High Sierra Topix

So, I have very recently decided to mix things up and resign from my job to hike the PCT.

Due to my late start and some other reasons, I'm going to start at Cottonwood Pass instead of Mexico. My first stretch will be 160 miles to Mammoth, and it'll be my first time on a lot of that part of the JMT so I'm very excited to get this trip going.

What is your itinerary?
I'm starting on June 5th, and I anticipate the first stretch taking around 9 days. I'm not really going to bother planning too far in advance, but I am going to try to time things so that I'm in the Bend area around the first week of August so my wife can visit me there for our 10 year anniversary.

Is Callie coming?
Nope. I'm not really interested in using the service dog loophole, and doing this whole trail with a dog is probably not in their best interest. She will be hiking the 3 Sisters Wilderness stretch with me and Riss during that Bend visit though.

Are you brining your photo gear?
No. I'm trying to streamline my approach and go as light as possible. I'll be taking photos with my Iphone 5S.

Updates on the trail?
I'll try to post in here occasionally, especially during the Sierra stretch to provide condition updates. If you want more, then I'll probably be posting updates and pictures on the CaliTrails Facebook page.

I hope to see some of you while I'm out there, and I hope I can stay on the trail.

When do you think you will be in the 1000 Is Lake and Tuolumne area? Some HST members, Hobbes and Rockroad, are coming to the HST Meetup from the 1000 Is Lakes area, as may others, so if timed right you all could do a mini meetup, possible get some supplies too.

I roughly plan to be in Mammoth for a night or two around 6/13. That would have me passing through TI around 6/14 and Tuolomne around 6/16ish.

I roughly plan to be in Mammoth for a night or two around 6/15. That would have me passing through TI around 6/16 and Tuolomne around 6/18ish.

Thanks for the info, but that will be 10 days to early.

I hope to see some of you while I'm out there, and I hope I can stay on the trail.

Hopefully others along your route will be able to meet you, maybe if you give a rough out line on the dates and locations you plan to camp from SEKI to Yosemite would be useful.

Here's a rough itinerary for the Sierra Section. Since I have no set timeframe I'm going to try to feel things out and go with the flow. I'll have enough food in my Bear Can for 10+ days as I never have much appetite on Sierra trips. I'd say this is best case scenario outside of the extra day in Mammoth.

Campsite:
6/5: Crabtree
6/6: Center Basin trail intersection
6/7: Wood Creek
6/8: Palisade Lakes
6/9: Evolution Basin
6/10: Marie Lake
6/11: Chief Lake
6/12: Mammoth
6/13: Mammoth
6/14: Island Pass
6/15: Tuolumne
??

Here's a rough itinerary for the Sierra Section. Since I have no set timeframe I'm going to try to feel things out and go with the flow. I'll have enough food in my Bear Can for 10+ days as I never have much appetite on Sierra trips. I'd say this is best case scenario outside of the extra day in Mammoth.

What's the longest you have been out for Brian? Sooner or later that mountain appetite kicks in, especially on thru hikes, where you rack up the miles and your body will always be in a calorie deficit.

8 days is my longest trip out there, with a couple other weeklong trips in the mix. I've never gathered an appetite on any of them. I expect my mountain hunger will kick in as I'm exiting Yosemite and my food drops/purchases will reflect that. I'll be able to refill in Mammoth to help things out too.

Also, I'll be day hiking to Matlock Lake on 6/3 and Cottonwood Lakes on 6/4 with Riss and Callie before I start the backpacking part of the trip... in case anyone will be in the area.

Everyone's kicks in at different times, it also depends on energy output, mine usually kicks in on day 6-7, but that was while doing 28-30 mile days.
viewtopic.php?f=26&t=4198&p=25101&hilit ... ger#p25097

I will probably have enough food after the first stretch to hike to Tuolumne without resupplying. I might be way off base though. The advantage of the Sierra is the fact that I have researched pretty much every trail at some point. I'm well aware of every option to deviate from my plan. Once I'm north of Hoover I'll be learning on the fly which I'm looking forward to.