High Sierra Camps Loop

We have finished the loop of five High Sierra Camps.  We were able to hike between the camps and they gave us a bunk with blankets and fed us dinner and breakfast.  It was great because the food was good, the people were very positive, the hikes were at times challenging, and the scenery was exceptional.  There were small wood stoves and wood in the tent cabins for when it got cold. 

The five camps in order were Glen Aulin, May Lake, Sunrise, Merced Lake, and Vogelsang, then back to Tuolumne Lodge.  When we arrived at the camps the manager checked us in, gave us a tent cabin number, and told us we had room mates.  We usually hiked into the camp, checked in, took a nap in our tent, explored the area, the bell would ring at 6 for hot drinks then again at 6:30 for dinner.  Then we would all go out for a view of sunset. 

We met many wonderful people on the trail and in the camps.  To be around so many people who share the same love of the outdoors and with good outdoor ethics was really good and made it easy to talk together.  People in their 30s to their 70s doing what we were doing and drinking in the outdoor life.  Some kind of energy radiated in the camps.  Exciting.

Getting out at night under the blanket of stars with a brilliant milky way was mesmerizing -- I couldn't quit looking at the sky until I got way too cold.

The first night our tent mates were Ryan and Chad - two young men who were thoroughly enjoying the camps.  They were wonderful company, very interesting people and I hope we can stay in touch a long time.  Ryan spent some time swimming in the Tuolumne River in the pool under the falls.  I never got up the nerve to get in that cold water. 

The sound of the water falls lulled us to sleep.

One of the many Falls in the Tuolumne Canyon and happy hikers.

The river

View from the rocks above the camp

Camp Office

The falls at the camp.  The cabins were just about 30 yards from the falls.  Beautiful place.

Sunset from camp.

Horse campers passing by.  They are supplying the camps. Lady horse packers.

The river below the camp on the way to the Tuolumne River Canyon.  Susan and I want to backpack down the river canyon, it looks beautiful and remote.

We hiked to May Lake the next day.  The hike was not easy - there was a climb but the scenery was really good.  I am running out of descriptions about how magnificent this place is so I am just posting photos.  May Lake was great - the manager - Brian - was very good and he made the stay really fun.  They blew Conch shells for dinner and we watched the sunset and the sunrise.  Our tent mates were a married couple who had spent most of their lives in and around Yosemite.  A real wealth of knowledge and very good people.  We will stay in touch with them. 

The camp was on a beautiful lake with a cliff on the other side.  Mergansers were on the lake and the milky way reflection in the lake was Magic.

7.9 to May Lake from Glen Aulin

Lake on the way to May Lake. McGee Lake -- Ryan told us about the lake.

Lupines along the trail.

Up the trail and over the mountain on the way to May Lake

Flowers on the way.

Making friends in the camp.

Brian giving a history of the camps and setting up the sunset experience.

Sunset on Half Dome from May Lake.

Sunset on Cloud's Rest from May Lake.

Going from May Lake to Sunrise was one of our two toughest climbs.  From May Lake we went down to the Tioga Road Highway 120 then back up what is called the stairway to heaven.  The climb just kept going and going until we finally saw the first Sunrise Lake but then more climbing started after the last lake.  Susan started mumbling about sadistic trail designs and I tried to go to my happy place. 

The lakes were beautiful and there were campers and swimmers who made a certain high pitch sound when they entered the water.  Really cold water.  Sunrise Camp opened only 3 weeks this year and somehow our reservations hit on the last week they were open.  And it was after the mosquito problems.  The camp was on the other side of the ridge from the lakes and overlooked a mile long meadow with a stream running through it.  It was again hard to describe the beauty -- the stars and the peacefulness of the camp.  The big jug of lemonade waiting for us in the office was really welcome that day as it was at each camp.  That was a really good surprise to have cold lemonade when we got to each camp. 

Our roommates at Sunrise had stove fire issues since they had been unable to get one started in their stove in Tuolumne.  They had hiked directly from Tuolumne to stay a few days at Sunrise.  It seemed that the fire thing may have been an issue because she got cold easily.  But I am ahead of myself and the stove fire was not an issue the next morning.  I would like to hear how it went for the rest of their trip.

I was a bit nervous about making sure I got that fire started so I may have done too much prep work on the fire.  When it started it sounded like a jet engine and there were three inch flames shooting out of the vent holes.  So I sat up and watched it until all settled down and then went back to bed.  It was nice to have a warm tent to get up and dress in.

Really good stay at Sunrise:

The trail greeter on the way to Sunrise.

Wildflowers at the Sunrise Lakes.

Same view -- the mountain in the background (Mount Clark?) was used in part in the paramount studios logo.

Sunset from Camp

More sunset

Yeah, I thought sunset was good.

Ranger doing a pre sunset talk with the camp guests.

