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A ranger in Yosemite convinced me to try a different trailhead for the High Sierra Camp loop
I was set on starting at Tuolumne Meadows for the classic 5-day loop, but a park ranger at the visitor center said the Sunrise Lakes trailhead cuts out a big chunk of flat, dusty trail. She said it adds more alpine lake views right from day one and shaves about 4 miles off the usual start. Has anyone else tried this alternate start and did you like it better?
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faithb782mo ago
My buddy did that Sunrise start last August. He said the climb up to Cathedral Pass from there was tough but the view of the three Sunrise Lakes was totally worth skipping the flat part.
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paulperry2mo ago
Yeah that climb from Sunrise is no joke, it's a real leg burner. Totally agree with your buddy though, the payoff at the top is insane. I packed way more water than I thought I'd need and was still glad I did. Those lakes look unreal in the late afternoon light.
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maxb461mo ago
Just a small thing, but your buddy likely went to Cathedral Lakes, not Cathedral Pass. Cathedral Pass is actually about a mile before the lakes, and it's a different spot on the map. The climb up from Sunrise gets you to the pass first, then you drop down to the lakes. I made that same mistake my first time out there. The lakes are the real payoff though, especially if you hit Ten Lakes Basin from there like I did last September.
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