Monday, August 20, 2012

Hiking to May Lake

It was hot the first week in August, even at 9,000'.  We wanted something different but we didn't want to do one of our lower elevation hikes where it would be even hotter.  We decided to go into Yosemite and try a hike off the Tioga Road.  Forget Mono Pass, every parking space was taken at the trail head.  We headed for May Lake.
Even here, two miles up a narrow one lane with turnouts we were lucky to find a place to park.  No surprise, I guess, this is Yosemite and it's tourist season.  The view from the trail was spectacular.  Cathedral peak on the left and Unicorn to the right of it.  The gray granite, scoured by glaciers has little vegetation.
May Lake lies in a cirque at an elevation of over 9300'.  The hike is not bad, about a mile and a half with less than 500' gain.
 My lens couldn't capture the view so I stitched five images into a panorama.  This is the view that would great you in the morning if you stayed at the May Lake High Sierra Camp.
There are five of these High Sierra Camps spaced 10 miles or less apart.  Guests get a heated tent, a cot, blanket and pillow (may have to share tent with strangers).  Breakfast and dinner are included.
Since this is wilderness, all of the supplies must be packed in and the trash packed out without mechanical devices.  High Sierra Camps are a way for people who don't feel able to carry a heavy backpack to experience the wilderness.

See more views of our magnificent world at Our World, Tuesday.  Hosted for us each week by Arija, Gattina, Lady Fi, Sandy and Sylvia.

12 comments:

Sylvia K said...

What a wonderful and beautiful place, Martha! Sounds like a fun place to stay over night! Great captures for the day! Hope you have a good week! Enjoy!

diana said...

Beautiful shots of May Lake! Especially the panorama. I have a couple early morning pics of Mt Hoffman and May Lake on my blog here.....http://coolclearwater.blogspot.com/2012_06_01_archive.html

Do you know the Twenty Lakes Basin loop?

Unknown said...

Great sequence!! Boom & Gary of the Vermilon River, Canada.

Snap said...

Wow! May Lake is gorgeous and must be worth the hike! Enjoyed your post.

eileeninmd said...

Wow, what a fun time! I have only backpacked once. The scenery is gorgeous and well worth the hike. Thanks for sharing.

Anonymous said...

Oh what wonderful adventure ! Thank you very much for this escape. Please have you all a good Tuesday.



daily athens photo

Rajesh said...

Very picturesque place. Beautiful place to hike.

Gaelyn said...

Wow, really off the beaten path, except for the mules/horses. What a magnificent view to walk up to.

Fun60 said...

Enjoyed the views. Thank-you. Have a good week.

Esther Garvi said...

Beautiful place!!

carol l mckenna said...

Wow! I am awed by the beauty of the mountains and your photography ~ (A Creative Harbor)

thanks for coming by ^_^

Sallie (FullTime-Life) said...

Wonderful hike! I could probably do that one. Thanks for taking us along. All those years we lived in Oregon and traveled to CA we always bypassed Yosemite b/c we always traveled in the summer and heard it was too crowded then. Finally after retirement we went and it was in April -- a perfect time, and I hope we get to go again sometime. Looks like you were able to get where you wanted to go though even in tourist season