High Sierra Topix

I guess I will add to this. I was in Yosemite 5/21-23.

For those going soon, be aware that road construction in the Valley is causing HUGE traffic problems. They are working on the day-use parking lot and when I got there Sunday at about 11:00 there was not a single parking space to be had! I made the mistake of not getting my permit at the Hwy 120 entrance. After over an hour driving in traffic that was slower than walking, one full circle, I finally illegally moved a cone to provide myself with a parking spot. Then I tried to get to the Wilderness office to get my permit. The shuttles were stuck in traffic too, so every bus that came by was full. I ended up setting up my tent in the backpackers campground, without a permit, then walked to the office to get the permit. It was 3PM and all spots were full except Snow Creek trail. Worked out since I had done a "Plan C" that was from Snow Creek trail. Coming out today, less day-users but the construction still causes huge delays. It took an hour to get from the backpackers parking lot (near Happy Isles) to the 120 junction. Supposedly the day-use parking lot will be done by Memorial Day weekend, but the other road construction looks like it will be weeks before it is done. I rarely go to Yosemite this late in the year, and it is very crowded, even on weekdays.

Mosquitoes a bit pesky at dusk and dawn at the backpacker's campground. Tenaya Creek was high enough that you have to wade through about 6 inches of water from Lower? Pines CG to get to the backpackers campground. Today was HOT! Snow Creek Trail is an oven, but plenty of water is running in all the little melt rivulets so you can dunk your head in cool water quite often. The Merced was higher today- looked like only about 2- 3 feet below the road in places. Beautiful waterfalls are tumbling down from west of Sentinal Dome, RIbbon Falls good, snowmelt running down rock slabs everywhere! I even got to see a huge slab avalance come off of Clouds Rest. Patchy snow started on the trail once I crossed the bridge over Snow Creek. Solid snow at 7600 in the meadow with the Snow Creek Ranger Cabin. But, the snow is really compact, even in the afternoon. I did not sink in more than a few inches. Most snow is 4-8 feet deep, but you can always find a dry campspot in melted out tree wells and on south facing rocky areas. I camped on the top of East Mt Watkins at 9300 feet where there is a sandy flat out on a buttress (no mosquitoes up there). I collected water from melting snow. The most difficult travel is the zone where snow is less than a foot deep and melting. Trails get quite muddy and wet.

The good and bad is that with all the melting snow, getting water is no problem but finding dry camspites above about 8000 feet may be harder. Be very careful when walking out on any snow near any cliff or near a creek (or a snowbridge). It is really unstable out there now.