GC Tuolumne, 5/31-6/3/18
Posted: Tue Jun 05, 2018 10:32 am
NOTE: I have added some photos at the end of this post.
This was my fourth trip in the Grand Canyon of the Tuolumne; 1998 (156% snowpack) in August as part of a loop from Twin Lakes, 2003 (65%snowpack) downriver and up to White Wolf (never again!), 2012 (43% snowpack)loop from Lukens Lake TH including Ten Lakes and this trip (67%snowpack), an in-and-out from Tuolumne Meadows. Although a low snowpack year, the 2003 trip hit peak flows, 4-5 feet higher than other trips. My favorite was the loop from Lukens Lake TH. But this year, I was not up for the walk over Pate Valley Bridge or the hitch back to my car.
My equipment selection left a bit to be desired. I could have ditched the tent fly, rain jacket and pants, pack and rain cover; should have swapped out my 10-degree bag for the 45 degree bag and brought my sun-brella. Definitely thankful for my Crocks, head-net (gnats not mosquitoes)! Note that the photos below are not necessarily in chronological order- I took some going down and others going up.
DAY 1 8.8 miles; 5.3 hours, +370 / -2085 feet (plus drive to trailhead)
I left town before 7AM and was lucky with traffic and able to step onto the trail at 11:15 AM from the stables parking lot. Not five minutes passed when I missed the PCT as group of day-hikers blocked the trail sign. Down the road I went ending at the wastewater pond. I headed back towards the trail, hiking an extra mile for nothing.
It was coo, pleasantly windy, no bugs and only a few other day-hikers. Although there is a log across Delany Creek, I chose to wade due to my propensity to fall off logs. Second shallow wade was at Dingley Creek. Two other backpackers were resting on the slabs before the first footbridge, ending my encounters with others. After dropping past three falls, I crossed the bridge at Glen Aulin junction where the river tumbles to a smooth but swift flow through Glen Aulin Valley. I diverted around the first trail flood, which put me right under the falls from Mattie Lake, but was forced to wade knee deep icy water to reach the top of California Falls, my “must get to” point.
Too early to stop so I dropped down next to Le Conte Falls, passing several tempting campsites. I decided to continue, reaching Waterwheel Falls at 4:15. I had previously camped here up on the shoulder but it was so blustery, that I dropped back and found nice campsites a few hundred feet back up the trail in timber. After setting up I spent an hour gawking at the falls and photographing. The water was so high that it was not safe to get as close as I had my last trip. Nevertheless it was spectacular. After dinner I hopped into the tent; it was still light. It was a chilly night and I was glad I had my overdone sleeping bag.
This was my fourth trip in the Grand Canyon of the Tuolumne; 1998 (156% snowpack) in August as part of a loop from Twin Lakes, 2003 (65%snowpack) downriver and up to White Wolf (never again!), 2012 (43% snowpack)loop from Lukens Lake TH including Ten Lakes and this trip (67%snowpack), an in-and-out from Tuolumne Meadows. Although a low snowpack year, the 2003 trip hit peak flows, 4-5 feet higher than other trips. My favorite was the loop from Lukens Lake TH. But this year, I was not up for the walk over Pate Valley Bridge or the hitch back to my car.
My equipment selection left a bit to be desired. I could have ditched the tent fly, rain jacket and pants, pack and rain cover; should have swapped out my 10-degree bag for the 45 degree bag and brought my sun-brella. Definitely thankful for my Crocks, head-net (gnats not mosquitoes)! Note that the photos below are not necessarily in chronological order- I took some going down and others going up.
DAY 1 8.8 miles; 5.3 hours, +370 / -2085 feet (plus drive to trailhead)
I left town before 7AM and was lucky with traffic and able to step onto the trail at 11:15 AM from the stables parking lot. Not five minutes passed when I missed the PCT as group of day-hikers blocked the trail sign. Down the road I went ending at the wastewater pond. I headed back towards the trail, hiking an extra mile for nothing.
It was coo, pleasantly windy, no bugs and only a few other day-hikers. Although there is a log across Delany Creek, I chose to wade due to my propensity to fall off logs. Second shallow wade was at Dingley Creek. Two other backpackers were resting on the slabs before the first footbridge, ending my encounters with others. After dropping past three falls, I crossed the bridge at Glen Aulin junction where the river tumbles to a smooth but swift flow through Glen Aulin Valley. I diverted around the first trail flood, which put me right under the falls from Mattie Lake, but was forced to wade knee deep icy water to reach the top of California Falls, my “must get to” point.
Too early to stop so I dropped down next to Le Conte Falls, passing several tempting campsites. I decided to continue, reaching Waterwheel Falls at 4:15. I had previously camped here up on the shoulder but it was so blustery, that I dropped back and found nice campsites a few hundred feet back up the trail in timber. After setting up I spent an hour gawking at the falls and photographing. The water was so high that it was not safe to get as close as I had my last trip. Nevertheless it was spectacular. After dinner I hopped into the tent; it was still light. It was a chilly night and I was glad I had my overdone sleeping bag.