May Lake and Murphy Creek Hike
Notice: Traveling in the backcountry can be hazardous. You are responsible for informing yourself about these hazards and taking necessary precautions. Information on this hike comes from volunteer reports and may be used at your own risk. A current guidebook and proper equipment are essential for safe enjoyment of hikes which are posted on this site.
My day started driving into Yosemite National Park after ten in the morning on the 4th of July. I snuck past the Gate Guard Nazis with my expired park pass and headed to my ultimate destination, the May Lake Trailhead. I had the Lord of the Rings Soundtrack playing on the way up the hill as the radio stations had faded into static. I was constantly reminded of Frodo, Sam, Pippin and the gang heading into different directions to save the world from the evil that surrounded them. I made it to the parking area singing along as I found my way through the forest past a small pond. I was eager to get started and save the world from orks and the like as well. I needed a sword but I didn't have one with me. I am sure the Park Nazis would not like me swinging a glowing blue sword on my hike up the hill. My emergency kit, hiking boots, MRE, and sun tan lotion were all secure and I was ready. Tally Ho!
The hike began at the May Lake Trailhead at the end of May Lake Road or Old Tioga Road. I needed to get away from the stifling heat in the valley and the stresses of modern day life. Frodo and the gang were with me as I ascended the trail to May Lake, an easy, short start for my adventure up, up, up. A few minutes after beginning the hike I crossed some granite mounds and began to ascend more steeply. Past the granite the trail begins to switchback with a total elevation gain of 500 feet. Mt. Hoffmann was visible to the northwest as I reached the lake and I wondered what it would be like to hike that. I don't know of a trail up there, but I will have to do more research for future adventures. May Lake lies in the shadow of this 10,850-foot peak, which is considered the geographic center of Yosemite National Park. The lake was very pretty as well.
I reached the top of the ascent where the trail splits. The left trail leads to a dispersed campground for backpackers and the lakeshore, and the right fork leads to the May Lake High Sierra Camp. This site consists of cabins with a backcountry feel. This hike is part of the High Sierra Loop, a series of six camps located between Tuolumne Meadows and Yosemite Valley. These camps have facilities for backpackers, but the best way to go is to stay in the tent cabins, which includes great meals. Most of the camps can be reached via a day hike from either Yosemite Valley or Tuolumne Meadows. It may be fun to do these cabins and camps sometime, but I am sure Aragorn would not stay in a cabin. I hear the food is scrumptious. Second breakfast anyone?
After getting a last fill of water at the camp, I descended up, up, up again into the granite hills towards Murphy Creek. I hiked for over an hour and my tummy said it was time to feed it. I hiked past Raisin Lake and up, up, up to a large granite outcropping. I didn't see anyone for miles, with exception of a group of backpackers near Raisin. I started eating and checking my supplies, when a family snuck up on me. Orks! No, just a family coming from Glen Aulin
Camp. Ok, I am in the middle of the geographic center of Yosemite, on a huge granite outcropping, and this family pops up. Ok lunch was good, the family was nice, and I got to use the modern communication I brought along. I wonder if Merry and Pippin would have used the cell phone to call Frodo to bring help from the sneaky family?
After second breakfast, I decided to do the Murphy Creek Trail down instead of go back up, up, up towards May Lake again. Why I decided to go the long way I am not sure. My IT Band was telling me to be good so I didn't want to go back up, up, up the way I came. Maybe Saruman had the trail blocked or it was impassible, but I went down, down, down, into the heart of the Murphy Creek Valley instead.
Murphy's Creek was cooler than up on the ridge. The Polly Dome Lakes also sat at the base of Polly Dome, an enormous polished granite dome to the east of my location. The hike ends at Tenaya Lake, my destination before I go back up, up, up. The Murphy Creek Trail parallels the east side of the Dome. It was dry with exception of a few puddles. One of the puddles even had trout in them. They did not look happy as their home was almost dry--perhaps Gollum will find and enjoy them. The trail gently descends through a shady evergreen forest and crosses a series of bedrock slabs peppered with smooth glacial erratics. Part of the trail is off-trail and full range as I picked my way along Murphy Creek. There were no signs of hostiles and the trail was desolate.
Look, a road! Tioga Road lay before me as I escaped the forest. Tenya Lake was glistening before me. I must go in! The lake was about eighty degrees. I stayed in for five minutes or so before I headed for adventure number three, around the lake and up, up, up to the parking lot. The two miles around the lake was uneventful. No orks! Sword in hand, I found the 1.5-mile trailhead north and to the old abandoned Tioga Road. I was almost to Mordor, when altitude made
me stop every five minutes. Must get to Mordor! At the top of the steep grade, I found the truck waiting for me to take me down, down, down the mountain and home to the steamy hot valley. Without orks to slay, my adventure was a success. I solved the world's problems on the way up, up, up and I came back with a new light in my head, or was the light of Urindi? Anyhow, I completed my adventure, made it to the gas station for a tuna sandwich and a gallon of orange juice. I sweltered my way into the valley and looked for a new adventure!
