Memorial Day Weekend in Desolation Wilderness

Velma Lakes waterfall
Velma Lakes waterfall

Dave and I headed up to Desolation Wilderness this Memorial Day weekend with the standard group. As usual, a good time was had by all. Saturday we started at the Bay View Trailhead and hiked over Maggie’s Peak to the Velma Lakes region. After some confusion, we all regrouped and set up our campsites at Upper and Middle Velma lakes. On Sunday we dayhiked Phipps Peak, then all came together at the same site at Upper Velma. The tequila and wine came out and we had a great time sharing stories and backpacking plans until the booze ran out. Can’t wait for the next one!

Velma Lakes Photos

Day Trip to Yosemite

My sister came to visit over the past week, and we spent Tuesday checking out all the tourist sites in Yosemite. It was nice to get to all the viewpoints on a weekday in the spring – the crowds weren’t bad and the falls and wildlife were putting on quite a show. We spent a long time watching a bear graze at Crane Flat, and the marmot even popped out to say hi at Olmstead Point.

I had a chance to check out the snow conditions at Tioga Pass. There is spotty snow along the road and in the woods above 8000 ft, but I didn’t encounter regular snow coverage until Dana Meadows, at about 9700 ft. Even then, it was a rapidly melting ~3 feet, so it isn’t going to be around much longer!

All my touristy photos can be found here: Yosemite