Hetch Hetchy/Vernon Loop

[kpeter]

"YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK -- The widow of one of two Los Angeles County men swept to their deaths from a bridge in Yosemite National Park said Friday that the men had hesitantly tried to cross the span as water roared across it in hopes of avoiding a two-day detour through the high country."
http://www.sfgate.com/news/article/Yose ... 365691.php

The end of loop trips can be highly dangerous for this reason. Up until the halfway point, turning back is no more effort than going forward, and won't cost you any more time. But if the dangerous barrier is toward the end of the trip as it was here--people make foolish decisions to avoid backtracking.

[suziet_]

Sorry for the late reply, y'all! I didn't receive notifications in my inbox... I really appreciate the insight and replies!

To someone's point, yes "MDW" is Memorial Day Weekend. What I'm basically gathering is we shouldn't do the loop but the in and out?

[AlmostThere]

What you will do is what everyone does early in season after a big snow year. Go as far as you can, until you can't cross a stream or find the trail in all the snow. It's not going to take long to get to an uncrossable stream. Twice average snow pack and late May, the likelihood of doing the whole loop without snow gear is slim to none.

And as noted above -- rockslides on Beehive. There may just be some on the trail to Rancherias Creek. Always call before you go -- roads are washing out or being buried all over California, and right now the routes to Yosemite are under almost constant state of repair.

Being in a drought followed by epic, never before seen amounts of snow and water, plus millions of dead pine trees, is a deadly combination. Trails will be under repair for a long time to come.

[SSSdave]

No you won't get near even Beehive.

Same situation every heavy snow year of mobs of backpackers trying to all go to the very few natural lakes at low elevations below snow lines. There are low elevation destinations to backpack into on MDW even on a heavy snow year, however they tend to instantly be rejected by 98% of backpackers because ridiculously they don't include a lake or major stream and of course are usually not on some trail...because most trails go to lakes haha. Thus backpackers almost never lug packs out to places with great views as though they don't count. The Eastern Sierra sagebrush zone is especially great then because it is green with wildflowers rising.

[ERIC]

Sorry for the late reply, y'all! I didn't receive notifications in my inbox...

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[balzaccom]

No you won't get near even Beehive.

Same situation every heavy snow year of mobs of backpackers trying to all go to the very few natural lakes at low elevations below snow lines. There are low elevation destinations to backpack into on MDW even on a heavy snow year, however they tend to instantly be rejected by 98% of backpackers because ridiculously they don't include a lake or major stream and of course are usually not on some trail...because most trails go to lakes haha. Thus backpackers almost never lug packs out to places with great views as though they don't count. The Eastern Sierra sagebrush zone is especially great then because it is green with wildflowers rising.

Hmmm. From Hetch-hetchy itself, it's a straight hike up an old road for a couple of miles, then fairly flat (no long climbs, roaring creeks or anything) to the Beehive. Now, there won't be anything but snow once you get there, but you can always try camping back over the ridge towards Lake Eleanor. Not my idea of a great trip, but any trip is better than no trip.

[SSSdave]

...
Hmmm. From Hetch-hetchy itself, it's a straight hike up an old road for a couple of miles, then fairly flat (no long climbs, roaring creeks or anything) to the Beehive. Now, there won't be anything but snow once you get there, but you can always try camping back over the ridge towards Lake Eleanor. Not my idea of a great trip, but any trip is better than no trip.

Last 1.5+ miles to Beehive while not much elevation gain is dense forest at over 6000 feet hence likely to still have snow this year. And like I said people ought to get out of the lake and trail mindset because there are actually a lot of terrific places for short backpacks with outstanding views. Including right on this trail. I've been rambling to such places for decades lugging my cameras and most look pristine because they are ignored. Of course not the trail going to Rancheria Falls because that is all a no camping zone along the reservoir. Miguel Meadows as you suggested is not a bad idea if one is a botany oriented person because it is at that elevation then vegetation is green.

