Advice for backcountry 3, 4, or 5 night August

[510photoguy]

August Backpacking Trip - Recommended trails or areas?

I do a lot of environmental site, walk in camping on the Mendocino coast and Sierra Buttes, but not much backpacking. It will probably be me and one other person, or maybe just me, though I haven't given going solo serious thought yet.

As I start to look into the idea of the trip, do you have tips on specific loops, or out and backs? Or general areas of the park to look for or stay away from? Links to previous posts on the same topic are appreciated too.

Here's what I'm hoping for: No sign of other people. Awesome meadows, lakes. Variety of terrain would be great. Would love to relax in a lush meadow by a lake, maybe fish and do day hikes for a day or two. Maybe a 3 night 4 day, or up to 5 night 6 days (with car ride home to Bay Area). Difficulty - moderate. I'd rather relax than summit, if that makes sense.

Thanks!

[balzaccom]

Yosemite isn't the best place to go if you really don't want to see any people at all...but I have almost achieved that goal in two places in the park:

Illilouette Canyon from Mono Meadows up to Ottaway Lakes...and the fishing the lower lake is very good.

Boundary Lake out of Cherry lake trailhead via Kibbie Ridge....but there are no fish in Boundary Lake or its neighbors. (You might find some fish in Cherry Creek, but it ain't great.

Alternatively, we hiked from Crabtree Cabin into Big Lake, Yellowhammer, and Five Acre Lake last year, and saw nobody for three solid days....but that's in the Emigrant Wilderness, not Yosemite.

WE have a lot of trip suggestions on our website

[510photoguy]

Thanks Balzaccom.

I'm open to hikes outside of Yosemite. The Emigrant Wilderness areas sound great. I was also looking at Desolation Wilderness.

Any tips for a good backpacking route in the Sierras, very much appreciated. Loops are best as I'll be parking the truck and going from there. I'm quitting my job of 11 years and going to grad school, so want a good trip in between!

Your website is great. I was already looking at it earlier today seeing your link on this forum. Very informative. And great photos!

Yosemite isn't the best place to go if you really don't want to see any people at all...but I have almost achieved that goal in two places in the park:

Illilouette Canyon from Mono Meadows up to Ottaway Lakes...and the fishing the lower lake is very good.

Boundary Lake out of Cherry lake trailhead via Kibbie Ridge....but there are no fish in Boundary Lake or its neighbors. (You might find some fish in Cherry Creek, but it ain't great.

Alternatively, we hiked from Crabtree Cabin into Big Lake, Yellowhammer, and Five Acre Lake last year, and saw nobody for three solid days....but that's in the Emigrant Wilderness, not Yosemite.

WE have a lot of trip suggestions on our website

[KC]

Agree totally with Balzaccom. I might also note that Desolation Wilderness isn't so desolate, far from it. You'll see plenty of folks there.

Just to add to the conversation regarding solitude, another great spot in proximity to Yosemite that you're almost sure to have quiet is Carson-Iceberg Wilderness. It's one my favorite places to go simply for the solitude. There are also a lot of great weekend to 3-night loop opportunities.

One great loop is what I like to think of as the Disaster Peak loop. Begin off hwy 108 at the end of Clark Fork Road beneath the Iceberg. Follow Disaster Creek north and make a right on the trail to Paradise Valley (beautiful) and drop over the Sierra Crest below the east side of Disaster Peak (which you can easily climb), and hit the PCT and head towards Boulder Lake. The trip has it all, a lake, nice peaks, beautiful valleys, and a deep canyon.

[cjoz]

This article deals mainly w/ weekend jaunts but can be used as starting points for longer treks in Desolation or Emigrant

http://www.gorp.com/parks-guide/travel- ... 57928.html

[AlmostThere]

Here's what I'm hoping for: No sign of other people. Awesome meadows, lakes. Variety of terrain would be great. Would love to relax in a lush meadow by a lake, maybe fish and do day hikes for a day or two. Maybe a 3 night 4 day, or up to 5 night 6 days (with car ride home to Bay Area). Difficulty - moderate. I'd rather relax than summit, if that makes sense.

Thanks!

I would go to one of the trailheads in Sequoia that does not put one on a trail through Jennie Lake Wilderness or toward the JMT. For example: a long loop from Lodgepole, over Silliman Pass, drop into Ranger Lake, pass Ball Dome, turn down Deadman Canyon, go off trail up the outlet of Big Bird Lake into the Tablelands, wander on around to Moose Lake, cut down through Pear Lake and hit the trail back to Lodgepole. This will take you through forested areas into alpine granite and back. Lots of lakes. Caveat: You will need compass, map, and a basic idea how to use them. Alpine travel can be deceptive. Places that look close end up being miles away. Routefinding cross country can also be slow and net you fewer miles per day, but the Tablelands are pretty open and it's mostly a matter of following a compass bearing.

You will have dayhikers and leisure overnighters crossing paths with you on the last day, from Pear down, and possibly some on the first day, up to Twin Lakes. An alternate route might be up the ridge to Alta Peak from Tablelands - Alta is a long difficult day hike my group does every year, and we hardly ever see anyone up there. Awesome views. You'd end up on the Panther Gap trail which would connect with the Lakes Trail and eventually with a short connector back to Lodgepole.

In Yosemite, it's possible to go somewhere where there are hardly any people, but you'll still see people, and the major popular regions like Grand Canyon of the Tuolumne or the JMT are going to be crowded for the duration of any trip taken along them in "prime time," aka August. Something that starts from Mono Meadow trailhead and heads out toward Red Peak Pass/Ottoway Lakes has a better chance for solitude, methinks.

[balzaccom]

Yep--I am going to agree about Desolation wilderness. Because it is relatively small, and there are lots of trailheads, and it's very close to Tahoe and Highway 50, it gets a lot of traffic. Frankly, it's hard to find a spot in Desolation that is a full two days from any trailhead...

But Emigrant is a whole 'nother ballgame. And yes, Carson-Iceberg also has its lonely spots. Although if you love the granite of Yosemite, and want a wide range of options for lakes, Emigrant has far more to offer than Carson-Iceberg. The latter is more volcanic, and has far fewer lakes.

And fewer people!

Thanks for the kind words about the website!

[KC]

Just want to add, if it's going to be your first time out, and you do end up going solo, Yosemite may be a good option because there are people around in the case an issue comes up. Personally, when I am going solo, I like to go to Yosemite for this reason (and the fact it is easier to get permits for some of the more popular trails). Even if you're doing Red Peak Pass, where people are minimal, if you get injured, there's bound to be someone who will come across you within a day, if not hours along the trail. Same goes for Desolation Wilderness, Mokelumne Wilderness near the Carson Pass area, Emigrant Wilderness near Kennedy Meadows, and Carson-Iceberg Wilderness near Lake Alpine and Sword Lake.

Additionally, you are not required to camp next to somebody, barring you don't put down in Little Yosemite or Merced Lake. You can feel like you have a good deal of solitude even when you know somebody is camped a mile or two away. There's lots of room out there and it's what you make of it.