High Sierra Topix

First TR here - hiked into the GCT a few weeks ago and had excellent weather and trail conditions. The first day we arrived late but were still able to get our permit at Hetch Hetchy entrance station (they stay open unil 9pm compared to 5pm at Big Oak Flat). We stated hiking from While Wolf at 10pm and set up camp just before the descent into the canyon.

Day 2 we got an early start and beat the heat hiking the 3,000ft+ down to the Tuolumne. Once we made it to the river the swimming and fishing was amazing. I've done this hike a few times and can't remember when the water has been so low and warm. We continued up the trail some and ran into a few bears chasing each other in Patte Valley. After watching them for a while one got pissed and chased the other into a tree - at which point we decided it was time to keep hiking. We hiked another couple miles and found a sweet spot off the trail by some perfect swimming holes and excellent trout water.

Day 3 we hiked from above Patte Valley to almost Glen Aulin. This was a long, hot, dusty day with some serious climbing towards the end but was a good challenge for my backpacking noob girlfriend. I think we covered 13 miles and had amazing scenery the entire way of Muir Gorge, steep canyon walls throughout and excellent swimming and fishing holes the entire way.

Day 4 we hiked out of the canyon and made it to Tuolumne Meadows at 11am. We just missed the hiker shuttle which leaves at 10am and takes you back to White Wolf. Instead we caught the free shuttle which goes as far as Olmstead Point and hitch hiked the rest of the way (which only took about 5min.)

Great trip all in all - only saw a few people until the end (including a wilderness ranger) and ran into 5 rattle snakes and two bears. Thinking about doing it again this fall but hiking downstream off trail to get within reach of the big ol brown trout coming from Hetch Hetchy...

River looks so low. Sad.

Snake looks so big. Not a fan of them, but a nice pic!

Thanks for the report and welcome aboard!

Yes, that rattler looks TOO big. And yes, great report!

I also did a late season trip with my daughter, years ago. Although the falls are less spectacular, the swimming is great! We ended up taking 4 days to get up the canyon by the time we stopped at every swimming hole! Our trip was a part of a much longer loop from Twin Lakes.

Yeah, those remote low elevation valleys get lots of serpents hanging out next to the water. A good sign of healthy ecosystem.

Thanks Jeremy for posting your first report, which is a fine one at that! Someone post at trip thru Pate valley earlier this season, but they did not run into the local bears, have seen bear there every time I have been thru there. Where did you see the wilderness ranger, had to be up towards GA.? Where there a lot of people at GA?

Most of the people were in the 5 miles between GA and Tuolumne Meadows. Saw the ranger about half way down the trail, and was glad we picked up our permits since we were going to risk it if we didn't make the 9pm deadline on thursday. Anyone know how much a ticket is for backpacking with no wilderness permit?

Thanks for the TR. We did a loop on that trail coming back to White Wolf via Ten Lakes back in early August '08. it is amazing how much lower the water is now. Thanks for taking me back.

Nice report and photos, especially the big rattler and the bear-up-the-tree. I am one of the many who has daydreamed about heading downstream to HH in the fall, but I haven't done it. I seem to recall a post in this forum on an actual trip there several years ago, though.

Great report. I'll be heading there 1st week in September. What was the weather temps like during the day/night?