I am just hoping to share several trip reports I finally got around to writing. They are not from recent trips, so please do not confuse the conditions in the images for the current conditions. I just figured the report could useful for planning or inspiration for others looking forward to next year!
Rae Lakes Loop - Kings Canyon National Park
We hiked this loop in July, 2016. The loop is ~40 miles long and we hiked it in 4 days. The views are really great and the trail forms a perfect backpacking loop . We loved almost everything about this hike. The only downside was that it is a bit crowded and popular. Full report here: https://backpackersreview.wordpress.com ... akes-loop/
View from Glen Pass
Fresh melt lake near Glen Pass
Rae Lakes
Valley near Rae Lakes
Mineral King Area - Sequoia National Park
We hiked this loop in September, 2015. This is a 45 mile loop that goes up over Sawtooth Pass and then goes along a portion of the High Sierra Trail. The views along this trek were some of the best I have seen, and this has been my favorite backpacking loop. I though it was prettier than the Rae Lakes Loop and we saw hardly any other hikers. Full report here: https://backpackersreview.wordpress.com ... eral-king/
Looking down into the Hamilton Lakes Basin
Kaweah Pass
Precipice Lake
Nine Lakes Basin
Along the High Sierra Trail
Trinity Alps Wilderness - Northern California
We did this hike in July, 2017. It is a 25 mile out and back hike that goes to two great lakes in the Trinity Alps. The area was really nice and had great meadows and waterfalls. The Trinity Alps are nice substitute for the Sierra if you miss out on permits or if everything in the Sierra is still snowy. The full report is here: https://backpackersreview.wordpress.com ... rald-lake/
Emerald Lake
Sapphire Lake
Caribou Lake
Morris Meadows