High Sierra Topix

I second the previous post. I did my first solo backpack trip, which was also my first "I planned it rather than tagging along" trip in that area (up lyell canyon to jxn with Ireland creek the first night, fletcher lake near vogelsang the second night, out raferty creek trail) and felt comfortable the whole way, despite being fairly nervous going in. I found the whole high sierra camp experience to be a bit of an off-putting zoo, but that's just my opinion. In any case, anywhere near any of the camps will be plenty of "real" campers as well.

Also reminds me of a comment that my mom, who's still backpacking in her 60s, has made several times: "once I stay in the camps, I'll never be able to go back to carrying my own gear, so I'm not doing it 'til I absolutely have to"

Planning a hiking trip this summer (first one). I am very last minute (not a good thing). I need to get a backcountry pass. I plan on going in August. Any suggestions? Is it hard to get a backcountry pass at the last minute? Wanted to hike to Volsang, but can always change plans.

We definately don't plan on camping at the HSC but since this area will be new for us I was wondering what facilities they left there over winter. We'll take a look and photos but will be somewhere away from the troden path when camping. Water, solitude and views are what we're looking for.

Wandering Daisy wrote:I am not sure why you want to camp at one of the High Sierra Camps if they are closed. In fact I am not sure why anyone would camp there unless you have booked a good dinner! There are so many beautiful places to camp that are not so over-run with people. You are required to have a bear cannister anyway, so the use of the bear boxes are really not needed. I find the Sierra High Camps really dusty, dirty and run down by Fall.

I was wondering one thing though...

How do you get the big grin off your face when you leave this incredible place??

On the hike from (or near) Vogelsang to Merced Lake area would you recommend taking the Fletcher Creek route or the Lewis Creek route? Both seem to have their pros and cons.

Vidalia wrote:On the hike from (or near) Vogelsang to Merced Lake area would you recommend taking the Fletcher Creek route or the Lewis Creek route? Both seem to have their pros and cons.

The view from Vogelsang pass looking down the Lewis creek drainage is to die for. One of the best in the Sierra in my opinion. So, I would hike up to the pass on your "off" day, take in the view, and the next day hike down the Fletcher creek trail. The Lewis creek trail is steep and hard on the knees.

Vidalia wrote:On the hike from (or near) Vogelsang to Merced Lake area would you recommend taking the Fletcher Creek route or the Lewis Creek route? Both seem to have their pros and cons.

Guess it depends on how you are feeling that day-

Up?... the route over Vogelsang Pass is the harder of the two, maybe a mile or so longer, and gains another ~ 700 ft in elevation. This trip offers first a chance to bag Vogelsang Peak...BTW, easy and a nice view of Half Dome from the top...Maybe a 1-hour side-trip, up and back...(leave the packs just before the pass.) The pass itself is amazing... Agree yes, maybe a bit steep down until Bernice - (Fishing?...I usually take this route in order to catch the evening rise/spend the night), and next day then followed by a few rather easy downhill miles... intermittent canyons of shaded forest and lush, big chunk granite…prime country leading to the two trails again rejoining.

Or Down?... Meander through the slab- maze that is Boothe...proceed/staying on the main trail, through the greenest of all green meadows, avoiding Emeric's talus field trail until the end... just atop the waterslide, cross over...good place to have lunch, that knob guarding over the exit of Emeric.

FYI, There are a few Sierra places that I can always shut my eyes anytime and be there instantly. Here is one of those – this trail passes through miles of the most amazing Manzanita forest as you make your way down the gorge. Depending on conditions, but especially in the springtime, the scrub forest here takes on an almost "Alice in Wonderland" aura, a patina...a labyrinth of 10-foot high purple pretzels... strong, like the sinews on a greyhound...winding down and through burnt orange twisted spines, menacing and impenetrable arteries of wood...
All topped by that oriental electric-green leaf...cool little red berries too…
Just fricking amazing!

Anyway, the worst of what both these two trails share comes all too soon enough. Just ahead are your trail dues – time to pay up again…Miles (2,000 feet) of the most disgusting, too-small-cobblestoned, mule-dusted, trail-biscuit-ed, short and steep, knee-wrenching, ill-conceived switchbacks ever devised… (Oh…that never seem to end)…heading down to the Merced below.

markskor wrote:Anyway, the worst of what both these two trails share comes all too soon enough. Just ahead are your trail dues – time to pay up again…Miles (2,000 feet) of the most disgusting, too-small-cobblestoned, mule-dusted, trail-biscuit-ed, short and steep, knee-wrenching, ill-conceived switchbacks ever devised… (Oh…that never seem to end)…heading down to the Merced below.

So, um, marskor.... what exactly don't you like about this part of the trail??

Thanks for the info, we're getting into our prep mode and have started ramping up the exercise so we can enjoy the walk. From the photos and descriptions I have read this area reminds me of a hike in the Wind River Range (Wyoming) a couple years back. In fact there is a place we hiked called the Titcomb Basin that is considered the "Yosemite of the Rockies". Quite a beautiful area and one that I will go back to one day.

Looking at the maps over the weekend we are leaning towards making first camp at/near Ireland Lake and then heading directly up and over to Vogelsang area. Have any suggestions for campsites at Ireland? We'll probably camp at Townsley or Fletcher Lakes after Ireland Lake. Any opinions?

[quote="Vidalia]
Looking at the maps over the weekend we are leaning towards making first camp at/near Ireland Lake and then heading directly up and over to Vogelsang area. Have any suggestions for campsites at Ireland? We'll probably camp at Townsley or Fletcher Lakes after Ireland Lake. Any opinions?[/quote]
Of the two, Fletcher is a flatter area with a lot of well worn camp sites. I don't remember that meany sites at Townsley. Both are beautiful areas.

wouldn't the Ireland-->townsley/fletcher day be extremely short and basically downhill?

I don't want to speak with too much authority, because it's been a long time since I was there, but with that caveat, here I go....

If it were me, I'd either take it easy the first day and camp in lyell canyon, saving the push for day 2. (Lyell canyon is an ideal day 1 in that sense-- lets you get your legs without having to really work hard.) Or, if I were going to push up high on Day 1, I'd just bite the bullet and get all the way to the vogelsang area, and spend day two as a pack-less layover exploring lakes or climbing peaks. I don't *think* it would be much more effort to go to vogelsang than ireland-- and the last little bit extra would be dowhill through the meadows in the afternoon light, which would probably inspire you with a second wind!