3 night recommendation for Backpacking

[HIRDTHEPUPPET]

Hi everyone,

I am a solo traveler coming from the Los Angeles area and looking to plot a 3 night 4 day backpacking trip. This will be my first time to Yosemite and I would love any suggestions on how to plot an ideal course. Thank you!

[Phil]

It really depends on what you want out of your trip in the way of sights and experiences. First rule is: be realistic about your abilities and the conditions you're comfortable with

More info from you would give a better answer. And remember, no more walk-up permits, so know the new reservation/lottery drill.

[HIRDTHEPUPPET]

Hi Phil,

Thanks for the response... I am young and in great shape. Looking to hike about six to eight hours a day and get a general feel for the backpacking experience. Treating it as more of meditative journey however if there is so must see / do activities for my first time, I would love any recommendations...

I will be carrying about 20 - 25 pounds of gear including 2 liters of water.

Thanks for the reminder for the no-walk in's I just became familiar with the reservation/lottery system...

[Phil]

You'll first want to look into how to use a bear canister. That's a biggie.

With you being new to backpacking, I would recommend hanging around the core of the trail system as a good place to start. Places like the JMT from Cathedral Lakes > Valley, Lyell Canyon with a loop via Vogelsang > Rafferty Creek, or the latter with an exit at Happy Isles, again in the Valley. Almost anything out of Tuolumne Meadows and the May Lake/Tenaya Lake area, but avoiding the Grand Canyon of the Tuolumne. The trick here and now is to do your homework on a variety of the trails and their nuances, then see what's available for quota and what you can get a permit for. If you can book it, and have the stamina, with few exceptions, we can make it work.

Get a topo map. I suggest the Tom Harrison 1:63,360 "Yosemite High Country".

[AlmostThere]

You can expect to do what you want to do, but be ready and willing to adapt. Being stubborn only gets you in trouble. Be very familiar with symptoms of elevation sickness and be extra super cautious, as being solo you will have no one there to tell you, "Hey, you're acting funny, maybe we should stop and talk about it" and catch you before you have altered mental status - making bad decisions and taking undue risks.

We had a bear scratch up a canister three days ago... in a less popular part of the park, no less. Absolutely adhere to the food storage rules.

Anywhere in Yosemite is gorgeous, though the lower you go, the more brush and heat there will be, the higher you go the more mosquitoes there are. I treated my clothing with permethrin and took a head net. Escaped with minimal bites. Others relying on non DEET sprays were eaten alive.

[balzaccom]

You don't say when you will be visiting Yosemite, but if it is in the near future, bring plenty of bug repellent, Reports are that the mosquitoes are fierce right now...

And if you want a whole series of hiking options, check out our list of Yosemite destinations on our website: backpackthesierra.com...also in my signature line.

There are lots and lots of options...and you'll never see everything. I would suggest that if this is your first backpacking trip, you do two things:

1. Test every single piece of equipment, from tent to stove to backpack to boots in your backyard or around town before you count on them working when you are eight miles in from the trailhead.

2. Choose a route that will keep you within easy contact of other hikers or a trailhead, so that if you DO run into a serious problem, you can at least ask for advice.

You might look at a route from Tuolumne Meadows to Yosemite Valley, via either Rafferty Creek and the Merced Canyon, or Cathderal Lakes. Either route would be an easy three day hike, and show you lots of great stuff. And keep you hiking with other backpackers as well. But either would also involve some kind of shuttle from the Valley back up to Tuolumne Meadows to collect your car.

As a single hiker, you probably won't have too much trouble getting a next day permit...and do remember that you will need a bear canister. The rangers won't rent them to you this year...

[AlmostThere]

As a single hiker, you probably won't have too much trouble getting a next day permit...and do remember that you will need a bear canister. The rangers won't rent them to you this year...

We're used to saying "next day permit" but in reality with everything on line, it's 14 days previous to start date permits now. And it's a lottery. They are in fact renting canisters, tho the visitor center hours are limited.

They've changed this multiple times over the past weeks, so definitely email/call and check the website, all three, in case they have changed it all again.

[balzaccom]

Yes--good point, And I had just filed my application for a permit hours before I posted that!