bear Ridge - 16.6 mi
Today I awoke up to swarming mosquitos like I have never seen before. They were completely out of control so I packed up as fast as I could and hit the trail, eating breakfast as I walked. The trail crossed Fish Creek then began the 3.5 mile climb to Silver Pass. The climb started steepish, but eased off near the top. I stopped partway up at Squaw Lake to lather up with sunscreen because I could feel the sun getting strong. After the pass came a long descent to Mono Creek which was hot and exposed for a good part of it. I stopped for lunch near the bottom and prepped myself for the grind up Bear Ridge. It turned out to not be that bad. It was switchbacked efficiently and never too steep. I'm camping about a mile past the junction with the Bear Ridge Trail at a nice campsite with a great view.