Introduction to this Weblog

This weblog chronicles the 8-day trek I made in July 2012 with my niece Lauryn and friend David. If you are new to this weblog you can begin your adventure in the "Blog Archive" with the "Introduction" and read the blogs in the order of our hike segments from #1 to #6. Enjoy! Bob Hare

Sunday, April 21, 2013

Trail Segment 4: Sunrise to Merced Lake High Sierra Camp


Sunrise High Sierra Camp is at the bottom of Long Meadow


Sunrise HSC to Merced Lake HSC Trail Description (from the The High Sierra Camps Website):

Starting Elevation: 9400 ft. (2865 m)
Ending Elevation: 7150 ft. (2179 m)

610' gain and 2730' loss
Approximate Mileage: 9.5 miles (15.5 km)


This trail begins with a gentle stroll the length of Long Meadow with views of the granite peaks all around.  Soon the trail switchbacks up a small ridge before it descends to the Cathedral Fork of Echo Creek.  It parallels Echo Creek for several miles, mostly through forested areas and the vegetation gradually changes from lodgepole & hemlock trees to Jeffrey pines, chinquapin and manzanita at the lower elevations.  After the junction in Echo Valley the trail flattens out through an old burn, and then climbs past granite pools to Merced Lake.  Continue along the north shore of Merced Lake to find the High Camp at the far end.


The Loop Trail in Orange


In the morning I get up to enjoy the sunrise at Sunrise




I revisited the spot where in September 2010 I had rephotographed a view of Columbia Finger captured by Ansel Adams around 1960. Clearly, he was here earlier in the summer, probably July, when the water was higher. I was struck with how little the vegetation margins and pool bottom had changed in the intervening half century. 






 Back in time to catch the hot pre-breakfast drinks

...and hot oatmeal to get us down the trail to Merced HSC










We take the turnoff towards Merced Lake...just 9 miles to go and the day is young


A curious yellow-bellied marmot


A glacial erratic sculpture dropped here by a melting glacier 10,000 years ago


We meet an ultralight ultrafast backpacker who covered three times what we did daily for months!


Humbled by our meeting with the friendly uber-trekker we amble our way downhill



The main part of our hike was down the Cathedral Fork of Echo Creek


Our lunch rest stop to cool our feet and dry our socks in the sun


A quiet part of the Cathedral Fork



Junipers on the canyon slopes






Lauryn crossing the lower metal bridge over the Cathedral Fork


Down, down, down....


View up Merced Canyon


David crossing Cathedral Fork in Echo Valley


In Echo Valley with quaking aspens





Heading up Merced Canyon








Cascade of the Merced River


Historic barn at Merced HSC


Swimming hole at Merced HSC






Merced Lake High Sierra Camp Description (from the HSC website):

This high sierra camp is located along one of the largest lakes in Yosemite in a granite basin surrounded by ridges and domes. Because of its lower elevation, the camp is relatively warm and has slightly different vegetation, such as large white firs, aspen, Jeffrey and lodgepole pines. Merced Lake High Sierra Camp is also the furthest camp from any trailhead.  With roughly 14 miles (23 km) of steep hiking to get to Merced Lake from either Yosemite Valley or Tuolumne Meadows, most visitors choose to stop at either Vogelsang or Sunrise first, and then continue on to Merced Lake the following day.

A short distance from the lake and with a small cascade and perfect swimming pool at its edge, Merced Lake High Camp is popular for rest days along the High Sierra Camp Loop. Guests relax by the lake, swim, or enjoy the day hike to Washburn Lake.  This is a fun destination for fishing for rainbow, brook and brown trout.

Merced Lake’s first recorded name was Shadow Lake, so named by John Muir as he explored the headwaters of the Merced River.  By 1901 the lake was mapped by the USGS with its present name. Merced Lake High Camp was originally the site of a patrol outpost for the US Calvary built in 1905 but then became one of the first three hikers’ camps built by Desmond Park Service Company in 1916.  The terrain allowed for a large camp with two rock and canvas buildings for the kitchen, dining and lounge and two rows of guest tents.  Row boats were packed in by mule for guest use.  The camp remained open for two summers, but was closed in 1918 due to the Desmond Company’s financial difficulties.  The camp reopened in 1922 as a boy’s camp complete with tennis, baseball and basketball courts.  Activities still enjoyed by today’s guests such as fishing, swimming, hiking & horseback riding were also offered daily.  The Curry Company expanded Merced Lake High Camp to its present size in 1928.  The tennis, baseball and basketball areas returned to forest floor, and the camp opened to hikers and saddle trips of all ages.  The original barn and ice house for the camp are still in use; however the kitchen was remodeled to its modern configuration due to a fire in the early 1980’s. Boats were discontinued in the 1990’s by request of the National Park Service in order to keep the scenery around Merced Lake as wild as possible.


Campers' laundry. I couldn't believe how much trail dust my socks could hold!


We had some time to relax and do laundry before dinner, then early to bed. This was a tough day, even though it was mostly downhill. The next day was entirely up to Vogelsang and would be our biggest challenge. Fortunately we were well acclimated and conditioned and had our trekking routine and pacing down pat.

Happy Trails to You!