One Day, One Peak, Epic Views All Around

Hello Trailmixers, registration is now open! 

 

We'll be summiting Clouds Rest in Yosemite National Park on Saturday, August 24th, 2024 with a "Choose Your Own Adventure" day on Sunday, either joining us to summit Mt. Dana or exploring the area's offerings like the Mono Lake or Bodie, California – one of the largest and oldest ghost towns in the United States. The hike up Clouds Rest is all about the destination, from which you'll have striking views in every direction, including, perhaps most gripping of all, straight down. Turn a complete circle and you'll be able to see any number of Yosemite landmarks, including Tenaya Lake, Half Dome, Mt. Hoffman, Sentinel Dome, North Dome, and bits of Cathedral Rocks and El Capitan, plus Merced Lake and dozens of peaks you probably won't be able to name. Coming in at a total distance of 14.5 miles, this hike only requires your normal day hike gear – no technical or backpacking skills required! 

 

We'll be staying outside the east entrance to Yosemite National Park and entering the park for our one-day hike up to Clouds Rest from Lake Tenaya and on Sunday for those who wish to join us for our Mt. Dana climb – the second highest point in Yosemite National Park at 13,061'! 

 

DETAILS

For our main event, we'll be summiting Clouds Rest, the highest point on the rim of Yosemite Valley standing at 9931' (1000' higher than Half Dome) with incredible views overlooking the valley including Half Dome. Our starting point will be Lake Tenaya ( el. 8150'). We'd rate the hike strenuous, but not in the Half Dome category (speaking of strenuous, bring binoculars and you can watch hikers making their way up the Half Dome cables). The trail is all class 1 (easy to follow, no boulder hopping). However, acrophobics beware: the final ridge to the top is narrow with some steep drop-offs, but it's nothing you can't handle!

 

 

For day 2 on Sunday, it's a "choose your own adventure day" with plenty of options! We'll be hiking Mt. Dana (el. 13,061'): a short but very steep climb (5.3 miles, 3100' in gain) for those who want to challenge themselves with some class 2 boulder hopping up to the second highest point in Yosemite National Park. There are plenty of other things to do in the area for those who may want a bit of a rest day: nearby hot springs, Mono Lake, a shorter hike to Cathedral Dome or even visiting Bodie, California – one of the most famous ghost towns in the country! 

 

Board Member Jason Wise has been lucky enough to visit Clouds Rest in 2018: 

 

"Clouds Rest is definitely one of my favorite hikes in Yosemite. You get those epic Yosemite Valley views that everyone wants to see, but without the Yosemite Valley crowds. The cooler weather in the high Sierra makes it a much easier hike to accomplish in the peak of summer too. You trek through alpine meadows, serene ponds, lush pine forests, and lots of wildlife that you don't always see in the more trafficked parts of Yosemite. All culminating with a spectacular view from *above* Half Dome. Bring your binoculars to see the folks struggling to get up the Half Dome chains for a laugh. As day hikes go, this is definitely one of the most epic out there. 10 out of 10 would highly recommend!"

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So... will you join us?

Each climber is required to raise a minimum of $1,500 in sponsorships by August 16th to participate. We climb to fundraise for the Trailmixer OUTdoor Access Fund. 100% of the TOAF money goes towards scholarships for low-income LGBTQ+ youth for leadership and environmental programs, outdoor experiences, and other outdoor LGBTQ+ programming provided by our amazing partners.   

Registration fee is $45. The fee is non-refundable.

 

Questions? Please contact us directly via email: info@trailmixer.org

 

The Trailmixer Team