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backpackingdad
The High Sierra Camps loop is my top-of-the-bucket list trip. My time is limited by work, so I only have 4 backpacking days.
Background: Basilbop and I have hit the camps innumerable times for many years as guests and then as backpackers. We have done the loop (not including White Wolf) in two days several times, and a
weird lollipop starting at White Wolf and going up the Grand Canyon of the Tuolumne to Glen Aulin proper on day 1, then hitting the Glen Aulin HSC, May Lake HSC and past Sunrise to above Echo Valley Day 2. Then Day 3 we hiked down into Echo Valley, past Merced Lake HSC, and up Lewis Creek, over Vogelsang Pass, past Vogelsang HSC and out via Rafferty Creek to Tuolumne Meadows HSC. Then we drove home to the Bay Area.
Why did we do the two day trips and the three day trip? Because we wanted to. We've taken our time and enjoyed it. We've pushed for long days and enjoyed that too.. It really depends on the individual if they are fit and ready to enjoy the long hauls. I LOVE long hauls and cannot wait to do them again! But I also like short hauls with a lot of leisure time. If backpackingdad is short on time (and I get that), then doing the loops in the number of days he has can be a wonderful way to see the area while leaving minimal trace. I can't say if it's a good or bad idea for him. If he is prepared for multi-thousand foot intervals, it could be a GREAT idea.
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backpackingdad
Plan:
1-acclimate at TM for 24 hours
I agree with Chick-on, going to Glen Aulin is a great idea. Glen Aulin proper is below the Glen Aulin High Sierra Camp. but only by a little bit. Gentle exercise is a GREAT way to acclimate, and sleeping at that altitude will be much easier on your system than at Tuolumne Meadows. Take your time on the relatively short, mostly downhill hike to the Glen. Stay at the HSC if easy to get to for you. it's a lovely hike down and you can get a sense of the land.
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backpackingdad
2-TM to May lake via Glen Aulin and spend nite #1 at May lake (16 miles)
3-May lake to Merced Lake via Sunrise (19 miles), spend nite #2 at Merced
4-Merced to Vogelsang (8 miles), spend nite #3 at Vogelsang
5-Vogelsang to TM (7 miles)
Since you are crossing the road after May Lake, you could bail on the idea if getting to that far was brutal. Because if that was hard, well... it doesn't get easier, let's say. But... don't count on shuttles. Check the schedule. You may have to hitchhike or walk yourself back to Tuolumne meadows - which can be done with trails next to the road, but no backpacking. Leave May early and you can walk yourself back in a day, around 12 miles, relatively gentle uphill after you hit Tenaya Lake.
Basically, have contingency plans in place.
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backpackingdad
My questions are:
1- Is it reasonable to attempt the loop in 3 nights\4 days or is this Too ambitious? My thinking here is that i could shorten the distance by doing TM-->Glen Aulin-->May Lake-->Sunrise-->TM, and do the other half another time.
Depending on
your conditioning, yes, it's entirely reasonable to do the loop in 3 nights, 4 days.
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backpackingdad
3- I dont see any mention of people using Diamox for altitude acclimation-I use it frequently when I go skiing. Anyone with experience using this for a hiking trip?
I've never used Diamox.. If you don't suffer from the side-effects, great! If you need Diamox for this loop... hm. did you use it in Rocky Mountain National Park (RNMP)? Base it on your past similar experiences, I'd say. And try to sleep as low as you can. Glen Aulin and Merced Lake are great for this.
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backpackingdad
4- I have only used a bear canister with a 65L bag-can i fit one comfortably into a 38L bag (trying to go as minimalist as possible)?
Depends on your bear can. And your bear can size could vary based on the length of your trip and the type of food you carry.
I'd say no "standard rental sized" (~600 cu in.) bear can will fit comfortably in a 38 l pack with gear. Not any I've seen, anyway. If you're an ultra-lighter, you might be able to make it work, especially if your food will fit in the BareBoxer Contender. We put food in the Sunrise bear boxes as NQTG mentioned to save weight/space! Plan ahead! And if you ABSOLUTELY will stay in the High Sierra Camps themselves, you could use the communal bear boxes at each camp. However, I would suggest against this. With the potential for long days, I would recommend against forcing yourself into a "must do" scenario. Carry a decent bear can: rent the Wild Ideas Bearikade Weekender or Scout to save space/weight if you really think you want to. You have the time to arrange that. it'll give you space to protect your food, isn't too big. And I carry a 16" custom Bearikade. Always. That gives me options and doesn't weigh much more than the smaller cans. And our chips don't get smushed. I suggest using your 65 Liter pack, if it isn't too heavy. My Osprey Exos 58 liter pack weighs under 3 pounds. I use it as my all-season day pack as well as my all-season backpacking pack. If your 65 liter pack weighs 8 pounds, I can see why you want the 38 liter pack.. but then you need to downsize your can, shorten the duration of the trip and ensure you make the distance. I'd think it'd be nice to have the ability to take more time, if necessary.
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backpackingdad
5- how cold are the nights in the backcountry early-mid Sept?
They can be warm or they can be freezing. I carry a 10 degree quilt and an XTherm all year long. Works for me in summer and in winter and summers when it's like winter. (I change up my sleep clothes based on immediate forecast.)Here's the thing I've learned (both from reading others' experience and my own). LONG days mean
I NEED to sleep well at night to have an enjoyable subsequent LONG day. Sleeping warm and comfy is key. You can do it on crappy sleep, but it may impact your fun factor. YMMV.
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backpackingdad
If some of these have been asked before, please excuse my ignorance. I tried looking up some of these before posting
Really appreciate the expert advice on this.
Mike
Prepare and plan for both the long day scenario and the short-day scenario.. base it on how you feel and how conducive conditions are when you actually get going...
And here's wishing you fun no matter what you end up doing!
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 06/21/2017 10:37PM by JustKeepWalking.