4 Days and 50 Miles July 2007
Tom Harrison Maps: Yosemite High Trail Map
Panorama Trail Trail Head at Yosemite's Glacier Point 7214 ft
Glacier Point & Half Dome
Following the Illilouette Creek
Easy single track trail, well marked.
After 1.5 miles from Glacier Point dramatically fewer people on the trail. Most of the people we met were returning from Lower Ottoway Lake as a point in and out trip.
Mt. Starr King NE of the Trail
Last Push Up to Upper Merced Pass Lake.
Dry year with no water on the push up. Merced Pass Lake was our only hope for water.
This frankly kicked my butt…I was bonking out due to being out of shape.
13 Miles In From Glacier Point at Upper Merced Pass Lake
Henry Shire Squall 2 Tarp Tent in the Background. Tarp tents worked very well. Little wind and condensation to deal with. Water very close by. No bugs. Behind us was Lower Merced Pass Lake, which is considerably bigger. We briefly looked for it, but never found it. Obscured by the terrain.
Breakfast at Upper Merced Pass Lake 8920 ft
Temperatures that night were warm, high 30's degrees F to mid 40's degrees F. My 15 degree Marmot Helium EQ was too warm.
Lower Ottoway Lake 9563 ft
We saw a few groups camping here, well hidden from each other. We passed two teenage boys carrying good sized fish that they had caught from the lake to their campsite.
Jeremy Tanking up on Cool Waters
Daytime temps were warm, 80 to 85 degrees F. Dunking our hats into the cool waters was a welcome relief and gave us a chance to tank up before going up.
Circling Lower Ottoway Lake
A Bit of Rock & Water
Jeremy Above Lower Ottoway Lake
Trail here started out with plenty of snow melt water flowing down and across the trail. A little mucky, but quickly the elevation gain came and water was gone.
Upper Ottoway Lake
Very windy, but beautiful location. Would not attempt to camp at this barren and exposed location.
Switch Backs of Red Peak Pass
The thin air, lack of breeze, and ever present sun slowed me down to a crawl. Meeting two young and attractive women who were descending from top, I only could muster a fair smile and hello. Jeremy was in much better physical shape than I was and seemed unaffected by the altitude.
Sky & Rock
Tony Top of the Pass SE View
Elevation 11,075 ft.
Jeremy at Red Peak Pass NE View
Very Narrow Pass, not much wider than a small living room.
Tony Happy to be at the Top
Just Below Red Peak Pass Checking the Map
Snow at 11,075 ft
Red Rock Trail
One of Many Unnamed Lakes on the Decent
Trail of Snow Water Lakes
Red Devil Lake
Elevation 9,744 ft.
Clear Water & Red Peaks
Back to the Tree Line
A Perfect Slice of Heaven
Down to Triple Peak Fork
Trail Crew Campsite at Triple Peak Fork
Elevation 9,100 ft.
View from Campsite along the Triple Peak Fork Trail looking back at Red Peak Pass
Dinner by a Stream after a 15 Mile Day
A Well Deserved Meal
Squall 2 and Contrail
Tarptents did a good job giving us shelter from a few bugs
We experienced some condensation that night with a beautiful full moon to keep us up at night
Where the Triple Peak Fork & Merced River Meet
Cool Waters of the Merced River
Washburn Lake
My First Time Swimming in a Lake on a Backpacking Trip
So nice to be clean and refreshed
Elevation 7,605 ft.
Merced Lake High Sierra Camp
Elevation 7,320 ft.
Western Shore of Merced Lake
Elevation 7,212 ft.
An Unexpected Site
Crossing the Merced River
Bunnell Point & Cascade
A few miles from this point the trail opens up to Little Yosemite Valley, which was loaded with backpackers and day hikers heading up to Half Dome.
Both of us finished the day with big blisters on our feet.
My right heel had a blister the size of a Silver Dollar, which was the result of wearing traditional thick hiking socks with trail runners.
View of the Valley from Panorama Cliff Trail
Half Dome, Nevada Falls, & Vernal Falls
Full Circle to Glacier Point
Jeremy's Happiest Part of the Trip
IF YOU HAVE ANY PHOTOS FROM TRIPS THAT YOU HAVE TAKEN IN THIS AREA, PLEASE FEEL FREE TO POST THEM UP ON THIS THREAD…THEY ARE MUCH APPRECIATED!
