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[Yosemite]

If you were me...what would the week look like?

Hiking, backpacking, running, biking, climbing, rafting, and other human-powered activities in Yosemite National Park

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If you were me...what would the week look like?

Postby Tampa » Tue Feb 03, 2015 4:33 am

Good morning,

The awesome: I have a chance to finally backpack Yosemite.
The good: I'm healthy, happy and ready
The bad: I'm only going to get one shot at this so I'm really hoping to make good decisions. Its wonderful there are so many choices but its very confusing for a relative novice such as myself. I see last week of May is mostly booked at most open trailheads and June first couple of weeks getting that way...so I need to plan really soon.


I would deeply appreciate experienced Yosemites sharing their opinion of a great week backpacking.

Here's some specs:
- I can take a week anytime between May and September.
- I'll be ready: above average fit. Focused to be ready by taking 5-7 mile hikes with a 40 lbs pack. Planning long weekend backpacking trips nearby (I'm in Florida) between now and then
- I'm not picky..enjoying vistas and enjoy some solitude although I love meeting others
- I am not touristy and tend to avoid crowds even if it means not seeing a "sight". I do not need to "do" the usual sights. from what I hear..breathtaking is everywhere in the park and that works just fine
- I can be happy with either a base camp strategy or hike/camp every day

So...
If you were me...what would the week look like?

- What dates
- Where to park
- Start at what trailhead
- Day 1 hike destination/sights
- Day 1 camp
- Day 2 hike destination/sights
- Day 2 camp
- Day 3 hike destination/sights
- Day 3 camp
- Day 4 hike destination/sights
- Day 4 camp

Any help you can give would be deeply appreciated!

Thank you!

PS - Of course, will be ready to return the favor and share tips and destinations if ever you are planning to come out Florida way..
Tampa
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Re: If you were me...what would the week look like?

Postby AlmostThere » Tue Feb 03, 2015 7:57 am

Well, if I don't want to deal with crowds, I plan a loop in Sequoia/Kings Canyon or in the Sierra National Forest. But that's not what you asked.

A week for someone who is acclimated to the elevation and can do 8-12 miles per day on good trails, I might plan Mono Meadow/Ottoway/Red Peak Pass, and head around through Tuolumne Meadows, perhaps adding a short out and back at the end to Young Lakes and Conness Peak, before ending the trip at Tuolumne Meadows. The only crowded point is TM itself.

A week for someone who is not acclimated, and lives around sea level, I might suggest going to one of the campgrounds (white wolf or tuolumne meadows) for a day or two, doing a short day hike a day, to become better acclimated. The Grand Canyon of the Tuolumne can be 3-5 days depending on how much time you want to spend enjoying the river. You can use the YARTS to shuttle between TM and WW. This might be a good option for you, but it's popular because it's so scenic. The lower elevation end can be really, really hot in summer.

You can put together a week by doing the north rim to Mt Watkins, Tenaya Lake, and around to Clouds Rest then down to Happy Isles. That would mean starting at Rockslides and bouldering a short way with a backpack so you can take the free shuttles back to the car, or thumbing a ride or getting the hiker bus to the Old Big Oak Flat trailhead. Of course, once you get to Clouds Rest, you will be surrounded by day hikers for the rest of the trip.

You could head for Hetch Hetchy, go up the long loop through Jack Main and out through Tiltill to Rancheria, and back to the dam. That would be more remote/less crowded. Though there are spots along the way that were burned out in recent fires, the higher country is gorgeous and worth the effort. Early morning start from the trailhead is a must. There's a lot of exposed and open places to climb. There is a backpacker camp near the parking so you can get the permit on the way in, along with the rented bear canister you must have, and get an early early start the next morning. The road to the dam closes at night, usually at dusk.

You would be better renting a Bearikade by mail from Wild Ideas, if you want to prepack it - highly recommended if you have not packed or used a bear can and have a week of food to get into it - http://www.adventure-inspired.com/2011/ ... ister.html and trailcooking.com help you understand why this is important. Bear canisters are imperative for any area of Yosemite if 1) you don't want to be fined up to $5000 and/or escorted out of the park and 2) you want to help the bears out by NOT letting them get anything that tastes good from people. Hanging food is illegal and ineffective, and so are Ursacks or bear canisters that are not on Yosemite's approved canister list.

For another thing - always leave a good itinerary with someone trustworthy who will call the appropriate authorities in the event you don't return on time. reconn.org gives you a great template for this. This is a MUST no matter who you go with or how many electric devices you think will work.

Sun protection - it's higher elevation and good polarized glasses, sunscreen, a hat, and even an umbrella can go a long way to preventing a horrible sunburn. People who go into high granite underestimate the power of reflected sun off the crystals in the granite. I always wear breathable long sleeves and long pants - I know shorts and t shirts are comfortable, but the high granite is not what you are used to. A friend who never wears sleeves or long pants burned herself horribly on a trip where we spent hours hiking the open granite - it's also possible to be blinded, and that's not safe especially when you are solo.

Don't forget water treatment. It may look clean, but too many people bring home a souvenir and need antibiotics.
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Re: If you were me...what would the week look like?

Postby Tampa » Tue Feb 03, 2015 5:18 pm

Thanks, AT! That's great advice & it is so generous of you to take the time.

I'll happily consider Sierra option if you think its worth it. Yosemite has been a beacon mainly through word of mouth and popularity. That said..Heaven, for me, exists in many places ;)

Your Hetchy Hetchy option sounds pretty darn great.I'll look more into it. I'll start researching with the website trail map tools and such. If you have anymore tips..feel free ;)

If I could impose more..
**what is the best calendar week to go? I'm very flexible anytime May - September (having worked for years to earn that right this year..lol)

I hear you on:
- Bear canister (nice option on Bearikade, thanks)
- Itinerary with friends
- Long sleeves and long pants for protection
- Water treatment
- sunscreen and coverup

You;re the best!
Karl (Tampa)
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Re: If you were me...what would the week look like?

Postby balzaccom » Tue Feb 03, 2015 9:53 pm

AT is right---there are lots of great hikes that would meet your criteria. I do like his suggestion of Illilouette Canyon over Red Peak Pass and then down into Yosemite Valley, or up to Tuolumne Meadows. That hike has the added advantage that the first day is more downhill than up, and the second day still isn't too bad, if you camp at Lower Ottoway Lake...that's two days to help you acclimate a bit.

Do you read maps well enough to do some cross-country? That's another option...hiking out of Tuolumne Meadows to Young Lakes, then on to McCabe Lakes and Viriginia Canyon...

Or you could hike out of Tuolumne Meadows to Echo Lake...and then explore Echo Canyon, working down to the Merced, and then back up Fletcher or Lewis Canyons to Tuolumne Meadows. That's pretty wonderful country. We have a few photos from these hikes in the destination section of our website (link below)

As for suggested dates....the later in the summer, the fewer mosquitoes. That's not a minor consideration. And if you can do this after the third week of August, many kids are back in school then, and there are fewer people on the trails. For my money, the last week of August is choice.
Check our our website: http://www.backpackthesierra.com/
Or just read a good mystery novel set in the Sierra; https://www.amazon.com/Danger-Falling-Rocks-Paul-Wagner/dp/0984884963
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Re: If you were me...what would the week look like?

Postby Tampa » Wed Feb 04, 2015 5:04 pm

balzaccom wrote:For my money, the last week of August is choice.
..So let it be written..so let it be done! lol Thanks, Balzaccom! Super helpful. I'll begin checking those out.

Now I need to decide on a May trip...maybe the Smokies.
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