Photo: Dave Bugay Classic Yosemite Sampler, Yosemite National Park, California Highlights:
Includes:
Trip Number: 09113A Price: $695 Deposit: $100 Capacity: 12 Rating: M Leader:
The Trip The itinerary on this trip has changed from what was previously published. If you have questions, please contact us. Photo: Dave Bugay Our 10-day loop through the heart of Yosemite National Park will sample some of the finest of the Yosemite high country. We will hike past alpine meadows and camp by pristine lakes surrounded by 12,000-foot peaks. Interested trip members will have the option of summiting Clouds Rest, Half Dome, and Vogelsang Peak We will have a packer resupply at Merced Lake and a layover day at Vogelsang Lake. We will be covering about 59 on trail miles on this trip. Some days will require making early starts while other days will allow for a more leisurely breakfast. Our goal is to arrive in camp no later than mid-afternoon. If you have wanted to experience the high country of Yosemite and have some backpacking experience, then this would be a good trip for you.
 Photo: Dave Bugay NOTE: This itinerary is subject to change based on weather conditions, unsafe environmental conditions, and health of trip members. Day 1: After meeting in the Tuolumne Meadows Campground on Monday afternoon (July 20), we will issue group commissary, fix snack bags, check backpacks, and take a day hike up Lembert Dome. This evening we will have dinner at the Tuolumne Meadows Lodge (this dinner is not included in the trip price). Day 2: We begin our backpack with a gentle six mile downhill (descend 700 feet) hike to Glen Aulin. We will pass Soda Springs, Little Devil’s Postpile, cross the Tuolumne River bridge, and hike past the beautiful White Cascades as we arrive at our first camp. Day 3: We will get an early start as we head to May lake. Today we will have a net gain of 1,500 feet over a distance of 8.4 miles.We will pass by McGee Lake, the Polly Dome Lakes, Raisin Lake and be greeted with some great views along the way. If we make good time, there may be time for adventurous and fit hikers to climb Mt. Hoffman. Day 4: Today’s hike will cover 7.2 miles as we proceed down to the Tioga Road and cross onto the Sunrise Trail. Here we will proceed through forest, passing the junction with Sunrise Trail. We continue on to a campsite just before the Clouds Rest Trail. We will lose and then gain about 1,000 feet of elevation today.  Photo: Dave Bugay Day 5: We will meet the Clouds Rest Trail very soon after starting out. We will climb 1,000 feet over a distance of two miles. Just below the summit, we will leave our packs and scramble to the crest. After getting our fill of the stupendous views, we will return to our packs and descend around 3,000 feet over four miles to a bench above Little Yosemite Valley. We will see great views of Half Dome. Day 6: We will be on our way to Half Dome as soon
as the sun rises. Carrying only day-packs, the hike to the base of
the dome will go quickly (800 feet elevation gain over two miles).
A 360 degree panorama awaits those who venture to the large, flat
top ( about a 500-foot climb). We will return to camp in time for
lunch, then pack up for a short 2.5-mile hike to Little Yosemite Valley.
Day 7: Today we will hike nine miles up the Merced River with an elevation gain of 1,200 feet. We will climb alongside the Merced River, passing beneath the Moraine Dome, a great example of exfoliating granite. Eventually, as the canyon steepens, we will see the power of the river as it passes over the granite slabs of the Bunnell Cascade. We will continue through the wildflowers of Echo Valley to camp near Merced Lake. Day 8: From Merced Lake we will get an early start and head to Vogelsang Lake (10,300 ft). After crossing Lewis Creek, we’ll head up Fletcher Creek to the delightful sounds of water music. We will proceed up Fletcher Creek past Babcock and Emeric Lakes. This will be a long day with an elevation gain of 3,000 feet and a distance of nine miles. From our campsite, we will see both Clouds Rest and Half Dome. Day 9: Layover day options include a hike up Vogelsang Peak and perhaps a hike over Vogelsang Pass to sparkling Bernice Lake. If you are feeling less ambitious, this is the perfect place to take a nap on a warm granite slab, swim in the cool lake, or just sit beside a waterfall and relax. Day 10: Expect an interesting six mile hike today as we leave beautiful Vogelsang to spend our last night in tranquill Lyell canyon. We’ll descend 1,600 feet on our way to our camp near the Lyell Fork of the Tuolumne River. This is a great spot to soak tired feet or enjoy a cool swim. We will share some of our favorite trip memories and make plans for post-trip photo sharing. Day11: A gentle five mile hike down Lyell Canyon on the John Muir Trail will allow us a gentle re-entry into the “other” world. Just before the end we will get a post trip picture at the Lyell Fork bridge. Tuolumne Meadows, with showers, ice cream, and clean clothes, await our return! Getting There We will meet at the Tuolumne Meadows Campground on the early afternoon of day one at a time to be announced. This will allow everyone at least one night to acclimatize to the altitude before our trek begins. The closest airport is located in Reno, Nevada, about 180 miles away. Alternatives include the San Francisco and Oakland Airports about 250 miles away. While there is currently no direct route to Tuolumne Meadows by public transportation, it is possible to get there by using a combination of bus and train if you are willing to spend a couple of extra days doing so. A roster of trip participants will be sent out well in advance of the trip to assist those who wish to share rides and/or rental cars.
