All in all, it's a shame to move too quickly through here. Much of the journey involves simply hiking in Lyell Canyon. Spend a night atop one of the highest passes along the JMT/PCT. Lyell. without ice axe and crampons), you will likely find it more comfortable and quicker scrambling down the rocks heading towards Rodgers (SE ridge). Very delicate area. From the head of the canyon, you enter steeper, more forested terrain with white heather giving way to mountain heather and, eventually, lodgepole pine giving way to whitebark pine. You should be able to traverse left to right to a reverse arch of For more This means there is no Overnight Parking allowed at the trailhead. Take in views across the Eastern Sierra and down through Lyell Canyon. When Pacific Crest Trail hikers reach Tuolumne Meadows, they are 942 miles from Mexico and 1,714 miles fr… which is much easier to cross but longer. You'll likely be on snow a bit before Donahue Pass. Climbing both peaks requires 27 miles of hiking and scrambling, but most of this is simple trail walking along a nearly flat John Muir Trail in Lyell Canyon. straight northwest up the canyon. Near Donohue Pass, climbers leave the John Muir Trail and ascend the mountain’s northern drainage. In any case, it will have excellent views of its neighbors, Maclure (12,880), Mount Florence (12,561), Rodgers Peak (12,978) and further peaks like Banner (12,945) and Ritter (13,140). The hike from Yosemite National Park to the high point of the lower forty-eight states, Mount Whitney, is about 200 miles and is a twenty day trip. … I think it's because I'm one of those people who reads what's put in front of me. 1901 USGS Mount Lyell Topographic Map Once I hit the main trail, I kept heading back toward the trailhead but was getting a bit hungry and picked a spot next to the creek and off the trail to eat my peanut butter sandwich. That said, you never go too far between camping opportunities and water is common along the trail. Easy, but longish, hike up the Lyell Fork to see the headwall to the basin. Cross to the western side of the creek by walking on stones (in august it is really easy) and continue on the Before you reach the Lodge, you’ll find a parking lot on the left side of the road. (2016-07-26). If instead, after leaving the John Muir trail, you elect to stay to the left of that ridge (i.e., The peak as well as nearby Lyell Canyon is named after Charles Lyell, a well-known 19th century geologist. 30 Jul 1995 - by Debbie Benham. Whichever way you arrive, at some point you should see on your left you Whereas Arun's party had gone off to the right, we remained determined to stick to the trail. 2WD Low Clearance Vehicle, Alpine, Challenging Hike, Difficult Hike, Dog Friendly, Near Kaslo, Near New Denver, Off Trail/Scramble, Summit Hike, Trail Reviews. As for an ice-axe, the side by McClure is pretty steep (look at the photo gallery). It is easily recognizable from the summit of most peaks in Yosemite, thanks to the prominent Lyell Glacier on its northern flank, the largest in the park. I have to giggle now when I see people getting ready to "hike" with $100 of dollars worth a gear...when dad and I only had our tennis shoes and bag lunch. Mt Lyell from Tuolumne Meadows The trailhead is an adventure in itself because... of the Yosemite bureaucracy. My dad eventually woke me up and we hiked backed down. I'd be very interested in the results--Thanks! Thanks for the report and pictures. Lyell (the tallest in Yosemite at 13,114 ft.). So if you are a slow hiker or a Gorgeous area. So if you wanted a nice loop, you could head to Vogelsang that way and then end up back at the previous junction on your return trip. Climb it if you are capable. backpacker, this may not be an interesting hike. End of switchbacks, creek crossing (17km, 4h), Sharp left turn, off the trail (18km, 4.5h), Crossing of northwest creek (19km, 5h15'), Top of rocky hill before and beginning of glacier (19.5km, 5h45'). Returned to camp at dusk fully exhausted. Mount Lyell was the highest point in Yosemite and sounded like a fun objective. Where the trail takes a horseshoe bend at the crest and head down to cross the stream and then up and over Donahue Pass, summit-bound hikers leave the trail and start up the shallow canyon straight towards Mount Lyell. The first major junction (10kms in) is at Potter Point (the white mountain to Mt Lyell (3,997m) is the highest peak in Yosemite National Park. Submitted by HeeHooHikes (not verified) on Thu, 07/01/2010 - 08:28. This is a Mt Lyell and straight in front of you McClure. trail to the summit (easily twice that much in real hiking because you can't After that, it starts to climb to Donahue Pass and the bit up to the actual summit of Lyell would require a strong runner indeed. The Lyell Canyon is not terribly exciting. The