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Lyell Canyon: 26th and 27th June 2005 It was Sunday morning and Emily and I were headed out for a 2 days in the sun and water of Arroyo Seco, at least that was the plan. At the last minute we switched some gear and instead headed up to Tuolumne Meadows via Tioga Pass which had only opened the previous week due to extremely heavy snow the preceding winter. Our hike in was quite glorious; full of warm sun, open meadows, clear water, and even northbound PCT hikers. Our first, and as would turn out our only night, was spent about 5 miles south of the Ranger Station on the PCT, just before the junction that leaves the PCT and takes you to Evelyn or Ireland Lakes. That night it dropped below freezing and we woke up cold with everything around us covered in frost. Not wanting to spend another frigid night we walked back wearing all of the clothes to be found in our packs yet as the sun rose and melted the ice the transformation was quite amazing and soon we found ourselves back in shorts and tee shirts. On the way back home we took the turnoff for Cherry Lake but instead of going left after crossing over the Tuolumne River we went right instead and parked at the trailhead beyond the Kirkwood Powerhouse. From there it was an easy 1/2 hour hike along the river to a large pool. The water was considerably warmer than in Lyell Canyon but still pretty cold. After getting our fair share we were back in the car stopping only in Escalon to eat at Cocina Michoacana.
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