Back from the Sierra
As sometimes happens, plans changed.
One of the members of our party was uneasy about heading 8 miles out and up to 10,300′ with an approaching front bringing the possibility of snow followed by cold and windy condtions.
Instead of heading the Fletcher Lake we picked a shorter trip and ended up at Lower Cathedral Lake. Here is a brief report – more details later when I have more time and after I’ve gone through my photos.
On Friday we headed up to Lower Cathedral Lake, a beautiful spot only 3.5 miles from Tuolumne Meadows. The promised cold front never materialized that night and we woke up to sun on Saturday.
On Saturday we took a cross-country route up to Upper Cathedral Lake, from which we ascended the saddle next to Cathedral Peak by a more-or-less cross-country path. It was getting a bit clouder when we reached this high point but since conditions still looked good we headed down the other side to Budd Lake.
Jane crosses the ridge between Cathedral Peak and Budd Lake.
After a lazy lunch we headed back up to the ridge between Cathedral and Echo Peaks, this time crossing closer to Echo Peaks. As we sat on the top we picked up a few snow flurries and before long we were getting moderate graupel (clumpy, pellet-like snow). We headed down as it continued to precipitate, arriving back at our tents in somewhat wet conditions around 5:00 pm. It soon stopped and cleared, allowing us to cook dinner outside.
Dan, Owen, Mark, and Jane on ridge near Cathedral Peak. October 9, 2004.
We picked up some wind on Saturday night and again on Sunday morning for our walk out. After our much-anticipated lunch at Tioga Pass Resort we said goodbye to another backpacking season.
Grass and leaves in a pond on Tioga Pass Road. October 10, 2004.
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October 10, 2004 -
Posted by gdanmitchell |
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Dan's Outside 
Back from the Sierra
As sometimes happens, plans changed.
One of the members of our party was uneasy about heading 8 miles out and up to 10,300′ with an approaching front bringing the possibility of snow followed by cold and windy condtions.
Instead of heading the Fletcher Lake we picked a shorter trip and ended up at Lower Cathedral Lake. Here is a brief report – more details later when I have more time and after I’ve gone through my photos.
On Friday we headed up to Lower Cathedral Lake, a beautiful spot only 3.5 miles from Tuolumne Meadows. The promised cold front never materialized that night and we woke up to sun on Saturday.
On Saturday we took a cross-country route up to Upper Cathedral Lake, from which we ascended the saddle next to Cathedral Peak by a more-or-less cross-country path. It was getting a bit clouder when we reached this high point but since conditions still looked good we headed down the other side to Budd Lake.
Jane crosses the ridge between Cathedral Peak and Budd Lake.
After a lazy lunch we headed back up to the ridge between Cathedral and Echo Peaks, this time crossing closer to Echo Peaks. As we sat on the top we picked up a few snow flurries and before long we were getting moderate graupel (clumpy, pellet-like snow). We headed down as it continued to precipitate, arriving back at our tents in somewhat wet conditions around 5:00 pm. It soon stopped and cleared, allowing us to cook dinner outside.
Dan, Owen, Mark, and Jane on ridge near Cathedral Peak. October 9, 2004.
We picked up some wind on Saturday night and again on Sunday morning for our walk out. After our much-anticipated lunch at Tioga Pass Resort we said goodbye to another backpacking season.
Grass and leaves in a pond on Tioga Pass Road. October 10, 2004.
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October 10, 2004 - Posted by gdanmitchell | Commentary