Southern/Central California

[Ryan S.]

Heading out to the Los Angeles area in June and I'm really excited to be journeying away from the East Coast for the first time. The big question is;

"IF YOU HAD THREE DAYS TO DO A BACKPACKING LOOP IN THE YOSEMITE/SEQUOIA/KINGS/BIG SUR REGION WHERE WOULD YOU GO?"

I unfortunately will only be able to go out and explore for three consecutive days so if anyone could come up with a great loop that they would recommend in this region that would be fantastic. I'm definitely looking to climb a peak or two and see some sights.

I think we'll also be doing a one day hike in the San Bernadino Mountains if anyone could recommend a good out and back with a good peak.

[Jon Fong / Flat Cat Gear]

In Yosemite/Sequoia you will need to protect your food from bears. You can rent bear canisters from the park or you can stay on the more popular trails as most will have bear boxes. June may be a bit early for the high country as it will depend on the snow melt. If it's not accessibility due to snow pack then it may be due to the rivers running too high. BTW, if you do not have permits and they are completely book (which is more than likely the case, you will have to go on a first come first serve basis. I think they hold about 50% of the slots for first come first serve. The most to least popular are; Yosemite, Sequoia-Kings Canyon and you may consider Mineral King. The valley floor in Yosemite can be an absolute zoo in the summer.

Hamilton Lake – Sequoia NP
Grand Canyon of Tuolumne River – Yosemite

[Elizabeth Tracy]

I second the idea of doing the Grand Canyon of the Tuolumne (Yosemite). With this year's snow pattern, June should be the perfect month to do this hike. (Unless you are talking June 1; that's an iffy date anywhere in the Sierra backcountry.) The elevation is 4000-9000 feet. June is too early for most hikes in the true high country, 10,000+ feet.

It's about 30 miles. Park your car at Tuolumne Meadows (Lembert Dome) and hitchhike to White Wolf. (You can spend the night at the Tuolumne Meadows or the White Wolf Backpacker's Campground for $5, if you have a permit to start the next day.) Ten miles on Day 1 will get you to Pate Valley; ten miles the next gets you to the first of the huge waterfalls. Third day to the car.

The White Wolf trailhead is not one of the really popular ones in Yosemite. That's good, as most likely it is still not reserved up for June. Snap it up.

– Elizabeth

[Theron Rohr]

Don't forget to take into account the altitude and climb if you go to the Sierras. I always find the altitude and dry air to take more out of me than I expect. Depends on your fitness level of course but as a transplant myself it took me a while to adapt my trip mileage down a bit to take this into account.

[Ryan S.]

Thanks for the advice everyone. I think the plan is actually going to involve a journey to Mineral King and some combination of available trails in that area. Reservations for that area are completely wide open right now so it should be no problem.

I'm hoping that the snowpack will be fully melted and the ground hardened by June 18th or so but I'm not sure how the snowfall was this season in the Sierra, anybody have a conjectural estimate on this matter?

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