High Sierra Topix

Since my birthday falls in early August, I usually manage to get out on the trail to celebrate.

This year, my youngest daughter was in town, which gave us even more impetus to see some wonderful places over the course of a few days. We spent one night at our cabin above Sonora.

The next day we drove over Sonora Pass and by Mono Lake before going over Tioga Pass into Yosemite. Once there, we hiked Pothole Dome and then cross-countried over to Tuloumne River for some R&R. The following day we spent hiking up the Dana Fork on a sensational hike up to Spillway Lake, followed by bathing in Tenaya Lake. And then we took a third day to clamber up Mt. Hoffman fromMay Lake, for some of the best views in the whole park.

I also do a bunch of volunteer work in the Sierra, and so on the final day we joined a crew to help restore Ackerman Meadow.

All of this possible because I did manage to get a reservation at the newly restored Crane Flat Campground.

For the full story, including the photo log of all the days, start here: https://www.backpackthesierra.com/post/ ... adventures

Happy birthday. Mine too falls in early August (8/2). Sounds like a fun trip. Hoffman was one of the first peaks I got up with my family when my dad would take us up--I'm thinking 1967 or 1968 or something. We repeated that climb over the years taking various visiting friends and relatives up there. Spillway is indeed a nice place too.

My celebration, originally planned to go 8/12 to 8/19 or so did not go as planned as I aborted a long off trail solo trip owing to feeling overly tired (old?) and then chronically killing my urge to hike further with my finest fishing experience---you could say it was neverending giant brookies. So my trip got truncated to 8/12 to 8/15 and could be viewed as a failure, or seen more positively as my best High Sierra fishing trip I've done.

One way or another, the Sierra provides some of the best birthdays for those of us who treasure our time up there.

Happy b-day to you both. My old friend who I used to go with to the mountains with from 1985-2015 had a bday in August and we always celebrate by searching for the next state record brook trout. We always had a great time and even though we never caught that Brookie over 9 lbs 12 oz, we always managed some nice fish. The hunt was the most satisfying thing plus on his bday we would put a few cold beers down. Now that I am almost 60 years and no one go with it I miss those days. I do enjoy reading both of your TR's and thanks so much for sharing. I did catch my fish of the year so far and if I don't catch another one this year that's ok. A 21 inch rainbow from Grant lake isn't too bad(which I let go).

Texan(Mike)

For clarification, I do go on day hikes by myself, but no more overnighters by myself. Can't find anyone to do an overnighter anymore. I limit my day hike to 8 miles round trip too.

Texan(Mike)

Yeah--I need to do a trip that just focuses on fishing. I usually go with my wife, and at best get in an hour of fishing every once in a while. But backpacking with my wife is still the most fun I have...