First Day - Sonora Pass to Kennedy Canyon - 10 milesIMG_1672Starting the trip - we look good!IMG_1674This is the pull the first day from 9600 to just over 11000My beautiful wife dropped us off.IMG_1677IMG_1678IMG_1679A few snow fields to get through but not too badThe trail here is pretty well graded. They got worse once we got into the parkAbout halfway up the hillIMG_1683IMG_1684IMG_1685IMG_1686IMG_1687IMG_1688Up at the top of the hill - now we have about 5 miles to go along the Leavitt ridgeIMG_1690IMG_1691IMG_1692IMG_1693Looking down into Kennedy CanyonStill some snow in the upper reaches of the canyonDropping off the ridge where we were able to call M and DebbieStopped for lunch overlooking Latopie LakeIMG_1698IMG_1699Looking back at our lunch spotMore snowHeading down the trailIMG_1703Kennedy LakeIMG_1705We're heading over that ridge to drop down into Kennedy Canyon (east)It had been thunder and lightning to the south of us and we were getting a few raindrops as we walked this sectionTrail junction to the Leavitt Lake jeep trackLooking west from the trail junctionDay 2 - Kennedy Canyon past into Yosemite - Past Dorothy Lake and into Jack Main Canyon - 16 milesIMG_1710IMG_1711IMG_1712Heading down to our campsite in Kennedy CanyonIMG_1714Down near the Walker riverIMG_1716Starting the trek to climb up into YosemiteHeading up to the Cinko lake trail junctionIMG_1719The first Cinko Lake trail JunctionIMG_1721Looking south towards YosemiteThe second Cinko Lake trail junction - also the junction down to the West Walker RiverIMG_1724Lots of signs have fallen off their postsIMG_1726On the way up to Harriet Lake - the first creek ford where we had to wadeIMG_1728IMG_1729Looking down on Harriet Lake Dorothy Lake pass just up aheadIMG_1732And we've made it to Yosemite National Park - Nice to see the metal trail signs again!IMG_1734Resting at the top of the pass - only another 6 miles to go.Looking down on Dorothy Lake. Very pretty and fairly longIMG_1737IMG_1738The first sign for Wilma (Wilmer) lake at the foot of Jack Main Canyon - we'll pas there tomorrow.IMG_1740Lots of meadow walking down the canyonGot a little bit of rain today as wellIMG_1743Even though it was the end of August, lots of the trails through the meadows were like this - hard to tell where the creek ends and the trail starts.Angel got wet shoes and we started a fire so he could dry them out.Worked out fine until we woke in the morning and both of our boots had gotten soaked from the evening condensation.Day 3 - Jack Main Canyon to Kerrik Canyon - 12 milesIMG_1747Very pretty canyon - lots of waterOnly 2 miles to the bottom of the canyon - and the first sign for Hetch Hetchy (not that we went that way)IMG_1750Down near Wilma lake - We'll pass Benson lake tomorrow. Not sure which way they get into the Valley from here.IMG_1752Our widest ford - Falls Creek. Fortunately none of the fords on this trip got above our kneesIMG_1754IMG_1755Wilma LakeFrogs in Wilma LakeStarting the first climb of the day. Up over the hill and then down into Stubblefield CreekIMG_1759Yes - we're both tired. Neither of us is in shape and the trails are pretty steep.The thunderstorms the last few days have left hail on the trail in spontsIMG_1762Huffing and puffingLooking down into Stubblefield canyonLooking back up Jack Main CanyonIMG_1766IMG_1767The climb seemed to go straight up the hillIMG_1769IMG_1770Crossing Stubblefield CreekClimbing the next hill Making progress - Had to tell Angel where Pate Valley was Tomorrow's itenerary - Benson LakeThe rain that had been to the south of us the last few days caught us around 5 today as we were halfway up Kerrick Canyon. We got poured on for about an hour and a half. Fortunately, we had enough time to find this spot and get the tent pitched and we through all our gear in. We waited outside for about 15 minutes to see if it would get worse or let up, and when it started getting worse, we piled in the tent as well. All was well until we found that over the years the sealant on the seams had degraded and we started getting drips from the seams. Nothing too