Cathedral Range, Yosemite NP

Nice.  I think the worst mosquitoes I ever saw were at Reymann Lake one year.  How were they on your trip?

Yeah, the mosquitoes were pretty bad. Not the worst I’ve experienced, but pretty darn close. Emigrant/Northern Yosemite holds that award. Despite the close to freezing temps in the morning, they were still around. I ended up packing up and heading up the ridge to have coffee.

Oh gosh, it’s been so long since I’ve been through this country it
makes me ache to see these pictures. Feel free to post more!

I’ve been through here a lot over the years, always going or coming. The thing about Yosemite, people think it’s crowded (you can escape the crowds) and not very elevated like the southern Sierra. But the scenery!!! One could make a case that the constant change of landscape and treescape from ‘low’ meadows to relatively high passes, north Yosemite through Ansel Adams wilderness and to the eastern boundary and beyond as well; that all of this more mixed country offers better scenery than the moonscape 10,000 to 13,000 feet country in the south that everyone so prizes (me too!).

Nice

Thanks for sharing!

Thanks, fellas.

Jeffrey, I love Yosemite. Especially since it’s only a 3.5 hour drive. I’m spoiled. People come from all over the world to visit the park and for me it’s just another weekend backpacking trip. Sure it’s busy, but there’s plenty of solitude if put a little thought and effort into it. I saw 8 people in 3 days. Not too bad for a summer weekend with perfect weather.

I want to take more trips farther south in the range, but there is so much to explore close to home. Again, I’m pretty lucky to have so many great backpacking destinations within a couple hours drive (e.g. Desolation, Tahoe NF, Emigrant, Hoover, Yosemite, Inyo, etc.)

Tuolumne River

Pass south of Elizabeth Lake

looking back, en route to Nelson Lake

Nelson Lake

Here’s one for ya.

And another.  Climbing Cathedral Peak, my friend Peter:

Nice! Thanks for sharing.

Peter could be on the 1973 cover of Climbing magazine.

Alex

Nice trip.
It appears that you started your trip off trail (my preferred mode).
Is it easy to get a Yosemite backcountry permit if your start is cross country?

Hi Marty,

I actually started at a formal TH and the first 1.5 miles were on a mapped trail. After that, it was off trail through the Cathedral Range. The last couple of miles back were also on trail and I exited at a TH.

As for permitting, I think you need to start at an official TH since that’s how they control the quotas.

Alex

Thanks for clarifying the permitting. It makes sense that the backcountry permit would require starting at a trailhead.
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Here’s one more: