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120-180 mile hike, alternatives to JMT, HST, Big SEKI?
Posted: Tue Mar 01, 2016 1:03 am
by powderhound
Can anyone recommend a good 120-180 mile hike in the Sierra for August of this year? I only have about 14 days max (12 would make logistics a lot easier for me) to go backpacking this summer. I did the JMT 3 years ago, the High Sierra Trail 2 years ago, and the Big SEKI loop last summer. All were incredible, and I would love to do the JMT again this year, but 14 days is cutting it pretty close for me (16 days would be perfect at my pace). Also I'm not sure if I waited too long to apply for permits. Any suggestions? I'm really excited to get out there this summer with how much snow and water the Sierra will have. Thanks!
Re: 120-180 mile hike, alternatives to JMT, HST, Big SEKI?
Posted: Tue Mar 01, 2016 10:13 am
by cslaght
Something from Cedar Grove in Kings Canyon and heading North from there comes to mind. Though you'd probably be repeating a lot of the JMT from there. Off trail travel? There's a lot of good options from there if you feel comfortable with that.
Re: 120-180 mile hike, alternatives to JMT, HST, Big SEKI?
Posted: Tue Mar 01, 2016 10:28 am
by oldranger
Several loops available that could involve Emigrant, Hoover, Northern Yosemite.
Mike
Re: 120-180 mile hike, alternatives to JMT, HST, Big SEKI?
Posted: Tue Mar 01, 2016 11:03 am
by markskor
You could do the Tahoe - Yosemite trail, but...
As you are now indeed experienced (no longer a newbie), maybe it's time to graduate - get off the popular, well-publicized, bucket-list routes and construct your own personal itinerary. Take a page out of Rogue's playbook.
Look at your TOPO; do some homework. Decide on a series of places that you want to visit, and string them together...50, 80, 120 miles long...can be all trail too. FYI, There are lots of good options Sierra and many of the trails don't see 50+ hikers each day...IMHO, much better hiking. Get off the freeways...maybe even try some easy off-trail work?
BTW, you could easily do (have done) a 120 mile route just through Yosemite, starting out at any variety of still "easy to obtain permit" trail heads.
Re: 120-180 mile hike, alternatives to JMT, HST, Big SEKI?
Posted: Tue Mar 01, 2016 1:33 pm
by maverick
If you really want to do the JMT, just start from Tuolumne Meadows instead and exit via Horseshoe Meadow or supple us the following information requested in this attached thread, and we can then recommend a trip based on your experience.
viewtopic.php?f=1&t=4205
Re: 120-180 mile hike, alternatives to JMT, HST, Big SEKI?
Posted: Tue Mar 01, 2016 2:26 pm
by Tom_H
oldranger wrote:Several loops available that could involve Emigrant, Hoover, Northern Yosemite.
Mike
markskor wrote:You could do the Tahoe - Yosemite trail.
This will give you a "big picture" of some possibilities in the north half of the Sierra (excluding Trinity). This map includes the TRT, the Tahoe-Yosemite Trail, as well as an alternative parallel route (you can turn those into a big loop) as well as a Hoover-Emigrant loop. There is also a loop around Desolation.
http://caltopo.com/m/086R