R01/R03 TR: High Sierra Trail - October 2024

[sbennett3705]

Indeed there are several hacks to getting the pawl on the lid of a bearvault to clear the stop on the canister.

I've been using the Chicken Tramper Bear Can Key https://chickentrampergear.com/products/bear-can-key and really enjoying it. It has a short lanyard that sticks to the lid, so it doesn't get lost. Also, I clean the threads and use a little food grade silicon once in a while.

[tomba]

Thank you for the TR. Great first post.

lots of uneven granite stairs, lots of fallen granite rocks on the trail you navigate over or around, there are no "strides" it it s just a repeated series of awkward steps with the help of of your trekking poles. Torture.

I like going cross-country. It frequently involves uneven steps, rocks, etc. While on a trail usually I can go faster, repetitive strides up or especially down (but not on a flat ground) often tire me. Or maybe it is the faster speed that tires me.

You also mention ash between the toes. I wonder, what kind of shoes are you using?

[Wandering Daisy]

Many light-weight trail running shoes and regular hiking shoes that are not waterproof (so they are "breathable") are preferred nowadays even if they let fine dust in. My toes are usually dirty when I do a day of trial walking, especially in the fall when the trail has been beaten up with all the travel, and horse use. There are pros and cons of waterproof/dustproof shoes. I can easily wash off dusty toes when in camp. My gripe with waterproof hiking shoes is that the waterproof lining lumps with use so the longevity of the shoe is reduced.

I understand the role that fires play in wilderness ecosystems, but sorry, no way do I like walking through fire scars. But they are unavoidable, so just put up and get through quickly. One advantage of above-timber high altitude travel is that there are few if any fire scars. If you prefer the more vegetated lower elevations, you are going to have to go through some fire scar, sad as they are. The severe droughts we have had in the last decades also have left a lot of dead trees, even without fires. The Sierra is a large mountain range with a lot of choices of ecosystems. I simply avoid areas I do not like.

Trails are topped with medium sized rocks supposedly to protect the trail from wear and tear. That seems to transfer the wear and tear on the hiker's feet. I really do not like that feature but understand its purpose. Also, there is only so much smoothing a trail can do if on naturally rocky terrain. If your trail is naturally rocky, off-trail travel in that terrain would be similarly rocky. Off trail travel does slow you down and with my creaky old bones and joints, slower travel actually is easier on my body.

Anyway, dabbling in some off-trail travel will give you an idea if that is your cup of tea. I really like it.

[LuckySVT]

Thank you for the TR. Great first post.

You also mention ash between the toes. I wonder, what kind of shoes are you using?

Trail runners, Darn Tough 1/4 hikers, and a coating of anti-chafe cream. Kern River Valley (Moraine Lake to Junction Meadow) was by far the dustiest/hottest section of the trail.

[druid]

Dirty Girl Gaiters are very light (0.7 ounces each according to Outdoor Gear Lab) and have worked well for me to keep dust out of my shoes.

[Harlen]

You made it! Great country, and a pretty cool trail. You did mention the "beautiful walk to Lake Hamilton," so you did enjoy some of the trail. That stark, dry granite country will surely grow on you. I hope you are busy planning your next trip. Cheers, Harlen.

[narc1370]

Sounds like you bit off more than you can chew for a first backpacking trip. At times your trip report seemed like you had a blast, and others it seemed like you were toast and not enjoying it. Although, who am I to judge. My first trip was Mt. Whitney 35 years ago, and I brought a change of socks for every day I was on the trail (and we spent 10 days. do the math). I'm also a little confused why you would choose to do the HST when you don't find granite appealing. Simple research would tell you that you will be above treeline a lot on this trip. Also, if you do continue to backpack, like others, I would recommend the Bearikade. I have both the weekender and the blazer, and they've more than made up for the price in weight and convenience.

