Finalizing TM to HI route
Posted: Fri Jul 14, 2017 8:49 am
Hi, hoping to get some last minute guidance on our trip planned out of TM next Tuesday 7/18. There are 4 of us - myself (43), husband (55), daughter (20), son 16. All in good physical condition, lots of hiking, some backpacking, never in the Sierra.
Tentative plan:
7/18 - TM to Cathedral Lakes. Camp at one of the lakes. I planned for this short day because we are unable to acclimate at TM due to the BP Camp closure. Also, I am hearing trail conditions are still challenging.
7/19 - Cathedral Lakes to Sunrise Lakes - lunch break - then on towards Cloud's Rest. Camp somewhere near the stream halfway down the trail, or nearer to the base of CR.
7/20 - up and over CR down to LYV - Camp there or hopefully nearby with less crowds.
7/21 - Down the JMT and out HI - Or via Mist Trail depending on knees, etc.
I am still hearing reports of very difficult trail through Cathedral pass due to the snow. I have basic map and compass skills, taking several good topo maps, and have 3 different GPS apps loaded into my phone. I am prepared for wet feet and mosquitoes. Being desert dwellers, we are very used to high temps (90 will feel like a beautiful spring day to us). But being desert dwellers, we are not used to snow travel. We snow ski and I have done one very icy and snowy trek up our highest peak (12K) here in AZ.
Getting mixed answers on whether or not we should bring microspikes. I would rent them instead of buying.
With our permit, we can stay in the Valley BP campground, but how is there a chance it could be full? We arrive on Monday. We are staying there when we arrive, then driving up to TM since no hiker's bus and YARTS only at 5pm. One or two of us will take YARTS or Hitch back to TM at the end of the hike to retrieve the truck. That will be on a Friday. I'm worried about finding parking in the Valley on a Friday...
Any and all suggestions, critiques, and warnings are much appreciated!!!
Tentative plan:
7/18 - TM to Cathedral Lakes. Camp at one of the lakes. I planned for this short day because we are unable to acclimate at TM due to the BP Camp closure. Also, I am hearing trail conditions are still challenging.
7/19 - Cathedral Lakes to Sunrise Lakes - lunch break - then on towards Cloud's Rest. Camp somewhere near the stream halfway down the trail, or nearer to the base of CR.
7/20 - up and over CR down to LYV - Camp there or hopefully nearby with less crowds.
7/21 - Down the JMT and out HI - Or via Mist Trail depending on knees, etc.
I am still hearing reports of very difficult trail through Cathedral pass due to the snow. I have basic map and compass skills, taking several good topo maps, and have 3 different GPS apps loaded into my phone. I am prepared for wet feet and mosquitoes. Being desert dwellers, we are very used to high temps (90 will feel like a beautiful spring day to us). But being desert dwellers, we are not used to snow travel. We snow ski and I have done one very icy and snowy trek up our highest peak (12K) here in AZ.
Getting mixed answers on whether or not we should bring microspikes. I would rent them instead of buying.
With our permit, we can stay in the Valley BP campground, but how is there a chance it could be full? We arrive on Monday. We are staying there when we arrive, then driving up to TM since no hiker's bus and YARTS only at 5pm. One or two of us will take YARTS or Hitch back to TM at the end of the hike to retrieve the truck. That will be on a Friday. I'm worried about finding parking in the Valley on a Friday...
Any and all suggestions, critiques, and warnings are much appreciated!!!