peak also has the largest glaciers in Yosemite, Lyell Glacier. at the end of the lake before the waterfall, although that will take you to two more lakes that The westermost ridge is less scary than it looks. the canyon, where Donahue Pass (center), My Lyell (right) and Mt McClure (even Typically, however, by the time the highway and the trail are snow-free, everything will be suncupped and not a very fun glissade. Mount Lyell Number Two seen on the furthest right of the Cathedral Crestline from the First Basin climbing to Donohue Pass on the John Muir Trail. You start out along the Dana Fork of the Tuolumne River, crossing that in about a half mile. Click here for larger-size photo. which route one follows up the glacier. Across the creek is the Kuna Crest and on trail side, Potter's Point looms ahead. When I was about 10 yrs. lakes. This is the point, instead, where you want to get off the trail and head You can start from the Tuolumne Campground, the Tuolumne Wilderness Office, Tuolumne Meadows Lodge or the Dog Lake parking lot, depending. Mount Lyell (Tasmania) Climbing Notes. But no. Most summit ascents are done either over or … I'll post a full trip report with pictures after the trip in July'ish 2008, [edit: Tyler's the original link was broken, but he has a page on his ambitious plans and "epic fail". Some very nice suncups at the base of the Lyell Glacier. It is named after Charles Lyell, a well-known 19th century geologist. are a bit far from the glacier, or you can scramble up the granite ledges (If you have Submitted by Tom on Thu, 07/01/2010 - 11:05. rocks that connect McClure to Lyell. You have to backtrack to Lyell Canyon, near Potter Point. Most likely at this point there will be snow even in august. Look in Tom Stienstra's Califorinia Flyfishing book - he has a good writeup on Yosemite and that's where the above information comes from. The total distance is approximately 23kms each way, but of course it depends Consider things such as access and accommodation at the base of Mount Lyell (Tasmania), as well as the logistics of climbing to the summit. Heck, hiking Mt. Highlights: Lakes. Mount Lyell is the highest point in Yosemite National Park, at 13,114 feet. Mt. The other option would be to go cross-country. Of course, if the snwo slope is not suncupped and you have an axe and are ready to glissade, nothing's faster that going down a nice snow slope. Easiest is to work your way up and right around the foot of that peak, passing it on your left. Trail continues up, but for a day hike, just enjoy the river valley, and please try to stay on the trail. The Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail stretches 2,650 miles from Mexico to Canada along the mountainous crest of the Cascades and the Sierra Nevada and through the Mojave Desert. I remember that we had no special hiking gear, just my favorite pair of Adidas sneakers and a bag lunch my mom had made. Thanks for the report. You'll eventually arrive back at the Lyell Fork and soon find meadows, shade trees and rock bluffs that all call for a break. August 2nd sounds about right. The other side, where we came down, had a lot less steep snow and we didn't worry about it at all. Here the John Muir trail crosses the You will be walking mostly on granite slabs and grassy terrain. Here you meet the John Muir Trail proper, which is also the trail from the campground. Elevation Gain: 600 feet … You'll have the opportunity to bag Donohue Peak (12,023 ft.) or Mt. It was about a 30-mile round trip hike so would be a long day. Lyell Glacier California is on the northern slopes of Mount Lyell and can be accessed from Tuolumne Meadows via Lyell Canyon. Most people hike it via Lyell Canyon from Tuolumne Meadows. Helpful. Mount Lyell. She hiked with our group to the top. I know some gullies in the Sierra that are a mellow ski early in the season and hard, glare ice by late summer that would require crampons. The Lyell Canyon trail passes through many meadows as it approaches Mount Lyell and other high peaks in the distance (2009-09-10). The trail offers a number of activity options and is best used from March until September. The landscape is finally alpine. crampons, you may go up vertical towards the center of Mt Lyell and then climb popular place for John Muir hikers to camp. Bummer Tyler], Submitted by brian martinez (not verified) on Sat, 04/03/2010 - 15:49, I have plans to go to the summit august 2nd, whats the weather going tobe like at that of year,and I plan to camp at the last medow,any suggestions, thanks. In the southern horizon, gaze at Yosemite's highest peak Mount Lyell (13,144 ft).and Lyell Glacier--the largest in the Sierras. Distance: 6 miles (9.6 km) round trip. After crossing the rocks to the summit plateau, but it is much scarier). Best look at Stienstra's book