My day started driving into Yosemite National Park after ten in the morning on the 4th of July. I snuck past the Gate Guard Nazis with my expired park pass and headed to my ultimate destination, the May Lake Trailhead. I had the Lord of the Rings Soundtrack playing on the way up the hill as the radio stations had faded into static. I was constantly reminded of Frodo, Sam, Pippin and the gang heading into different directions to save the world from the evil that surrounded them. I made it to the parking area singing along as I found my way through the forest past a small pond. I was eager to get started and save the world from orks and the like as well. I needed a sword but I didn't have one with me. I am sure the Park Nazis would not like me swinging a glowing blue sword on my hike up the hill. My emergency kit, hiking boots, MRE, and sun tan lotion were all secure and I was ready. Tally Ho!
The hike began at the May Lake Trailhead at the end of May Lake Road or Old Tioga Road. I needed to get away from the stifling heat in the valley and the stresses of modern day life. Frodo and the gang were with me as I ascended the trail to May Lake, an easy, short start for my adventure up, up, up. A few minutes after beginning the hike I crossed some granite mounds and began to ascend more steeply. Past the granite the trail begins to switchback with a total elevation gain of 500 feet. Mt. Hoffmann was visible to the northwest as I reached the lake and I wondered what it would be like to hike that. I don't know of a trail up there, but I will have to do more research for future adventures. May Lake lies in the shadow of this 10,850-foot peak, which is considered the geographic center of Yosemite National Park. The lake was very pretty as well.
I reached the top of the ascent where the trail splits. The left trail leads to a dispersed campground for backpackers and the lakeshore, and the right fork leads to the May Lake High Sierra Camp. This site consists of cabins with a backcountry feel. This hike is part of the High Sierra Loop, a series of six camps located between Tuolumne Meadows and Yosemite Valley. These camps have facilities for backpackers, but the best way to go is to stay in the tent cabins, which includes great meals. Most of the camps can be reached via a day hike from either Yosemite Valley or Tuolumne Meadows. It may be fun to do these cabins and camps sometime, but I am sure Aragorn would not stay in a cabin. I hear the food is scrumptious. Second breakfast anyone?
After getting a last fill of water at the camp, I descended up, up, up again into the granite hills towards Murphy Creek. I hiked for over an hour and my tummy said it was time to feed it. I hiked past Raisin Lake and up, up, up to a large granite outcropping. I didn't see anyone for miles, with exception of a group of backpackers near Raisin. I started eating and checking my supplies, when a family snuck up on me. Orks! No, just a family coming from Glen Aulin
Camp. Ok, I am in the middle of the geographic center of Yosemite, on a huge granite outcropping, and this family pops up. Ok lunch was good, the family was nice, and I got to use the modern communication I brought along. I wonder if Merry and Pippin would have used the cell phone to call Frodo to bring help from the sneaky family?
After second breakfast, I decided to do the Murphy Creek Trail down instead of go back up, up, up towards May Lake again. Why I decided to go the long way I am not sure. My IT Band was telling me to be good so I didn't want to go back up, up, up the way I came. Maybe Saruman had the trail blocked or it was impassible, but I went down, down, down, into the heart of the Murphy Creek Valley instead.
Murphy's Creek was cooler than up on the ridge. The Polly Dome Lakes also sat at the base of Polly Dome, an enormous polished granite dome to the east of my location. The hike ends at Tenaya Lake, my destination before I go back up, up, up. The Murphy Creek Trail parallels the east side of the Dome. It was dry with exception of a few puddles. One of the puddles even had trout in them. They did not look happy as their home was almost dry--perhaps Gollum will find and enjoy them. The trail gently descends through a shady evergreen forest and crosses a series of bedrock slabs peppered with smooth glacial erratics. Part of the trail is off-trail and full range as I picked my way along Murphy Creek. There were no signs of hostiles and the trail was desolate.
Look, a road! Tioga Road lay before me as I escaped the forest. Tenya Lake was glistening before me. I must go in! The lake was about eighty degrees. I stayed in for five minutes or so before I headed for adventure number three, around the lake and up, up, up to the parking lot. The two miles around the lake was uneventful. No orks! Sword in hand, I found the 1.5-mile trailhead north and to the old abandoned Tioga Road. I was almost to Mordor, when altitude made
me stop every five minutes. Must get to Mordor! At the top of the steep grade, I found the truck waiting for me to take me down, down, down the mountain and home to the steamy hot valley. Without orks to slay, my adventure was a success. I solved the world's problems on the way up, up, up and I came back with a new light in my head, or was the light of Urindi? Anyhow, I completed my adventure, made it to the gas station for a tuna sandwich and a gallon of orange juice. I sweltered my way into the valley and looked for a new adventure!
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