Need suggestions for a first backpacking trip! April 04, 2013 09:05AM | Registered: 11 years ago Posts: 26 |
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Re: Need suggestions for a first backpacking trip! April 05, 2013 08:25AM | Registered: 11 years ago Posts: 26 |
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Re: Need suggestions for a first backpacking trip! April 05, 2013 09:26AM | Registered: 11 years ago Posts: 26 |
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Re: Need suggestions for a first backpacking trip! April 05, 2013 08:12PM | Registered: 11 years ago Posts: 26 |
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Royalist
I see no-one has mentioned bear canisters (they are mandatory in Yosemite). For two people x 6 nights backpacking, you would need two bear canisters. Even with two canisters, there is an art to fitting that much food in. Showing up at the park gate and renting canisters would mean that you have zero experience packing supplies into canisters, and thus no clear idea what will/won't fit, not to mention a concern over whether you can fit the canisters into your packs. It doesn't help that the canisters the NPS rents out (Garcia) are just about the heaviest and least capacious ones around (they are, however, very robust, and relatively inexpensive). The only 100% guaranteed solution to this is to buy or borrow a Garcia canister in advance, so you can try it out (you can rent a second one). That said, I'd incline to buy a Bear Vault BV500 in advance and anticipate being able to get quite a bit less into a rented Garcia.
FWIW, my bear canister ratings in order of preference are:
1. Bearikade (very expensive, but the best if you can afford it)
2. Bear Vault (big lid, reasonably light, lid can be fiddly, best budget pick)
3. Garcia & Counter Assault (a Garcia knock-off) (see above, I really do not recommend these)
Be aware that the bear canister manufacturers tend to exaggerate how many days' supplies you can fit in (or maybe I just eat bulky food).
Another concern is getting used to carrying a much heavier pack than you are used to. You may find your pack is very uncomfortable, maybe even unbearably so; you don't want to find that out on a long trip.
Bas
Hey that's Great! I did know we needed them (I've been doing a lot of research!) But that's great to have some good recommendations. I was thinking about renting, but now that you said they are so heavy it seems like it will be worth just getting them ourselves.
Re: Need suggestions for a first backpacking trip! April 05, 2013 08:27PM | Registered: 11 years ago Posts: 26 |
Re: Need suggestions for a first backpacking trip! April 05, 2013 08:17PM | Registered: 11 years ago Posts: 26 |
Re: Need suggestions for a first backpacking trip! April 05, 2013 08:30PM | Registered: 11 years ago Posts: 26 |
Re: Need suggestions for a first backpacking trip! April 05, 2013 04:04PM | Moderator Registered: 15 years ago Posts: 2,321 |
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Iwantmyyosemite
Hey there, Thanks for the information! I agree certainly with what you are saying. I don't see it as scolding at all, more looking at for me! After all, I want this to be a fun and enjoyable experience. Not something where I'm thinking "Oh thank God that's over!" We live in Pennsylvania. Not such a high elevation, but we have enough areas around here to do some hikes and camp for a weekend before we go out there.
I do still want to do that many days for certain, but maybe split it up into two areas of the park?
Would you have any suggestions for hikes to places we may stay put in for two nights maybe and do more leisurely wondering around during the day and maybe just one or two real hikes in between (including half dome and something else?) I'm not stuck on backpacking to someplace new every day. I'm really not concerned with seeing everything, more concerned with being able to get some solitude and really feel myself being grounded there in nature.
Also, does anyone know if it's safe to set up and leave stuff at Camp 4 for a day hike up to Yosemite Point?
Re: Need suggestions for a first backpacking trip! April 05, 2013 05:16PM | Registered: 12 years ago Posts: 194 |
Re: Need suggestions for a first backpacking trip! April 05, 2013 09:48AM | Registered: 13 years ago Posts: 201 |
Re: Need suggestions for a first backpacking trip! April 05, 2013 03:09PM | Registered: 12 years ago Posts: 194 |
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Iwantmyyosemite
I was wondering though what the Little Yosemite Campground is like?
