Advice SEKI Road’s End Trip mid June

[grampy]

There was at least one bear box at Ranger Lake in 2019; according to the NPS.gov web page for SEKI, it’s still there (as well as one each at Lost and Seville Lakes)
See this link (under Sugarloaf Valley /Roaring River):
https://www.nps.gov/seki/planyourvisit/bear_box.htm

[Love the Sierra]

The climb up from Lodgepole to Twin Lakes is still a big climb. An easier 4 day loop for someone who hasn't backpacked much would be to start at the Rowell Meadow trailhead in the Sequoia NF between Sequoia NP and the Grant Grove section of Kings Canyon NP. The first day hike over to Seville Lake. Second day up to Ranger Lake and then over Silliman Pass down to Twin Lakes. Third day up over JO Pass to Jenny Lake. Last day back down to Rowell Meadow and the trailhead. My wife and I did this in 3 days in our 60s, but then, we hike all the time. I'm not sure what the permit is called for this area, but you get it from the national park visitor center at Grant Grove. Easier to drive up directly from Fresno to Grant Grove that to navigate through all of Sequoia NP.
-Phil

Hi Phil and thanks to all of you for your input.
I was actually looking at that same loop but the other way, starting from Twin Lakes. Good to hear that it makes much more sense going the other way. However, the permits.... (Thank you grampy)
Baldaccom, I saw your TR on your web site for this route and it looks beautiful! If we could do this in 3 days, that would give us one layover day for exploration. Layover days are always the best days of the trip!
I ALWAYS carry the UrSak Major soft sided bear canister. They are so fantastic. Ours has been field tested by us one night near Shadow Lake in Inyo! The tree was not harmed AT ALL and the bear did not get the food. It was all smushed, but backpacking food is disgusting anyway. We thought it a better outcome than other b-packers who camped up the trail had their canister stolen and spent half a day looking for it and finally having to retrieve it out of a very steep and vegetated canyon!
Anyway, judging by the map on the web site, it looks like hard sided is only reauired around Rae Lakes and Kearsarge and recommended everywhere else so we should be safe with our Ursaks. I have a call in to the SEKI Ranger to confirm and we will see if they call us back.

[TurboHike]

Just an FYI, but the food storage rules for SEKI are different than Inyo. In particular, the Ursak tied to a tree is not a valid food storage method in SEKI. Basically, in SEKI you can use a bear canister, you can use a bear box if you are camping near one, or you can hang your food (counterbalance method). Here is the webpage:

https://www.nps.gov/seki/planyourvisit/bear_bc.htm

Have a fun trip.

[Love the Sierra]

Just an FYI, but the food storage rules for SEKI are different than Inyo. In particular, the Ursak tied to a tree is not a valid food storage method in SEKI. Basically, in SEKI you can use a bear canister, you can use a bear box if you are camping near one, or you can hang your food (counterbalance method). Here is the webpage:

https://www.nps.gov/seki/planyourvisit/bear_bc.htm

Have a fun trip.

Thank you!
I read that and found it funny that they prefer counter balance to UrSak. That is why I had called to confirm. We will have bear boxes at every place t we plan to camp. Deciding if I will buy a canister just for this trip or not. I can always counter balance my ursaks if I am unable, for some reason, to make it to the bear box camp sites.

[TurboHike]

I agree about the Ursak. The rules are fragmented and make very little sense. Ursak is OK in Inyo and Sierra National Forests, but not in SEKI and Yosemite National Parks. However, it IS approved in Denali National Park in Alaska, where the bears and bigger and stronger.

[stevet]

Now for something completely different...what about an eastside trip out of Horseshow Meadow? Day 1 a relatively "easy" over Cottonwood Pass to Chicken Spring Lake. Day 2 another relatively easy day to Soldier Lake. Day 3 over New Army Pass to one of the Cottonwood Lakes or South Fork Lakes. And a Day 4 exit.

The challenge factor is elevation, but day 1 and 2 have little minimal gain/loss. Advantage is the one big climb is on day 3 after some acclimatization and slightly lighter packs.

[Love the Sierra]

@stevet thank you for the suggestion. I was just there in April. It was a short, one night trip due to an incoming storm, but we have been there a lot. Never hiked SEKI ever! I have always tried to avoid the crowds.

[oddtiger]

East lake is very pretty and usually quite. The hike up may get a bit challenging from Road's End, especially when it's hot. It's actually not bad to hike in from east side via Onion Valley, with more options along the route for side trips. Driving to the east side from SoCal is way more pleasant! You may end up with whatever permit you could get during this quota season.

[stevet]

I was responding to the comment in your opening post that your daughter hasn’t been out in awhile and suggesting something somewhat easy.

When the Boy Scouts used to have summer camp at Wolverton (dating myself) overnights included Twin Lakes and Ranger Lakes out and back as mentioned in another post and the Pear Lake to Moose Lake to Alta Meadow loop.

Neither of the above are as easy as the loop out of Horseshoe Mdw. But neither are impossibly hard. The Moose Lake to Alta section in 1968 was trail that now has mostly been reclaimed by nature so that could be more than she’ll want to take on.

[Love the Sierra]

East lake is very pretty and usually quite. The hike up may get a bit challenging from Road's End, especially when it's hot. It's actually not bad to hike in from east side via Onion Valley, with more options along the route for side trips. Driving to the east side from SoCal is way more pleasant! You may end up with whatever permit you could get during this quota season.

I could not find East lake on the map. Do you mean around East Vidette, south of Charlotte Lake? Sorry to be a dumbbell, but could you let me know a big landmark to find it on the map. Like, for example, where in relation to Kearsarge Pass?
Thank you!