Our first trip meal will be breakfast onday one. Our final trip meal will be lunch on the last day. While this is not a vegetarian trip, vegetarians are encouraged to contact the leader to see if their needs can be met. We will be serving simple breakfasts on most days to facilitate early starts. An occasional happy hour (once we are acclimatized) and nightly desserts will add calories and help to keep our spirits high. Snack bags are provided for each trip member to carry. Every effort is made to provide a variety of nutritious and delicious meals to fuel our adventure. Trip members take turns serving on cook crews and performing camp chores. The leaders will take care of the stoves, and will assist in the meal preparation.
This trip is rated moderate (M). As with all backpack trips at high elevation, participants need to prepare with a program of vigorous cardiovascular activity. Find hills and hike with a loaded pack wearing the boots that you will wear on the hike. Your enjoyment of the trip will depend on how well prepared you are. The longest distance we will cover in one day is nine miles. Most days include a significant number of elevation gains and losses at elevations between 7000 feet and 10,500 feet.. Strong legs and a good level of cardiovascular fitness are essential. If you will be arriving from a low elevation and do not have experience hiking at altitude the leader may ask that you arrive a couple of days early so that you can adjust to the altitude and enjoy the trip.
Trip members need to furnish their own tent, sleeping bag, backpack, boots, clothing, eating utensils and other personal gear. The Sierra Club will provide all food and commissary equipment. A complete equipment list will be sent out to all participants. We will be using bear-resistant canisters to store all of our food and, at night, all of our toiletries. Each participant will carry one canister. Empty, the canisters weigh about 2.7 pounds each. Expect your share of the group food and gear to weigh about 14 pounds. To accommodate this load, you need to allow enough space in your pack to hold the equivalent of a full grocery bag. You need to limit your pack weight and personal gear to less than 25 pounds. While we hope for blue skies, rain is possible! Typical daytime temperatures will range from 60’s at higher elevations to 70’s at the lower elevations. It can be warmer. Nighttime lows in the 40’s are typical, but it can dip to below freezing! Since there is little shade along many trails, good sun protection is essential. Mosquitoes can be pesky, but unfortunately may be common during wildflower season.
Maps
Books
Conservation We will discuss some of the history of Yosemite and Sierra Club Outings, conservation of public lands and wilderness protection. We will follow “Leave No Trace” principles. Additional conservation information is available at: www.californiawild.org. The Sierra Club Outings program provides an excellent opportunity for members to discuss current problems while also celebrating past conservation victories. Trip participants are encouraged to come prepared to discuss issues affecting their home communities.
See the How to Apply for an Outing section for more details on registering for this trip and details about our Reservation and Cancellation Policy. The payment of a deposit does not confirm you as a member on the trip. Participants must be approved by the trip leader. After signing up for this trip, you will be sent a confirmation packet containing approval materials (Participant Approval Questionnaire, Medical Form, Liability Release Form). Each applicant (including those on the waitlist) must fill out these forms and promptly mail them to the trip leader. The leader will review the approval materials and notify you of your acceptance in a timely manner.
Leader:
Assistant Leader:
General Notes About Sierra Club Trips
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Dave Bugay has been a participant on a number of Sierra Club trips and has experience leading with the Boy Scouts. He is a graduate of the leader training trip given annually by the Knapsack Subcommittee. Last summer Dave made two trips west, first to attend a training event and later to spend 20 days backpacking in the Sierra. He is attracted to the Sierra by its beauty and the cool, dry air -- a real contrast from summers in East Texas!
Paul Cornett has been a participant and assistant leader on many Sierra Club trips in California and the Desert Southwest. A native Californian, Paul began backpacking 20 years ago and looks forward to returning to the mountains every summer. Paul's first backpacking trip was to Lake Merced in Yosemite, and he is looking forward on this trip to "returning to where it all began" and introducing others to some of his favorite places. Paul teaches middle school science
in the San Francisco Bay area and enjoys the opportunity Sierra Club trips afford for camaraderie, teaching, and learning more about the natural world.