Re: Need suggestions for a first backpacking trip! April 05, 2013 08:09PM | Registered: 11 years ago Posts: 26 |
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Re: Need suggestions for a first backpacking trip! April 06, 2013 01:06PM | Moderator Registered: 15 years ago Posts: 1,882 |
Re: Need suggestions for a first backpacking trip! April 06, 2013 04:02PM | Registered: 11 years ago Posts: 26 |
Re: Need suggestions for a first backpacking trip! April 06, 2013 06:26PM | Registered: 11 years ago Posts: 26 |
Re: Need suggestions for a first backpacking trip! April 06, 2013 07:32PM | Registered: 13 years ago Posts: 201 |
Re: Need suggestions for a first backpacking trip! April 06, 2013 07:39PM | Registered: 11 years ago Posts: 26 |
Re: Need suggestions for a first backpacking trip! April 09, 2013 12:52AM | Registered: 13 years ago Posts: 261 |
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KatyAnderson
This rule I believe is to prevent people from applying for an obscure trail head, going up that one a ways and then turning back...
Re: Need suggestions for a first backpacking trip! April 09, 2013 06:15AM | Registered: 11 years ago Posts: 26 |
Re: Need suggestions for a first backpacking trip! April 06, 2013 02:47PM | Registered: 12 years ago Posts: 194 |
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Iwantmyyosemite
Nevada Falls, camp somewhere there
Re: Need suggestions for a first backpacking trip! April 06, 2013 03:58PM | Registered: 11 years ago Posts: 26 |
Re: Need suggestions for a first backpacking trip! April 07, 2013 12:17PM | Registered: 12 years ago Posts: 194 |
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Iwantmyyosemite
Do you have any suggestions as how to make finding a good camp site easier?
Re: Need suggestions for a first backpacking trip! April 06, 2013 02:53PM | Registered: 12 years ago Posts: 194 |
Re: Need suggestions for a first backpacking trip! April 06, 2013 03:53PM | Registered: 11 years ago Posts: 26 |
Re: Need suggestions for a first backpacking trip! April 07, 2013 11:02AM | Moderator Registered: 15 years ago Posts: 1,882 |
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Iwantmyyosemite
That's great advice! I was thinking the same thing about buying some things beforehand and trying them out to see what we like!
Re: Need suggestions for a first backpacking trip! April 08, 2013 11:41AM | Registered: 13 years ago Posts: 254 |
Re: Need suggestions for a first backpacking trip! April 08, 2013 02:21PM | Registered: 11 years ago Posts: 26 |
Re: Need suggestions for a first backpacking trip! April 08, 2013 05:13PM | Registered: 13 years ago Posts: 1,986 |
Re: Need suggestions for a first backpacking trip! April 08, 2013 05:53PM | Registered: 13 years ago Posts: 623 |
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parklover
Make sure you take some time to take in the other Yosemite sights and activities. If you are in Wawona go and see Tom Bopp play at the the Wawona Hotel. He plays vintage music and some of the songs are about Yosemite. He is also a fountain of information on all aspects of Yosemite and it's history.
Re: Need suggestions for a first backpacking trip! April 08, 2013 06:05PM | Registered: 11 years ago Posts: 26 |
Re: Need suggestions for a first backpacking trip! April 08, 2013 06:34PM | Registered: 13 years ago Posts: 1,986 |
Re: Need suggestions for a first backpacking trip! April 09, 2013 01:09PM | Moderator Registered: 15 years ago Posts: 1,882 |
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Hitech
For "backpack" food I HIGHLY recommend the PIG ( //www.packitgourmet.com/ ). My wife is very picky about the taste of her food and she loved most everything we tried. They use a good combination of spices that really make the food taste good. We tried several at home and decided that we could order anything else without worry. I have not been disappointed since. I've even converted my brother who though all "backpack" food tastes like cardboard. With the PIG it helps if you like southwestern style food (my wife does), but it is not necessary. And I have found that their serving sizes are very accurate.
If you purchase your gear be very careful about weight. Saving a few ozs on every piece of gear can add up. If you spend all day hiking and are only "in camp" long enough to eat and sleep you will find you need less gear. I would recommend tarp tent tents ( www.tarptent.com ) for a lightweight tent. Make sure you have a water filter. I would recommend a sawyer squeeze ( http://www.amazon.com/Sawyer-SP131-PointOne-Squeeze-Pouches/dp/B005EHPVQW ). Also, purchase you backpacks last. Once you have all your gear, know what food you are taking you can then get a backpack that can carry it, but isn't overkill for what you are carrying. You need to be sure you can carry the bear canisters with the pack also. If you want to rent them I would make a cardboard tube the size of the canister and insure you can fit everything in it (I didn't and highly regretted not doing it).
