From Chicago to JMT at Yosemite

We had many long discussions on flying vs driving. Joanna was in favor of flying to Reno or Fresno, Piotr was for driving to Lee Vining. Both options required travel on public buses and overnight stays somewhere. Finding good parking spot near trailhead was an issue too. We decided to drive to avoid airports and to have greater flexibility. With focus on JMT, we did not spend much time sightseeing on the way.  First day we just drove all day, 893 miles to Ogallala NE, and stayed in big chain motel (not good experience).

There was less driving second and third day, together 963 miles, across Wyoming, Utah and Nevada. We stayed at campgrounds  and slept in our converted car,  and enjoyed it: Flaming Gorge Firehole Canyon Campground near Green River, WY (recommended)  and at Ward Mountain Campground near Ely, NV (recommended). Both very good, except there was no water at Ward Mountain (not big deal, if we were notified in advance when we made reservation – we had to drive back to Ely to buy extra water). Firehole Canyon campground was excellent, with showers and very nice host. We had little time for evening walk along the lake in Flaming Gorge, but following day we made two one-hour stops: to check-out Great Salt Lake (water level was very low, we walked to the water’s edge on muddy/salty lake bed), and for short drive and lunch on Great Salt Desert’s salt flat near Wendover — great experience.

Driving across Nevada is interesting, for the landscapes and empty roads often in straight line all the way to the horizon, and then winding through hills and mountains. The longest stretch of our route without services/gas stations and pretty much anything else was 163 miles. On the last day we drove only 294 miles, had time to revisit Mono Lake South Tufa and remember exploration of Panum Crater (visited in 2012). Checked-in to Murphy’s Motel in Lee Vining, did some grocery shopping and visited Mono Basin Visitor Center to get advice from the rangers regarding where to park our car for a month. We decided to leave it in their large parking lot. We were worried new wild fires could cut-off access to Tuolumne Meadow/Tioga Road (another parking option we considered), and of course we were also saving time by avoiding  backtracking from Lee Vining to Tuolumne Meadow to retrieve the car after JMT.

It all worked out very well: we were all packed and ready at the motel in the evening. Early next morning, we just drove to the Visitor Center, parked the car and waited a few moments for YARTS bus to take us some 20 miles to Tuolumne Meadow, the starting point of our hike.

Flaming Gorge Reservoir

Flaming Gorge Reservoir

Great Salt Lake Desert

Great Salt Lake Desert

Mono Lake South Tufa

Mono Lake South Tufa

 

Desolation Wilderness-Yosemite-Mono Lake-Lassen Volcanic

Started in South Lake Tahoe and visiting Fallen Leaf Lake area. Then hiked 3 days with friends in Desolation Wilderness. We continue to Yosemite and Lassen Volcanic to  hike and camped, and visited places in between. Good hikes to Round Top Lake, Clouds Rest/Sunrise Lakes, Cinder Cone and Lassen Peak.

Desolation Wilderness (32 km, 1300 m total ascent, 2000-2600 masl)Eagle Falls Trail from trailhead on Emerald Bay Rd (CA89) – Bayview Trail – Velma Lakes Trail/Pacific Crest Trail to Campers Flat (overnight), Blakely Trail to Lake Schmidell, return via Pacific Crest Trail to Dicks Lake (overnight) and Eagle Falls Trail – Bayview Trail to trailhead on Emerald Bay Rd. Between trailheads, from Inspiration Point to Lower Eagle Falls, walked along Emerald Bay Rd. Three days.
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Round Top Lake (12 km, ~350 m total ascent, 2600- 2870 masl)Carson Pass – Frogg Lake – Winnemucca Lake – Round Top Lake (Pacific Crest Trail-Winnemucca Wildflower Trail-Pack Trail)
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Clouds Rest/Sunrise Lakes (32.5 km, 1400 m total ascent,2490-3027-2620 masl)Tenaya Lake-Sunrise Lakes-Clouds Rest-Sunrise Lakes-Tuolumne Meadows (Clouds Rest Trail-Sunrise Lakes Trail-John Muir Trail). Two days.
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Cinder Cone (9 km, 350 m total ascent) Click on wikiloc logo to see more details
Lassen Peak (9.5 km, 750 m total ascent, 2580-3187 masl) Click on wikiloc logo to see more details
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