Grand Canyon of the Tuolumne … Flooded?

[Paul N]

Hi All,

I have a permit to do the GCoT starting June 20 from White Wolf. I’m concerned that the trail may be flooded east of Pate Valley where it runs close to the river below the cliffs. Does anyone know what current conditions are on the trail?

BTW – l have two open slots on my permit if anyone wants to come along.

Paul

[Dave Ayers]

I suspect you mean a July 20th permit?

Yes, the main concern is if the level is too high in Muir Gorge to make it passable without going class 2-3 trying to bypass.  All the other side creek crossings pale in comparison to the gorge.

I’ve been through when the gage was at 12 feet/800 CFM and there was about 1 foot from the trail in Muir Gorge to the river top.  I estimate that it is passable when the gage above Hetch Hetchy is below ~12.5 feet (currently it’s ~14.5 feet) and the flow is below ~1,000 CFM (currently it’s ~1,800 CFM).  Check the gage at https://waterdata.usgs.gov/ca/nwis/uv?11274790 .

Also check out this TR:  http://www.highsierratopix.com/community/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=16159 .

[Paul N]

Thanks, Dave. Yes I meant July 20th, but I also had a permit for June 20th pulled before we knew what kind of snow year we were having.

Great reference point and links. Thanks!

Paul

[Paul N]

This trip isn’t meant to be. The water level is now down to safe crossing flows, but there are other headaches:

• YARTS isn’t currently stopping at White Wolf. They say getting the driver to stop at the road is up to driver discretion. Probably not a big deal.
• The Detwiler Fire is spreading and the smoke is dense across the part. Probably ok in the morning but the afternoon evenings look unhealthy to say the least.

So I have four days off, all the food and gear ready and I don’t know where to go that will have permits available and will be out of the smoke. SEKI looks like it’s still got too much water to deal with.

Any ideas? 4-5 hours from San Francisco.

Paul

[Kenneth Keating]

If you want to hike distances closer options are the PCT between Hwy 4 and Hwy 88, Hwy 88 to 50.  Not a loop so logistically more problematic, but it’d be easy to get an Uber out of S. Lake Tahoe, say drop the vehicle off at I-50 and Uber it to 4 or 88.  Desolation or Moklumne Wilderness would be great also and it’s easier to do loops.

[Paul N]

Thank you, Kenneth. We ended up going to Dinkey Lakes Wilderness and got 25 miles in over a couple days.

Paul

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