High Sierra Topix

Hello all,

I want to hike to Clouds Rest but don't know the best way to approach it. I'm 31 F, a couple backpacking trips under my belt, I'm only 4'11 and take my time hiking, especially up steep climbs. I plan on driving up from LA on Thursday and staying the night somewhere nearby to acclimate. My plan was to start early Friday and head back (to LA) Sunday.

TIA -Kristine

***EDIT: I am planning to do this hike in July. I have no snow backpacking experience -_-

The easiest hike is from the Sunrise Lakes trailhead which starts just west of Tenaya Lake on the Tioga Road. The hardest aspect may be getting a permit. It's a popular trailhead. You may want to reserve. You can see the non-available dates here:

https://www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/ ... lheads.htm

You can book 168 days in advance - that's why the lists currently cut off around June 29. Try back in a few weeks. Follow the instructions here - I usually use the phone:

https://www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/wildpermits.htm

If you have reserved a permit, you can pick it up at the Tuolumne Meadows ranger station the day before your entrance date and spend that evening in the backpackers camp at the campground. Have fun.

You can do this as a day hike. It's a total of 14 miles, I think. Plenty of daylight in July.

And if it's a backpacking trip, you can also do this hike from the Cathedral Lakes Trailhead (also quite popular) but that should give you an option. Frankly, as a single hiker, it's not that hard to get a permit for this hike the day before.

As for somewhere nearby to acclimate, Tuolumne Meadows campground is probably your best bet if it is open. Campgrounds on Tioga open usually within a month of the pass opening.

I did it as a dayhike from Sunrise Lakes, which cut out some mileage and a lot of climbing. (Hiking it from the valley floor means 6,000+ feet of elevation gain.) About a 10 mile round trip.

The last time that I did it, we started walking from Tenaya Lake and went up the trail toward Sunrise.

From the Sunrise Trailhead at Tenaya Lake, it is 14 miles r/t to the top of Clouds Rest and back. From the Sunrise HSC, it's a little less than ten r/t.

July can be very hot. All that elevation from the Valley can be brutal, however the Mist Trail is quite wonderful with the waterfalls. I have dropped in from Tenaya Lake. You have to wade across the outlet of Tenaya Lake, which can be very deep early season. If the lack of snow keeps up this spring, that will not be an issue.

Another option is to take the Panorama Trail from Glacier Point to Little Yosemite Valley. If you do not mind spending about $25, you could then return to Happy Isles on the Mist Trail (still see the watefalls) and take the shuttle to Yosemite Lodge, where there is a commercial bus that would take you back to Glacier Point. This is probably the most scenic route.

Suggest trying for reserved permit (for one?) out of Sunrise TH - as soon as they are available. If you had another day, you could probably just bag a "next day" out of TM - (Rangers give them out at 11:00 AM), but that would put you back another day...little tough then on your rushed (TH - Sun) schedule.

Low stress plan -
With a permit confirmation in hand and car loaded up/ backpack at the ready, drive up Thursday after work and stay TM Backpacker...no res. needed,- just show confirmation letter if asked. Next morning, Friday, (after a grand, TM, hot, grill breakfast...great coffee BTW), drive car to Sunrise TH, and do the staircase trail - stay over at the first - Lowest Sunrise Lake - (camp far right side, behind the big Rock)...soak in some local ambiance. Leave tent set up Saturday, and do CR and return - stay there again, or better yet - stay atop CR itself, or you could even go all the way back to TM, but why rush? Sunday, easy 7 miles down to your car, and home Sunday night.

One cannot legally camp atop Cloud's Rest.
http://highsierratopix.com/community/vi ... 6&start=20