Mammoth Lakes to Yosemite

July 9-12 2016

Still inspired by our July-August 2015 backpacking trip through the High Sierra Camps, we chose to revisit Yosemite from a different direction. This time, we drove to Tuolomne Meadows on July 9th and took a YARTS shuttle to Mammoth Lakes and down to Reds Meadow campsite. The next morning we went past Devil's Postpile and continued our journey past Rosalie Lake, Garnet Lake and Thousand Island Lake. We crossed over the snow covered Donohue Pass at 11,000' and then descended into Yosemite National Park.

GPS maps from our Garmin GPSMAP64st are at the bottom of this webpage

First day stop at Rosalie Lake on July 10th after departing from Devil's Postpile, overlooking the valley

Second stop July 10th at the frigid mountain Ruby Lake

Crossing Donohue Pass

July 12, 2016

Donohue Pass is a high mountain pass just over 11,000' and is the sixth highest pass on the John Muir Trail. Above the initial low climb, the high ascent and pass crossing is surprisingly easy, as the high mountain plains are quite gradual. There is typically snow year round, and indeed we we met with some wet snowpack at the top. However, the views are spectacular and after two days the altitude is manageable. Upon arriving at the peak, to the south is the Ansel Adams Wilderness, and to the north is Yosemite National Park.

Clear summer streams, full of mountain trout, along the path from Donohue Pass through Lyell Canyon to Tuolomne Meadows

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