A lot of your learning points are just that, learning points from a lack of experience. The more you backpack, the more you will figure out what works for you as far as preventative measures, hydration, calories consumed, map reading and destination. There's a lot of the sierra, so consider lower elevations to get that forest you desire. Good luck and happy trails.

[LuckySVT]

• Sounds like you bit off more than you can chew for a first backpacking trip. At times your trip report seemed like you had a blast, and others it seemed like you were toast and not enjoying it.

• I'm also a little confused why you would choose to do the HST when you don't find granite appealing. Simple research would tell you that you will be above treeline a lot on this trip.

• Also, if you do continue to backpack, like others, I would recommend the Bearikade. I have both the weekender and the blazer, and they've more than made up for the price in weight and convenience.

• There's a lot of the sierra, so consider lower elevations to get that forest you desire. Good luck and happy trails.

• HST in 6-days was definitely ambitious! At times I did have a blast and others I struggled with the altitude and big elevation climbs. The scorching temps did me no favors either! See my takeaways for more honesty, but most importantly bring a 3rd pair of socks!

• As to why the HST - I had a week, I wanted to challenge myself, I wanted to learn, I wanted to see the Sierra, I wanted a well marked trail, I did not need a permit, and its an iconic thru hike.

• Why the Bearikade over the BV500? Similar in exterior & interior dimensions, with only a 8oz weight penalty at 4x the cost. I appreciate the tricks other posted! Just needed to pause, think, and grab my Leuko mini-scissors and voila - open in 5-seconds.

• Plan for next Oct is to stay a bit lower and do the Five Lakes Loop.

[Wandering Daisy]

I agree that the Bearikade is a lot of money for 8 oz. less weight. Check if you can rent a Bearikade at the ranger station. I rented one to see how it worked and then decided I wanted one. It is a long-term investment. Just as important is how it fit inside your pack.

The same cost/benefit applies to all your backpack gear. Most people end up carrying out at least 8 oz of excess food so being more careful with food saves as much if not more and costs nothing. Backpackers who go light carry enough gear and food to be safe (survival) but not necessarily enough to be comfortable all the time. It is pretty individual. As you found out, an item like an extra pair of socks, weighing about 2 oz, is well worth it.

I do not think the HST was necessarily a bad choice. It has lost a bit of its luster given the last few years of fire damage. I mostly avoided doing it as a thru-hike because of the transportation difficulties. I have done all pieces of it, but not in one trip.

Getting a permit is a pain, you will get better at it with practice. Consider Yosemite, which uses a lottery system. Or Emigrant Wilderness which has no quota and you get the permit at a ranger station when you drive there. I am not that fond of post-permit season because it just gets dark too early. Pre-permit works better for me because I am willing and able to deal with snow in exchange for more daylight.

I also write trip reports with an honest description of the difficulties and have received plenty of paternalistic/critical replies. Putting up with some difficulties is part of the whole package of backpacking. Nothing wrong with choosing a challenge as long as you stay safe.

[LuckySVT]

I found the most aggravating aspect of the Bearvault design is fellow campers getting something from the canister, then screwing the lid back down until snug tight. At that point the threads of canister and lid bind against each other, sometimes requiring significant strength and technique to loosen the lid. One time the lid was really stuck, and I had to drizzle soapy water onto the threads to get them loose. The thing is it's not necessary to screw the lid down snug tight, just getting the pawl past the stop will lock the lid. You can watch for this event to occur, or listen for the distinct click sound of the pawl as it passes the stop. One thing that can be done to reduce the friction between lid and canister threads is lubricating the threads; I prefer spray-on silicone or paraffin wax.

Ed - appreciate the pros & cons of the Bearikade compared to the BV500.

One great thing about the BV is that its clear and you can find what you want without emptying the entire thing!

I also never locked my BV but on two nights that I went without a bearbox (Precipice & Guitar Lake) - when I placed it in my pack I screwed the lid on just a few turns so if I needed something I could just leave it in my pack and grab rather than disassemble my Tetris like packing.