yourself. creek, you continue in the same meadow for about an hour. Dana’s Trailhead begins at the Eastern entrance to Yosemite National Park, just before highway 120 descends Tioga Pass. Has anybody done any fishing (or flyfishing) in Lyell Canyon? On this first part, it's about as flat as Yosemite gets: only 400 elevation gain in 9 miles with very little up and down and generally a smooth and good running surface. Web page addresses and e-mail addresses turn into links automatically. It means that you do most of the vertical without hauling all your camping gear. point you will not need to use your hands anymore. Peaks: Mt Lyell (sorted/filed as Lyell) ; Place: California "The bears have had a long hibernation and they're very active in the upper Lyell Canyon area," so said Ranger Jane, and, with that warning, we got a late start on the trail as we then rented bear cannisters (three for six people). If you came up the snow slope and are travelling light (i.e. But not everyone can take the time to do this. I remember reaching the summit so tired that I ate my lunch and fell asleep on a rock. your right) and that is the trail to go to Ireland Lake. If you feel, you'd take a ride, but we still just went with ski poles ready to do a ski pole self-arrest. Be the first to submit your climbing note! The hike should take approximately 3hrs to complete. You are now in the large meadow created by the Lyell Fork basin. Mount Whitney: Taking the Mountaineers Route to the Highest Peak In the Lower 48 - Duration: 11:35. The Lyell Glacier is currently considered to be a … That's why I say I've only been up Lyell once and sneakers were fine except for wet feet (there were about 2 miles of hiking on snow when we did it). Mediocre Amateur 126,775 views Mount Lyell is located on the Great Divide, which forms the BC-Alberta boundary in this area, in Banff National Park. This trip extends our popular Mammoth to Tuolumne hike by two days and … Most people hike it via Lyell Canyon from Tuolumne Meadows. The next good campsites are a ways up, so if darkness or fatigue are coming on, this is a good place to stop. A rancher met us and some other "hikers" at the parking lot while the sun was coming up. Our hike stays left on relatively flat ground that alternates pleasantly between lodgepole forest and meadows. Read more. This hike takes in the highest peak entirely inside Yosemite National Park as well as a long stretches of scenic meadows filled with birds along the Lyell Fork of the Tuolumne River, culminating in spectacular Kuna Falls at the head of Lyell Canyon. Submitted by Tyler Allison (not verified) on Mon, 12/31/2007 - 15:42, I've started my own trip planning/log page for the trip. No trail that I know of. If you continued, you would cross the creek again to go to Donahue Pass. Mark as Complete1 North Mount Lyell Rail Trail is a 12km, grade 3 one way hike, located in West Coast Tasmania, Tasmania. It is located at the southeast end of the Cathedral Range, 1.2 miles northwest of Rodgers Peak. Please note that this is a quota trail and there is no camping in the first four miles, so you don't want to start too late in the day. The slope is not In another three miles or so, you reach the head of the canyon, where Kuna Creek comes cascading impressively down the mountainside. The trail follows a worn path, heading directly south from the entrance station. Mount Lyell is a 26.4 mile moderately trafficked out and back trail located near Lee Vining, California that features a lake and is only recommended for very experienced adventurers. An ancient metamorphosed slate tops the summit, which overlays a younger granite base. Some of these were knee- or even thigh-deep. Just continue left to the They quit stocking when they figured out the damage it was causing, which means fish populations in Yosemite are not generally that large and, from what I hear, fishing tends to be better outside the park. Lines and paragraphs break automatically. The summit of Lyell can have incredible displays of Sky Pilots (Polemonium eximium) if you get lucky with your timing. Cradled beneath Mount Brennan’s flanks are three subalpine lakes, glowing mineral-blue … false summit. From there you can either kick your way up the steep snow slopes on the north flank of Lyell or wind your way around to the southeast flank and scramble up easy third class terrain to the summit. Submitted by Tyler Allison (not verified) on Thu, 12/13/2007 - 13:18. Located near the southeast boundary, it is a very popular destination despite its long distance (13.5 mi) from the nearest trailhead. Take Tioga Road to just east of Tuolumne Meadows Campground and turn towards Tuolumne Lodge. You will leave the river and then rejoin it again. John Muir trail that first heads northwest. left side of the Lyell creek, where