).
DAY 1: Tuolumne Meadows to Glen Aulin (7.3 mi, 700' loss)
We got a reasonably early start and swung around Tuolumne Meadows on the PCT heading N, with Cathedral Peak prominent in the distance on the right (climbed its SE ridge - left skyline - years ago).
After a visit to the Sierra Club's Parson's Memorial Lodge,
we continued N along the seriously diminished Tuolumne River,
past Tuolumne Falls,
over lots of granite,
to our first camp at Glen Aulin,
right next to the White Cascade of the Tuolumne.
DAY 2: Glen Aulin to May Lake (8.2 mi, 1400' gain)
After two excellent meals and a good nights sleep, we turned off the PCT and headed SW,
past McGee Lake.
A lot of this trail is in the trees but it does eventually break out onto the granite for a big view of northern Yosemite.
We then passed Raisin Lake,
and soon arrived at our second camp,
on the shores of May Lake.
DAY 3: May Lake to Sunrise (8.7 mi, 1900' gain)
Two meals and a sleep later, we were up to catch the sunrise on May Lake.
To get to Sunrise, we first had to descend 1200' on part of the old Sierra Highway (replaced in 1961 by Hwy 120),
past Tenaya Lake,
and then regain that 1200' plus 600' more,
past the Sunrise Lakes,
to reach our 3rd camp,
with its expansive view of Long Meadow.
DAY 4: Sunrise to Merced Lake (9.8 mi, 500' gain)
This was supposed to be our easiest day in that it is technically "all down hill" (not exactly true but we let ourselves think that
). So we got off to a good start across Long Meadow,
with Columbia Finger in the distance.
After a short climb, we started a long descent down the Cathedral Creek drainage, through seemingly endless granite cliffs and exfoliations.
Two things caught our attention in this stretch - a coyote chasing a young deer (the Loved One thought the deer got away; I said think of the really, really cute coyote pups that will be having vension for dinner...) - and a small grove of very old, very large, and very convoluted junipers.
The trail then leveled out a bit through a meadow,
before starting its final descent into the valley of the Merced River.
Once on the valley floor, we still had some climbing to do,
to finally reach Merced Lake,
and the camp where we'd spend the next two nights (you're a little more likely to get the loop if you agree to two nights at Merced, which is no hardship at all).
DAY 5: Sloth, idleness, and dissipation at Merced Lake
DAY 6: Merced Lake to Vogelsang (7.8 mi, 2800' gain)
Going up to Vogelsang is the single biggest climb on the loop and one that a lot of people worry about. But it's well graded and overall a lot easier than the steep climb from Tenaya Lake to Sunrise. As we climbed out of the valley of the Merced, there was one spot where we could see both Merced Lake and Half Dome.
There are two options for the Merced to Vogelsang section and we chose to ascend Fletcher Ck because that way is more open with bigger views. The trail climbs steadily to a point (arrow),
where we could look back S toward the Clark Range.
Past this point, the trail levels off a lot, enters a long valley,
and climbs rather gently through meadows and up a slope,
to our last camp. We had arranged our schedule to arrive at Vogelsang on its last day of operation for the 2015 season, so as to partake of the traditional "Last Supper" of turkey and fixings. Yumm!
DAY 7: Vogelsang to Tuolumne Meadows (7.2 mi, 1400' loss)
After the Last Supper came the cold and clear Last Morning,
and then the Last Breakfast (which seemed redundant given all the turkey we'd consumed the night before). But despite some bloating, we bravely laced on our boots one last time, said goodbye to Vogelsang,
and started down to Tuolumne Meadows.
After another crossing of the Tuolumne,
we reached the TH just W of Tuolumne Lodge (49 mi loop, 6600' EG). An excellent, amazing trip with amazing and excellent friends! Probably a once in a lifetime one but worth every footstep (and dollar) expended!
