TR: Loop from Tuolumne Meadows

If you've been searching for the best source of information and stimulating discussion related to Spring/Summer/Fall backpacking, hiking and camping in the Sierra Nevada...look no further!
User avatar
Wandering Daisy
Topix Docent
Posts: 6640
Joined: Sun Jan 24, 2010 8:19 pm
Experience: N/A
Location: Fair Oaks CA (Sacramento area)
Contact:

TR: Loop from Tuolumne Meadows

Post by Wandering Daisy »

I did this loop last week. Fall is here-- yellows, oranges and deep blue skies dominate the colors. Day 1- into Townsley Lake, Day 2 x-country to Nelson Lake, Day 3 x-country-mix trail to Matthes Lake, Echo Lake and camp at Bubb Lake. It lightly froze every night.

Route Map
Image

Image
Image
Townsley Lake

Image
Evlyn Lake

Image
Fletcher Lake

Image
Boothe Lake

Image
Nelson Lake

Image
Image
Matthes Lake

Image
Budd Lake

Image
Image
Cathedral Peak
User avatar
balzaccom
Topix Addict
Posts: 2952
Joined: Wed Dec 17, 2008 9:22 pm
Experience: N/A

Re: TR: Loop from Tuolumne Meadows

Post by balzaccom »

Beautiful! Thanks for posting.

Man, Nelson Lake looks low!
Check our our website: http://www.backpackthesierra.com/
Or just read a good mystery novel set in the Sierra; https://www.amazon.com/Danger-Falling-R ... 0984884963
User avatar
sparky
Topix Fanatic
Posts: 1029
Joined: Tue Jul 20, 2010 10:01 am
Experience: Level 4 Explorer

Re: TR: Loop from Tuolumne Meadows

Post by sparky »

Wow, this is pretty much the same hike I intended to do this august but I didn't have enough time off work so I just day hiked. Only difference was a visit up florence creek!

Budd lake was a nice surprise for me.

Despite being so close to tioga road I didn't see anyone on my way out and the trail didn't look heavily used. I did a nice hike coming up past cathedral lakes over cathedral pass, then I got up on that shoulder between cathedral and echo peaks just south of the cliffs that was just south of your route. The views up there were nice.

Thanks for the photos. I still want to do that hike so any other thoughts you want to add I am all ears

Image
quentinc
Topix Expert
Posts: 890
Joined: Tue Nov 01, 2005 10:28 pm
Experience: N/A
Location: Los Angeles

Re: TR: Loop from Tuolumne Meadows

Post by quentinc »

Sparky, did you rob a bank on your way up to Tuolumne?
User avatar
Wandering Daisy
Topix Docent
Posts: 6640
Joined: Sun Jan 24, 2010 8:19 pm
Experience: N/A
Location: Fair Oaks CA (Sacramento area)
Contact:

Re: TR: Loop from Tuolumne Meadows

Post by Wandering Daisy »

I have been into Nelson Lake via Elizabeth Lake and the route I did this year going in via Raymond Lakes is a lot easier even if a bit longer. There are several places along the Rafferty Creek trail that you can go up drainages to get to the low angle valley that heads to a pass just north of Raymond Lake.

The key to getting from Nelson Lk to Matthes Lake is to NOT go down the branch of Echo Creek that comes in from the route via Elizabeth Lake. The route shown on the map was pretty open country - never got into any real bushwhaking.

Nelson Lake is low, but the photo is of the shallow end which makes it look worse than it is. Townsley Lake is not that low, since it still has snowfields melting. Two other fellows were at the inlet and they were fishing, and catching fish too. Budd Lake was a bit low, but nothing like Nelson Lake. Budd Creek was flowing all the way down.

Raffery Creek as the NPS website says, is bone dry.
User avatar
windknot
Topix Fanatic
Posts: 1934
Joined: Wed Aug 16, 2006 10:07 pm
Experience: Level 4 Explorer
Contact:

Re: TR: Loop from Tuolumne Meadows

Post by windknot »

Great report, thanks for sharing! I too would also like to do this route someday.
User avatar
QITNL
Topix Acquainted
Posts: 40
Joined: Sat Jun 25, 2011 1:02 pm
Experience: N/A
Contact:

Re: TR: Loop from Tuolumne Meadows

Post by QITNL »

Camping is not permitted at Budd Lake, FYI.
User avatar
Wandering Daisy
Topix Docent
Posts: 6640
Joined: Sun Jan 24, 2010 8:19 pm
Experience: N/A
Location: Fair Oaks CA (Sacramento area)
Contact:

Re: TR: Loop from Tuolumne Meadows

Post by Wandering Daisy »

Well, the ranger who wrote me the permit, put Budd Lake on my permit! There were no signs saying otherwise either. Another group was camped on the adjacent ridge. I definitly pead ignorance for this one.
User avatar
FeetFirst
Topix Regular
Posts: 304
Joined: Fri Apr 22, 2011 11:35 am
Experience: Level 4 Explorer
Location: West Sacramento, CA
Contact:

Re: TR: Loop from Tuolumne Meadows

Post by FeetFirst »

QITNL wrote:Camping is not permitted at Budd Lake, FYI.
I'm curious as to why this is. Could you please point me to the rule on the NPS's website that applies? The reason I ask is because the way I understand the rules, it seems like Budd Lake would be legal and I want to make sure I fully understand the rules correctly.

Wilderness Regulations: [digg]http://www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/wildregs.htm[/digg]

-You must camp at least four trail miles from Tuolumne Meadows, Yosemite Valley, Glacier Point, Hetch Hetchy, and Wawona, and at least one air mile from any road. Camping is prohibited in the Dana Fork of the Tuolumne River.


If one was to take the Cathedral Lakes trail from the Tuolumne Meadows TH and take a cross-country route east from upper Cathedral Lakes to Budd Lake, I'm pretty sure it would be just a tad over four miles.
I'm still rather convinced that you can achieve more than you've ever dreamed of if you just lower your standards.
User avatar
sparky
Topix Fanatic
Posts: 1029
Joined: Tue Jul 20, 2010 10:01 am
Experience: Level 4 Explorer

Re: TR: Loop from Tuolumne Meadows

Post by sparky »

The no camping zone in that area goes to the cathedral crest. I am fairly sure the use trail that goes direct from Budd Lake to Tioga Road looks to only be 2.5 miles or so.
Post Reply

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: Bing [Bot], Google Adsense [Bot] and 121 guests