Between Mammoth and Tuolumne

[Npike]

I have 3.5 days starting July 6th to make my way from Agnew meadows to Tuolumne meadows. I figure I’ll have plenty of time to wander off the main trail to see different spots or to make camp. Any recommendations? Marie or David lakes worth it? Ireland lake looks interesting.

[markskor]

Suggest -
(I like the river trail going up but) - to Garnet outlet and head south-east shoreline use-trail to camp backside - good fishing!
Over the saddle to backside 1000 Island, just below Banner (see Topo), very "Lion King"-ish ...also good fishing and... no crowds and no bears backside.
Catherine, over the pass is amazing - no fish though.
Lower Davis pretty, easy to get to and great wild-flowers but small fish...Upper Davis (go up the left side), more of the same.
Marie harder to get to... stark...fishing can be good... also often windy. Upper Marie, seldom visited, and if you hit it no wind, can be productive...'nuff said.
Avoid Waugh...a bog - It looks good from the trail but actually sucks.
Ireland is a long slog up, and even though good fishing, not too many good campsites and extremely windy.
Better to pop over to Townsley if going that way.

[Npike]

Thanks for the suggestions! Should have mentioned that I don’t fish! Not that I’m against it, just not my thing. Glad you mentioned some windy spots, might not be such a bad thing considering the mosquitoes will probably be eating me alive!

[maverick]

I have 3.5 days starting July 6th to make my way from Agnew meadows to Tuolumne meadows.

Why not Agnew Meadow>Lake Ediza>1000 Is Lake>Lyell Canyon

[Npike]

I have 3.5 days starting July 6th to make my way from Agnew meadows to Tuolumne meadows.

Why not Agnew Meadow>Lake Ediza>1000 Is Lake>Lyell Canyon

I thought about that, but kind of wanted to see somewhere new. Besides, my permit is for the river trail, not shadow lake, so I would need to backtrack quite a bit. Ediza is hard to pass up

[Wandering Daisy]

Marie Lakes will likely be quite snowy. Maybe a good side trip but not to camp.

Not that impressed with Ireland Lake. Definitely not worth going back UP the trail from down on the Lyell Fork.

That said, a good off trail route to Ireland Lake is via McClure Lake. Map below. It could be too snowy-when you are going. Depends on the speed of the snow melt the next two months. You need to have some snow experience and equipment to do this in snow. Definitely faster to just head on down Lyell Creek. However, Lyell can be full of mosquiotes in July.

Route from PCT via McClure Lake to Vogalsang Sierra High Camp

[Npike]

WD thanks for the input. Snow travel is not for me, especially solo, so that route looks to be for someone with more experience. And yes, I’m well aware that will be pretty brutal, mosquito-wise. That’s part of the reason I want to camp above Lyell canyon if possible

[markskor]

Once over Donahue, maybe a mile down - the green tarn. Strange rock formation/ dynamics, all set in light milky-green, glacier-silted tarns...good view down the Lyell too...a worthwhile place to camp.

Or, another mile more, down, still high in the canyon - a small, pond - flat, green section on the right...good water...a short walk to arguably one of the finest views found anywhere. Makes a great last camp... The canyon shadows, light reflecting off the Lyell below, and Conness, evening lit, off in the distance.

[Scouter9]

Yogi and Boo Boo got our roped up food during an epic thunderstorm up at that excellent, beautiful spot high at the top of Lyell before the advent of canisters. Boo Boo must have gone up the smaller tree while Yogi did the pinata move down in the little arroyo we suspended over. Darn bears ate well.

Beautiful spot though. Just outstanding.

I would suggest: River Trail to Thousand Isle; Thousand Isle to either the tarn or high spot at the top of Lyell Cyn and then one last night along the Lyell near the Ireland Lake trail, just to soak it up before the easy cruise to Tuolumne Meadows.


[ speling is gud]

[cloudlesssky]

Rather than taking the River Trail from Agnew Meadows you should consider taking the PCT "high route" and then cutting across to 1000 Island Lake and possibly backtracking to the "gem" lakes (Garnet, Ruby, etc) before moving on towards Toulumne. The view across the valley back to Shadow Lake is spectacular.

View to Shadow Lake from PCT high route

Ritter & Banner from PCT

I also think the Clark Lakes are very nice.

Clark Lakes