safety of crossings of Merced River, Clark Range area?

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bcrowell
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safety of crossings of Merced River, Clark Range area?

Post by bcrowell »

I'm planning an Aug 1-3 hike with my 15-year-old daughter from Chiquito Pass (east of Wawona) to Yosemite Valley. The nominal route is Chiquito Pass, Moraine Meadows, Merced Pass, Red Peak Pass (with a side-trip to bag Red Peak), Triple Peak Fork of the Merced, Echo Valley, Sunrise Creek, Little Yosemite, YV.

Since this has been a heavy snow year, I'm hoping to find out before we get there whether any of the stream crossings are likely to be dangerous. If they are dangerous, we'll reroute.

The crossings that look on a map like they might conceivably be issues are:

south fork of the Merced at 8700', near Moraine Meadows
Merced River at 7900' near where the Lyell Fork and Triple Peak Fork meet
Lewis Ck at Merced Lake campground
Cathedral Fork of the Merced at Echo Valley Junction
Sunrise Ck

All of this territory is new to me until we get to Sunrise Ck.

We cross some other stuff near its headwaters, or in places where the map shows it as seasonal (Illilouette Ck, Ottoway Ck). I'm assuming these are not going to be problems.

Thanks in advance for any info about what these creeks are normally like in early August or reports on conditions this year!

-Ben
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bcrowell
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Re: safety of crossings of Merced River, Clark Range area?

Post by bcrowell »

Bump.
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ChasingRainbows
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Re: safety of crossings of Merced River, Clark Range area?

Post by ChasingRainbows »

check out my last trip report for a look at the south fork near chiquito pass. shouldn't be a problem. can't speculate on the others.
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Re: safety of crossings of Merced River, Clark Range area?

Post by bcrowell »

Thanks, ChasingRainbows -- very helpful!
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