Morning over the meadow

Same sunrise - same meadow

Flowers in the meadow.  From down in the meadow you can see how long the meadow is.

The camp manager Gavin said he was running over to climb "the pencil" after the morning duties.  I think this is the pencil.  These camp guys are really amazing outdoor people.  One of them cam running past us on the stairway to heaven doing a big loop in the mountains before his dinner duties.  It looked as if he was wearing flip flops!  Youth!

I am running out of time so here are Merced Lake and Vogelsang together.  Merced Lake was the lowest in elevation at 7,100 ft.  Vogelsang the highest at 10, 800 ft.  The hike from Sunrise to Merced Lake was a very long 10 mile mostly down hill but was following  a tributary of the Merced river -  and of course waterfalls, wildflowers and granite walls all around us. 

Merced was a very nice camp on the merced river just above the Merced Lake.  It seemed very quite when we checked in - like none of the staff was there. We were awaken from the routine nap by whooping and hollering and yells of 'victory lap!'   We went out and the camp manager was running with a large yellow flag which signified victory over the Vogelsang crew in the Ultimate Frisbee game that was held that day in a meadow half way between the camps - several thousand feet above Merced Lake.  Then the kitchen crew who went to play the game started fixing dinner -- a lot of frantic action in the kitchen -- Dinner was pasta and it was fantastic with a good salad! 

At the end of dinner the crew usually lines up and tells the guests who they are, where from, and how they got there.  For instance the dishwasher - in big green kitchen gloves tells us that he was pretty well burned out sitting around popping bubble wrap when he discovered dish washing.  And with the most sincere expression and tone he informed us that dish washing had changed his life! "I'm living the dream".   I never saw anything but a smile on his or any other staff's face the whole time.  These young people are all in great shape and love the outdoors and are really goof people.

In Voglesang we got the coldest reception of all five camps - like we were bothering the lady manager.  The rest of our group got the same thing but it was just one of the five camps and the rest of the crew were friendly. 

Vogelsang was the highest camp sitting below Voglesang peak in another beautiful meadow with streams running through.

On the trail somehow the dust gets on us everywhere -- I had on long pants but my legs were dark with dust all the way above my knees.  So no showers at Vogelsang -- The creek was available but sooo cold.  All clean and ready for dinner.

At Merced Lake we were alone in our tent and at Vogelsang a really nice couple shared the tent with us.  I spent several cold hours outside at Vogelsang staring at the beautiful Sky -- The Stars!

Photos:

Beautiful Trail to Merced - big gnarly trees - living a tough life at that altitude.

The boulders (erratics) left in place by the retreating glaciers were amazing.

More happy hikers in the erratics -- or is it Erratics in the happy boulders?

I called these granite domes "The Twins"

Close up of the left twin -- those are big trees -- how do they make it up on that granite rock?  A source of amazement to us.  Yes we are easily amazed!

Tree with Susan walking by shows the size of some of these beautiful twisted trees.

The Merced working it's way through the granite river bed - a beautiful crystal clear river.

Merced Lake

There was a washing facility for hand washing trail clothes and the only clothes line equipped with clothes pins! 

Our great hiking companions - with us through the camps.

Vogelsang Photos:

Typical trail - this is actually good compared to some.

Views from the trail up Vogelsang

View of Merced Lake below with one of those beautiful old trees.

More trail -- thought this could be the section of the photos to show what we were walking every day.

Merced Lake below - our last view.

Trail sign at the split of the trails up Vogelsang Peak.

The river working it's way down the granite.

Mountains around where we came - dramatic peaks!

Life on the edge! 

Granite Dome but look close the river is running at it's edge. 

The upper meadow Vogelsang Peak in the distance on the left.

A pool in the stream in the meadow with reflections of the mountains.

Looking back at where we came up into the meadow.

Letting feet dry after falling in the creek while crossing.  Dry socks are ready.  So now I know I can't walk on water!  Susan has to watch this mess unfold daily as we go camp to camp.  She's a good one!

The menu at Vogelsang -- Believe me -  It was a hard life at these camps!

Sunset from the tent

Wood stove going early in the tent next door.

The mule wranglers were really good.  The animals were treated gently -- it was really good to see after some of the stuff we saw in the Grand Canyon.  The wranglers we saw were mostly women working the pack trains on the trail.

I think this is a great western scene - look at the mule on the left -- Happy animal!  Good handler!

Going Out -- We left for the Tuolumne Lodge and were happy to get to our motel - hot shower and Whoa Nelly Deli in Lee Vining.  Overall a great trip!

Looking back at Vogelsang

Looking ahead to where we are going

Lupines on the way

Beautiful little falls and swimming pool on the way out.

This has been just a short overview of the Yosemite adventure and the great people we met.  But it is all we have time for right now.

We're on our way back to the Northwest today.  Leaving California - Heading for Oregon and Washington State.