bad, but I'm glad the rain let up before dark.Day 4 - Kerrick Canyon to Smedberg Lake. The original plan was to get over Benson Pass - but the day was exhausting, with trail slopes that must have been 40%. We hit Smedberg Lake around 4:30 and called it a day. - 10 milesKerrick Canyon (2)IMG_1777The infamous part of the trail that the early PCT hikers dread. Picture a 10 foot snow drift on the trail, with the creek raging on one side, and a drop next to the cliff rocks on the other.Starting the short climb to Seavey PassIMG_1780IMG_1781Over Seavey Pass and heading down towards Benson LakeIMG_1783Halfway down the hill to the lake. Looking south towards the next part of the dayBenson Lake (2)Down in the flats above Benson Lake - 4 miles to our evening campsiteCrossing Piute CreekIMG_1788Halfway up to Smedberg lake we crossed the outlet creek (behind the log). Had lunch and dried out the tent and tarp that was still wet from last night.Volunteer Peak - Smedberg Lake is to the left (way up there)IMG_1791IMG_1792IMG_1793Almost to the top of the hill. It was quite a pull. We were both pretty tired. - and the worst part was now we drop about 400 feet down to Smedberg Lake.IMG_1796IMG_1797Selfie at the Rodgers Lake trail junctionIMG_1799IMG_1800IMG_1801Camp at Smedberg lake. The obvious campsite was already occupied - so we trudged along the lake to the inlet stream without finding anything reasonable. We found something that might have worked and dropped the packs. I walked around a bit and found a nicer spot across the creek. When I went to get water at the inlet creek, I spooked a couple of 11 inch brookies (Allyn, it reminded me of the two large golden trouts in the inlet of Virginia Lake on our JMT trip).Smedberg Lake (2)IMG_1805Day 5 Smedberg Lake to Cold Canyon - 17 miles We wanted to set up the last day so that we'd hit Tuolumne Meadows around 12:30 which would give Angel time to drive home on Friday instead of spending the night at the cabin.Found a bumble bee on a flower around the lakeWe finished the climb to Benson pass (10,125') first thing in the morningIMG_1808Unnamed peak west of Benson PassIMG_1810Looking down into Matterhorn Canyon, probably the prettiest meadow we saw on the trip.6 more miles to Return creek in Virginia CanyonIMG_1813Looking back at the canyon we dropped down from into Matterhorn CanyonHeading down towards Miller Lake - very pretty, but no inlet to speak of. As we were eating lunch, three trail crew members came up from the other side on their horses, and led the horses into the water to drink. I was glad I didn't get my water from there!We'd left Miller Lake, climbed a bit, then hit an 800' drop down switchbacks to Spiller creek. Wish I had brought the fishing rod with me, as I could see a couple of nice brookies just above where we crossed the creek.At Spiller CreekAt Spiller Creek.Dropping down Spiller creek before the trail bends around the hill and drops to Return creek. We ran into 4 or 5 groups doing trail maintenance in this section.Coming up on Return CreekIMG_1821We climbed out of Return Creek and started down into Cold CanyonIMG_1823We wouldn't make Glen Aulin tonight (it was about 4:00 pm at this timeAnother SelfieThe last night's camp. Not much of a campsite, and the creek was basically a series of pools without running water, so we basically made a dry camp.Day 6 - Cold Canyon to Tuolumne Meadows 10 milesGlad we didn't camp in the meadow itself. We stayed pretty dry in the tent.IMG_1828IMG_1829Coming in to Glen AulinAlmost done with the trip.White Cascade at Glen AulinIMG_1833The bridge to the High Sierra Camp washed out, but they made it work anyway by the time we were thereWhite Cascade (2)IMG_1836Bridge Across the Tuolumne above Glen AulinGetting into the meadow part of the meadowsLooking back down the Grand Canyon of the TuolumneLooking up towards Cold CanyonIMG_1841IMG_1842Angel overlooking the Grand Canyon of the TuolumneIMG_1844Big pool in the granite - last picture taken - The remaining hour and a half was through the meadows to the wilderness permit pakring lot where Angel's car was.