A Backpack to the Remote Lyell Fork of the Merced River

Right smack dab in the middle horizon is Vogelsang Peak. Here the trail leaves the Big Meadow and begins the climb to Vogelsang.

Fletcher Creek Trail to Vogelsang

A Trail and Cross-Country Route to the Lyell Fork, July 2007

~~~Vogelsang/Fletcher Creek Trail Detour~~~

In ’05 I took this trail to Vogelsang merely because I had not walked that trail. I will say up front that the Emeric Trail is far more scenic than this Fletcher Creek trail, which begins by traveling over the lovely flat green big meadow and dives into trees near Fletcher Creek when it runs out of meadow. After that, the trail begins to climb right away along Fletcher Creek, with a rock wall to the left and the creek to the right, which together does not amount to much scenery or far views.

The young Fletcher Creek flows by on its way to meet Emeric Creek.

Fletcher Peak with the Vogelsang Lake basin on the right. A small falls on Fletcher Creek

After about a mile of climbing, the trail levels out a bit and features small pocket meadows and occasionally the meandering Fletcher Creek. Intermittently the views open enough for nice views of the ridgelines of Vogelsang Peak and points west. As you get closer to Vogelsang HSC, the trail is just more of an uninteresting slog over dry rocky ground. Eventually the structures of the Vogelsang HST pop into view and you arrive at the four-way junction and a nice shady spot for a rest if you are un-harassed by mosquitoes.