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Backpacking for Runners Yosemite National Park |
When we reach the peak of Clouds Rest an amazing panorama unfolds. Half Dome, Tenaya Canyon, North Dome, Basket Dome, Matterhorn Peak, Sawtooth Ridge, Tenaya Lake, the Clark Range and the park’s tallest peaks of Mounts Florence, Lyell, and McClure all are visible from this breathtaking peak. Once the sightseeing is complete we will begin the quick descent down to 7210 ft where we link up with the John Muir Trail and set up camp at our first backcountry campsite The next morning, day two, we enjoy a relaxed, but exhilarating hike to the top of Half Dome, without our packs! One of the most prominent and popular peaks in the park, Half Dome typically tops an avid hiker or backpacker's "peaks to do" list for Yosemite National Park. Fortunately for us we’re approaching this landmark from the opposite direction of the typical day-hiker. This gives us a unique perspective of this spectacular stone monument. This smooth, gray pure-rock monolith sticks out above Yosemite Valley to be seen from hundreds of places in the park. The hike is a quick 2 miles in one direction with the last half mile a challenging series of switchbacks overlooking ominous cliffs. Once you think you're done, the most challenging part of the trail awaits. For the last climb, we grab a pair of gloves and, with two cables embedded in the mountain as a safeguard, we climb almost straight up to the peak at 8,836 ft. Once on the top of this spacious, flat dome we see panoramic views of the Yosemite Valley, El Capitan, the Tenaya Canyon, Mount Florence and the Cathedral and Clark Ranges. . |
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This amazing trip takes you to three of Yosemite's most famous and spectacular peaks including the awe inspiring Cathedral Peak, the majestic Clouds Rest and the renowned Half Dome. This trip also includes a classic stretch of the historic John Muir Trail past numerous mountain creeks, lakes and endless meadows. Enjoy a social barbeque dinner upon arrival at the Tuolumne Meadows Campground. After a dinner we will do a trip briefing, distribute your backpacking gear and set-up tents for our first night under the stars. Remember Redwood Trail provides all your equipment. You need to only bring your clothes and footwear (running shoes work fine). In the morning we’ll have breakfast, pack-up our gear and head out for the wilderness. We begin our hiking at the giant, gorgeous and glacial Tenaya Lake, named after Chief Tenaya. From the Tenaya Lake Trailhead at 8140 ft, we’ll cross the lake’s outlet stream and enjoy a stroll though mini-meadows adorned with lupine and corn lily, and forests dominated by lodgepole pines. Mountain hemlocks join the open forest after we cross a second stream where the grade sharply increases and we ascend 2.3 miles on a rocky slope to the ridge line at 9220 ft. We then start the gradual climb up to the mighty Clouds Rest Peak at 9926 ft. As we climb we will start seeing some amazing scenery composed of many of Yosemite's most spectacular mountains. At the base of the summit, the massive 4500-foot-tall face of Clouds Rest, the largest granite face in the park, spreads below. The path quickly turns into imprinted rock as the tree line starts to fade and the peak gets closer and closer.
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Once back at the bottom, we pick up our packs and finish the day with a trek on a classic stretch of the famous and historic John Muir Trail along the headwaters of Sunrise Creek as we steeply ascend the slopes of the Sunrise Mountain. Once past the Sunrise High Camp, we'll find our second night’s backcountry campsite along the aptly named Long Meadow.
On the last day, we'll deposit our packs once again and enjoy an exhilarating day hike or jog farther up the John Muir Trail through the Cathedral Pass, where distant mountains like the Matterhorn and Echo Peaks are clearly visible. Within 3 miles we come across the first of the two pristine subalpine Cathedral Lakes, followed by the majestic Cathedral Peak and then the second of the twin lakes, which are punctuated by the needlelike spire. The peak, a mass of granodiorite, looms more than 1000 feet above the lakes at 10,911 ft. After some lunch and perhaps a dip in the lakes we'll backtrack to our packs to begin our trek home. In case you did not quite get your fill of gorgeous mountain lakes, we will make one final stop at the Sunrise Lakes on the way out. Nothing is quite as enjoyable or satisfying as a dip in a cool mountain lake after a long, hot day of backpacking! Trips are limted to 10 participants per trip.
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