Sierra Nevada - Ansel Adams Wilderness/Yosemite National Park
Devils Postpile National Monument to Yosemite Valley

On August 9-18, 1980 myself, Jimmy White, John Roberts, Rody Troeter, Matt Hastings and Mark Budke backpacked 66 miles from Devil's Postpile National Monument to Yosemite Valley.

We left Lone Pine at 8 a.m. Saturday, picked Jimmy White up in Independence, and drove to Mammoth Lakes where we took the shuttle bus to the Devil's Postpile trailhead. arriving about 11 a.m. or so. After a quick stop at the Postpile's we headed up the trail to King Creek. Almost lost part of the group at a new trail junction with a rerouted John Muir Trail. Arrived at King Creek early in the afternoon, ate lunch and lazed around. Checked out some nearby postpile's.

Next day we hit the trail about 10;30 and had lunch at the Summit Meadow/Fern Lake trail junction creek, then up through Summit Meadow to the Granite Stairway. Steep climb through pleasant forest. Dropped down rocky trail and through mature forest to camp on East Fork Cargyle Creek.

Next day again on the trail about 10;30. At Corral Meadow (77 Corral) John, Rody, Matt and Mark missed the correct trail and headed down toward Sheep Crossing. Jimmy and I discovered it and set out in chase, leaving our packs on the correct trail. Three miles and 1500 feet lower Jimmy caught them about half way down the canyon side between Snake Meadow and Sheep Crossing. Turned them around and sent them up the Iron Creek Trail from Snake Meadow while Jimmy and I went back to 77 Corral, ate lunch and headed out on the correct trail to meet them.

Jimmy and I had a six mile, 3 hour side trip out of this. We all met around 3 p.m. and proceeded on the fortunately fairly level and downhill trail to Iron Creek (some climbing). We made Iron Creek about 6 p.m. and all bathed in the cold creek before supper. Campsite was minimal.

Next day we proceeded to Hemlock Crossing (the original planned camp) for a partial layover day, arriving about noon. Iron Creek has some spectacular waterfalls and cascades below the trail, some of which Jimmy and I got to see. The trail was in very bad shape but we discovered a trail crew camped at Hemlock Crossing was building a new trail higher on the canyon wall that would be completed in 1980 (October) and offer nice grade between the crossing and Iron Creek.

The trail crew camp took up the best camping so we had to settle for a not so good spot but enjoyed the rest after the hard previous day.

Wednesday we again hit the trail about 10:30 and climbed steeply out of Hemlock Crossing to the high point of the day for lunch (lots of deer flies). We then dropped down through pleasant forest to Chetwood Creek where we passed a Ranger trail crew doing trail maintenance. We continued to the Chetwood Trail and followed it to Chetwood Cabin. We arrived about 5:30 but found a nice campsite near the cabin and a large meadow.

The cabin had an outdoor stove which we used to cook on. So far we had seen only a few people each day and except for the trail crew had camped by ourselves.

Leaving Chetwood Cabin on Thursday we began to climb into the higher country. A 25 person Boy Scout Group was encountered on the trail who had been following essentially the same route except they went via Sheep Crossing and Cora Lake.

We had a pleasant and cooler hike up to Sadler Lake were we found a great campsite near the outlet with a side stream for fresh water. The Scouts and a horse party camped at the upper end of the lake well out of earshot (Hurray). We arrived around 2 or 3 p.m. so had time to wash. clothes, etc.

Friday we started at our usual 10;30 but should have started earlier. The climb to Isberg Pass was long but pleasant. We left the pass around 2 p.m. with lots of miles still to go. Due to the time of day and tired group we stopped at Foerster Creek (the little branch with a lake at its head) where we had a great campsite just below the 9600 foot no fires area. We camped fairly early so had time to enjoy the evening.

Saturday we got a little earlier start and climbed a hill before dropping into the cascade filled Lyell Fork of the Merced River. The camping was definitely better at Foerster Creek so we had lucked out. After lunch at Lyell Fork we had another climb and several ups and downs as we traversed the side of the canyon.

This route is much nicer than the river route as you have views instead of just trees, better trail in general, and cool breezes. We made camp about 6 p.m. on Lewis Creek at the crossing of the Fletcher Creek trail. A poor campsite, too close to the water and well used. We could have found nicer camping on Fletcher Creek if we had had the energy to go another mile or so.

Sunday morning we got a little earlier start on what was to be a long but basically downhill day. We were now on the main trail system and met more people (but not a lot} and the trail was good. We ate lunch just before Echo Valley where we observed the new tree growth from a fire about fifteen years ago (I think).

The many cascades on Merced River made the hike interesting early in the day and the fisherman stopped to fish a few times in the pools where the river flattened out. Passed the Boy Scout group who had taken the river route. Enjoyed the Giant Sequoias as we entered Little Yosemite Valley but the long trudge was getting to my feet. Finally arrived at the Little Yosemite Valley camping area and checked with the Ranger who directed us to the campsites on the Half Dome/JMT trail.

We lucked out and got a nice campsite, away from the general campers and within an easy walk of the best water. We made camp about 6 p.m. again. All enjoyed the flush chemical toilets (about 150 campers that night I would estimate). We put our food in one of the steel bear boxes.

John Roberts left his trash laying next to his pack and that attracted several bears about 10 p.m. John, Matt and Rody saw and chased the bears away with no damage to our equipment.

Monday morning we got up about 6:30 and ate. I chased the gang off to climb Half Dome about 8 a.m. while I cleaned up and packed camp. John, Matt and Rody returned about 11 a.m. having turned back from the bottom of the cables. Mark and Jimmy climbed to the top of Half Dome and returned about noon.

We had lunch and proceeded to Nevada Falls and on to Vernal Falls. The late melt meant more than the usual water flow so the falls were quite spectacular. We went down the mist trail below Vernal Falls and arrived at Happy Isles shortly after 2 p.m. where we met Rich and Cathy White and headed for home with brief views of Yosemite and Bridalveil falls.

We picked my car up at Mammoth and the boys had Pizza while I had Kentucky Fried Chicken about 5:30. We arrived home in Lone Pine about 9 p.m. after a long trip. There were too many long days and should have been another layover day. It would really have been more enjoyable as a 12 or 13 day trip. We all had fun and enjoyed being out in the mountains and the weather was perfect with only a fair to minor bug problem.

The following map and itinerary reflect the actual trip.