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4 day backpacking trip in the Sierra's

Original Post
wildiris · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Jul 2011 · Points: 0

Anyone out there have an amazing 4 day trek in their pocket? I have an ol' college buddy who lives in Tustin. We are trying to meet up for a quick trip in the hills. 4 days/ leaving on the fourth. Plane tix will allow a late flight on the last day. Suggestions???

FrankPS · · Atascadero, CA · Joined Nov 2009 · Points: 276

Hopefully, the mosquitoes will have subsided by Sept 4.

Here's one - leave out of Agnew Meadows, hike to Thousand Island Lake. Next day, hike to Lake Ediza. That leaves you one layover day to explore, or you could power on up to Minaret Lake from Ediza, but you may have to go over a moderately steep snowfield. Return to Agnew Meadow/Devil's Postpile. Thousand Island Lake is spectacular, as long as you aren't eaten by mosquitoes!

Have fun.

Adam Paashaus · · Greensboro, NC · Joined May 2007 · Points: 791

Im not familiar with all the details of Frank's trip but I can attest to Thousand Island Lake as being amazing. If I were you I would trust his suggestion and camp at least one night up the trail a bit at Island pass. The views of Banner and Ritter from up there are awesome and you can explore the area and get crazy views of thousand island lake as well. Its not more than a 20? min hike. My wife and I did the JMT in 2008 and that area was one of our favorite sections (although they are all amazing) Have a great hike. Here are a couple nice shots I took while up there.

1. Panaramic from Island Pass (just off trail)
2. Incoming Storm at Island Pass
3. Reflections in pool, Island Pass.

Amazing place to just explore off the beaten path.

KEN tucky · · Pewee Valley · Joined Jan 2009 · Points: 60

thanx biscuit for the new desktop photo!

Fat Dad · · Los Angeles, CA · Joined Nov 2007 · Points: 60

The Ritter-Banner area is great and you can bag both Ritter and Banner if you're so inclined. There are lots of other great options though.

If you're fast and have a shuttle, you can do the South Lake-North Lake loop.

You can do the Woods Creek loop in Kings Canyon. Good 3 to 4 days options in Mineral King. If you good at country country, you can hike up over Lamarck Col, head down Darwin Bench to the JMT and hike out via Piute Pass. You can go over Piute Pass down to French Canyon and out via Pine Creek Pass. From Onion Valley over University Pass into Center Basin, back to JMT to Kearsarge Pass. Too many good options.

joe caps · · Pasadena · Joined Nov 2010 · Points: 0

Thousand Island Lakes is stunning. However, when i went through there it was fairly crowded. GREAT scenery but not the best for solitude. Im not sure how far Thousand Island is out of Agnew but getting there via Lyell Canyon out of Toulumne is pretty spectacular as well and a less sandy hike. again, there are some crowds there as well.

Bas Cuela · · Fresno, CA · Joined Dec 2010 · Points: 475

The Rae Lakes Loop with some time spent in sixty lake basin. Fatdad did mention that but if you want a good intro to the Sierra's that is very well maintained and epic scenery the Rae lakes loop is the one to do.

Adam Paashaus · · Greensboro, NC · Joined May 2007 · Points: 791

I would highly recommend the Muir Pass area but I don't think that is too accessible. One trip that would be cool would be Starting at Onion Valley above Independence and going over Kearsarge Pass. Go across to Bullfrog lake and pick up the JMT from there heading south over Forester Pass (13,153ft, highest pass on the PCT) and into Sequoia NP. Incredible up there. Follow that to Crabtree meadows where you can summit Whitney without having to get a permit from Whitney portal. Easier. Im not sure though, it still may be difficult to get a permit for that hike. Its the highest section on the JMT and has outstanding views. Hike out to Whitney Portal. Not too far from your car from there so it would not be too bad of a hitch or shuttle. Im not sure of all the permitting issues as I did the whole JMT but that would be another great section. The elevation could be an issue however b/c I see Tustin is only at 130ft above the sea. Depending on your mileage you could spend every night below 10,500ft, not that that is low or anything. Have a great trip. Im sure some people would say that hike would be crowded too but when you talk about crowds in the Sierras your talking about passing a few hikers on the trails. Not a reason to miss out on some of the best scenery in the country. The Sierras are big and wild and you can ALWAYS get away from people and find solitude. Plus this section is permitted so It is not allowed to get too busy. Hope this helps.
Here is a shot from Forester Pass
Forester Pass View of unnamed lakes.
and one from Whitney
Whitney View

