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End of June: 3 Night trip suggestions?

Posted: Tue Jun 14, 2011 2:19 pm
by vadin
Hello Everyone-

My friends and want to take 3 or 4 night backpacking trip in the Sierras. We want to start sometime in the last week of June. Probably around the 28th or 29th. There are 4 of us - two of us has some experience in the backcountry, but are still relatively inexperienced.

We were thinking of going to Sequoia. We can all do up to 10 mile/day. None of us has any experience in the snow, which we are a little worried about with the weather this year. Can anybody recommend something for us that should be relatively free of winter conditions?

I'm new to this community, and I look forward to your feedback. Thanks in advance.

Re: End of June: 3 Night trip suggestions?

Posted: Tue Jun 14, 2011 2:38 pm
by maverick
Hello Vadin

Welcome to HST!
Please read, thanks: viewtopic.php?f=1&t=4205" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Re: End of June: 3 Night trip suggestions?

Posted: Tue Jun 14, 2011 2:59 pm
by vadin
maverick wrote:Hello Vadin

Welcome to HST!
Please read, thanks: viewtopic.php?f=1&t=4205" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Hello Maverick - thanks for the suggestions and the link.

Here are some more details:
Experience - Level 2
There are 4 of us going on the trip. 2 of us have been on a few backpacking trips, mostly on trails. The other 2 are in good shape, love the hiking on the outdoors, but this will be their first trip in the backcountry.

Terrain - Class 1
None of us have more than Class 1 terrain experience.

Main Interest - Big mountain Scenery, Lakes

We are planning the trip to be 4 Days 3 nights

We can go up to 10 miles/day

Loop is preferred

Yosemite or SEKI are both fine. We looked into Yosemite, but all of the wilderness passes are sold out already for this timeframe. This is why we are now trying to get information about SEKI trips

Our biggest worry is that we don't have much experience in snowy/icy conditions, but this year the snowfall was especially high. We all have committed to this date, so it isn't possible for us to delay the trip.

Thanks again.

Re: End of June: 3 Night trip suggestions?

Posted: Tue Jun 14, 2011 4:28 pm
by AlmostThere
vadin wrote: Terrain - Class 1
None of us have more than Class 1 terrain experience.

Main Interest - Big mountain Scenery, Lakes

We are planning the trip to be 4 Days 3 nights

We can go up to 10 miles/day

Loop is preferred

Yosemite or SEKI are both fine. We looked into Yosemite, but all of the wilderness passes are sold out already for this timeframe. This is why we are now trying to get information about SEKI trips
I would be looking at trails elsewhere if you don't want snow at all. SEKI trails with big mountain scenery and lakes are still going to have snow because they are higher. Roads into Big Meadow are still closed and the higher you go, the more snow there is. At 10 miles/day you would probably be in patchy snow day 1, and solid snow the next day. Other concern should be high water due to heavy ongoing snowmelt - anyone going out right now should be mentally set that they should be ready to turn around if the water crossing isn't possible.

Just because the reservable passes are gone does not mean Yosemite is impossible. You still have walk in permits and abandoned reserved permits to pick up. It's impossible that ALL permits are sold because they always hold back a number of them for handing out the day before.

Check out Hetch Hetchy, or trailheads to Eleanor lake and Kibbie Ridge from the Stanislaus NF side of the region. Snow should be going fast and that's a good early season destination.

Re: End of June: 3 Night trip suggestions?

Posted: Tue Jun 14, 2011 4:33 pm
by rlown
I'd avoid Hetch Hetchy. Everyone will be there.. guess that's great if you like crowds.

I like the Yose walk-in concept.

Re: End of June: 3 Night trip suggestions?

Posted: Tue Jun 14, 2011 4:56 pm
by vadin
AlmostThere wrote:
vadin wrote: Terrain - Class 1
None of us have more than Class 1 terrain experience.

Main Interest - Big mountain Scenery, Lakes

We are planning the trip to be 4 Days 3 nights

We can go up to 10 miles/day

Loop is preferred

Yosemite or SEKI are both fine. We looked into Yosemite, but all of the wilderness passes are sold out already for this timeframe. This is why we are now trying to get information about SEKI trips
I would be looking at trails elsewhere if you don't want snow at all. SEKI trails with big mountain scenery and lakes are still going to have snow because they are higher. Roads into Big Meadow are still closed and the higher you go, the more snow there is. At 10 miles/day you would probably be in patchy snow day 1, and solid snow the next day. Other concern should be high water due to heavy ongoing snowmelt - anyone going out right now should be mentally set that they should be ready to turn around if the water crossing isn't possible.

Just because the reservable passes are gone does not mean Yosemite is impossible. You still have walk in permits and abandoned reserved permits to pick up. It's impossible that ALL permits are sold because they always hold back a number of them for handing out the day before.

Check out Hetch Hetchy, or trailheads to Eleanor lake and Kibbie Ridge from the Stanislaus NF side of the region. Snow should be going fast and that's a good early season destination.
Thanks for the info.

Patchy snow is fine for us. We just don't want to be in a situation where we have to have crampons, axes, or need gear we don't have and unequipped for. Are there any possible trails in SEKI that would fit our criteria if we only did 5-8/miles a day over 3 days in a loop?

How difficult is it to get a walk-up permit in Yosemite the day before? What time do we have to show up to get towards the front of the line?

Much appreciated. :)

Re: End of June: 3 Night trip suggestions?

Posted: Tue Jun 14, 2011 5:10 pm
by maverick
Vandin wrote "Are there any possible trails in SEKI that would fit our criteria if we
only did 5-8/miles a day over 3 days in a loop."

Nope. SEKI is a big park, any loops will take more mileage, and will be to high for you
to avoid the snow yet.

Yosemite permit info: http://www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/wildpermits.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Also since there are 4 of you, you will want to be there before the office open, also
the day your trip starts can be an issue, 28th being a Tuesday, will be easier.