Tahoe-Yosemite Trail

“To make this more reasonable and relaxing, I may consider hiking from Echo Lakes in South Lake Tahoe to Tuolumne Meadows in Yosemite - this will cut out about 30 miles (of which I've already done twice).

This will bring it down to about 155 miles which is much easier to complete in two weeks. The down side is that this is a very beautiful section.

I'll leave it up to those who join me.

Rob”

“I'm still interested in doing the whole 2 week trip, however, if the dates shift to start at the beginning of August I probably will have to drop out.”

“All:

This looks like fun! It is a trip that I would like to do but, like others can't spare 12-14 days. I don't want to skip the nice parts either. Do you think it is possible to do the whole thing but in less time (e.g. 8-9 days)?

What month are you considering?

If I can't find others able to compress the time, I may want to start with your group and then move ahead or like others, bail (if possible).

Steve”

“Auss - glad to hear you're still interested. As long as you're in, others can work it out if they want to join.

What were the exact dates that work for you? I'm somewhat flexible.

trailer - 8-9 days is kicking! I did 165 last year in 10 days, and felt like I went a tad bit too quick. Therefore, I'm not interested in pushing this that quick. Feel free to join us - then move forward if you like. I'm not sure where you're from, but I'd be glad to do food caches for you if we plan ahead. I'm intending to do caches the weekend before the trip.

Rob”

“Robert - the second half of July works well. I live in Seattle so would also need your help in caching food.”

“I'm still a go ,although probably only doing a week or so 50-75 miles total . if I was doing 1/2 of the trip ,which would have the killer views and if we could figure out the easy place along the trail to meet”

“Hello Im from Ohio and have read all messages for this trip. I like how the trip sounds, However i can only spare a week like some of the others on here. Oldog where are u in Indiana? Cincinnati here”

“cinci huh , we were just there a couple weeks ago ,missed the turn off to Adena Trace at Brookville Lake , well I'm from Avon which is west of Indy about 10-12 miles if you decide to do this trip ,lets keep in touch”

“Sounds good oldog. Its hard to get these trips together. Will kept in contact”

“Oldog - I'll have to look into 1 week of the trip. I know the first 50-60 miles, they're beautiful. The problem is where to drop your car off and how to get back. Since I know the first half the best, you'd probably be better off doing that part.

This would be from Meeks Bay in Lake Tahoe to somewhere around Carson Pass on Hwy 88. This entire portion of the trip is part of the Pacific Crest Trail.

This is also the part closest to where I live - so easier to arrange for you. Let me know, bud.

I'll pull up my topos and get you some mileage information.

Rob”

“Robert, That might work for Paige and I as well. If so, maybe we can set up shuttles between the three of us.
T”

“seeing this is your home turf I'll let you do the planning ,do we have a firm date yet, I've sign on for a trip to Idaho some time in July , although I don't thank we have a date set either”

“Auss...

What do you think about July 21/22 to August 5? I'd like to formalize a date so that others may plan accordingly. You're the only one that seems to be interested in the full route at this time, although one friend from Salt Lake is planning on joining.

rob”

“is that Don, it would be good to hike with him again (from salt Lake)”

“Yah oldog, Don is going to try to join us! Hopefully he can make it - he's a great guy to hike with. He's not a bad friend to have around when you're puking your guts out on the trail either, eh!

:)”

“Rob - I won't know for sure if those dates work well for me for maybe another two weeks. Probably best if you plan dates that work best for you and if I can make those same dates then I'll be there. Thanks for checking.

I am still interested in doing the full two weeks, but I also made some other commitments with other people and we're trying to finalise some dates too - which is proving to be more difficult than I'd anticipated !”

“July 21 - August 5

How do these dates work? We could potentially start on July 22 - to allow for those who will be travelling. The nearest airport is either Reno or Sacramento. Either would work fine and I'd be more than willing to make pick-ups at either. If coming in on Fri - Sacramento would be fine. If coming in on Sat - Reno would be better.

Rob”

“I'll shot for Saturday July 21,2007 to Sacramento”

“Oldog,

I talked to Don yesterday - he's going to join us. As soon as Christmas is past, I'll start working on more formal planning.

I'm having problems with my computer and ordered a new software/driver installation disk for my printer. After that, I'll print out the maps and send you some.

Have a great Thanksgiving.

Rob”

“I've got confirmation on dates for something else I committed to which is on July 21/22. So I'm not going to be able to make this trip.

I have a goal of doing one trip a year in the Sierra so I'll be down that way at some point next summer.”

