DAY 0

Camp tonight with us at White Wolf Lodge, where we will start our trip by stashing our food and clothes for when we are back here in 4 days. In the morning we will all travel to Lembert Dome Parking area in Tuolumne Meadows to start our trip. Here are the benefits of camping with us tonight: We can help you figure out what to bring and how to pack it properly, a yummy breakfast is included, you can stash an extra set of clothes or trail foods for halfway through the trip, and if you decide ahead of time that you would just like to join us on the Grand Canyon of the Tuolumne portion of the trip, you can leave your car here, carpool with us to Lembert Dome, and have your car waiting for you at the end of your 4 day trip. If you can not camp out but would like the benefits of the campers, meet us at the campsite by at least 8:30 am.

DAY 1

Meet at Lembert Dome picnic area at 10 am. Here we will make sure all smelly food/toiletry items are out of car, deal with last minute packing issues, and head out on our way. First we will hike past Soda Springs, a popular bubbly spring near the trailhead, and then head along a sandy trail toward Glen Aulin High Sierra Camp. The trail to Glen Aulin is mostly downhill and along the way we’ll see some awesome waterfalls and start getting a taste for what this trip will be like. We’ll say goodbye to the majority of the crowds as we pass Glen Aulin by a mile or so and set up camp for the first night.  

DAY 2

This is one of our shorter days on the trip where we will have the opportunity to swim and just take in the sights. Today we will get to see a huge tributary that flows down from the Ten Lakes Basin (where we will be in a few  days!)

DAY 3

Today we will Do a little more vertical than the previous days as we head up and over a section of river with steep impassible granite walls. This uphill journey will be rewarded by some of the best swimming holes of the whole trip.

DAY 4

This is the day we have all been anticipating. To escape this the Grand Canyon of the Tuolumne you will hike up and out 4000 vertical feet in 9 miles getting a serious workout and some even more serious views. As you finish the majority of the vertical for that day you will get to see Hetch Hetchy, the controversial reservoir that supplies most of the water for the bay area. About 3 miles from our camp there is a beautiful lake we can swim in to wash off all the sweat and dust. To finish the day right, our camp will have flushing toilets, showers, and ice cream! Here we will have stashed our next 4 days worth of food and maybe even a change of clothes.

DAY 5

Yesterday was a grueling day and today we are going to have another day of ups and downs. Throughout the day we’ll gain about 2500’ and lose about 1400’. But you can look forward to an optional rest day at the beautiful Ten Lakes Basin.

DAY 6

Ahhh…kick back your feet! Ten Lakes has awesome swimming, jumping fish, deer grazing, and if we are lucky, one of the loudest thunderstorms you’ll ever hear. Bring a magazine or your ipod and kick back. If you are the unstoppable type, get ready for a really great hike (sans huge backpack!) to a nearby exposed rocky peak and get a great view of the lakes and Tuolumne Meadows. 

DAY 7

Now that you’ve rested up a bit, today we will hike up, over, and around tree covered granite fins as we really start heading back towards Glen Aulin. We’ll gain and lost about 2500’ today as we hike over, through, and around the trees.

DAY 8

Today we will hike mostly downhill past McGee Lake (one of the only lakes in the sierras to have two out takes!) until we arrive back at Glen Aulin, then retrace our steps past some of the first waterfalls we saw, then past soda springs, until we arrive happy and fit at our cars.