Family hike, Cottonwood Lakes, Little Lakes or Tuolumne
Posted: Thu Sep 18, 2014 1:34 pm
Hi HSTers!!! What an awesome forum!!
I've been on here off and on for several years. I'm excited to share a few trips that I did earlier this year. But wow, doing trip reports takes a ton of time!! This makes me appreciate all of the awesome trip reports on here even more. Thanks everyone for sharing! I'll try for my first HST report in the next few days!!
In the mean time, I just got the green light to take my family of 5 backpacking in just 3 weeks!! I'm stoked beyond words, especially since our last hike together turned out to be one of the awesomest most memorable times in my hiking career.
Anywho, my wife, myself, and my three daughters (ages 10-15) will be hiking 3-4 days...but where???
The trip that I have done the most planning for, and in fact already had in motion once but had to abandon at the trailhead due to road closures, is my Tuolumne Meadows ramble. Basically we would start at Murphy Creek trailhead and wander about the low incline trails spending the night at Polly Dome Lakes, May Lake, Tenaya Creek, etc.
However, I have also drooled at the prospect of returning to Cottonwood lakes or taking our first venture into Little Lakes Valley. Decisions decisions!! I'm sure any of these would be just awesome and it really doesnt matter. I just thought somebody on here might have visited one of these areas recently and could give me an idea of conditions which might sway my decision one way or another.
My kids are big on swimming, lakes, creeks, waterfalls, slides, etc. I also am careful about making them grind it out on never-ending climbs, etc. I'm hoping bugs have started hibernating for the season. Then there's the fire near half dome, I dont know if that smoke is trending toward a certain direction which I can avoid?
So far I'm think Tuolumne because we can swim and sleep at a variety of lakes, and then hike down Tenaya creek and let them play on the granite slides and bowls there. We get to wander around a bit instead of just an in-and-back hike. And I think permits and parking is pretty easy after Oct 1st?
So, what do you all think???
I've been on here off and on for several years. I'm excited to share a few trips that I did earlier this year. But wow, doing trip reports takes a ton of time!! This makes me appreciate all of the awesome trip reports on here even more. Thanks everyone for sharing! I'll try for my first HST report in the next few days!!
In the mean time, I just got the green light to take my family of 5 backpacking in just 3 weeks!! I'm stoked beyond words, especially since our last hike together turned out to be one of the awesomest most memorable times in my hiking career.
Anywho, my wife, myself, and my three daughters (ages 10-15) will be hiking 3-4 days...but where???
The trip that I have done the most planning for, and in fact already had in motion once but had to abandon at the trailhead due to road closures, is my Tuolumne Meadows ramble. Basically we would start at Murphy Creek trailhead and wander about the low incline trails spending the night at Polly Dome Lakes, May Lake, Tenaya Creek, etc.
However, I have also drooled at the prospect of returning to Cottonwood lakes or taking our first venture into Little Lakes Valley. Decisions decisions!! I'm sure any of these would be just awesome and it really doesnt matter. I just thought somebody on here might have visited one of these areas recently and could give me an idea of conditions which might sway my decision one way or another.
My kids are big on swimming, lakes, creeks, waterfalls, slides, etc. I also am careful about making them grind it out on never-ending climbs, etc. I'm hoping bugs have started hibernating for the season. Then there's the fire near half dome, I dont know if that smoke is trending toward a certain direction which I can avoid?
So far I'm think Tuolumne because we can swim and sleep at a variety of lakes, and then hike down Tenaya creek and let them play on the granite slides and bowls there. We get to wander around a bit instead of just an in-and-back hike. And I think permits and parking is pretty easy after Oct 1st?
So, what do you all think???