Tioga Pass, Tuolumne Meadows and Lower Cathedral Lake - Yosemite National Park, CA

"This I may say is the first time I have been to church in California." 

 (John Muir after making the first recorded ascent of Cathedral Peak in 1896.)

October 22, 2016

Distance:  7 miles round trip to Lower Cathedral Lake 
Trailhead Elevation:  8,500 ft  

Lower Cathedral Lake Elevation:  9,290 ft

How to Get there: Traihead is located at 1/2 mile west of the Tuolumne Meadows Visitor Center. Park your car along the road and make sure not to block traffic. Shuttle Stop #7.  Start hike at Cathedral Lakes trailhead, 

Late October, gorgeous fall colors are seen along Tioga Pass Road as you drive from HWY 395 to Yosemite National Park's high country. Snow capped eastern High Sierra's craggy peaks are so dramatic and breathtaking.  

The hike starts near Tuolumne Meadows along Tioga Road. The trail to Cathedral Lake is part of the John Muir Trail.  This is a very popular hike, so there will be other hikers on the trail.  But, no worries....crowds are much less compared to Yosemite Valley's zoo like condition! 

Lower Cathedral Lake offers quite impressive landscape of Yosemite's granite slabs/boulders and High Sierra's peaks with alpine lakes. Cathedral Peak, Echo and Tresidder Peaks loom along Lower Cathedral Lake. Enjoy spectacular landscape and views of high peaks and the alpine lake. It's like you are in a paradise. You can explore trekking along the meadows and the lake. There are plenty of perfect spots for your lunch or napping on the granite slab around the lake.

The hike climbs steadily from the beginning, but it's mostly gradual grade with some steep sections. Overall, it's easy to moderate hike, except high altitude/8,500 - 9,290 ft. You can also hike up to Upper Cathedral Lake adding extra 1/2 mile with 300 ft gain if you wish.

South Lake to Bishop Pass in Eastern High Sierra - Bishop, CA

 

October 21, 2016

Distance:   11 miles RT
Elevation :  9,820 ft/Trail head - 11,972 ft/Bishop Pass
Gain: 2,152 ft

Strenuous hike, and yet, breathtaking views of High Sierra with alpine lakes throughout the journey is an epic.  Hike begins from South Lake, the trail climbs to the valley between the Inconsolable Range and Hurd Peak. You pass or loop around rustic iron color Chocolate Peak which looms like a pyramid.  The trail continues along Long Lake. The trail to Bishop Pass steeply climbs a series of granite steps, and vistas get even better as you ascend.....meadows, lakes and ponds surrounded by breathtaking mountain peaks - Mt.Thompson and Mt.Goode.  The reward after the strenuous climb is Bishop Pass at 11.972 ft. and beyond is the backcountry of Kings Canyon National Park.  The trail continues to Dusy Basin and LeConte Canyon where it meets the John Muir Trail.  Mt. Agassiz (13,893 ft) looms over Bishop Pass for those skilled and ambitious scramblers to aim to summit.  For better views of Dusy Basin, hike a little farther down following the trail from the pass.  Wow moments await you.

How to get there:
From Bishop, follow Hwy 168 to South Lake. At the end of the road, there is a paved parking lot for day use and overnight parking.  Trailhead is at the south end of the parking lot and there is a trail sign to the left of the restrooms.