“Hey Rob, let Theresa and I know what your itinerary so we can work somthing out to meet you guys (would be good to finally meet you and to see Olddog again)”

“Paige,

I'm working on it as we speak. I'd like to have some input from you and Theresa as well as Oldog in regards to what section you'd like to hike. I'm obviously going to have to put some miles on to make it in 2 weeks. I'll adjust my schedule accordingly if some are interested in only a week of this - at least so I can spend a few nights, if not 4-5 with the group.

I am planning on intermingling the TYT with the PCT. I don't really want to hike along the road for - what 7-8 miles I believe.

If you want, I'll get my topo maps finished and send you a copy of them.

Would be great to see you, finally ;)

by the way - note the new trail name... !”

“What are you saying Rob,do we need to kick in for your food and gear ,anyway you guys put it together ,I'll be there on the the 21st

Happy NewYear”

“Hey Rob,
Let us know when you have your route finalized. Then Paige and I can figure where we can fit our portion in. My friend Kris may come as well. I'm good for up to ten miles a day at most. Any more than that and I'm no fun. :p”

“I'll have it done by next week.

Oldog... once we get this organized, you may want to communicate with songbyrd and paigefalk. They're doing a week or more of the trail. I'll be blasting quite a few miles, I think you were planning a week, right?”

“sounds fine ,Paige ,looks like Its you and songbyrd and I . Who's picking me up at the airport or do I need a car
Rob is Don doing the fast pack with you or going with us”

“Oldog,
If you fly into Sac I can pick you up.”

“as are plans evolve, and the date gets nearer we can finalize everthing

Rob is the July 21 date to start final”

“OOO, this thread is alive again, yeah!
Songbyrd, hiking ten mile days in the Sierra is an aweful lot like our ten mile days in Ventana. Just imagine the three days we did there then adding on 4-5 more days. You said that was the hardest trip you ever did are you sure you want a repeat that goes on for 4 more days? I was thinking we'd do better at 8 mile days with a ten mile day thrown in as needed. 10-12 mile days are doable it's just not as enjoyable for me for that kind of duration, and I think you will feel the same.
Oldog How long can you hike, Theresa and I can only do a week or so, not sure how'd you get back to the airport if you can't hike 2 weeks with Rob?
SparechangeSend us your topo as soon as you have your route figured out and we'll pick a section that works for us, hopefully hooking up for at least a few nights.”

“Paige,
Your right. Eight sounds good (at the most).”

“Rob, I am thinking the Northern portion would be spectacular, I've always wanted to hike that area. I'll have to look closer at my maps, plus I am not sure exactly which trails are the TYT, I see the PCT on my topo but not the TYT. I am thinking 108 to Tuolumne would be awesome, around 50 miles? I just randomly traced some trails so this could be totally off.
Theresa, how does this sound? It puts us further in the season too so might avoid more snow and ice that way.”

“Paige,
I haven't looked at the maps yet but 50 miles would work for me. That would put us at either 7 or 8 miles a day depending on if we go for 6 or 7 days. I guess we'd need to shuttle a car down to TM?
It'd be great if the 3 of us could get together and look at routes, etc.”

“Hey guys...

For oldog, we'd have to find a way for him to catch up with the two of you to hike from 108 to Tuolumne. If he started with you, I can carpool everyone back. I'm driving to Tahoe and Takara is going to pick me up in Tuolumne. We can gladly bring you back to your cars.

If oldog starts from the beginning, he'll have to figure out transportation perhaps from 108 back to Reno or Sac.

My big concern is getting in enough miles to complete the trip. If I do half of it along, I can try to blast so as to slow down and enjoy the trip with you all.

I still haven't gotten anyone interested in doing the entire trip with me. Perhap an alternative option is just spend a week with you all and spend the other week somewheere else - perhaps in the Sierra south of Yosemite.

Hmmm.. decisions... decisions.

Rob”

“The carpool back sounds great.
I was studying my Foghorn Cal hiking book last night. The route from 108 to TM says its 77 miles and should take 8 days. it's a difficulty of 5 (of 10) and a scenic of 10 (of 10). Eight days would require 9.63 miles a day. Hum
If you decided to just do a week with us we could possibly go in off 395 to the vicinity of Twin Lakes area, head over the rock Island Pass, catching up with the PCT at Seavey Pass then continuing over Benson pass, through Glen Aulin and ending up in the TM. This route best I can add up is 50 miles. We could do this in 6 days (8.34 a day) with a day at each end making it an 8 day total.
I'm open , just trying to get ideas.”

