High Sierra Topix

Hi,
Onion Valley > West Vidette > Over Deerhorn Pass to Lake Reflection > East Lake > Bubbs Creek Area > back to Onion Valley.

We have 5 days on the trail. Probably 1st week of September 2015. I was wondering if anyone had any input on how we should split the trip up each day and potential camp areas. Any other advice would be much appreciated as well!

Experience:
Level 2- Some backpacking trips, using trails
Level 3- Numerous backpacking trips, some x-country travel

Terrain Comfort:
- Class 1 terrain/trail hiking
- Class 2 terrain/pass/x-country. (We are aware that Deerhorn pass is semi difficult).

Layovers:
Possibly 1 day where we have minimal hiking and just looking to lounge around that day. Probably at Lake Reflection.

thanks guys!

Twelve31

Hi Twelve31,

Welcome to HST! Please read: viewtopic.php?f=1&t=4205" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

maverick wrote:Hi Twelve31,

Welcome to HST! Please read: viewtopic.php?f=1&t=4205" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Thank you. Edited my post to include some of that info!

What daily mileage is group comfy with? Will your group be acclimated? Are you
looking for solitude, fishing, peak bagging, and /or photography opportunities?
Answer to all of these will dictate the answers to your inquiry Twelve31.

maverick wrote:What daily mileage is group comfy with? Will your group be acclimated? Are you
looking for solitude, fishing, peak bagging, and /or photography opportunities?
Answer to all of these will dictate the answers to your inquiry Twelve31.

Mileage that we are comfy with - 8 to 12 per day

Solitude yes!!!! Fishing yes! photography yes!

this pic shows the loop of the trip but we will be coming in from the East Onion Valley instead of the west...

Would recommend your first night at Kearsarge Lakes, and your second
at Vidette Lakes, just as Bill did, and continue following his route. Would
stay at either Vidette or Charlotte Lake the last night. You will have
company on the Bubb's Creek Trail, the JMT, and Kearsarge Pass sections,
but solitude at Vidette Lakes, Reflection Lake, and most likely at East Lake.

Thanks Maverick!

I was wondering about the 1st night. I couldn't really gauge how far in it was to Vidette as far as mileage.

So:
Day 1 - OV to Kearsarge Lake.
Day 2 - KL to Vidette
Day 3 - Vidette to Lake Reflection
Day 4 - LR out past East Lake and camp somewhere in Bubbs Creek area?
Day 5 - out to OV.

Does that sound doable or is it possible on Day 4 just to head up to East Lake and then out on day 5? I'm having trouble gauging the mileage from East Lake to Onion Valley. Is that too far for one day? The path you are saying to go is backwards from what Bill did? Is that easier concerning Deerhorn Saddle?

Approx 5 1/2 miles from KL to VL, and EL to OV is 14 miles. No, it is the same route
Bill used, up Vidette, over DP, then down to RL and EL.

OK great. Thanks a lot for the info! Much clearer now

One other question, Maverick.

If we follow this route and camp at these locations, do see any issue with using hammocks? All of these seem like they aren't above the tree line. Just curious. Don't want to only pack a hammock and need a tent if ya know what I mean...