3 or 4 day packpacking trip...Northern or Southern Yosemite?

[Diesel]

So I'd like to plan a 3 day backpacking trip (or 4 day if I can make it work over labor day weekend) sometime in late august-early september. I realize getting last minute permits in yosemite for the more popular spots are pretty rough, so I'm looking into lesser travelled areas. so long as there's some spectacular mountain scenery and lakes to explore, I know I'll have a good time.

My experience level: I did the grand canyon of the tuolumne river from white wolf in june (3 days), and also completed the Rae Lakes loop in Kings canyon last week (3 days also though the last day was a rough 20+ miles). I don't have any off trail/cross country experience so only interested in hiking on established trails, and i prefer loops to out and back trips.

Looking through trip reports and photos online I became interested in 2 options: 1) southern yosemite (making some sort of loop out of the mountain passes there), e.g.:

http://photos.calipidder.com/Archive/20 ... 9300_iV9wH

2) northern yosemite/hoover: benson loop or something similar?

Any input or specific route recommendations would be appreciated.

[bill-e-g]

I've done both (I'm sure you're surprised).
(also did Rae Lakes loop in 2 days in early October)

Anyway, seriously, you can't go wrong. Just pick one.
For 4 days I'd go with the Quartz Mtn start.

The south loop is about 40 miles. The north loop is about 48 miles.

I've done the south loop in 3 days solo with adders for hitting some
lakes xcountry and coming back via Gravelly ford (44 miles).
Camped just before Porphyry Lake on day 1 and S of Merced
Pass on day 2 (day 3 was actually a simple out).
Wife and I did more or less the north loop last year in 5 days
including driving to and fro the Bay Area and skipping Matt.
Canyon and going xcountry from RI Pass to Smed.

Anyway, I'd recommend doing the south loop if you have 4 days.
If only 3 days... 5 pass loop may be a challenge.
(btw .. for a trip like that I allocate 4 days and if I do it in less...
so be it) (on that part. trip I hung out at Lower Ottoway for an
hour and then just said... well... might as well continue on)
I'm doing a 3 day trip in the south this Friday... I'll let you know
how that goes when I'm back if you want.

Have fun

[Diesel]

Thanks for the tips. i'll probably take your advice and shoot for the southern loop in 4 days. I'm sure I'll just go back and do the northern loop next year (or in october if I get the chance) anyway, so no biggie either way. how's the drive to the quartz mountain trailhead?

Have a great trip this friday- would definitely like to know how that goes for you.

[bill-e-g]

The drive ... uh .. depends what you're used to.
If you go the shortest ways it's dirt roads and gravel roads...
that sorta thing... do-able in almost any car though.
Some very interesting sections...
Or you can stay on Sky Ranch road...
When you pick up your permit they'll ask if you've ever been
there and give you a map if you need one.

[hiker97]

The ranger at the permit station in Oakhurst has some great maps and even some road connections that could shorten the miles for you versus what Google earth would suggest, depending upon your vehicle. Sky Ranch Road is very long and winding, with much rougher pavement than Beasore Road. I would recommend a route up to Quartz where you take the road to Bass Lake from Hwy 41 and then go up Beasore Road. Then you will reach a left turn that goes up toward Quartz Mtn. We just returned from there in July and went in on Beasore then out on Sky Ranch. No comparison, we all agreed that we should have done Beasore both ways. Have fun!

[bill-e-g]

Agree 100%.
Sky Ranch ... yuck.

Beasore itself is great. It's windy but is great shape.
It's the stuff beyond Beasore that can be a sore. haha.

Have fun.

O. I just did a loop from Isberg TH (Clover Meadow).
The road there (Sierra Scenic Byway) ... after the two lane
roads ends is delicious. Lots o potholes.
Anyway, loop I did was up to Isberg Pass then over Foerster
down Bench Canyon and then down the N. Fork San Joaquin...
It was xcountry from Isberg all the way to tne N Fork so
not what you want. But... just spectacular.
Actually just the North Fork was amazing. And it seems
hardly anyone goes in there. Such a shame.
Another loop you could do is up Isberg then over Post Peak
and back. I really really like Prophyry.... Probably do that
sometime myself.

Have fun