Where to go Fourth of July, 2019
Posted: Thu Jun 20, 2019 4:48 pm
Hey HST!
I'm looking for recommendations for a backpacking trip over the Fourth of July week this year. It's a bit of a difficult request, I know. I'm planning on taking the full week off, giving me 9 days for transportation and hiking. I'm in the Bay Area, but willing to drive up to a full day, although I have a bias for closer to home. I'd like to hike 30-35 miles per full day assuming elevation change on par with the JMT, for a total between 200 and 300 miles. Last summer I did the JMT during that week. I'm leaning towards doing something different this year, and it looks like conditions may not be ideal in the High Sierra by early July this year. I'm also open to doing 2 or 3 shorter hikes as well, with some driving in between. Does anyone have any suggestions or comments on any of the options I've considered below?
Full list of questions recommended by HST:
Backpacking experience: level 4
Terrain: comfortable up to class 3 XCountry, and river and snow crossings, but would prefer to keep it somewhat tame this trip as I'll be solo.
Main interest: Big mountain scenery, lakes, forests, photography in that order
How many days/nights: 9 days from the Bay Area, happy to drive a but (this trip doesn't have to be in the Sierra).
How many miles did you want to do a day: 30-35 no layovers
Experience at elevation: yes, not concerned about altitude sickness
Route logistics: no out-and-backs please, couple probably make a point-to-point work
Paritcular area of the Sierra: anywhere that's not too inundated by snow :-) SEKI high country would be preferred, but probably isn't too feasible.
Experience in the Sierra Nevada: yes, lots, all over Emigrant, Yosemite, some in Ansel Adams / John Muir Wilderness. JMT in 7 days last year, 6 days ambling around SEKI last fall.
Dog: no
Here are some of the options I've thought about thus far:
Tahoe Rim Trail to Tahoe-Yosemite Trail (290 miles): I'm currently leaning towards this option, as it meets most of my constraints and might? be mostly melted out by early July. I'm mostly curious if there are other options that are a bit more scenic and remote.
JMT/ Big SEKI Loop (220 miles): As I said, I did the JMT last year, and it's currently unclear how conditions will be.
Sierra High Route / Southern Sierra High Route / King's Canyon High Basin Route / Yosemite High Route: Main concerns are snow (moreso than JMT) and tackling a largely off-trail route solo. These options may be best saved for later this summer.
A couple of hikes in Washington, like the Wonderland Trail, PCT Section J, Alpine Lakes Grand Traverse, or something in North Cascades. I'm not as familiar with the Cascades, so I don't know when they're in hiking season or where the good stuff is.
Uinta Highline Trail: A bit of a drive for an 80 mile point-to-point / 160 mile yo-yo. Also don't know how conditions will be here in early July. Could conceivably be paired with something else in the desert or the Winds, but that's a bit of a drive.
Collegiate Peaks Loop: Not sure it's worth the drive given the options I have in the Sierra.
Bigfoot Trail: I don't know much about this, but the scenery doesn't look that exciting on the whole.
Thank you!
I'm looking for recommendations for a backpacking trip over the Fourth of July week this year. It's a bit of a difficult request, I know. I'm planning on taking the full week off, giving me 9 days for transportation and hiking. I'm in the Bay Area, but willing to drive up to a full day, although I have a bias for closer to home. I'd like to hike 30-35 miles per full day assuming elevation change on par with the JMT, for a total between 200 and 300 miles. Last summer I did the JMT during that week. I'm leaning towards doing something different this year, and it looks like conditions may not be ideal in the High Sierra by early July this year. I'm also open to doing 2 or 3 shorter hikes as well, with some driving in between. Does anyone have any suggestions or comments on any of the options I've considered below?
Full list of questions recommended by HST:
Backpacking experience: level 4
Terrain: comfortable up to class 3 XCountry, and river and snow crossings, but would prefer to keep it somewhat tame this trip as I'll be solo.
Main interest: Big mountain scenery, lakes, forests, photography in that order
How many days/nights: 9 days from the Bay Area, happy to drive a but (this trip doesn't have to be in the Sierra).
How many miles did you want to do a day: 30-35 no layovers
Experience at elevation: yes, not concerned about altitude sickness
Route logistics: no out-and-backs please, couple probably make a point-to-point work
Paritcular area of the Sierra: anywhere that's not too inundated by snow :-) SEKI high country would be preferred, but probably isn't too feasible.
Experience in the Sierra Nevada: yes, lots, all over Emigrant, Yosemite, some in Ansel Adams / John Muir Wilderness. JMT in 7 days last year, 6 days ambling around SEKI last fall.
Dog: no
Here are some of the options I've thought about thus far:
Tahoe Rim Trail to Tahoe-Yosemite Trail (290 miles): I'm currently leaning towards this option, as it meets most of my constraints and might? be mostly melted out by early July. I'm mostly curious if there are other options that are a bit more scenic and remote.
JMT/ Big SEKI Loop (220 miles): As I said, I did the JMT last year, and it's currently unclear how conditions will be.
Sierra High Route / Southern Sierra High Route / King's Canyon High Basin Route / Yosemite High Route: Main concerns are snow (moreso than JMT) and tackling a largely off-trail route solo. These options may be best saved for later this summer.
A couple of hikes in Washington, like the Wonderland Trail, PCT Section J, Alpine Lakes Grand Traverse, or something in North Cascades. I'm not as familiar with the Cascades, so I don't know when they're in hiking season or where the good stuff is.
Uinta Highline Trail: A bit of a drive for an 80 mile point-to-point / 160 mile yo-yo. Also don't know how conditions will be here in early July. Could conceivably be paired with something else in the desert or the Winds, but that's a bit of a drive.
Collegiate Peaks Loop: Not sure it's worth the drive given the options I have in the Sierra.
Bigfoot Trail: I don't know much about this, but the scenery doesn't look that exciting on the whole.
Thank you!