July 24 - Yosemite (Tioga Road)

Well this is the start of my Yosemite/Eastern Sierra vacation - finally. The trip was supposed to start Sunday with my flight to Reno. I was supposed to have spent Monday and Tuesday in Yosemite hiking the May Lakes, Mono Pass and Gaylord Lakes and seeing the normal tourist spots. But thanks to CrowdStrike's extremely poor quality software update and Delta, I flew out yesterday (Tuesday). But I'm here even though now I only have 1 day in Yosemite (not 3).

I started out at 6am from June Lake Motel. Very light traffic up Hwy 120 as one would expect at the somewhat early time so it was very easy to stop and enjoy some lake views and mountain view.

The one lake had steam coming off. 

I arrive at the Yosemite gate and headed for Olmstead Point. Very popular I'm expecting an incredible view.

I pass by Tuolumne Meadows (or at least I did) but I wasn't impressed.

I did stop at Tenaya Lake. Beautiful early in the morning. But not so specatular that I would spend a whole day walking around it.

Then it was Olmstead Point. OK, I can see Half Dome. Look nice but not the view I was expecting.

Then it's onto the May Lake TH. At the pull-off there's a very narrow road that says 2 miles to the TH. Not sure if I'm supposed to be driving on it but it doesn't say I can't so up this very narrow road I go to the trail. 

Thankfully, early on I see a car heading towards me. Have the room so I pull off the best I can so they can go by. I now know I'm heading in the right direction.

Soon I'm at a rather big parking lot. I gear up and start up an old beat up road. I see a May Lake high camp sign so I assume I'm on the right path. The trail is supposed to be 1.2 miles and 500 feet elevation gain. I'm going downhill so maybe the elevation is the climb out. But this is supposed to be a 4 star trail and although the trees and big rocks and slabs are nice; it's not 4 star. But I keep going.

The only notable sighting is a Woodpecker early on.

I continue to descend. Ahead I do see a lake but it's in the distance; the far distance. At 0.9 miles, either I read the trail description incorrectly or I'm on the wrong trail so I head back.

On the return, I see several Commas but none would stay for a good sighting.

I arrive back at my car after climbing just over 630 ft. I'm hot and sweaty and mad at myself as this is the trail I wanted to do.

I head to the bathroom and decide to check out this little pond next to the parking. 

There I find the TH sign for May Lakes: 1.2 miles. Aargh!! But yea! I hiking the trail.

I didn't do this before my initial hike but I do lock up the food in my car in a bear box. A lady had to show me how to open it but I'm safe.

I start up the trail already a bit depleted.

And this is a 4 star trail thru woods, open rock slabs with wonderful views.

It's not hard but I'm dragging my butt because I can.

I lose my water bladder nipple at some point - Grrr! (Already forgot the other 1/2 of the magnet to attach the hose to my backpacket, now I have no nipple :(

I do find a few butterflies on the trail. Strangely I only see them on the climb. I see a Western Branded Skipper and some Frits.

I finally make it to May Lake and it's so well worth the adventure.

I take a much needed break before starting downhill.

Happily find my nipple on the trail on the way back - yea!!!

Back at my car again, I decide to head west to Yosemite Creek picnic area for lunch but I miss it and instead have lunch on a rock in an overflow parking lot about 50 yards farther down the road. 

I then decide to continue west to hike to Lueken Lake and visit Siesta Lake. On the map the hike to Lueken looks short but I don't know the elevation and I don't want more elevation so I decide to turn back east heading to Tulumne Meadows. (Turns out Luken Lake is about 1 mile RT and flat -- oh well!)

Olmstead Point is packed now.

Nearing Tenaya Lake.


Continuing on, I reach Tuolmne meadows again and after much searching, I find parking and start heading to Soda Springs. However clouds are building and in fact it's  thundering so I turn around part way along the trail. There are some good views from the trail though.

Down the road, I make a stop at Lembert Dome for a quick peek

The area here is a zoo. Time to head out to get out of dodge. Yosemite is done. Like the Valley, I don't see what the excitement is for Yosemite. I think the Albion Basin and the backside of Snowbird is so much prettier.

I'd still love to hike Mono Pass and Gaylord Lakes but they are just inside the park's boundary. Probably shouldn't have tried this on Sunday when my flight got cancelled but I did try to get another permit today but they were all sold out. 

Would love to come back just for those 2 hikes.

Good day!

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