Lake Vernon-Hetch Hetchy Reservoir

Very nice. I was also out there Saturday night, but on the other side of the reservoir. We hiked up to Smith Peak from Mather. Excellent views from up there. I'll post some pics tonight. Were you able to hike the loop or was that trail by the "deadly falls" closed?

Hey Chris, We just did a out and back to Lake Vernon-11 miles roughly. It was really hot on Saturday for sure. We probably ran into each other at sometime?? That's a great area of Yosemite to backpack!

Cheers

When you guys were going up to Lake Vernon, you went through a trail junction that is marked on the map as the Beehive. I think it is several miles before you get to the lake.

How much snow was there deep in the woods at the Beehive?

–B.G.–

None near the trail, splotches big enough for a few snowballs visible from trail.

I saw one patch of snow at Beehive and no snow anywhere else on the trail to Lake Vernon— Snow was just at the higher elevations north of Lake Vernon. Summer is officially in the Sierras! The mosquitos are going to be INSANE in a week or two!!!!!

Nice TR, and thanks for sharing.

Nice to see some areas are without forest fires or record 400% snowfall. Just slightly envious. Enjoy.

That seems like good information, finally. So many snow reports before now have been pretty serious. I think I will go get my feet wet in a week or two. Maybe the mosquitos are busy putting away their skis for the season.

–B.G.–

Great TR and pics.

Nice. I'm jealous. Really need to make it down there some time.

Jay: Thanks for posting the pics and for coming on the trip. I enjoyed it. Nice to be back in the Sierra for the season.

For those concerned about conditions, snow was gone to at least 7,500 feet, and looked to be scarce and on north-facing slopes on surrounding peaks up to about 8,400. Not sure what it looks like above that. Water is the bigger concern. All the creeks are swollen and raging big time.

It was great to get everyone back together for a trip after doing the TRT together.

Was nice to have a relaxing trip and just hanging out together at the lake and to try out new ideas and things in preparation for the JMT.

Great to see all the water there to fill up Hetch Hetchy…no more drought!!!

Funny side note: While on the trail a group of backpackers asked us if we frequently hiked to Lake Vernon because we looked familiar to them. Turns out that they had read one of the photo essays I had done and recognized us!

Jay- thanks for posting up the pictures!

"Not sure what it looks like above that"

An acquaintance who just returned from a week-long trip above Hetch Hetchy said that above 9,000 feet and in all of the high country there is still "deep winter", that creeks are high and sometimes impassable, and at the lower levels where snow has just melted many trails are flooded, especially in meadow areas or near lakes, sometimes up to waist deep.

Tunnel Vision

Hetch Hetchy Dam with crazy water flow!

Great trip report. Thinking of taking my daughter backpacking (with a little fishing) in that area in a couple weeks. Hope the mosquitos are not to ferocious :-)

Quality, thanks Jay.