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2 Week and about 200 miles, western USA

This topic has 12 replies, 8 voices, and was last updated 7 years, 2 months ago by Andy F.

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Jan 15, 2017 at 10:04 am #3445232

Mike Bozman
Spectator

@myarmisonfire
Locale: BC

I am dreaming of the summer hiking season already! I have spousal permission to abandon the family and work for about 2 weeks (16ish days) of hiking this summer. Timeframe is flexible from late spring to early fall. I am 95% sure I will be hiking solo. I am looking for some good suggestions that fit what I am looking for:

-About 200+/- miles of hiking.

-Somewhere I can park my motorcycle that is safe enough

-Relative ease to get back to the motorcycle at the end of the hike

-Somewhere in Western USA. I will be riding from Victoria, BC and would prefer to not ride more than 3 days (1500 miles) each way.

Last year I rode down to Lake Tahoe and hiked the TRT in an easy 9 days and 2 days of easy riding each way. The hike was great and the riding the was pretty good too. I have a few thoughts about places to go this year and I am open to suggestions or feedback.

-PCT section hike from Lake Tahoe or Donner Pass to Yosemite. 200ish miles. I know where I can park my bike around there and it should be pretty easy to get back to the Tahoe area from Yosemite.

-The JMT is appealing but I am not sure what the odds of getting a permit would be. If I could find somewhere to stash the bike near Lee Vining it would be simple to get back there after exiting the trail. I could probably find (or beg) a few extra days to hike the JMT given the logistics involved.

A close to home option is a PNT section hike from Anacortes to Cape Alava. Distance is 260-270 miles but I would not have to travel far to get there. I could simply walk on the Sidney to Anacortes Ferry and step off onto the trail. At the other end I could hitch a ride Port Angeles and catch the Coho back to Victoria. This option maximizes hiking time but the terrain is pretty much the same as home (Vancouver Island) and I would be neglecting my motorcycle. It might get jealous!

Any other ideas? Thanks in advance.

Jan 16, 2017 at 6:30 pm #3445506

John Smith
BPL Member

@jcar3305
Locale: East of Cascades

Snoqulamie pass to Stehekin on the PCT. Close to 185 miles. road crossing at about 75 miles. Lots of trail angels in the area and you get to hike two of the most astounding sections of the entire PCT. Just a thought.

They are worth the trip – I know from multiple personal trips on them.

Jan 17, 2017 at 6:19 am #3445576

Andy F
BPL Member

@agfbpl

An alternative to the PCT between Tahoe and Yosemite is the Tahoe-Yosemite Trail, which I hiked with a friend in summer 2015.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tahoe-Yosemite_Trail

https://tahoetowhitney.com/picturetrail/Tahoe_to_Alpine/Meeks_to_Echo_Summit/Lake_Tahoe_Yosemite_Trail.html

The TYT shares the PCT for part of the approximately 186-mile length, but otherwise follows a different route a little to the west of the PCT.

Two things to keep in mind. First, the non-PCT sections are not heavily used. There were two stretches where we didn’t see anyone for about two days. So a good choice if you like solitude.

Second, there are sections where the trail is not maintained and takes a little detective work to follow, and other sections where there is no trail at all. So not a good choice if you’re not comfortable with route-finding.

It’s a beautiful trip.

Jan 17, 2017 at 6:25 am #3445577

Matthew / BPL
Moderator

@matthewkphx

I was reading Amy’s (I think it’s Amy…) post about the Big Seki Loop yesterday. It’s a little shorter than 200 miles but you could easily add more miles on.

http://doingmiles.com/route-big-seki-loop/

Jan 17, 2017 at 8:00 am #3445583

Russ W
BPL Member

@gatome83
Locale: Southeastern US

I’ll tag onto Matthew’s post and note my entry just before Amy’s last post to her original thread. She put in a lot of effort to share information with this forum and it is absolutely spot on. There is not a day that goes by that I’m not dreaming about getting back to SEKI, so much so that I recently ordered Andrew Skurka’s Kings Canyon High Basin Route as a possible alternative for my 2017 Big One. Many possibilities to create whatever length and level of trip you desire and it appears that the snow levels are very good this year. Outstanding!

Jan 17, 2017 at 11:25 am #3445622

Mike Bozman
Spectator

@myarmisonfire
Locale: BC

Thanks for all the responses! Plenty of places to research some more.

