5 or 6 day hike somewhere in the Sierra 7/23 – 7/28

I followed the Sierra High Route from Roads End to Cartridge Pass and followed the Rae Lakes Loop down.

Great beautiful 70 miles. Much of it off trail but easy to follow.
If you wanted to stretch it a little further you could go over Glen Pass and go down Bubbs.

Here was our first day.

https://app.strava.com/activities/173244739/overview

"I'm open to revisited areas I've been but I would like to see new area too if possible."

A trip over Shepherd Pass into the Kern Basin would make an excellent 4 night/5 day hike. Wright Lakes Basin, Wallace Lake Basin, and the Upper Kern proper would be at your fingertips. Beautiful country, all of it. Also, going in over Lamarck Col would give you access to McGee Lakes Basin, a seldom visited but easily accessed off trail area, Ionian Basin, or just a loop down through Evolution Valley with a return via Piute Canyon/Humphreys Basin. Go in over Baxter Pass, down to Rae Lakes, then return via Woods Creek/Woods Lake/Sawmill Pass. Again, beautiful country, strenuous hiking, and the opportunity to experience two of the "Big Four" Eastern Sierra passes. Another East Side winner: Go in over Taboose Pass to Bench Lake, day hike around, and have another day to check out Upper Basin before heading back out over Taboose. All of these passes are strenuous, but beautiful in their own right, and offer access to some of the best areas of the Sierra.

Thanks for the suggestions ! I must admit I've done very little cross country hiking in the Sierra so I don't think I should attempt something like that for my my first real trek. The suggestions are great and I hope to find someone to show me some route finding skills. I know I have the stamina but I lack the know how. I think on-trail hikes will be my options if hiking solo

Hey Tom, I think I'm going with Baxter pass down to Rae Lakes then back up towards Woods Lake and over Sawmill Pass. Thanks for steering me towards some new areas. Glad the transportation between trailheads will be easy. I just hope I make it through the first day up towards Baxter!!

"Hey Tom, I think I'm going with Baxter pass down to Rae Lakes then back up towards Woods Lake and over Sawmill Pass."

It's a strenuous hike, Joe, but well worth the effort. Be aware that Baxter is an unmaintained trail, and it gets a bit sketchy at times after you cross back to the north side of Baxter Creek at about 8600' or so, due to brush obscuring the trail. Just pay attention, and you'll be fine. In any case, it is only a problem for a mile or so. The other thing to be aware of is that good campsites are scarce. Your best bet is at around 10,400', where the trail comes close to the creek again. There are several places there where you can find a decent spot near water.

Best of luck. You're going through some very beautiful country. I hope you'll let us know how it went.

tom, thanks for all the good info. appreciate all the wisdom.

still have lamarck col, baxter, sawmill, and taboose on my someday list.

any thoughts about the following(while trying to avoid jmt/pct)? any route improvements? how long (with some fishing and sitting around)?

taboose (after leaving car at whitney portal, and paying for shuttle?)
pinchot
woods lake
acrodetes pass
baxter lakes
rae lakes
glen pass
junction pass
shepherd pass
hop unnamed (?) pass north of tawny point?
into wright lakes
wallace lake
wales lake
tuyainyo
upper boy scout
whitney portal

"thanks for all the good info.

still have lamarck col, baxter, sawmill, and taboose on my someday list.

appreciate all the wisdom"

Thanks for the kind words, Dave. I do try to contribute where I can.

For a guy with your hiking abilities, it would be very feasible to weave all four into two neat trips. Baxter and Sawmill fit together nicely as entrance/exit, with the option to cover a lot of interesting country once back in the interior. Same goes for a Lamarck-Taboose entrance/exit. Don't wait, too long. The years fly by, and first thing you know, you'll be a drooling old goat like me, looking back at all the things you didn't get around to.

.

"check my edit, and see what you think about that route.

want to see some new territory, bring a telescoping rod and a PLB, and get a little lost. love to avoid the PCT/JMT wherever possible, since i've seen that."

OK, Dave. Game on! PM me your email address and we can get started. For reasons you, of all people, will understand, I choose not to conduct a serious discussion on this website.