Ideas for 5-6 day Hike

[sabrosa]

Yosemite Forum Users

My buddies and I take an annual backpacking/hiking trip during the summertime. Last summer it was the Teton Crest Trail. This upcoming summer, we'd love to explore some of what Yosemite has to offer. Ideally, we'd take a moderately difficult 5-6 day hike to a section of the park that doesn't have heavy traffic. Also, we have yet to work out our transportation situation so a trip with beginning/ending points with shuttle access would be fantastic. Any ideas would very much be appreciated!
P.S. We are all in our 20's and in good shape.

[balzaccom]

Wow. There are too many to list. If you want to hike out of Toulumne Meadows, you can hike north or south and get great loops...

South over to Vogelsang, then down to the Merced Canyon...maybe up towards Isberg Pass...and then back up Fletcher creek.

North you could head toward Glen Aulin, then work your way all the way to Matterhorn Canyon...or Virgnia Canyon. Or both.

It's a huge park, and once you get away from the Valley or Tuolumne Meadows, you can hike for miles and miles in the wilderness

OUr website has a list of destinations that might help...

I'd also look at the east side, which gets you into some wonderful country quickly

[AlmostThere]

You're going to go in which month? In an average snow year, you won't be going over high passes without encountering snow - this can be true as late as August depending on the snow load in the high country. Last year you could have done high passes in April and May, though the services and shuttles weren't running yet.

Look at the YARTS and CREST schedules. In the park, there is a hiker bus with reasonably priced one way fares that gets you from the valley to the pass or the reverse. With enough time you could go to Reds Meadow and hike back into the park ending at a trailhead there, and with a combo of the free shuttles and the hiker bus or YARTS, get back to where you need to be.Info on hiker bus is on yosemitepark.com and free shuttle schedule info is on the nps.gov/yose page. Pay close attention to start dates.

[balzaccom]

He does say summertime...

But you raise some good points. Summer starts June 22nd...but not at 10,000 feet!

[sabrosa]

Thanks for the suggestions guys! I don't know this area at all, but we're looking for scenery and solitude.The Glen Aulin or Matterhorn areas sound intriguing because we're looking for some solitude with our scenery.

But for now I'm thinking of doing the Ottoway Lakes Loop in mid/late August, per this fella's trip: http://www.doylewdonehoo.com/ottoway/ottoway001.htm .

Day 1: From Yosemite valley or Glacier Point to Red's Creek/Clark Fork

Day 2: Clark Fork to Lower Ottoway Lake

Day 3: Lower Ottoway Lake to Triple Peak Fork Junction

Day 4: Triple Peak Fork Junction to Merced Lake area

Day 5: Merced Lake to Little Yosemite Valley

Day 6: Little Yosemite Valley to Glacier Point/Yosemite Valley

I can't decide whether to start from the valley floor (park HQ) or Glacier Point because of transportation issues. From the topographic maps I have, it appears that a Glacier Point start would make an easier first day, but it's hard to tell. Do ya'll know? Also, is the Ottoway lakes area significantly crowded during this time?

Thanks Again!

[balzaccom]

It's a great trip, and I would suggest you start at either Glacier Point or Mono Meadows trailheads. First of all, it is easier to get permits for those trailheads. Secondly, you save a few thousand feet in climbing on the first day, which is nothing to sneeze at.

We've got a trip report on much the same route in our destinations section of our website...

[sabrosa]

balzaccom

Would you recommend doing the Ottoway Lake Loop in 5 or 6 days? We'd like to do it in 5 if it isn't a crazy pace. We are all in good shape.

Best

D

[balzaccom]

We got a late start on our hike, because we started in Sonora and then had to get our permit and drive to Mono Meadows trailhead---so we didn't even start hiking until after lunch. It's 15-16 miles to Lower Ottoway from the trailhead, and we did that in two pretty easy days.

One day to go over the pass and partway down Merced Canyon (washburn Lake?) Another day gets you even further down the canyon, and the last day gets you back to Mono Meadows.

Seems like a nice pace to me!

[robow8]

It's a great trip, and I would suggest you start at either Glacier Point or Mono Meadows trailheads. First of all, it is easier to get permits for those trailheads. Secondly, you save a few thousand feet in climbing on the first day, which is nothing to sneeze at.

We've got a trip report on much the same route in our destinations section of our website...

A question about permits. I am planning on doing this hike with my wife. Would it be better if we fax a request in my name for us and another one in her name?