Trip Advice - Sierra High Route, DP to TM
Posted: Wed Aug 10, 2011 12:04 am
Hi all,
I'm about 3 weeks away(Aug 31) from a planned excursion from Devils Postpile to Tuolumne Meadows via the SHR. I have some specific questions which I hope the community here can comment on and i'm open to any other relevant advice that people care to share.
The Plan:
Who: Myself and a friend. Decent physical condition but not uber-fitness fanatics. Late 30's
Experience Level: Regular backpacking trips for both of us since high school, primarily in Emigrant Wilderness and Yosemite. Level 3 as described in the forums here. Some cross-country travel and navigation. Moderate experience on shale/talus and snow(Shasta 2x and other minor snow crossings). A handful of peaks climbed over the years, nothing very technical and i'd say up to a moderate class 3 as I understand the ratings. Half Dome, Clouds Rest, Tenaya Peak, Shasta, Levitt, Crown, etc.
5 trail days; estimated distance 40-44 miles.
I'm into photography, my friend is into fishing but i think we'll be mostly hiking. I am excited to see the Minarets up close though and hope to return with a few keepers.
I've read the Roper book, browsed a lot of information on the web. For those that are interested, onthetrail.org has a nice set of maps and information on the SHR(no, i'm not affiliated with the site )
My specific questions are these:
1. I plan to do a fly over with my dad and his Piper in the next week or two to get a visual on the snow conditions. Absent this information, should we expect to encounter difficult or extensive snow areas on this route? If so, we will add an ice axe to our pack(we have learned and practiced self arrest although I'm rusty)
2. Is our timeline reasonable? I see the section between 1000 island lake and through Bench Canyon as being very difficult and time consuming, both due to the Xcountry travel and the elevation/terrain.
3. We plan to leave a car at TM and arrange a drop off at DP or catch the shuttle. Any comments on how the shuttle works? We plan to sleep at elevation the day prior to our departure and we can drive into the park and catch the shuttle to DP in the morning. However, if the shuttle doesn't reach DP until mid-day or afternoon on our day 1, then I'd like to make other arrangements.
3. How is the fishing at the various lakes?
4. Has anyone here been through this route yet in 2011? If so, any comments?
5. My wife would like me to purchase and take a SPOT. I think it would be neat to have the breadcrmb feature that can be added to the SPOT subscription but it is pricey. Are there other similar emergency beacon options? I"m inclined to take one for her peace of mind.
We are permitted for entry on the Minaret Lake trailhead. We plan to stay the first night near Minaret Lake.
I'm sure I've missed something but hopefully it will come up in the discussion. I just finished reading Shattered Air by Bob Madgic and I would highly recommend it to the group, not only as a fascinating story but for the information regarding lightning contained within. Honestly, the lightning is most concerning to me. I've been in several rough lightning storms, but never stuck above tree line in exposed conditions.
Thanks for the help.
Mark P
http://www.markpetersphoto.com" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
I'm about 3 weeks away(Aug 31) from a planned excursion from Devils Postpile to Tuolumne Meadows via the SHR. I have some specific questions which I hope the community here can comment on and i'm open to any other relevant advice that people care to share.
The Plan:
Who: Myself and a friend. Decent physical condition but not uber-fitness fanatics. Late 30's
Experience Level: Regular backpacking trips for both of us since high school, primarily in Emigrant Wilderness and Yosemite. Level 3 as described in the forums here. Some cross-country travel and navigation. Moderate experience on shale/talus and snow(Shasta 2x and other minor snow crossings). A handful of peaks climbed over the years, nothing very technical and i'd say up to a moderate class 3 as I understand the ratings. Half Dome, Clouds Rest, Tenaya Peak, Shasta, Levitt, Crown, etc.
5 trail days; estimated distance 40-44 miles.
I'm into photography, my friend is into fishing but i think we'll be mostly hiking. I am excited to see the Minarets up close though and hope to return with a few keepers.
I've read the Roper book, browsed a lot of information on the web. For those that are interested, onthetrail.org has a nice set of maps and information on the SHR(no, i'm not affiliated with the site )
My specific questions are these:
1. I plan to do a fly over with my dad and his Piper in the next week or two to get a visual on the snow conditions. Absent this information, should we expect to encounter difficult or extensive snow areas on this route? If so, we will add an ice axe to our pack(we have learned and practiced self arrest although I'm rusty)
2. Is our timeline reasonable? I see the section between 1000 island lake and through Bench Canyon as being very difficult and time consuming, both due to the Xcountry travel and the elevation/terrain.
3. We plan to leave a car at TM and arrange a drop off at DP or catch the shuttle. Any comments on how the shuttle works? We plan to sleep at elevation the day prior to our departure and we can drive into the park and catch the shuttle to DP in the morning. However, if the shuttle doesn't reach DP until mid-day or afternoon on our day 1, then I'd like to make other arrangements.
3. How is the fishing at the various lakes?
4. Has anyone here been through this route yet in 2011? If so, any comments?
5. My wife would like me to purchase and take a SPOT. I think it would be neat to have the breadcrmb feature that can be added to the SPOT subscription but it is pricey. Are there other similar emergency beacon options? I"m inclined to take one for her peace of mind.
We are permitted for entry on the Minaret Lake trailhead. We plan to stay the first night near Minaret Lake.
I'm sure I've missed something but hopefully it will come up in the discussion. I just finished reading Shattered Air by Bob Madgic and I would highly recommend it to the group, not only as a fascinating story but for the information regarding lightning contained within. Honestly, the lightning is most concerning to me. I've been in several rough lightning storms, but never stuck above tree line in exposed conditions.
Thanks for the help.
Mark P
http://www.markpetersphoto.com" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;