3 or 4 Day Hike Recomendation

[mjaisit]

My friends and I are taking a last minute backpacking trip at Yosemite next week, and I wondering if any had any recommendations of a good 2 to 4 day hike for us. We are looking for preferably a loop, some awesome views, not too strenuous, and solitude. We have hiked the Appalachian Trail 3 times and this is our first time hiking in the West. One of our major concerns also is elevation sickness, due to all of us living at sea level. Let me know what you guys think. Thanks!

[balzaccom]

Yeah, well, the first question will be where you can get a permit. Those will be on a first come-first served basis, and will pretty much detemine where you can go.

There are lots of great loops and hikes in Yosemite, and a few more that require hopping on the shuttle to complete the loop. But the really popular ones, and the really famous ones, are all going to be booked solid, unless you get lucky. And all of them will also have quite a few people.

Up Lyell and back down Vogelsang, just about any of the High Sierra Camp loops, Young Lakes, Cathedral lakes to Vogelsang, Grand Canyon of the Tuolumne with the shuttle, North rim of the Valley.....all of those are possibilities.

If you want solitude, I'd recommend Kibbie Ridge to Boundary Lake, illilouette Canyon from Mono Meadows, or maybe Chain Lakes or Cora Lakes in the far south...but the latter will require a long drive on iffy roads

[Lesbert]

We just took the trip to Lower Youngs Lakes via Dog Lake trail (permits were pretty open for this). You only need to have a starting spot permitted. YOu can then come back via Glen aulin - so it's a short loop.
Youngs lakes (particularly lower and upper) are stunningly beautiful. We didn't have much company, but were not there on the weekend. Still it's very spread out and peaceful.