YOSEMITE OR GLACIER POINT TO MORAINE MEADOWS _via_ THE MERCED PASS
TRAIL
(From Yosemite, 22 miles--10 hours. From Glacier Point, 18 miles--7
hours)
The ~Merced Pass Trail~ has been replaced to a large extent by the
more scenic and better built Buena Vista Trail, which offers a
short-cut to the splendid fishing lakes in the upper basin of the
South Fork of the Merced. For those whose destination is the wild
country at the headwaters of the San Joaquin River, the Merced Pass
Trail is still the preferable route. The upper basin of Illilouette
Creek abounds in glacial phenomena and fishing is reported good.
From Yosemite we follow the ~Vernal and Nevada Falls Trail~ (Trail
Trip 1) as far as the rim of ~Panorama Cliff~ just above Nevada Falls.
Here we turn to the right on the ~Mono Meadow Trail~, which bears due
south four miles to the main stream of ~Illilouette Creek~. To reach
this point from ~Glacier Point~ one should follow the ~Vernal-Nevada
Falls Trail~ (Trail Trip 2) for two miles, turn to the right on the
~Buena Vista Trail~ (Trail Trip 22), and after three miles more turn
to the left on the ~Mono Meadow Trail~. A short distance will take one
to the banks of ~Illilouette Creek~.
At this point--twelve miles from Yosemite and five and a half miles
from Glacier Point--the ~Merced Pass Trail~ turns eastward, following
for ten miles up the main stream of the Illilouette and keeping always
within a short distance of its north bank. Gradually ascending to an
elevation of 9295 feet, we traverse ~Merced Pass~. To the right is the
long ridge of ~Buena Vista Crest~ (Alt. 9712). A descent of 600 feet
in the next two miles takes us to ~Moraine Meadows~. This is a
splendid camping region with abundant horse-feed and good fishing.
Nearby will be found a summer ranger outpost. A trail to the east
leads to ~Fernandez Pass~ and the headwaters of the ~San Joaquin~; one
to the southeast to ~Chain o' Lakes~, where is most excellent fishing;
and one to the west to ~Royal Arch~, ~Johnson~, ~Crescent~ and ~Grouse
Lakes~ and ~Chilnualna Falls~.