Off-Trail Overnight Trips

[SweetSierra]

Since none of you answered Oleander's question about Ruby Lake, that gives me a chance to toss out that it often seems like I'm about the only one on this board that uses topo's plus Google Earth much in threads? I'm betting some of you despite the fact we talk about it often have never installed the free Google Earth application?

Thanks Dave. I was the one who mentioned Ruby Lake as a possibility. I'm glad to know that it's more well traveled than I thought I was. It makes sense, considering many would stay after crossing Mono Pass. My impression (wrong) was that it was more of a climb than day hikers (or backpackers) would want to do if the start is Little Lakes Valley TH.

[SweetSierra]

A good example of that is Pioneer Basin at 11 miles and 2700 feet vertical going in. Unlike many destinations where it is up the first day and all down on the return, because of the crest one has to climb all the way back up 2k going out. So yeah possible for not much more than a peak bagger's endurance challenge.

Can't say I agree with you here. Last time I was there I was able to pack up camp in the morning, hike out, and I was home by 5PM. 11 miles with 2700 feet gain/loss isn't that big of a hike. If you are only out for 1 night and the weather forecast is favorable, you don't really need to haul in a ton of gear or food either.

Agree with schmaltz. Our group got there in one day. The next, we climbed to Grinnell Lake. We were tired at Pioneer, but if I took a layover there and then hiked back out, it wouldn't be bad at all.

[ERIC]

I think SSSdave's pack weight might be partly to blame for the difference in opinion here. IIRC, he packs considerably heavier than maybe most on here do.

[TehipiteTom]

I think SSSdave's pack weight might be partly to blame for the difference in opinion here. IIRC, he packs considerably heavier than maybe most on here do.

I don't know about that. I would absolutely agree with him that Pioneer Basin, while certainly doable in a day, isn't great for a 2-day trip. With a layover, sure, but that wasn't my question.

ETA: And Dave's point is crucial here: the hike out entails as much elevation gain as the hike in. I've hiked out out Pioneer Basin and gotten home by 5 pm, but I wouldn't have cared to do that the day after I hiked in.

[Steve_C]

Out of Tuolumne Meadows, the Elizabeth Lake trail takes you to Elizabeth lake. From there, you could climb x-c toward Johnson Pk. The unnamed lake there has a sandy beach. I'm not sure it qualifies as to the 4-mile distance from TM, but it would make a really nice place to camp. If one spent two nights, the ridges and peaks would make a nice day hike.

gmap 4 link

Looking at the YNP trailheads map, you would probably need a Rafferty Creek permit (24A), since Elizabeth does not meet the distance requirement. But the lake I am referring to is definitely outside the "dispersed camping" arrows of Rafferty and Cathedral Lakes (21).

Some kid, relieved to find the lake. This was a day hike for her.

[giantbrookie]

Out of Tuolumne Meadows, the Elizabeth Lake trail takes you to Elizabeth lake. From there, you could climb x-c toward Johnson Pk. The unnamed lake there has a sandy beach. I'm not sure it qualifies as to the 4-mile distance from TM, but it would make a really nice place to camp. If one spent two nights, the ridges and peaks would make a nice day hike.

gmap 4 link

Looking at the YNP trailheads map, you would probably need a Rafferty Creek permit (24A), since Elizabeth does not meet the distance requirement. But the lake I am referring to is definitely outside the "dispersed camping" arrows of Rafferty and Cathedral Lakes (21).

This is interesting. I thought when I checked last year they had a separate entry for Nelson L. which would be the logical trailhead to lump this into (was considering this as a fall overnighter for my family). Their new wilderness trailhead map and listing does not have this, but when you open the pdf for the details of each trail, the Elizabeth L. trail is listed with the well-known "no camping" designator for Elizabeth L. but then a mileage to Nelson L. As of last year I thought I saw this listed as with a quota (ie "beyond" Elizabeth L.). It would certainly be harder to get below the quota for this with it lumped into the Rafferty-Vogelsang trunk, I would think.

[TehipiteTom]

I definitely remember seeing a separate "Nelson Lake" trailhead on the trailheads list, but there's none now. Not sure what the story is.

[mschnaidt]

You might want to try this trip out of Tahoe's Meeks Bay. It sounds like a nice hike into a fairly quiet area. I haven't done it myself yet but planning on it for a short trip this Summer.

viewtopic.php?f=1&t=9828&p=77385&hilit= ... eek#p77385

[cahiker]

Another option in the neighborhood of Nelson Lake is Reymann Lake. We came in from somewhere around Tuolumne Pass on the trail from Tuolumne Meadows to Vogelsang, and went out by way of Elizabeth Lake. It was at the end of a week long trip, and it looked like some weather was coming in, so we didn't go all the way to Nelson, so I can't say which is nicer, but Reymann was pleasant and the views in the area are good.

[TehipiteTom]

Another option in the neighborhood of Nelson Lake is Reymann Lake. We came in from somewhere around Tuolumne Pass on the trail from Tuolumne Meadows to Vogelsang, and went out by way of Elizabeth Lake. It was at the end of a week long trip, and it looked like some weather was coming in, so we didn't go all the way to Nelson, so I can't say which is nicer, but Reymann was pleasant and the views in the area are good.

Thanks. Hmmm...looks like a good potential 2-day loop there, going in to Nelson via Elizabeth and the next day going via Reymann and Johnson Peak lakes on the way back to Elizabeth.