I had completely forgotten about the Big Seki Loop until the thread re-emerged at the top of the page and it does look really good. The distance is shorter than 200 miles but the altitude will slow me down for a bit as I live at sea level. If it leaves extra days for the motorcycle ride back home I can ride the coast all the way back. What sort of option are there for parking near the trail head? My only concern is that I have soft luggage on my motorcycle. It provides no security. In year past I have always been able to someone not too far from the trail where I can stash my bike and riding gear.

Jan 18, 2017 at 10:20 am #3445801

Jane Baack
BPL Member

@janeb

Plenty of parking for cars at the trailhead but don’t know that your soft luggage on the motorcycle would be safe. You might be able to leave your motorcycle, etc. at the Cedar Grove Pack Station which is fairly close to the Ranger Station and trailhead. It would be an easy hitch from there to the trailhead. You could ask and volunteer to pay something for the safety. ???

Jan 18, 2017 at 10:40 am #3445807

Lester Moore
BPL Member

@satori
Locale: Olympic Peninsula, WA

Another option on the Big Seki Loop is to start at Onion Valley and hike over Kearsarge Pass. That way you can acclimatize on the drive down from BC: one night someplace in East Oregon (about 5000 ft), then a second night at either Mammoth lakes (8500′, free NF camping just N of town, not crowded at all last summer on a week night), or Onion Valley campground (9200′, not sure how crowded they would be). After researching this option for the coming summer, it looks like one can arrange a resupply in the Cedar Grove area. I’ve also heard there are options for long-term parking in Lone Pine, and it’s an easy hitchhike up to Onion Valley trailhead.

Jan 19, 2017 at 10:22 am #3446058

Mike Bozman
Spectator

@myarmisonfire
Locale: BC

Parking at Cedar Hill Pack Station seems like a good possibility if they are up for it.

I just read that the Lone Pine Chamber of Commerce allows you stash gear for $20 and park for $25/week.

There are a couple of people on AdvRider in the Bishop and Big Pine area where I could probably leave the bike.

My big concern of starting on the east side though is the heat in the Owen Valley and having to ascend to nearly 12000 feet on the first day of hiking. Resupply at Cedar Grove would be nice though.

Feb 20, 2017 at 2:50 pm #3451633

Mike Bozman
Spectator

@myarmisonfire
Locale: BC

I put in for a JMT permit on the off chance I would get one but I have not even received an email confirmation that they got my application. That was nearly 2 weeks ago. Looking back on it, I suspect I put the permit in the fax machine upside down. Meaning the rangers received a blank sheet of paper…

No loss though! I snagged a permit for the Big Seki Loop out of Onion Valley for mid August. I foresee some acetazolamide in my future. Thanks again for the suggestions.

Feb 20, 2017 at 4:23 pm #3451659

Greg Mihalik
Spectator

@greg23
Locale: Colorado

“Resupply at Cedar Grove” –

Please, Explain Like I’m 5 –

What is “Cedar Grove” and how far off the PCT/JMT is it?

TIA

Feb 20, 2017 at 5:33 pm #3451667

Mike Bozman
Spectator

@myarmisonfire
Locale: BC

Cedar Grove is at Roads End. Map

Probably not a viable option for the PCT or JMT. Rumour has it that you can mail food to the visitor center. Might work for a Big Seki Loop starting on the east side of the Sierra. I will call them when they open up for the season to confirm.

Feb 20, 2017 at 5:34 pm #3451668

Andy F
BPL Member

@agfbpl

Cedar Grove Village is a cluster of recreational facilities (lodge, snack bar, market, with some campgrounds nearby) in Kings Canyon National Park. The facilities are just off of California Route 180, about 4 or 5 miles west of where Route 180 deadends in the park.

I e-mailed the SEKI rangers back in December, and they said they can hold resupply at the Road’s End ranger station, which is at the eastern deadend of Route 180. The rangers prefer delivery of the resupply packages in person.

Alternatively, you can send your resupply via USPS to Grant Grove, which is further to the west, and the rangers will take it to Road’s End and hold it there for you. But there’s no schedule for the rangers to bring the resupply packages to Road’s End — they do it when they can — so it sounds like backpackers need to mail their packages with some lead time to make sure that the packages actually get to Road’s End in time.

From Road’s End, there are two trail routes that will take you fairly directly to the JMT/PCT. If you head north along the South Fork Kings River and east along Woods Creek, it’s about 15 miles to the JMT/PCT. If you head east along the Bubbs Creek trail, it’s about 12.5 miles.
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