Monday, September 5. Campsite 8 at Ellery Lake. It's a very "constructed" campsite.

Ellery Lake, looking from just above campground. The top of granite ridge in the background leads up to the Dana Plateau off to the right.

The old Tioga Road ran between camp and the new road. I think this section of road was last active just before WWII.

Tuesday, September 6. I moved slowly this morning, courtesy of some very-early-morning GI issues, but by 11 I felt good to go. Here, the view from near the footbridge over the Lyell Fork of the Toulumne, about a 1/2 mile in.

Lots of rockwork on the Rafferty Creek trail, much like the JMT in places. The lower reaches are through sometimes sparse but generally viewless lodgepole forest.

The trail opens into dry rocky flats a little higher up. And dry it is: save one small spot, Rafferty Creek was waterless (and even in the best of times, it looks like it's pretty small).

Lots of mule traffic. The Vogelsang High Sierra Camp closed yesterday and there are lot of shutdown traffic going back and forth.

Just past Toulumne Pass, which is just the high point on a gentle hill, is the turn to Boothe Lake ... and one of those iconic Yosemite signs.

My camp at Boothe Lake was perched on a hill overlooking the lake. Under trees, it was a dim nook in the evening light.

Boothe Lake has rocks.

Wednesday, September 7. Boothe Lake on a very still early morning.

I began today's hiking by heading up to the Vogelsang High Sierra Camp. I did a little cross country to avoid going all the way back to Tuolumne Pass, but I was happy to be back on the trail on the rocky hill below the camp.

The Vogelsang High Sierra Camp is a collection of tent cabins -- maybe 20? - tucked in the lodgepoles a bit west of Fletcher Lake.

The tent building has the store and dining room. I think the stone building is the kitchen. Fletcher Mountain looms behind.

Fletcher Creek just below the HSC, with Vogelsang Peak in the background. The trail goes up that hillside ahead on the on the left to Vogelsang Lake. Seems like there is more water on this side: maybe I was overly worried about the creeks lower down.

Emerick Lake, as seen on the climb from Fletcher Creek up to Vogelsang Lake. A little haze: a managed fire above Wawona was being smoky today. I was originally planning to go down Fletcher Creek, past Emerick, then up Lewis Creek to Bernice Lake, taking two days. Uncertainties about water in the streams lower down lead me to go directly to Bernice Lake over Vogelsang Pass.

An old snag, with Emerick Lake in the far background. The haze that looks so gray in the last picture is really only just above the horizon. Bright blue farther up.

The Vogelsang High Sierra camp in its larger setting, viewed from on the trail toward Vogelsang Lake. Johnson Peak directly above. I think that's Mt. Conness at the right.

Vogelsang Lake with Vogelsang Pass above. A larger panorama of the lake is at the end of the gallery.

Heading up Vogelsang Pass. Lots of rock, open walking. The young lady at the top was a NPS person who didn't stop to check folks like rangers often do. Another ranger (a man) was not far behind and he too scooted right by. I'll see both again today ...

Looking back at Vogelsang Lake. Fletcher Peak at right. Behind, the flat topped peak is Rafferty Peak; the pointy one in the middle is Johnson.

Vogelsang Pass itself: a little flat that drains west to Fletcher Creek, then a small rocky lip, and, beyond, the beginning of the sometimes-steep drop to Lewis Creek.

The trail actually goes UP after Vogelsang Pass, rising on the ridge a bit before heading down.