High Sierra Topix

Flamingo wrote: ↑Mon Jun 15, 2020 12:16 pm Hi @hisdudeness47

> how packed does this loop really get?
I've done this loop several times (and variations of it). You will almost certainly encounter other groups along the trail, but I think solitude is easy to find. If you venture off the main route--even like 1/4 mile--you'll probably be totally alone.

>How are the options for camping away from the main trail?
The options are almost infinite. The landscape is wide open along this route, and you can easily walk away from the trail and find isolated camping.

SSSdave wrote: ↑Mon Jun 15, 2020 7:42 pm 98% of backpackers camp within 200 yards of trails, popular use routes, peakbagging routes, and lake edges. In fact that is so ridiculous that recreation dot gov only has lake names for most wilderness permit itinerary destinations as though that is all visitors seem to be interested in. And many of them likewise after camping in such locations ever bother to venture away from trails and use routes after they have made camp except if they take a rare rest day. That leaves vast areas empty where one might walk in late summer and not only not see others but rather no other footprints accumulated over whole summers. In any case, it is true many trail routes do have narrow choke points where terrain provides few camping options. On that loop, such is the case at Loch Levn Lake 3 miles up the trail or where the trail from Le Conte Canyon switchbacks up towards Dusy Basin, however it is easy to avoid having an itinerary needing to camp in such zones.

One of the surest ways to locate such empty places even near trails is to climb up on terrain a bit above trails as when groups do look for places to camp out of sight of trails, they invariably look within no more than 50 feet visibly uphill of trails and more commonly downhill despite hiking miles with serious up verticals. An example of that strategy even works at the most popular areas like famed Evolution Lake. Three of us camped at the little pond at ~10915 north of the outlet maybe 70 feet vertical and 500 feet horizontally from the heavily traveled PCT/JMT and found no one had yet camped there all summer. Better yet climb up the 500 feet from the trail up to Darwin Bench and camp well away from the main lake where the use trail routes, well west on the bench. Use a 7.5' topo and Google Earth to preview what may be possible

kpeter wrote: ↑Mon Jun 15, 2020 7:26 pm Whether you can find solitude will depend almost entirely on how quickly you wish to do the loop. If you want to do it in a speedy fashion, you will not have the time required to leave the trail and seek out destinations a bit off the beaten track. If you allow yourself plenty of time, you can afford to spend part of each day leaving the main trail and finding camp (and sights!) away from the crowds.

I found the Tyee Lakes part of my complete N/S loop to be the best for solitude--probably because so few people include them in the loop. Anywhere along the JMT will be lots of folk. I find it best to adjust expectations and think of hiking there as an enjoyable social experience. It is fun to chat with through hikers for example. In Dusy Basin and Humphreys Basin you can certainly find solitude--but only if you arrange to camp in each place and allow a while to get off the main trail.