Advice for gaining cross country experience on Pine Creek to Cottonwood hike?

[Wandering Daisy]

The 7-mile day takes into account average elevation gain in the mountains, time spent with navigation, time spent micro route-finding, stream crossings etc. Experienced off-trail backpacker can do more, but if just starting, working from class 1 towards class 2 passes, regardless of making 20 miles on trails, off-trail is just a different experience needing different skills, which I assume are still being learned. If you recall, Rogue (one of our past members who has done more off-trail travel than perhaps anyone else) scoffed at the 7-mile idea until he too became inclined to agree with it. In easy off trail country like the upper Kern, you could do more. If going through Ionian Basin, 7 miles is a good goal. If the fellow who posted can do more, more power to him.

A few other observations. Granite Park is at its best early season. A quick run through in August may not be as rewarding. Descending Piute Creek in August will be very hot. If you are inclined for swims, go for it on this stretch! In fact, no reason you cannot jump in water every day of the trip. Think about using the SHR via Knapsack Col, Potluck Pass and Cirque Pass to get to Palisades Lake if you want to beat the heat. Cirque Pass is the most difficult part- so read about it and determine if that is what you are up to. It is a more direct route.

You have to consider the entire route. If you try to do too much the first week, then you may have to cut back on the second part, which includes some really superior options if you had a day to spare.

As far as resupply your permit does not require you to do it at a specific date if the permit is for the entire trip. You can camp at Long Lake or the first lake on the Chocolate Lake loop and be within an hour of South Lake trailhead. Plenty of time to go get supplies, shower, and get back, even go up the trail a ways.

[Fixiedawolf]

I am confused about your Part 1, day 4. Wanda Pass is the pass between Davis Lakes and Ionian Basin (Chasm Lake). Are you sure that is the pass mean? Wanda Pass does not access McGee Lakes.

Wandering Daisy, so many thanks for your careful read of my potential route and detailed replies - this very much helps me prioritize!

Indeed, I have the wrong pass name, and mean Davis Lakes Pass. I thought I had read reports of heading north from that saddle to access McGee Lakes being easier than Pass 11720 above Davis Lakes but clearly need to revisit my sources. No intentions of Ionian Basin this time around, for all the reasons you mention! I very much hope to make it one day though once I have a solid sense of my own daily mileage capacity off trail - which I hope to gain on this very trip

For now, I'm trying to stick to one night cross-country excursions that loop back to my on-trail comfort zone. Sounds like Granite Park might only be worth the detour if I decide to go through Bear Lakes basin. I will add the Palisade lakes pass details to my notes for the trip paying especially attention to Cirque. Given how much I enjoyed the upper Kern area, Wright Lakes seems like a good call over Junction pass, with priority for an extra day allocated to that end of the second leg. Of course, all of this is contingent on the weather and how I'm feeling both about cross country travel and the alone time.

Thanks for clarifying the resupply policy - I'm more used to the long-distance permits that allow 24 hours off trail and the Inyo NF site simply says that JMT hikers can "exit for a reasonable period of time necessary for resupply" which is pretty vague.

[Fixiedawolf]

some of my favorite memories have been long days of hiking through the high country, with the associated rush of endorphins inherent to a full days worth of exercise and movement

@frozenintime This line in particular very much resonates for me - many thanks for the perspective here! The beauty of a strong community is the range of responses from which we can find our own way. It is very good to know both that 7 cross-country miles is something I can reasonably assume to make in a day if all goes well, while simultaneously making sure I have done the research needed for extra adventures should I find I'm able and wanting to do more.

[Fixiedawolf]

P.S. when you did the modified HST Loop, did you head back over Avalanch Pass after crossing Harrison or Forester Pass? Just wondering as that is how I got back to my car after doing a loop starting on the HST in 2016. (Not what I would recommend doing now.)

@Lumbergh21 Thanks for the advice, especially leaving Darwin Bench for a Lamark col trip. I moved to Texas for work a few years back (my poor west coast soul!) and can't seem to resist trying to pack ALL my Sierra dreams into this one trip.

My HST trip was lighter on the loop and somewhat spontaneous rather than well researched in advance. I followed the HST east to Wallace Creek. Then went North on the PCT and up to Lake South America. From there, cross country to the unnamed lake that seems to be called Casper here. Explored the lower bits of Thunder basin, then down the Kern and back out the HST. I've been meaning to write a TR for a long time - and just might finally have to get around to doing so!

[Wandering Daisy]

The best thing to do is to call Inyo FS office regarding resupply. I have been denied overnight stays on the same permit, so I guess it was my assumption that the 24-hour was only for JMT. They have become stricter over the years due to a lot of thru-hikers "overstaying" their permit. I really am not 100% sure how this all plays out for 2022 regulations. I know there were some changes. Also check and be sure the free shuttle is still running from South Lake to Bishop and what the hours are. Fortunately, you can camp quite close to the trailhead giving you plenty of time to do resupply chores and get back to your tent. Locations of showers are posted at the FS office in Bishop. I just go to the public swimming pool, take a shower there. It is very close to the FS office. A big grocery store is also close by. Another option is mail a resupply box to Parchers. Not sure if they require an overnight stay to do this.

[Gogd]

When one sets an agenda that has time constraints, and they are falling off schedule, the natural inclination is to push harder. If the schedule already pushes at the margins of one's physical limitations, pushing harder to keep on track is the first error in a cascade of events that turns a trip into a misadventure or worse, depending on if the consequence is merely exhaustion or significant injuries arising from exhaustion. Therefore it behooves the trekker to plan at 50% endurance limits. Especially if this is their first concerted effort at XC trekking. One only need review SAR reports to observe a high percentage of BC rescues occurred because folks got hurt, the result of being exhausted and clumsy.

It is a wild misrepresentation to state "many people" cover 20 miles/days over any terrain. Many people also summit Everest, but relative to the sporting community, both long distance hikers and Everest climbers are a tiny fraction of those who backpack. Traveling twenty miles day after day after day, regardless if done on trail or XC, is beyond the weekend warrior with a UL pack, and beyond those not in special forces condition to carry a heavier pack. Even folks who cycle century bike rides, run marathons and swim mile distances are challenged to cover 20 miles daily while schlepping a pack for days on end.

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Cast my vote for the WD's XC tour from Bishop Pass to Palisades Lakes. Very high quality scenery, and not too difficult of passes to cross. If you have time, Mt. Sill is a great summit to visit. The passes are very problematic, however the route is still a physical challenge, because you'll be doing it with a full canister of food, and the entire segment is at high altitude.

Ed