High Sierra Topix

In early October last year, I made a short trip out of Tenaya Lake.

I parked at the inlet side and started late in the afternoon. I arrived at Lower Cathedral Lake by moonlight and a headlamp.

Dusk over Tenaya Lake while climbing. Car lights are visible on Tioga Road:
Going up. Moonlight reflects off the smooth granite surface. Tenaya Peak on the right.
I saw some headlamps on Cathedral Peak. Later, two guys passed by and we chatted. They had made “a massive loop”: Tenaya Peak, Matthes Crest, Cathedral Peak.

In the morning, I met three girls sitting at the lakeshore, bundled in sleeping bags, enjoying the dawn.

I chatted with a guy from Colorado who had camped nearby. He lives at 9000 feet.

Another group was amazed by the views.

I had a late start.

While circling Lower Cathedral Lake, I met a couple and I mentioned to them the view of Tenaya Lake.

I had a break at Upper Cathedral Lake. A day-hiking family was resting on the opposite shore.

Cathedral Peak over Upper Cathedral Lake:
I met a backpacker from Japan with a large camera. He lives in Southern California. A salesperson for a ramen company. We talked about nearby mountains, the Thousand Island Lake area, and hikes in the southern Sierra.

At Echo Lake, I met an almost 70-year-old guy. His father (it must have been Ernest Braun) took photos for the “Living Water” book, mostly in this area. He pointed out to me the nearby pass where his father’s ashes were scattered. He has been hiking since the ‘60s.

He told me about some people doing extreme kayaking on Tenaya Creek. Later, a ranger gave them tickets. We talked more about hiking in the Sierra.

He told me that most creeks had no water. He suggested that, instead of going around south of the hill west of Matthes Lake (a continuation of Matthes Crest), it would be better to go over the saddle west of Mathes Lake. I followed his advice, and it worked well.

At Matthes Lake, I didn’t see anyone.

Matthes Lake and Matthes Crest:
At Nelson Lake there was a loud group with amplified music. I camped away from them.

Nelson Lake:

The next day, I went back to Echo Lake.

Matthes Lake, looking from the inlet side to the outlet side:
Then, I followed the outlet until I reached the trail. That was the only place where I saw a flowing creek, barely trickling.

I followed the trail over the ridge that extends south from Columbia Finger and joined the JMT.

I was going to go south, then to Sunrise Lakes, and to Tenaya Lake. I was running late. I looked at the map and decided to take a shorter cross-country route. I went north on the trail for a few hundred meters and then west to the pass east of Sunrise Lakes. I then contoured west and north to Mildred Lake.

Clouds Rest and Half Dome:
There is a gentle route from Mildred Lake to the Tenaya Lake outlet. But on the MapBuilder overlay on Caltopo, I saw a dotted line: a shorter route on the steep slope down to Tenaya Lake inlet. I decided to try it.

From the outlet of Mildred Lake, I went northwest to the ridge of Tenaya Peak. I arrived there at sunset.

Tenaya Lake at sunset. Center: Polly Dome; left: Tuolumne Peak; right: Whorl and Twin Peaks behind Pywiack Dome:
Cairns and GPS guided me through the talus. After a while, the talus ended and a use trail appeared, often very steep. I followed it with a headlamp.

It was a bit crazy to go that way in fading light. Also, it probably wasn’t faster than the easier route. Not the best decision. I am glad it worked out.

tomba wrote: ↑Sun Apr 20, 2025 3:54 pmon the MapBuilder overlay on Caltopo, I saw a dotted line: a shorter route on the steep slope down to Tenaya Lake inlet.

Yeah, following random lines on the map in that area is treacherous. They're often put there by climbers, and require either class 3+ moves or in the worst case a rope. Ask me how I know :|

Cool report, in a lower elevation area that'd be fun in the shoulder season.

Before going down, I looked over the ridge, and the route looked feasible.

Enjoyed reading your report. These lake basins along the Cathedral Range are some of my favorite Sierra destinations. Matthes Crest over Matthes Lake is stunning, and you captured the great sunset color at Nelson Lake. Mildred Lake is also very nice and easy to get to from Tenaya Lake outlet. Sorry to hear about the amplified music - I've never encountered that in the Sierra. To get to Lower Cathedral Lake, did you use the climber's trail that goes first to the base of Medlicott Dome and then up to the lake, or did you use a more direct cross-country route on the slopes south of Pywiack Dome? I've done both - the climber's trail is easier. As an almost 73 year old, I find this country easy to get around in. The cross-country is fun because it doesn't have a lot of talus or elevation gain.
-Phil

Nice report and pics. Thanks for posting.

I am surprised you ran into so many people that late in the season. I assume you were still permitted to park on the road. I recall they do not allow that after Oct 15. I took a small group of climbers down Tenaya Canyon years ago when we had to park at the gas station and hitch up to our start. It was amazing- we spent the night under a full moon at the "jump off". We replaced some bolts for that rappel. We had rock shoes so did not rappel the upper part down to the Jump Off. Most of the lower part we simply walked in the stream as the water was low. It still was challenging because the river bed was rocky and slick. I know that the rangers frown upon this route. Back then we did not even get a permit. I did not have a camera at that time so have no photos.

I did a similar route to Nelson Lake late season and it looked a lot like your photos. I got some really nice photos - I think did a trip report on that. Camped at Budd Lake and in the evening while reading the permit for the first time I discovered I was illegal. Too late to change. But I did not see others on that trip. I also went to Nelson Lake earlier with harder crossings but I thought it was a lot prettier- green and not dried out. Also did Matthes Crest - a wonderful easy class4- easy 5th climb. And did Cathedral- the east? face- with a really crazy fellow- my first and last time I climbed with someone I did not know.

Here is the old trip report

viewtopic.php?p=61745#p61745

@wildhiker: I used a direct route, southwest of Pywiack Dome. I did some class 3 scrambling on a cliff that blocked the way.

@Wandering Daisy: Parking was still allowed when I went.