Re: Long Trip to Sierra
Posted: Mon May 19, 2014 5:54 pm
I'm not sure if you are driving all the way from Texas, or maybe flying to LAX and needing to start and finish in L.A. with a place to camp near L.A. the first night.
You happen to be hitting a weather sweet spot for Joshua Tree (late May can be hot), while the farther north you are this week, the more likely you would experience thunderstorms. Given the weather I'd probably check J-Tree out (if flying to LAX and wanting to quickly get to a scenic campsite with bouldering and hikes nearby). I say probably because you could instead boulder in the Alabama Hills near Lone Pine with Mount Whitney as your backdrop or in the Buttermilk area by Bishop. The former will remind you of many commercials or movies you may have seen because that is where the filming was done. These bouldering spots are down in the lower elevations, so snow is not a concern, but heat could be if a heatwave develops later in your trip.
The drive along 395 in the Eastern Sierra is beautiful and dispersed camping or developed campgrounds are available in addition to backcountry camping in the Inyo National Forest or on BLM land. You should check it out on the way to Yosemite, after Yosemite, or both (you will be hitting Yosemite Valley at a great time; don't skip that). The downside to the Eastside as compared to Yosemite Valley is that, like Tuolumne Meadows area in YNP and the high elevation hikes out of Cedar Grove, Roads End, and Mineral King in SEKI, the upper elevations will have lingering snow and icy lakes in some areas, especially north facing areas if peakbagging. To see and visit the Eastside, you could enter or leave Yosemite via Tioga Pass, checking out and exploring Tuolumne Meadows and the Mariposa Grove along the way. Just north of Yosemite on the Eastside, the Sierra roads and trails between Lee Vining/Tioga Pass and Bridgeport are great. As mentioned, Rock Creek Rd. (Little Lakes Valley), South Lake/Sabrina/North Lake (HWY 168 west of Bishop to trail access for Eastside of SEKI), and Mammoth area are great, as are Horseshoe Meadows Rd., Onion Valley, and Glacier Lodge Road. Aside from what's already posted, you ought to be able to get additional tips and reports after this weekend on what might be doable without significant snow, but as you know, you are a little early in the season for that.
If driving from Texas and you want to see Joshua trees and other desert scenery/flora, consider driving through Mojave National Preserve or taking HWY 190 through Death Valley NP (could be more convenient than J-Tree). Consider hiking or backpacking Telescope Peak with a stay at Mahogany Flat campground (check the point weather forecast at weather.gov first). As someone else mentioned, Westgard Pass and the White Mountains are scenic as well. If you choose to check any of these places out, we can get more specific with hiking and camping suggestions as well as worthwhile side trips.
As far as your Yosemite plans, they look great given that you are wary of snow in the more remote upper areas of the park. You've gotten several excellent tips and ideas in this thread. I agree that Waterwheel Falls out of TM area would be better than Ostrander. If you can't or won't break it up into parts of a backpack trip, I don't think that 4-mile-G.P.-Panorama Trail-Mist Trail- Happy Isles loop will wear you out enough to need a definite planned rest day. It is easy trail hiking given that you are in good shape, young, and used to backpacking rougher terrain. The Clouds Rest Hike will probably take a little more out of you. It wouldn't hurt to do the spectacular Mist Trail a second time to visit Clouds Rest if you manage to get a Half Dome Permit, but have trouble getting a backcountry permit. You could also dayhike to Clouds Rest from Sunrise TH up near scenic Tenaya Lake. Regardless, you are missing out if you don't head up to Tuolumne Meadows, even if you just drive and walk around a bit. Maybe do Lembert Dome if you are short on time or find too much snow elsewhere. Hikes and camping from Saddlebag Lake just east of Tioga Pass are easy and spectacular, but I'd wait for reports on what the snow travel is like there since you aren't looking to deal with it. It will probably be too early for that.
If you do go to Westside SEKI, all the suggestions you've gotten in this thread are great. Playing tourist at Moro Rock, in the Sequoia Groves, along Redwood Creek, near Cedar Grove, or on waterfall hikes won't be bad if you don't feel like doing more or dealing with snow. Don't bother with Mariposa Grove in YNP if you visit SEKI.
