Southern Sierra Loop in May with 1st timer Girlfriend

Hmmm.  You have the Kern river there, but the best parts of that area are high in elevation.  And in May, you may still have quite a bit of snow up there.  Snow level is about 7,000 feet right now, but we could well get more snow in the next two-three months.

Generally, May is still too early to do much backpacking.  You might look at the Ladybug Trail in Sequoia—it’s lower and nice–but it’s also not a four day trip.   Still, if this is her first trip, an overnight might be a better idea anyway..

If she has never gone backpacking before, it should be one night to somewhere really nice.

If she additionally does not hike at all — it needs to be easy peasy and beautiful and one night, one night, one night.

If she’s just new to ultralight backpacking, and has good hiking legs and a spunky good outlook, you might try starting in Crescent Meadow and heading out along the High Sierra Trail — which for the first segment is not all that high, and while you would be camping at a creek in a flat spot at one of a few designated campsites along the way, there are great views from the trail as you go along, it starts in a sequoia grove, and that’s so early that it’s likely you won’t have a ton of competition from people wanting to do the entire trail — they’ll have to wait until the snow in the high country is melted. And the lower, parallel trail, on the middle fork trail — while not starting in big trees or having the excellent views — would be a decent fall back option. You can rent canisters in the visitor center at the Ash Mountain entrance. Two days out, two days back. Athletic hikers might make a loop of the two if they make it all the way to Redwood Meadow, where there is a trail junction.

Thanks for the advice. Yeah – snow and it’s an El Nino year so perhaps we will still see a bit more of it.  I might be taking here on a one or two night trip through Joshua Tree first, so it could be a good warm-up trip. Defiitely will look into the Ladybug trail or the Crescent Meadow area, thanks!

I hike I took my wife on for our first multi day overnight was out of the golden trout wilderness, Jerkey Meadow trail head.  Sounds like you are planning on more miles than we did on our trip with packs on.  May would be a great time of year to go there.  We went in June in the last big rain year and the rivers were crazy fast, but you don’t need to cross any that don’t already have a bridge.  Our M.O. was to hike 5 – 7 miles a day, then do day hikes.  Obviously you will HYOH.  Anyway, if you are interested and have a kindle I can loan you a good book on the area, just PM me.

Matt

Thanks Matt, what’s the name of the book? I don’t have a kindle but will look into it.

Looks pretty pricy to buy, but you can download a kindle reader to a phone or PC for free.  Nothing magic about this book though, there may be others that are as good for much less $$.