more switchbacks take you to the end of Lyle Lakes & Mount Brennan. See this photo especially for a look at the steepest snowfield on Lyell, Submitted by sara (not verified) on Sun, 08/01/2010 - 19:53. Above you, Potter's Point provides a handy mileage marker reference point for the remaining miles in the canyon. Submitted by Tom on Mon, 08/02/2010 - 10:47. The mountain is the highest in the Lyell Group, a subrange of the Central Icefields in … Here's what it looks like due west of Lyell, And note that between Lyell and Mclure, the west side of the saddle is pretty steep, Submitted by Rick (not verified) on Mon, 12/20/2010 - 14:25. I there a Trail from Vogelsang High Sierra Camp to Lyell??? Polly Dome Lakes. Yosemite contains nearly 70 miles of the Pacific Crest Trail. From there you enter steeper and more forested terrain as you gain access to the High Sierra. If you In general, there were no fish in Yosemite above 4000' before they started stocking the lakes (which sadly, has resulted in the collapse of the mountain frog population). It brought back memories. Es gibt verschiedene Aktivitätsmöglichkeiten. some action: a series of switchbacks take you to a double bridge and to the ps maybe me and my pals will see you on the trial, Submitted by Tom on Tue, 04/13/2010 - 16:12. 100-200 meters to the right of the creek) you'll end up in the Lyell basin, Elevation at trailhead: 8,600 feet (2,620 meters) Elevation Gain: Less than 100 feet (30 meters) for the first 8 miles (13 km); 2,500 feet (760 meters) if you actually go all the way to Donohue Pass. I rated this easy running, but that's only for the first nine miles or so (18 miles round trip). Lyell is the highest peak in Yosemite National Park. Perhaps if you were planning to summit very early in the morning before the snow softened up you might want something on your feet (full on crampons or Katoolas or something). Thanks! After hiking up to the glacier in the 1980's and an unsuccessful attempt last year, this was my third try at Mount Lyell - and finally success. basically a flat, monotonous and sandy hike along the Lyell creek. Move left and at this In Yosemite, the trail's highest point is 11,056 feet at Donohue Pass at the park's southern border, and the lowest spot is 7,560 feet near Benson Lake. The rocky subsidiary peak you see between you and the summit looms at aobut 12,400 and is a good measuring post for your progress. The Hike. In another half mile, you come to a trail junction. A little further on you are out of the no camping zone and there are lots of established campsites in the small groves just up and right from the trail. From here you simply trace your steps back down. So why was I reading a flyfishing book if I don't fish? Head for the rocky hill below McClure and climb it (easy class-2 climbing) into From there you enter steeper and more forested terrain as you gain access to the High Sierra. Overview: The tallest mountain in Yosemite makes Mount Lyell a long and difficult climb. of that spike, you should start seeing the summit plateau. But I don't have enough experience up there to know if that's always true. To access the trail, you can park at one of several pullouts. But my wife, did it with just running shoes and ski poles with no issues. This hike takes in the highest peak entirely inside Yosemite National Park as well as a long stretches of scenic meadows filled with birds along the Lyell Fork of the Tuolumne River, culminating in spectacular Kuna Falls at the head of Lyell Canyon. Would you recommend the use of ice axe and crampons? The trail was easy to follow up to the footbridge at the end of Lyell canyon. creek again (the trail to the left has not apparent purpose). For us, the ridge at the col worked. You now wend your way up steep slopes for another half mile, emergine at about 10,500 feet with nice views of Mount Lyell. Since we did not get advance wilderness permits for Lyell Canyon, John Hart and I arrived in Tuolumne two days early and warmed up with a day hike of Gaylor Peak. Distance: anywhere from 1.4 miles (2.2 km) to 24 miles (38 km) round trip, depending on how ambitious you are. The Twin Bridges area is a gorgeous site — nice meadows, gracefully formed granite cascades and views off to Mammoth Peak — and worth a quick walk in and of itself if you are just spending the night in Tuolumne. Left at 4 am and summited by 2 pm, after wandering around looking for the way up after crossing the glacier. About 1.5 miles on, you come to a crossing of the Lyell Fork, now a relatively small stream, but fresh from the glacier and bracingly cold. I'm not a flyfisherman, but I did see someone who looked like he knew what he was doing up there, but I didn't see him catch anything. Lyell is from the Tuolumne Meadows Trailhead, elevation 8,700 ft. Tuolumne Meadows closes each year on October 15th. Lyell is a challenge, to be sure, but determined hikers comfortable with exposure can bag this backcountry peak. Summiting 13,114-foot Mt. Dana might be the best way to train for Lyell. Both of the old cabins that I stopped by show up on the 1901 Mount Lyell Topographic Map. It’s also a very rewarding challenge and offers great adventure. Mt. Mount Lyell ist ein 26.4 Meilen langer, moderat besuchter Hin- und Rückweg in der Nähe von Lee Vining, Kalifornien. Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube. It is all class-2 climbing further right) are clearly visible. Most summit ascents are done either over or around the Lyell … Mount Lyell is the highest point in Yosemite National Park, at 13,120 feet (4,000 m). Donohue Pass lies on the border of Yosemite National Park and the Ansel Adams Wilderness. In mid-July we saw thousands of American Lady butterflies pollinating the Sky Pilots and being in turn eaten by a bird that we didn't get a great look at. About six miles from the start (4.2 miles from the last junction), you reach the Ireland Lake Trail, which takes you to Ireland Lake, of course (4.3 miles), but also to Vogelsang High Sierra Camp in 6.3 miles. Taking the John Muir Trail from Tuolumne Meadows starts out easy and becomes of moderate difficulty as you come to Donahue Pass. A friend and I just completed the long and beautiful day hike (29.5 miles) of Mount Lyell on October 15th. To continue, head S for the 2,000 ft. climb to Donohue Pass--the first real, high pass of the trip. Then finally Mt Lyell (3,997m) is the highest peak in Yosemite National Park. … It is located at the southeast end of the Cathedral Range, 1.2 miles (1.9 km) northwest of Rodgers Peak. Submitted by CBrown (not verified) on Thu, 08/05/2010 - 13:44, thinking this would not require back tracking to Tuolumne Meadows, Submitted by Tom on Thu, 08/05/2010 - 15:34. sharply left and seems to loop back (and down) in the direction you came from. You don't need a lot of stuff to get started, but like much of Yosemite, things can vary a lot depending on the season. Collectively, the five peaks, and the Mt. ridge. The trail is relatively crowded since it is part of the both the Pacific Crest Trail and the John Muir Trail, but like most trails outside Yosemite Valley, you will still spend most of your time alone once you get past the first couple of miles. The hike is easy from Tuolumne Meadows, following the Tuolumne River to the head of the Lyell Canyon, and becomes moderate as it approaches Donahue Pass. Worth the hike to see it up close. All of these are roughly the same distance, but it's probably easiest to just park at the Wilderness Office, get your permit and start walking. This ridge leads to a sharp spike. At the first small outcrop, one day I saw a man fly fishing off the outcrop, hikers having lunch, a man with a hammock strung between two trees, and some folks dipping their feet in the creek. The easiest way to climb Mt. When you are almost at the top such that you need crampons if you only traverse the glacier. The sights and sounds of the park come alive when hiking … As the condor flies, it is 3.5km of cross-country hiking from the John Muir From here you can reach Lyell's westermost At some point the trail turns The peak had one of the last remaining glaciers in Yosemite, Lyell Glacier. except a couple of spots where you have to move left in order to avoid two After winding a bit southwest through the forest, the John Muir trail is Before reaching Donahue Pass, this route leaves the trail and heads south towards Mount Lyell. Aufgrund der Steigung und Distanz ist die Strecke nur für erfahrene Abenteurer geeignet. The northern snow slopes are more spectacular and more amenable to taking in Lyell and Maclure in one outing, but also more difficult and dangerous. Before reaching Donahue Pass, this route leaves the trail and heads south towards Mount Lyell. Er führt entlang eines Sees und es gibt schöne Wildblumen. Depending on weather the parking lots are open for day use only. walk to its right, you'll end in the McClure basin, that contains two pretty Please submit any useful information about climbing Mount Lyell (Tasmania) that may be useful to other climbers. My wife and I are already planning for this exact trip in 2008 and information on the Internet was desperately light. Share. follow a straight line). than two hours you see the very same landscape. The easiest way up is the nontechnical southeast slope, but, for a true Yosemite experience, we recommend the sportier East Arête. big gaps. You can also see all the way over to the Buena Vista Crest and Horse Ridge above the Ostrander Ski Hut. There is a ridge over your head. The trailhead is opposite the parking lot. old my dad and I climbed to the top of Mt. Allowed HTML tags: