Northern Yosemite backpack questions

[agfhst]

I’m planning an eight-day northern Yosemite backpack loop trip out of Twin Lakes for August and have a few questions. The backpack group could be as large as eight people. Two of us have Sierra experience, including a reasonable amount of off-trail travel. The others are experienced backpackers who have never been to the Sierra, so we’d like to give them a good introduction. I’ve tried to read all the trip reports for this area, so hopefully I’m not asking anything that’s already been discussed elsewhere.

My first questions are about Ice Lake Pass/Little Slide Canyon and Matterhorn Pass/Horse Creek Canyon, as two possible exit routes. Any preference for one or the other in terms of scenic value?

Is one route more difficult than the other? It seems that there are trails/herd paths on both routes, with maybe some routefinding over rocky areas, and the chute on Matterhorn Pass (which I understand there may be a way to avoid, although I don’t think that would be necessary). I think the group is good for some easy-to-moderate Class 2 travel, even a few Class 3 moves, but I don’t want to impose extensive, large talus crossings.

My second questions are about possible campsites for up to eight non-freestanding tents. Any reasonable possibility of our group camping somewhere along those two routes (in addition to upper Spiller Canyon)? How about near these locations:

-Robinson Lakes. Wouldn't have to be right at the lakes. I understand Barney Lake is out, but Crown Lake or Peeler Lake might be alternatives if there's room there.
-Arndt Lake. Looks like there are some sandy flat areas nearby.
-Suicide Ridge, ideally somewhere near the meadow at the head of Crazy Mule Gulch. Any thoughts on whether there will be water up there in mid-August?
-Upper Matterhorn Canyon, about 10,000 ft elevation. Wandering Daisy has mentioned camping there. Seems pretty flat and open. The alternative would be near the Finger Peaks ponds, which seems like it would work.
-Upper Slide Canyon, somewhere above the slide.

Thanks in advance for any responses.

[balzaccom]

While I have done much of that route, the only place I can remember that has large areas for camping is Upper Matterhorn Canyon, which has plenty of room. That's not to say that other others do not have that, I just don't remember. And I generally look for smaller areas that are not likely to attract large groups, so even if I find one like that, i"ll move on. But Matterhorn Canyon in its upper reaches is quite open and there are relatively flat areas.

[frozenintime]

i haven't camped at robinson but it feels like it would be hard to fit 8 there.

peeler would be doable, but it's also very popular, so hard to say what would be available when you show up.

crown would be hard. there is a big spot on the NE side, but if it were raining it would not be a good place to be.

crazy mule gulch area is definitely flat enough. i don't know about water. rock island lake area would also work.

the north side of arndt *might* work? i remember it being the kind of area that could host a big group, but i am not 100% sure. you'd likely have the lake to yourself. just north of there, somewhere along the kerrick trail, you could find a collection of spots to fit 8 tents too.

it's a nice area!

i haven't been over matterhorn pass, but my understanding is that it is harder than little slide which, if you stay on the use trail, is fairly easy.

[OldMomHiker]

Just did this in August. One of the best loops I've ever hiked.

Peeler had loads of well-established spots (I only passed through).

The largest Robinson Lake also had many spots on the northwest side; just go up the (small) ridge between the two largest lakes (some good one- or two-tent spots at the top, where I slept) and down the other side to find plenty of wide spaces for multiple tents at lake level.

Arndt Lake doesn't have much in the way of campsites; you have to walk up and away from it a little. But the meadow had plenty of places up in the trees to the west of the trail/creek that would be easier than hunting for a spot at Arndt. Might as well drop your stuff and amble over to the lake for a peek, but not camp there.

Upper Matterhorn Canyon would have been a lovely place to camp; the lower canyon doesn't have any spots and it seemed chilly anyway. I camped mid-canyon just as the spots started opening up, because it was getting late and I needed to plonk down somewhere. Next time ...

Cheers
Mom

[David_Caruso]

Kerrick Meadow is beautiful and has many large open areas for great views and sandy campsite or in the thin treeline. Good water source.

Could be an option if you push past Peeler.

[agfhst]

Thanks everyone for the useful information.

balzaccom- I suppose I’m being inconsistent, but I’m hoping that at least for the off-trail bits my relatively large group will avoid other large groups, or others in general. The group is relatively large because it’s a tight group of hikers that my friend introduced to backpacking and has been progressively exposing to longer and more strenuous trips. This trip is the next increment.

frozenintime – Our plan currently is to camp at Rock Island Lake, but that will be a short day, so my thinking is that if people are up for it, it might be nice to go a little further and camp up on the ridge. Leaning toward Little Slide since it looks like a shorter route for the last day, but we’ll see – probably can’t lose either way.

Frozenintime and OldMomHiker- Good to know that we have an alternative to Arndt in that area.

OldMomHiker– I think I see that campsite near Robinson Lakes on Google Earth, so thanks for pointing it out. Looks like it should work, but even if not, so long as we find two or three smaller spots that are reasonably near each other we should be fine.

David C- Good to know Kerrick is an option – we’ll have to see how far we feel like going on the first day.

[c9h13no3]

My first questions are about Ice Lake Pass/Little Slide Canyon and Matterhorn Pass/Horse Creek Canyon, as two possible exit routes. Any preference for one or the other in terms of scenic value?

Little Slide, not close. More scenic and easier.

[agfhst]

Thanks, c9h13no3, we may be getting to a consensus on that.

[commonloon]

Regarding the X-country passes:

I too would steer you towards Ice Lake Pass and Little Slide Canyon. I think it would be a little more scenic and a little safer for a group. Matterhorn Pass/Horse Creek Canyon: Matterhorn pass can be challenging, and Horse Creek pass can feel like a life size Jenga puzzle near the top. It has a section near the top that has some larger boulders that actively shifting/moving over time (during freeze-melt, etc.). That said I'm planning a trip going up Little Slide Canyon and down Horse Creek this year, so not that bad. If you look at the USGS map then you will see a couple of permanent snow fields marked; this is where to take extra care.

Hope this helps.

[agfhst]

Yes, that's very helpful, commonloon, thanks. Looks like Ice Lake Pass/Little Slide Canyon is the way to go. Maybe can do Horse Creek another time.