Rae Lakes Loop in May?

[balzaccom]

Hetch-hetchy to Rancheria Falls should be a cake walk. Tiltill Valley could be covered in snow, and a postholing nightmare, particularly later in the day. But you could hike to Rancheria Falls, and climb as far as you like towards Tiltill. Or take a day hike to LeConte Point, which has great views over the area. OR backtrack towards the Beehive and hike up to the rim of the valley and cross country to the top of Wapama Falls.

The challenge of Grouse Ridge is whether the road to the trailhead is open.

[AlmostThere]

Hetch Hetchy has no steep high passes but it does climb quite a lot depending on whether you do the shorter or longer loop. Sections can be flooded or the streams impossible to cross. But it's not likely that you'll be in any need of an ice axe.

The trail along the lake (Hetch Hetchy) can be hot in the afternoon, and rattlesnakes, bears and poison oak thrive there. Check with the ranger about Wapama -- though there is a bridge, the water in the falls can sweep the unwary hiker from it -- three people died there a few years back in high flow in spring.

[balance]

Greetings rjones787

Unless you are familiar with ice ax and crampon travel to cross Glenn Pass, Hetch Hetchy would be more accessible that time of year.

John Muir described Hetch Hetchy as comparable to Yosemite Valley: "Hetch Hetchy is a grand landscape garden, one of nature's rarest and most precious mountain temples. As in Yosemite, the sublime rocks of its walls seem to glow with life . . . while birds, bees, and butterflies help the river and waterfalls to stir all the air into music."

[KevinDo]

Greetings rjones787

Unless you are familiar with ice ax and crampon travel to cross Glenn Pass, Hetch Hetchy would be more accessible that time of year.

John Muir described Hetch Hetchy as comparable to Yosemite Valley: "Hetch Hetchy is a grand landscape garden, one of nature's rarest and most precious mountain temples. As in Yosemite, the sublime rocks of its walls seem to glow with life . . . while birds, bees, and butterflies help the river and waterfalls to stir all the air into music."

now now I believe that quote was only in effect before it became Hetch Hetchy reservoir hahah. Still a great place.
Here's a photo of Wapama 2 weeks ago.

[balance]

Greetings KevinDo

The quote from John Muir describing Hetch Hetchy did indeed relate to the HH Valley before the dam was built. That was a battle to protect Yosemite which he waged with fervor.

Continuing the quote which I cited, he went on to say, "These temple destroyers, devotees of ravaging commercialism, seem to have a perfect contempt for Nature, and, instead of lifting their eyes to the God of the mountains, lift them to the Almighty Dollar. . . . Dam Hetch Hetchy! As well dam for water-tanks the people's cathedrals and churches, for no holier temple has ever been consecrated by the heart of man." John Muir, "The Yosemite," Century, 1912, pp. 249-62. He was deeply mortified at losing that battle to the commercial interests of his day.

Nowadays, Hetch Hetchy is an early season gateway to Yosemite. It is a reasonable option for rjones787 to consider rather than contending with Glenn Pass which could require ice ax and crampons in late May.

Thanks for the photos.

Peace

[Wandering Daisy]

In 2006 I did an early June trip from Hetch-Hetchy, over Rancheria Mountain and into Pleasant Valley. Piute Creek was not crossable (to get past Pleasant Valley). I climbed Piute Mountain (total snow), and returned. Just another option to the Laurel Lake loop. If you do any trips out of Hetch Hetchy this time of year, you likely will run into bears.

Also did a Memorial Day trip to Paradise Valley in 2003. This is the northern part of the Rae Lake Loop. At that time there was no bridge - now there is a bridge- much easier to get up to Castle Dome meadow. You could then do day-hikes to higher elevations depending on the snow. Not a loop but it would be part of the hike you originally wanted to do.

Memorial Day is also a great time to do Yosemite Valley hikes. There will be crowds, but the scenery is worth it. Pohono Trail is a good option with great viewpoints. Or up the Merced River to Echo Valley, loop to JMT, climb Clouds Rest. Use the Mist Trail one way, and the JMT the other.

[KevinDo]

Greetings KevinDo

The quote from John Muir describing Hetch Hetchy did indeed relate to the HH Valley before the dam was built. That was a battle to protect Yosemite which he waged with fervor.

Continuing the quote which I cited, he went on to say, "These temple destroyers, devotees of ravaging commercialism, seem to have a perfect contempt for Nature, and, instead of lifting their eyes to the God of the mountains, lift them to the Almighty Dollar. . . . Dam Hetch Hetchy! As well dam for water-tanks the people's cathedrals and churches, for no holier temple has ever been consecrated by the heart of man." John Muir, "The Yosemite," Century, 1912, pp. 249-62. He was deeply mortified at losing that battle to the commercial interests of his day.

Nowadays, Hetch Hetchy is an early season gateway to Yosemite. It is a reasonable option for rjones787 to consider rather than contending with Glenn Pass which could require ice ax and crampons in late May.

Thanks for the photos.

Peace

Hey Balance,

I was just teasing you But yes that quote is a good one. First heard it in the BBC doc on Muir
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5oURZwXZQJI[/youtube]

Hetchy is definitely a great early season trip. Was getting a bit hot when I went but still nice. Also Kibbie might be an option too!

-Kevin

[balance]

Greetings KevinDo

That incredible documentary contains a wonderful reflection by a park ranger.

The BBC One Scotland documentary The Last Explorers tells the story of John Muir, the Scottish-born American naturalist who explored the Sierra Nevada mountains in the late 1800's. We see a young man with a restless spirit who grows beyond his strict religious upbringing to personally experience the Creator's beauty and handiwork, eventually becoming a heroic protector of the natural world.

Standing on a vista overlooking a glacier-carved valley, Yosemite National Park Ranger Shelton Johnson eloquently conveys the unspoken message of the tree lined basin and towering granite walls: "That's right. The constancy of change that's happening right now as we're talking. There's something here that says it has happened, it is happening now, and it will happen. It's almost as if all the tenses are here at the same time, moving with the wind around us." Ranger Johnson interprets Muir's vision, "He saw that human beings were a part of it. They weren't at the center of it; they were a part of it. And he didn't see any diminishment. He actually saw the opposite! I think Muir had this recognition that there was no shame in being such a small part of creation. That all those parts add up to creation itself."

Peace

[rjones787]

Hey guys,

So we landed on hetch hetchy. We plan on doing some fishing at lake vernon, Laurel lake, and jack main canyon. Any advice fishing, route, or otherwise? we have 3 nights/four days. Trying to make a route that makes sense right now on caltopo. Thanks for all your suggestions!

[maverick]

Wilma will be to early, also good luck getting thru Jack Main Canyon, Falls Creek becomes a high speed creek, flooding certain sections, making it impossible to cross. Stick with Vernon, you can go to the far north end of the basin to the Falls, Branigan Creek, and follow the creek up to the lakes. Check out this previous thread: viewtopic.php?f=1&t=13961&hilit=vernon