anyone know of a good bp'g loop in Yosem ite NP?

“I am heading to California this year for a very special trip. I want to include a backpacking overnighter in Yosemite as part of the trip.

I'd like it to be around 20-22 miles.

Day 1 10 miles
Day 2 10 miles
day 3 1-2 miles

something like that.

Anyone know of a loop that would meet those perameters and be hella scenic?

pls provide beta :) !!!

muchos gracias!”

“Hella scenic is a definite must!”

“Scenic in Yosemite?? :)

My fist thought was the Matterhorn area at the north-east corner of Yosemite (Hoover Wilderness). I've tried twice in early June and I've never been able to do the full trip. If you go July/August, you should have no problem.

Here's my photos/trip "journal": The Backcountry: Crown Lake”

“well, I know Yosemite is hella scenic. But I was wondering what the most hella scenic 20 mile loop with some rugged aspects in Yosemite would be. Those pics are perty sweet hikin mike!”

“Hike up the Mist Trail to Little Yosemite Valley, and climb the back side of Half Dome the next day. This is a must do.




last edited: 5/15/07 5:26:54 PM”

“Cathedral Lakes wouldn't be a bad loop. You can see my photos here http://www.flickr.com/photos/jeremyhays/sets/72157594290619894/

Next time I go I'm going to do Mono Lake.


last edited: 5/15/07 5:33:19 PM”

“for a longer jaunt, do a loop in the Clark range.”

“awesome pic, Dub!”

“that is a sweet pic there dubness!!

thanks IB! et all.

I got a map tonight, so tomorrow I plan to look at some options.

word”

“Do you know about the shuttles in Yosemite/ Opens up your options since your loop can be completed with a shuttle.

Hoover Wilderness (no shuttles there) is one of my all-time favorites. Great pics, Mike!”

“Shuttle from the Valley to Touloumne Meadows (there are several stops that would work along the Tioga Pass Road) on the tour bus for $15. Hike down to Yosemite Valley and snag Half Dome along the way.
last edited: 5/16/07 10:10:56 AM”

“From Backpacker Mag, Dec 2006:

from Mono Village trailhead at Twin Lakes, out of Bridgeport:
hike to mule pass,
drop into upper Piute Creek at 11 miles
hike over Burro pass, descend Matterhorn Canyon to the PCT,
follow the PCT south for 5 rugged miles, ascend along Spiller Creek
cross unnamed pass ESE of Matterhorn Peak
drop into horse Canyon 34 miles after starting
end up back at mono village.
37 miles total loop

Clark Range Loop, 44.8 miles
start at Chiquito pass trailhead, hike to Chiquito Pass to Moraine Meadows
To Ottoway lakes, Red Peak Pass, upper Ottoway Lakes.
Descend into basin north of Triple Divide Peak, and ford triple peak creek,
ascend post Peak Pass, and 11 miles stretch of forest to meadow south of Fernandez pass. Cross Fernandexz pass, drop 3 miles to Moraine Meadows, and on to trailhead.”

“ooh good info, everyone! thanks!”

“here is an idea I have. Looks to be about 25 miles on the map and it's a loop.

starting out of Tuolumne Meadows on Tioga Road and hike west on the JMT to Little Yosemite Valley and camp either at Moraine Dome or Merced Lake. Next day hike to Vogelsang and camp. The final day, hike to the PCT/JMT and hike back to Tuolumne Meadows.

Anyone ever do a loop like that before?

Do you have to camp in certain areas?”

“oops, that's like forty some miles...

back to the drawing errrr map.”

“Earth - My suggestion was not too much different than your last idea except you hike out to Yosemite Valley via the Mist Trail. Toulumne Meadows and the Valley are connected by a shuttle.”

“Do you know about permits and trail quotas out here?”

“We did the Toulumne Meadows to Cathedral Lakes to Half Dome to Backpackers Village to the Valley then hitchhiked the 140+ miles back to the car. I think it was around 33 miles? Great trail.”

“I've heard little bits. Is it complicated?

Once I established a plan, I was going to call to try and get a permit.”

“I'm overweight and did okay, it was tough though, especially 6000ft downhill...really works the calves.”

“Pretty much all the permit/quota info is online on the NPS site, including the quotas and the reservable spaces remaining. It can take a lot of clicking to dig it out. All the THs have quotas with some spaces reserved (I think it's 60%) and the rest 'first come first served.' The permit dictates the day you leave and your first night's camping spot. After that, you're free to go where you want.

A permit allows you to spend the night before in the backpackers' campground - a big plus since car camping sites are usually filled months in advance. One strategy is to take whatever permit is available, thereby getting a night in the backpackers's campground so you can arrive at the permit office before they open the next morning and queue up for the permit you really want.”

“there is a plan in the Smokies, Mt. Sterling, where you descend or climb 5000 feet in 6 miles. That's longer than a descent I made in the Rockies.”

“There's no good hiking west of the Rocky Mtns - don't you know that?

;)”

“A friend of mine did a great hike from Yosemite Valley, to some high country lakes around peaks like Clouds Rest, and LeConte comes to mind. That country is awesome, and would allow you to hike the Mist trail, and maybe do Half Dome.”

“Any loop that includes a stop at Clouds Rest will be hella scenic!”

“Make it hella... hella... hella...
aye... aye... aye...”

“ENS!
Are you tagging this on the back of that Mt Rainer trip??? Man, that is gonna be on cool trip fer sure. I'm gonna keep track of this as I have been wanting to do a Yosemite trip for a while now!!
See ya later.
Randall”

“You should do Hetch Hetchy. Awesome views of Yosemites Twin. Do the loop. Head out to Rancheria Falls; up through TillTill Valley; around Vernon Lake down through Beehive back to O'Shaughnessy Dam. This is about 28 miles round trip. You can do it the other way but there is quite a bit of uphill to Vernon Lake.”

“Sorry ENS, I don't mean to hijack your thread.

Does anyone know where there's a gear store near Yosemite? My cousin is flying out in two weeks and needs to find someplace to stop and get stove fuel (MSR canister).
Thanks”

“about every town between his airport and the valley will have a store that sells them. There are probably stores in the valley that sell them also. Where is he flying in to?”

“He's flying into San Francisco.”

“Bumping this up for different season info. March/April still real snowy? I have crampons, and I rent Snowshoes. I'm starting to put together my 3-4 day trip that I'm tacking onto a business trip to Fresno.

I have to figure out how to pack 1 bag for business and hiking. I guess I can carryon my pack with sleeping bag, down jacket, and pad.”

“Check out HighSierraTopix. There is an old report or two from a season or so ago. The owner, Eric lives in Fresno area.”

“Lakes would be frozen over. Passes snowed in. High avalanche danger. Potential blizzards. In short, yes, still in full winter.

If I were you, Opie, I would just do day hikes in the Valley and surrounding area. If Tioga Pass is open, you could drive through the park and over to 395, which is the backside of the Eastern Sierra. There, you could visit Mono Lake, hit a natural hot spring or two.

Anyway, it's up to you, but you'll likely need full winter gear for mtn. backpacking. The Valley may be thawed, depending on snowfall. Not trying to dissuade, it would just be a really challenging trip. I think you'd see more dayhiking and driving around.”