Suggest a 4-6 Day Loop for my wife and I

[samkochel1974]

Hello all!

My wife and I live in Ventura CA. We have hiked the back of Half-Dome, Angel's in Zion and camped at Kalalau Beach on Kauai. So we're good to good at Level 3.

What I am looking for is a 4-6 (preferably 4-5) day loop, not Tuolumne Meadows (we've been there) that is going for more beauty and isolation and nothing too strenuous. We can handle above tree line, and a decent 11,000 pass, but mostly beauty and isolation would be the key here, in that order. I'd like to do it this year in July, but I don't know how hard it will be to get a pass? I came here for suggestions. Also, by beauty in order: meadows and flowers, lakes, panoramas, etc.. in that order. This trip is mostly for her and those are her things!

Any addental information would be helpful too, like where do we start/park, etc...
Thanks so much for sharing.

Sam Kochel

[c9h13no3]

In June? How do you feel about snow?

[balzaccom]

June will be snowy. In fact, the Tioga Road may not be even open until sometime in June.

Later on the summer? He loop up Rafferty Creek or Lyell to Vogelsang, then down Lewis Creek and up Fletcher Creek and home again.

[samkochel1974]

Thanks c913no3,

I didn't realize it would be that snowy. In the past all my sierra backpacking trips were planned by others and other trips like half-dome and Angel's landing didn't have know as a concern (Angel's did, but it was fine and we brought microspikes). My wife and I thought maybe July then. I am looking into your suggestion and seeing what I think. Thanks again,

Sam

[Lenier]

September is the new July this year

[Wandering Daisy]

Sorry, but I forgot what "Level 3" includes. Your other examples were all on trails. Isolation will usually mean off-trail travel and good navigation skills.

"Not too strenuous" is a bit vague. Can you give daily elevation gains and miles that you consider acceptable?

[Lumbergh21]

Sorry, but I forgot what "Level 3" includes. Your other examples were all on trails. Isolation will usually mean off-trail travel and good navigation skills.

"Not too strenuous" is a bit vague. Can you give daily elevation gains and miles that you consider acceptable?

Level 3 means comfortable with some off-trail hiking (or something like that). I had to look it up myself, as I had forgotten, even though that's what I entered in my profile.

I'll second, what does strenuous mean to you? I used to lead day hikes and backpacking trips, and I found out from one of the regulars that what I described as easy to moderate hikes were being called death marches, all be it with beautiful scenery. Some people would call 10 miles with 2,500 feet of elevation gain in a day strenuous, while others knock that out by 10 AM. Just need to know how many miles you are looking at for this 4 to 6 day trip before making a suggestion.

[zacjust32]

https://www.highsierratopix.com/communi ... php?t=4205

What level of backpacking experience do you have?
Level 1- Minimal hiking
Level 2- Some backpacking trips, using trails
Level 3- Numerous backpacking trips, some x-country travel
Level 4- Comfortable with trail and/or x-country travel


What terrain are you comfortable/uncomfortable with?
- Class 1 terrain/trail hiking
- Class 2 terrain/pass/x-country
- Class 3 terrain/pass/x-country
- River crossings
- Snow travel/Glacier crossings

[SSSdave]

This record snow pack summer, there won't be much high country free of snow by early July. Join the rest of us by changing your dates to at least August.

[samkochel1974]

I was looking at the Evolution Loop, but when would it even be passable? Too much snow...? Too much water...?