Glacier Point -> Illilouette is nice and short and easy. Only a few hours of hiking. Illilouette -> LYV is longer with elevation changes (both up and down). If you are in good shape it's easy enough, but more than twice as much effort as the previous day. And you have to make it to at least LYV before you can camp. Once you get started you can always change your mind. You don't have to stick you your planned itinerary. After the first day, just go where you want to! And most of all, have fun.
Re: Need suggestions for a first backpacking trip! April 09, 2013 01:20PM | Registered: 13 years ago Posts: 254 |
Re: Need suggestions for a first backpacking trip! April 09, 2013 01:47PM | Registered: 11 years ago Posts: 26 |
Re: Need suggestions for a first backpacking trip! April 13, 2013 09:13PM | Registered: 11 years ago Posts: 26 |
Re: Need suggestions for a first backpacking trip! April 13, 2013 10:09PM | Registered: 15 years ago Posts: 4,173 |
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Iwantmyyosemite
Okay guys.. So what's the deal with water filtration in yosemite? I want to just get the gravity platypus but I'm worried about it not treating for viruses?? Especially with that mouse virus that broke out.. I know it was in a localized area but I'm still unsure,:. Saw the steripen works for viruses but it didn't get good reviews on rei :/
Re: Need suggestions for a first backpacking trip! April 14, 2013 08:36PM | Registered: 13 years ago Posts: 1,351 |
Re: Need suggestions for a first backpacking trip! April 14, 2013 10:28PM | Registered: 15 years ago Posts: 4,173 |
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ttilley
Recently bought the Sawyer to try out for snow camping, I'm tired of fishing out twig bits from the snow I'm melting before using the Steripen. Sadly, it seems likely to be several months before I take it snow camping where runoff isn't available - sounds pretty cool but haven't used it.
Re: Need suggestions for a first backpacking trip! April 14, 2013 10:51PM | Registered: 15 years ago Posts: 4,173 |
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ttilley
I'm not a microbiologist, but personally I have no idea how First Need gets away with calling their filter protection against viruses when no other similar products do so - its a filter and nothing else, it has a pore size consistent with other products on the market. Its big drawback if you actually need filtration (e.g.: glacial waters for sediment reasons, or skanky waters for aesthetic reasons) is that it has no field-maintainability. Sierra waters are neither sediment-laden nor skanky.
Re: Need suggestions for a first backpacking trip! April 14, 2013 08:49PM | Registered: 11 years ago Posts: 26 |
Re: Need suggestions for a first backpacking trip! April 14, 2013 09:47PM | Registered: 13 years ago Posts: 1,986 |
Re: Need suggestions for a first backpacking trip! April 15, 2013 07:07AM | Registered: 13 years ago Posts: 1,351 |
Re: Need suggestions for a first backpacking trip! April 13, 2013 11:15PM | Registered: 13 years ago Posts: 261 |
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Iwantmyyosemite
Especially with that mouse virus that broke out.. I know it was in a localized area but I'm still unsure,:
Re: Need suggestions for a first backpacking trip! April 14, 2013 04:53PM | Admin Registered: 15 years ago Posts: 17,102 |
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buster
Hanta Virus (the mouse virus you referred to) is transmitted through the air, not via water. Basically avoid and don't touch dead mice, mouse dens, mouse droppings or urine and you'll be fine.
Re: Need suggestions for a first backpacking trip! April 14, 2013 05:52PM | Registered: 11 years ago Posts: 26 |
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eeek
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buster
Hanta Virus (the mouse virus you referred to) is transmitted through the air, not via water. Basically avoid and don't touch dead mice, mouse dens, mouse droppings or urine and you'll be fine.
And don't sleep with you head next to dried mouse urine.
Re: Need suggestions for a first backpacking trip! April 14, 2013 06:24PM | Registered: 13 years ago Posts: 254 |
Re: Need suggestions for a first backpacking trip! April 14, 2013 05:56PM | Registered: 11 years ago Posts: 26 |
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buster
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Iwantmyyosemite
Especially with that mouse virus that broke out.. I know it was in a localized area but I'm still unsure,:
Hanta Virus (the mouse virus you referred to) is transmitted through the air, not via water. Basically avoid and don't touch dead mice, mouse dens, mouse droppings or urine and you'll be fine.
Re: Need suggestions for a first backpacking trip! April 09, 2013 09:00AM | Registered: 15 years ago Posts: 384 |