Here is a terrific example showing how nearsighted the majority of even experienced backpackers are because of their narrow lake and trail mindset. Ok why do people hike to Rancheria Falls? No lake there but indeed a terrific cascade especially in early season. Now look at this topo link:

http://mapper.acme.com/?ll=37.96978,-119.77325&z=15&t=T

It is 3.5 miles from the dam up the steep jeep road to the Miguel Meadows junction. Climb another half mile to the knob at 5400 feet and to the east is 1 mile cross country across slightly challenging modest gradient somewhat brushy sun baked bedrock slopes to roaring Falls Creek within a very lonely grove of shady pines. A place to avoid during summer because it is too low elevation and hot. But not at the end of May. And no I would not advice novices go there because there are dangerous cliffs without guard rails and many people can't make sense out of topos at all. From nearby point 5469 are awesome views with Wapama Falls directly below and across the waters Kolana Rock. I figured this out before most here were born. Thousands backpack to Rancheria and almost none to ...

[suziet_]

Last 1.5+ miles to Beehive while not much elevation gain is dense forest at over 6000 feet hence likely to still have snow this year. And like I said people ought to get out of the lake and trail mindset because there are actually a lot of terrific places for short backpacks with outstanding views. Including right on this trail. I've been rambling to such places for decades lugging my cameras and most look pristine because they are ignored. Of course not the trail going to Rancheria Falls because that is all a no camping zone along the reservoir. Miguel Meadows as you suggested is not a bad idea if one is a botany oriented person because it is at that elevation then vegetation is green.

Here is a terrific example showing how nearsighted the majority of even experienced backpackers are because of their narrow lake and trail mindset. Ok why do people hike to Rancheria Falls? No lake there but indeed a terrific cascade especially in early season. Now look at this topo link:

http://mapper.acme.com/?ll=37.96978,-119.77325&z=15&t=T

It is 3.5 miles from the dam up the steep jeep road to the Miguel Meadows junction. Climb another half mile to the knob at 5400 feet and to the east is 1 mile cross country across slightly challenging modest gradient somewhat brushy sun baked bedrock slopes to roaring Falls Creek within a very lonely grove of shady pines. A place to avoid during summer because it is too low elevation and hot. But not at the end of May. And no I would not advice novices go there because there are dangerous cliffs without guard rails and many people can't make sense out of topos at all. From nearby point 5469 are awesome views with Wapama Falls directly below and across the waters Kolana Rock. I figured this out before most here were born. Thousands backpack to Rancheria and almost none to ...[/quote]



May I ask what your suggestion would be instead? We have the permit and we have our flights booked already. I spoke with someone else who was looking to do the same trip and spoke to a ranger last week. The ranger said the rockslides on the switchbacks would be removed later this month/early April.

[AlmostThere]

My suggestion is not what you want. Don't try to backpack. Camp and dayhike, if you can find a campsite. Drive to Hetch Hetchy and dayhike the falls. Day hike the top of Yosemite Falls, day hike the Mist Trail, day hike the Four Mile Trail to Sentinel Dome, day hike lots of places, don't try to string together four days of any single trip. You'll see the Big Scenery that way instead of hiking in burned out or snowed in areas.

The snow is a navigational hazard and the high water during snow melt is deadly to people with zero stream crossing skills.

[Wandering Daisy]

As someone who has done a lot in Yosemite, I also think the day-hike idea is great. This time of year Yosemite Valley falls should be fantastic. You may be able to score a first-come permit to backpack to Merced Lake. Camp 4 is a non-reserve campsite in Yosemite Valley. You have a very short walk-in. Also, with your permit, whether you use it or not, you get the night before and night after for the backpacker campgrounds - one in the valley and one at Hetch Hetchy. These are guaranteed campsites with your current permit. Day hike up Mist Trail and down Muir Trail is a classic. As is Yosemite Falls, Snow Creek, and Four Mile Trail. Even though I have done these trails many times, I will do them again this year- I never tire of it. Also, if you want to go off trail just walk down the bank of the Merced River in the Valley - you will have solitude and great views. Drink wine at sunset in El Capitan Meadows!