You happen to be hitting a weather sweet spot for Joshua Tree (late May can be hot), while the farther north you are this week, the more likely you would experience thunderstorms. Given the weather I'd probably check J-Tree out (if flying to LAX and wanting to quickly get to a scenic campsite with bouldering and hikes nearby). I say probably because you could instead boulder in the Alabama Hills near Lone Pine with Mount Whitney as your backdrop or in the Buttermilk area by Bishop. The former will remind you of many commercials or movies you may have seen because that is where the filming was done. These bouldering spots are down in the lower elevations, so snow is not a concern, but heat could be if a heatwave develops later in your trip.
The drive along 395 in the Eastern Sierra is beautiful and dispersed camping or developed campgrounds are available in addition to backcountry camping in the Inyo National Forest or on BLM land. You should check it out on the way to Yosemite, after Yosemite, or both (you will be hitting Yosemite Valley at a great time; don't skip that). The downside to the Eastside as compared to Yosemite Valley is that, like Tuolumne Meadows area in YNP and the high elevation hikes out of Cedar Grove, Roads End, and Mineral King in SEKI, the upper elevations will have lingering snow and icy lakes in some areas, especially north facing areas if peakbagging. To see and visit the Eastside, you could enter or leave Yosemite via Tioga Pass, checking out and exploring Tuolumne Meadows and the Mariposa Grove along the way. Just north of Yosemite on the Eastside, the Sierra roads and trails between Lee Vining/Tioga Pass and Bridgeport are great. As mentioned, Rock Creek Rd. (Little Lakes Valley), South Lake/Sabrina/North Lake (HWY 168 west of Bishop to trail access for Eastside of SEKI), and Mammoth area are great, as are Horseshoe Meadows Rd., Onion Valley, and Glacier Lodge Road. Aside from what's already posted, you ought to be able to get additional tips and reports after this weekend on what might be doable without significant snow, but as you know, you are a little early in the season for that.
If driving from Texas and you want to see Joshua trees and other desert scenery/flora, consider driving through Mojave National Preserve or taking HWY 190 through Death Valley NP (could be more convenient than J-Tree). Consider hiking or backpacking Telescope Peak with a stay at Mahogany Flat campground (check the point weather forecast at weather.gov first). As someone else mentioned, Westgard Pass and the White Mountains are scenic as well. If you choose to check any of these places out, we can get more specific with hiking and camping suggestions as well as worthwhile side trips.
As far as your Yosemite plans, they look great given that you are wary of snow in the more remote upper areas of the park. You've gotten several excellent tips and ideas in this thread. I agree that Waterwheel Falls out of TM area would be better than Ostrander. If you can't or won't break it up into parts of a backpack trip, I don't think that 4-mile-G.P.-Panorama Trail-Mist Trail- Happy Isles loop will wear you out enough to need a definite planned rest day. It is easy trail hiking given that you are in good shape, young, and used to backpacking rougher terrain. The Clouds Rest Hike will probably take a little more out of you. It wouldn't hurt to do the spectacular Mist Trail a second time to visit Clouds Rest if you manage to get a Half Dome Permit, but have trouble getting a backcountry permit. You could also dayhike to Clouds Rest from Sunrise TH up near scenic Tenaya Lake. Regardless, you are missing out if you don't head up to Tuolumne Meadows, even if you just drive and walk around a bit. Maybe do Lembert Dome if you are short on time or find too much snow elsewhere. Hikes and camping from Saddlebag Lake just east of Tioga Pass are easy and spectacular, but I'd wait for reports on what the snow travel is like there since you aren't looking to deal with it. It will probably be too early for that.
If you do go to Westside SEKI, all the suggestions you've gotten in this thread are great. Playing tourist at Moro Rock, in the Sequoia Groves, along Redwood Creek, near Cedar Grove, or on waterfall hikes won't be bad if you don't feel like doing more or dealing with snow. Don't bother with Mariposa Grove in YNP if you visit SEKI.