Pavel K · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Nov 2007 · Points: 211

Good suggestions above. Another one: Florence Lake -Muir Ranch-Evolution Basin-cross country between Goddard and McGee(I think)-down Goddard Canyon. About 40-50 miles, if I recall correctly, did it in 3 very enjoyable days. Evolution Basin is just beautiful and sleeping above Evolution Lake is just "awesome".

rex parker · · las vegas n.v · Joined Aug 2006 · Points: 245

tulummne meadows to agnew meadows. is a perfect four day trek and amazing. the wild flowers are the best in the mammoth and yosmite back country right about now! and as good as they have been in about 20 years but the misquitoes are killer still and i dont think they will be stopping any time soon from about 8000 feet and up you get eaten alive. have a good one. rex

rex parker · · las vegas n.v · Joined Aug 2006 · Points: 245

biscuits, those are some damn fine photos. good stuff!

Adam Paashaus · · Greensboro, NC · Joined May 2007 · Points: 791
kovarpa wrote:Good suggestions above. Another one: Florence Lake -Muir Ranch-Evolution Basin-cross country between Goddard and McGee(I think)-down Goddard Canyon. About 40-50 miles, if I recall correctly, did it in 3 very enjoyable days. Evolution Basin is just beautiful and sleeping above Evolution Lake is just "awesome".
I would look into this. As i said before the Evolution Valley area is awesome but I wasn't sure you could feasibly get there in a trip of that length.

Thanks Rex
Fat Dad · · Los Angeles, CA · Joined Nov 2007 · Points: 60
rex parker wrote: tulummne meadows to agnew meadows. is a perfect four day trek and amazing. the wild flowers are the best in the mammoth and yosmite back country right about now! and as good as they have been in about 20 years but the misquitoes are killer still and i dont think they will be stopping any time soon from about 8000 feet and up you get eaten alive. have a good one. rex
That would be a great hike. I've done all but that middle portion over Donohue Pass on separate trips starting from either end. I wasn't sure if he had a shuttle lined up though, so didn't suggest it.
wildiris · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Jul 2011 · Points: 0

thanks for all the great advice ya'll. booking the plane tix tom. From all the posts we have narrowed down the search, and also looking at kings/sequoia. Thanks again. MP rocks...

rex parker · · las vegas n.v · Joined Aug 2006 · Points: 245

their is a bus called the yarts that goes from mammoth to yosmite so you could park your car in mammoth take the yarts bus to tulumnne meadows then hike back to agnew meadows and for 7 dollars per person take a bus to main lodge of mammoth mtn out of reds meadow { aka devils postpile national park} . and then the free town bus from mainlodge to the village aka ( the red line) and bam your back in mammoth...

Eagleputter · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Aug 2011 · Points: 0

Hi, I am the other half of this trip, we have been back and forth with different ideas as where to go. Zion was something that we came up with but are not fixed in that location. One of the suggestions that i am interested in is in the Ansel Adams Wilderness area. Does anyone have any suggestions on the Minarets outside of the Devils Postpile area? I would like to bag a few peaks if possible, class 3-4, do not want to bring gear for class 5. Talked about having a base camp about 10 miles in and exploring from there, is this possible or are there any suggestions that anyone might have?

thinking making Camp at minaret lake or Iceberg lake and exploring from there? any suggestions or routes to the upper elevations from there? Is it possible to get up to Ritter pass from there? or any of the other peaks in the area?

FrankPS · · Atascadero, CA · Joined Nov 2009 · Points: 276

Minaret Lake is beautiful, however it is also accessed from the Devil's Postpile trailhead. A fairly easy six or seven mile hike on a trail. By the way, you can take your personal car into Devil's Postpile before 7 AM, if you prefer that over using the shuttle.

Xan Calonne · · Yucca Valley · Joined Mar 2010 · Points: 61

Check out the Rae Lakes Loop. Pretty, accessible, definitely doable in four days

Fat Dad · · Los Angeles, CA · Joined Nov 2007 · Points: 60

Not a lot of easy stuff in the Minarets. Plus, the rock is pretty loose so tread lightly.

wildiris · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Jul 2011 · Points: 0

Thanks for all the advice all ya' all. Had a great time in the Minarets!!! What a special place you have...I have never seen that rugged"ness" in Colorado. Appreciate all the guidance (sp).

FrankPS · · Atascadero, CA · Joined Nov 2009 · Points: 276

Where did you end up camping?

Guideline #1: Don't be a jerk.

Northern California
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