Acheron wrote:I'm in the process of planning a 2 week trip to California from NY in early January with my girlfriend. We both backpack and canoe often, wherever we go.
Part 1:
First time out west for me since I was a teenager, so I would like tips/recommendations for what I can do and what I should bring differently than camping in NY. I have all gear needed for winter backpacking in Canada and summer camping in the Everglades. Just bought a snake bite/scorpion kit and I've always used throw ropes to hang food away from blackbear here. Do I need something more robust?
Part 2: Within the 2 weeks, we'll be spending days in cities and with friends, so we would like to see Yosemite, Sequoia, and Death Valley. Ideally Backcountry camping, but was thinking of car camping for death valley. For 1-3 days for each park with a total of 5/6 days what are some of your recommendations for how long to spend where, which trails would be good for vistas and January camping,? Keeping in mind we'll only have one rental vehicle available so likely needing a shuttle or a looped trail.
Caveat* I like to be away from other hikers, and my gf wants one full day of no hiking somewhere to chill in camp.
Covid19 restrictions pending**
Thanks in advance for your help!
sounds like you have some pretty intense drive time in store. Hope you are budgeting a day to drive between parks so you can stop to use the bathroom and eat a meal here and there. You won't be going over Tioga Pass in January, so you'll end up driving all the way south to Tehachapi and then up to Death Valley on 395. That's going to be some miles.
Any vehicle you drive in January into the Sierra will need to carry appropriate chains/cables. Rental companies generally frown on people using those on their cars. You'll want to check with the company.
Backpacking in winter is different, depending on how much snow we get. Some years during the height of the drought it's been minimal. If I based it on the last couple of years, there will be snow. Low elevation routes are less likely to be icy to the point of dangerous. Not sure how the wilderness permits will work - if the online reservations are the same for winter, you'll find all the details available on the websites for how to get permits for backpacking.
Speaking of which, you'll need to spend some time also on the Yosemite and SEKI websites. Food storage in Yosemite year round in the backcountry is a short list of bear canisters - no hanging anywhere, no Ursack, no substitutes, only the canisters on their list of approved containers. SEKI it will depend on where you go but generally I take bear canisters there also, there are no trees that are really good for bear bagging and it's much easier to use the can. SEKI has a wilderness planner pdf that you should read - lots of info about trails, trailheads and so forth. There is also a winter specific page on the website.
No shuttles available. They don't run in winter anyway.
The best maps for the Sierra are the Tom Harrison versions - I believe they also have a Death Valley map. The maps will help you plan.
You will not need snake bite/scorpion anything in January.