High Sierra Topix

Thinking of taking my brothers girls (11 and 8) on an easy trip this summer when they come over from Hawaii. I was looking at lake Mildred. Seems to be good choice, below 9600 ft, off the beaten path in Yosemite. Any one been up there? Fishing? xc conditions? Phil

I don't know Lake M in this area (what lake are you referring to?) but I know the Sunrise Lakes and they are a good destination for first-time backpackers. My first backpack was to Sunrise Lakes. Low mileage, a little bit of elevation gain to make it interesting, and day hikes to the (now closed) Sunrise High Sierra Camp area or areas south toward Cloud's Rest. I can't speak to the fishing or the X-C in this area.

I was referring to Mildred lake. I have already gotten some info from a search. Just looking for some first hand knowledge. I figure I'll go and if we need to stop, we'll just camp at a lake closer. The girls are pretty rugged, so I'm pretty sure they can do it.

From the topo, it looks like your best bet is going to Middle Sunrise first, then traversing over to Mildred, crossing Mildred Creek (?) and going up the lesser slopes west of the creek. If you find a trip report on this...we'd all like to see it!

On the topo, that looks possible, but bear in mind that a single ten-foot ledge can stop you in your tracks. And that cross country travel generally takes twice as long to cover the same mileage as on the trail. The other thing you should remember is that going up granite is always easier and safer than going down. Don't get up something you can't get back down again!

I appreciate the thoughts. Kind of why I was looking for some first hand info. It seems easy enough and looks like a lot of climbers use it as a back way down from tenaya (?) peak. I certainly wouldn't push it with the kids, but I'm assuming there is a unofficial trail up there.

looks like granite slabs. Not so much a trail as a big granite ramp that leads in the more or less right direction.

Mildred lake, nice choice. Less people than nearby Sunrise, although not quite as dramatic scenery.

The trailhead and permit is Sunrise which is a popular one, reserve early.
Two ways to get there.
1. The trail from the Sunrise trailhead at western end of Tenaya for less than a mile, then follow the creek that comes out of Mildred to the lake. Haven't personally gone this way so I can't vouch for how difficult.
2. Same trailhead but continue on trail for about three miles until middle Sunrise lake.
Mildred is cross country from here, about a mile, scampering over rocks. This is the way I have gone in the past. The nice thing about going this way is that you can always decide that the cross country portion is too much for the kids and go back and camp at middle Sunrise lake.
Neither option has a use trail so you have to be comfortable taking the kids true cross country.

I know nothing about fishing, so no info there.
Have fun!

Thanks, that was the plan. Middle sunrise or keep going and try for Mildred. My main thought was to get away from the crowd with a easy hike and still let them see Yosemite. Being the first hike for the youngest, having a small fire and some smores might just make it fun enough to do again.

You could go to Mildred Lake this way roughly following a ridge that leads to Tenaya Pk.
Another relevant route in the vicinity.
See viewtopic.php?f=1&t=7347" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; for more details.

Frozen Mildred Lake (click for a larger image).

Mildred is a nice place. The cross country is easy walking over slabs. The lake is supposed to have small, stunted brookies. Oddly enough, when I ran (literally) to the lake with my brother on the way down from a Cloud's Rest dayhike, I struck out and saw little sign of fish. In other words it offers much more secluded camping than the Sunrises but fishing quality is not too good.