3 Days Backpacking Vogelsang Region of Yosemite National Park

Volgelsang

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Rafferty Creek

Approximately 1 to 1.5 miles from the Wilderness Permit station up the Lyell Canyon trail Rafferty Creek trailhead splits off to the south and starts is 4.5 steady climb to Vogelsang region. The rst mile is the steepest section and will require novice backpackers as myself to stop for several gasps of air as you not only accumulate to the altitude but get your body adjusted for the workout of the day. The trail is well used and features a tree covered hike for the rst 3.5 miles or so before breaking out into a large meadow that bleeds upward to your rst real views of . This high alpine meadow slope is stunnin Fletcher peak g area with panoramic views that include the White mountain range to the North. Overall as you will nd later in my review this is by far my recommended route to take to Vogelsang region. On a normal year there are for this trail 12 reservable permits daily and another 8 walk ups available daily.

Boothe lake yosemite national park

Boothe Lake

After 4.5 miles of climbing the trail to Boothe lake veers West and down off the ridge. you can take this trail also out to Emeric lake a couple mile further (Recommended to me by @lakesofyosemite) but we had chosen Boothe lake for this trip and would not be disappointed. It is not often in Yosemite that you get to a Lake in the high country and not see another sole while you swim and set up camp. But on this weekend boothe lake was all ours until sunset (1 vistitor) and throughout the night.

Boothe Lake is in a bowl surrounded by ridge lines on three sides and a valley that escapes to the west on the other side. The water is deep and clear and made for a cool swim but a mix of rocks to jump from and sandy shores to sit on made spending a day at the lake enjoyable for our party. We found several camping locations up the ridge to the south and after walking around the lake more camp spots located on each side of the lake. (Unused camp spots on this weekend)

A 3 pm thunderstorm rolled in providing a little rain and my rst ever experience of Thunder in the granite wilderness of Yosemite. It was quite powerful as the sound rolled off the rock peaks and echoed for miles. August is great time to backpack in most of Yosemite, because we also had limited issues with mosquitos which can be problematic in early season hikes. bothe lake does not provide the best location for Alpine glow but there is a short window to watch Fletcher Peak and a bit of Vogelsang Peak ot the south turn orange in the evening sky.

The evening would be lled with laughter as we skipped rocks in the lake, had traditional trail food for dinner and welcomed the night to rest our tired bodies. The evening was pleasant 40 degrees with a low of 36 this weekend and we thought maybe we would be serenaded by yellow Legged frogs seen at the lake shore earlier, but instead were greeted with one of the quietest night I have ever heard in the Wilderness.

Vogelsang Pass and Vogelsang Lake

The vista view from the top of Vogelsang pass is one of my all time favorites. Views of the Clark range, Gallison Lake and Bernice lake, Lewis creek basin and a variety of other peaks dressed in glacial snow pack were simply stunning as we sat together eating snacks and each of us picking out our favorite locations. As my team packed up and headed back down the pass for the next part of our days adventure i stayed behind for another 20 minutes for a little solitude in wilderness on the pass. such a stunning area and one i hope to return to someday to explore further into the Yosemite wilderness.

The trip back down the pass is lled with it own inspiring views of the Northside of Tuolumne and is a great reminder that no matter how far you travel into Wilderness there is always more areas to discover. Great photo shots of Vogelsang lake with the Northern wilderness dressed in the backdrop were to be had but the team broke now into several little groups who where all taking in the Yosemite wilderness in there own way. We had one climbing up vogelsang peak for a better view of half dome Two boys nding shade and relaxation on the shores of Vogelsang lake and a father sand son enjoying the variety of Rock and features to explore int he basin. And me draggin behind as I saunter down the slope towards the group enjoying a little alone time of the trail.

Fletcher Lake

We had stopped at Fletcher lake earlier for photos but we’re excited to return for a lunch and a little water ll up. the morning had been glorious but the adventures of the day were not even half done. We ran into Ranger Dan at the lakeshore and as he checked our permit we asked him about the crowdless trails this weekend. he seemed as amazed as we were saying we picked the right weekend as he had never seen it so slow with visitors. After giving us tips on the route upto Towsley lake we said by and nished our lunch at Fletcher. etcher lake is meadow and lined with short trees on the Northwest edge of the lake. Fletcher Peak shoots out of the Water practically on the South side and on the East side the slope is dressed with a small waterfall and a vista where Towney lake sits.