High Sierra Topix

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shuteye wrote:I'd like to add my two cents for a very well known classic, even though It's already been discussed. After years of preferring the more out of the way trek--we loved this one, from Glen Aulin to White Wolf. So many water features, including spectacular Waterwheel, and swimming all day. We camped alone not far from a waterfall of some sort every night. Easy, mostly downhill trail (the direction we chose) except for one 3000' climb getting out. Passed only six parties going the other way at height of season. Getting a reservation for a wet season but arriving after the possible flooding is apparently the trick. I guess we got lucky. Beautiful granite walls everywhere, but much of the hike is along the forested riverside. Lots of wildflowers.

I will add my input on this one except we did it in the other direction. Start at White Wolf then drop down into Pate valley and make the gradual climb up. Once you get to Glen Aulin return to White Wolf via Ten lakes basin. Late in the season you will have this pretty much to yourself (we saw three other groups (aside from the Glen Aulin area) in nine days. We took it pretty easy so you should be able to cover this in 7. Lots of water (both river and lakes). and many wild flowers even in August when we went. and it is all on trail.

There are a lot of fine Sierra canyons.

I did the same trip- down from White Wolf, up to Glen Aulin, over to Ten Lakes, in 5 days including 4 hr drive to and from. Not leisurely, but a good early season conditioning hike. Did it first weekend that Tioga Pass opened last year. Snowed the night before! This year would be a good year to do this. Early opening of Tioga, water levels moderate. I too prefer to go down to Pate Valley and walk up river. Did it the other way before and the hike up out of Pate Valley in the heat was horrible. Once I did this in the full moon. The moonlight on the canyon walls is fantastic. And I did it once in late August. Waterfalls were not as spectacular, but for those who want to swim in the pools, it is blissful! And you hardly need a sleeping bag.

Although not probably everyone's cup of tea, I also enjoyed Tenaya Canyon in October in a full moon. It was really wild! We had a group of 5, climbing gear and rock shoes. Had to do many short rappels. We did a bivy just before rappelling into the inner gorge. The walls just glowed in moonlight.

And if you want to do Enchanted Gorge, without the bushwhack to Simpson Meadow, turn up canyon at the confluence of Goddard Creek, doing a loop from Chasm Lake, returning by the string of lakes north of Carybdis (sp?).

Wandering Daisy wrote:Although not probably everyone's cup of tea, I also enjoyed Tenaya Canyon in October in a full moon. It was really wild! We had a group of 5, climbing gear and rock shoes. Had to do many short rappels.

Just of historic interest, John Muir did this hike a few times, and it was the scene of his most dangerous accident (solo). While sleeping on a ledge, he fell off and rolled to the edge of a precipice: if he had gone over he would have died. He was so mad at himself that he forced himself to sleep out on bare rock as "punishment". Still, that canyon was one of his favorites.

Hi Lensman137,

Welcome to HST!
Thank you for your conribution to this thread. Hope you will post a TR to that beautiful
area which many of us here on HST really enjoy.

Hello - great info in this thread! This month I'll be 63 - got my backpack loaded & am intending to hit the trail Monday morning @ Lewis Camp trailhead - from there Trout Meadows & the Lower & Upper Kern. Never been there - that's one of the reasons I'm doing it, as I live just a few miles away & feel like it's almost in my back yard.

Some of the places I've been is Graveyard Lakes above Edison Lake; from Florence Lake, Evolution Valley; and years ago did the trek from Touloumne Meadows to Agnew Meadows; Mineral King to Franklin Lakes -- What memories -- I am truly happiest when on a trail hiking through pristine country!

Hi Camptrap,

Welcome HST! Looking forward to reading you TR.

Thanks for the welcome. I should have added that I'm way overdue to get to the back trails - I do a lot of car camping & even have a little camp trailer for improved campgrounds - hence the handle 'camp tramp'! But I just know too well that the beautiful country is up the trails - so this week, here I go!

maverick wrote:Hi Camptrap,

Welcome HST! Looking forward to reading you TR.

Just one more suggestion - Red Mtn. Basin, Blackcap Basin, and Bench Valley. Get there from the west from Wishon/Courtwright reservoirs. Some off-trail, some on, but the offtrail is very easy. Beautiful lakes, right around timberline a lot of it, seems like it would be just your cup of tea. And you can taker the trail over Hell For Sure Pass and visit Goddard Canyon and Martha Lake - a must see place.