“Hey T, Foghorn Ca has the TYT? I only see the PCT, although the mileage is probably close. I did trace another route on topo that was closer to 50 miles, but It was a random trace. By the way the boot rating is 5 out of 5, not 5 out of 10.
I like your route, I've dreamed of that area also. Sounds like a good alternative if the TYT section is too long.

If Olddog wants to hike with us we can get him at the airport, he doesn't have to worry about transportation as long as he's flexible, which he seems to be.”

“like paige says, I'm flexible .Just let me know when,where ,as far as the days ,I can plan on being there for at least 8 days. Hey sparechange, hope you and Don can hike with us also Songbyrd (scenic 10 of 10) sounds very cool”

“Hey Rob, did you see the Yosemite High Passes Loop trip? That's in the area South of Yosemite. July 1st-6th. Might be right up your alley for your other week. (unless you wanted your two weeks to be consecutive)”

“OOps, My bad 5 of 5 it is for sure. A REAL BUTT KICKER! What am I getting myself into? :D

Paige, I have the 2001-02 addition of the Foghorn book. I only find PCT sections but nothing labeled T TO T. ??

Yep, No problem picking you (Oldog) up and dropping you at the airport.”

“I may be interested in joining for the shorter trip. I'm working on some JMT plans (which take priority right now) but if it falls through or if I can't take that much time off my other favorite option is something in northern Yosemite, and this is shaping up to look like a good trip!”

“Theresa, it'll be a butt kicker but I know you can do it! The Ventana trip was a 5 too, but we'll be doing less miles a day, although the elevation will be higher, we'll probably not be doing as many gains and losses per day too. Good excuse to get in shape beforehand for me. :)
Do you have any Yosemite Maps hanging around your house? The one's you get at the entrance station? It has the route you're proposing, puts it in prospective a bit more.

Rebecca, would be great for you to join us. I'd join ya on the JMT if I didn't just get off that stretch two summers ago.

So question now, do we start on the 21st or 28th? Guess it depends on Rob and his plans. Rob are you out there?”

“did you see the 5 days on the JMT trip, they are hiking the exact stretch you are thinking of.”

“Paige,
I have the Yosemite topo map that shows the trail I proposed. It just doesn't show where to turn off (road name) for Twin Lakes or if there might even be another road and parking somewhere else in the vicinity. The map cuts off on the edge there. I'll be looking at my National Geographic program and my Cal road map to search further.
And again, this is just an option.”

“Two separate trips are sounding enticing - I could even do a road trip back to Glacier ;)

I'll have to get in touch with Fischer (don) and see what his thoughts are. He's considered joining me for the whole thing, but has been out of the country.

I'll write him an e-mail right now - he's checking his mail while on vacation.”

“Glacier road trip.
Don't temp me, I've been thinking of that place sense we left. Paige ,you still have that fuel bottle,I'll buy it this time”

“I was looking at my NG topo program and noticed that just north of Twin Lakes is Buckeye campground and "Buckeye Hot springs" off 395. Now wouldn't it be nice to soak before we start and we could stay the first night at the campground to acclimate. I came up with 53 miles, give or take. Just more ideas.
Boy, There's a lot of switchbacks on that PCT. Guess that's what makes it a 5.”

“Rob Let us know what Don says. And work on the map so we can see where we are going. :)
Oldog Ha, i've used it all up, but I am sure I can find another one laying around. ;)
Theresa That sounds heavenly.”

“I haven't heard back from Don yet... I'll cal him today.”

“Okay guys... Don wrote me an e-mail. He just got back from Australia and New Zealand.

He's more interested in the week-long 8 mile a day trip (for some reason, I knew he would be). So... if there are no protests in regards to anyone joining me for the whole week, I'll go ahead and take 2 weeks, but spend a week with you guys.

Now... we need to change the name of this thread and begin planning a route. I'm going to do some work this evening on it. I'll also review the route you mentioned, Paige.

Rob”

“Paige

Were you referring to 108-Tuolumne Meadows along the PCT? I was following the route and it looks like a blast to me. There are numerous opportunities to hike from base camp each day to get a few more miles in if interested or to get that sunrise/sunset photo.

I mentioned July 21 as a start date to Sam and am willing to stick by it. The concern is the snowpack that early. I've not spent much time in this area in the winter. Obviously, the snow pack right now is relatively non-esistant but it come be a late season. Should we plan it for one week later just to be sure?

Rob”

“ The route from 108 to TM says its 77 miles and should take 8 days. Eight days would require 9.63 miles average a day.
If we did this route maybe we should add a day to keep the milage closer to 8 a day. Nine days would still be an avarage of 8 1/2 miles a day.
Rob, can you bring your maps this weekend so we can look at the routes?”