Comments on: Yosemite – North Country III

By: steepTrails

steepTrails — Tue, 22 Mar 2016 23:49:52 +0000

Just a standard wilderness permit from a US Forest Service ranger station if you are entering from outside the park. Or stop by the Park Service ranger station for a wilderness permit if you start from within the park. Keep in mind you will be required to have a bear canister for all camping within the park boundaries. Some trailheads may have a quota, so you should check beforehand, I haven’t had any issues, but most of my hikes were not during peak season.

By: Cain

Cain — Thu, 17 Mar 2016 11:06:35 +0000

I’m new to backpacking.

By: Cain

Cain — Thu, 17 Mar 2016 11:05:19 +0000

I’m really interested in going to Mary lake. What trail permits did you require?

By: steepTrails

steepTrails — Fri, 29 May 2015 15:35:33 +0000

Lake Eleanor would be higher but a farther hike in then the Hetch Hetchy but with the fire in 2013 not sure how the trail is around there. I haven’t been to Lake Brannigan specifically, but Miwok area is quite a bit higher than the Jack Main trail so I wouldn’t think there would be any benefit to doing off-trail to shorten it. There used to be a cutoff from Lake Eleanor up Frog Creek that cut some distance, but that was unmaintained and with the fire, not sure if it was damaged.

By: Peter

Peter — Wed, 20 May 2015 00:54:24 +0000

For last 35 years we have been going up to Lake Brannigan via Beehive trail at H. Hetchy. Last 10 years we have had Jay Barn at Camp Mather pack and saddle take us up via one way on horses and then we hike out with our pack. Barnes is not doing it anymore. We now want to attempt the hike. Wondering what your experience is with the shortest route. Do you know of an easier route than beehive trail/Morine Ridge,Jack Main. We also hike up via the main jack main inflow area from Lake vernon then cross over half way up. Is going in from Lake Eleanor easier? Are there any ways in via Miwok Lake?

By: steepTrails

steepTrails — Thu, 18 Aug 2011 20:36:02 +0000

Wow… congratulations… have fun.

By: Jason

Jason — Thu, 18 Aug 2011 19:57:26 +0000

Thanks!
We were going to head out to the North Western corner of Yosemite for 14 days and we hoping to find a shortcut. After nearly eight years living in Yosemite, this is our first time starting a Yosemite trip from outside the park. We appreciate the beta! We’re heading out to be married and to have our honeymoon, this will make our added food burden much easier to get up there!

By: steepTrails

steepTrails — Thu, 18 Aug 2011 15:34:24 +0000

Yes, I found it a little hard to find near the lake, but it starts out just before the cabin in an exposed rocky area. At that time the rock cairns were few… but once beyond this section – through the forested section – it was easy to follow. It follows the frog creek draw to the trail above. A NPS ranger turned me on to this… shorter and gets you off the old road section earlier.

By: Jason

Jason — Thu, 18 Aug 2011 06:57:40 +0000

Thanks for posting your TR. When you left Lake Elanor, was the shortcut you referred to up Frog Creek?