High Sierra Topix

Congrats on the promotion Tom!!!!
I'm thinking of something different. Of course the usual High Sierra trips. But...Several years ago, about 15 I think, I did a backpack in the Ventana. I went to an area that had been my favorite and it was totally changed and destroyed...discovered. I never went back. Previously I would do 2-3 early season trips in the Yolla Bolly's and the Ventana before the High Sierra opened up. No, those areas don't have the grandeur of the High Sierra...but the wildflowers are in a class all by themselves. And the stars still shine overhead there. So...I think it's time to revisit. I was thinking 3rd week of April for China Camp to Pine Valley....the lupine are always at their best then...so thick you can smell them for a long ways! Any other suggestions...an hr from Santa Cruz say....mostly just overnighters to start with. But I'd like to do 2-3 again.

We're in the middle of buying a house right now so most of my end-of-year dreaming time has been spent dreaming about painting and refinishing floors as much as it has the sierra. I usually have my summer planned by January 1 - definitely falling behind this year. At least I have this and other threads to troll for ideas.

One trip rolling around in the back of my mind is some kind of 7-9 day loop out of mineral king. Mr. calipidder has never been back in there and he wants to join me on one of my week long trips this year. Only criteria is that there is good fishing and we get to pass by Precipice Lake (he's never seen it in person, just via my photos and trip reports. If I go by there another year without him he'd kill me). Probably up into 9 Lakes Basin. Need to sit down and figure it out - suggestions welcome. I've only been in that area when passing through on the HST, one time making a loop that came out via Rattlesnake Canyon over Franklin Pass. Looking forward to exploring the less populated terrain.

I have 6 weeks of vacation to play with so I'll probably be sitting down soon to figure out where else to do.

ndwoods wrote:Congrats on the promotion Tom!!!!

Thanks!

Previously I would do 2-3 early season trips in the Yolla Bolly's and the Ventana before the High Sierra opened up. No, those areas don't have the grandeur of the High Sierra...but the wildflowers are in a class all by themselves. And the stars still shine overhead there. So...I think it's time to revisit.

Always kind of wondered about the Yolla Bollys. Haven't been up there yet, largely because (as you say) they don't have the grandeur of the Sierra...but the wildflowers might make it worth the trip. Got any recommended trips/destinations there? (Passenger vehicle, so no 4-wheel trailheads--if that makes a difference.)

I love the Yolla Bollys! I love the Marbles and the Trinity Alps as well! My son had altitude sickness so bad he almost died once in the Sierra. For many years we had to backpack the lower elevations and we made the most of it! We learned to snow camp in the yolla bollys and every year we did several trips in those northern wild areas. That was however 25+ years ago.... So things could have changed. But, even still...one favorite in the Yolla Bollys was not on the west side, but on the east side out of Corning. It is a little loop that goes by long lake and then square lake. In between the two lakes is a ridge that is lovely flat hard pack sand that is dry of snow early season! Gary would sunbathe on the ridge while the kids and dogs and I would slide down the snow covered slopes on either side. At each lake there are spots you can camp with views over the whole valley below and ranging from Mt Shasta to Mt Lassen. One night Gary and I sat up in our bags propped up against a big tree from midnight til 3am...while the kids slumbered on nearby. Across the valley was the most incredible lightning storm (clear skies over our heads) that literally ranged from Shasta to Lassen. We saw bolts of lightning, sheet lightning and multiple bolts in that storm continuously. It was probably the most "Ah..., no AWESTRUCK" moment we have ever had backpacking...and we've been backpacking way too many years to mention here. Those northern mountains actually were part of the Sierra many many years ago...and gradually got separated. Thus, they have many of the same granite outcroppings and flora and fauna as the Sierra. Need I say more?

oldranger wrote:Whoa Fellas!

This is a thread about next summers plans! Not about a few punk kids whining about turning 50. Take it from someone eligible for social security--it doesn't get any easier! Just do it!

Mike

maybe this will help some of us at that 50's turning point put things in perspective
http://videos.sacbee.com/vmix_hosted_ap ... id=2293952" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Hey! I'm 57, wife is 56. We did over 100 miles with packs last summer, and another 100 on day hikes. And I also logged 5500 miles on a road bike.

Now that the kids are grown and out of the house, we have more time for this kind of stuff, and we love it! Embrace it!

Planning a 10-day hike with my best friend in Sequoia NP, starting from Wolverton, at the end of July & early August. We've never hiked in SEKI, so I'm having a blast pouring over maps and online trip reports, trying to come up with an "ultimate" itinerary. We both love off-trail hiking, but neither of us is too crazy about long steep slopes of loose talus. Cross-country travel in the Kaweah Basin area seems to involve an inordinate amount of that, judging by others' trip reports. Oh well. We'll figure it out...

I'm also planning to take some lengthier solo hikes than I've done previously. I hiked over Isberg Pass last season, on the boundary between Sierra National Forest and Yosemite NP. Ended up going off trail to spend an afternoon at a beautiful unnamed lake. But I was frustrated to not have enough time off work to go a lot farther. I'd like to go off trail toward the SW side of Mt. Lyell and explore the myriad lakes, streams, meadows and cirques that I've seen on the map!

I'm also thinking about making another solo attempt at a ski ascent/descent of Mt. Shasta. Tried it about 12 - 13 years ago and had a great time, but weather was moving in and I had to retreat. I'll have to get in a lot better shape before I try that, though (speaking of knees not being what they used to).

I've been with my current employer long enough now to get an additional week of vacation time, so I'm going to make the most of it! Woo-hoo!

Plan some good trips! Read my stuff on "The Fishing Hole" or communicate with giantbrookie. I've written about lots of good place and should triple them before summer arrives and write me some replies.

I've been learning from this board for a long time now and decided it was time to post.

I'm planning a JMT/HST hybrid hike this September.
Plan now is to leave Tuolumne on or about Aug 29th and exit Wolverton Creek at the end of the High Sierra Trail on or about Sept 18th. I'll follow the JMT until the Lake South America junction. Leave the JMT and spend a night at LSA. I've heard this is a beautiful area so maybe a layover here
Then head down the Kern to the High Sierra Trail and follow it through to Panther Gap/Wolverton. I'll resupply at MTR and carry a lot of food to make the extra miles of the HST.
I've never done the JMT but have done Whitney several times (including a planned dayhike with my Mom this July) so have no issue skipping this part of the JMT. I'd rather see more of the Sierra and finish my aborted HST trip of 2005.
I'd love some ideas for favorite/less popular campspots through the trip. I will have a loose itenerary and campspots in mind each night, but will also keep it free enough to stop at a great spot or shorten/extend a day if the mood strikes.

I've heard that the Lake South America trail is no longer maintained. I've never seen the area so wondering if this is a concern or is it still findable enough?

Thanks all...
Bryan

bugsdad wrote: I've heard that the Lake South America trail is no longer maintained. I've never seen the area so wondering if this is a concern or is it still findable enough?
Thanks all...
Bryan

The headwaters of the Kern is indeed a great place to hike around. I don't know the state of the LSA trail spur, but I can tell you that hiking off trail in that area is very mild and easy if you need to do that (and if you don't mind a bit of off trail travel).