Group backpacking trip

Hi all,

This might be a little early but I thought better to be early than late, in case some people need to plan. After having a great time at the CANP meetup weekend last fall I was wondering if several others here would be interested in a backpacking/photography trip in the Sierras this summer. Nothing too extreme -- maybe 2 or 3 nights. Of course more focus on photography than adventure. I don't have my heart set on a specific location, but I think Dusy Basin, Little Lakes Valley, 1K Island/Ediza Lakes, Sabrina Basin, Big Pine Lake, etc. are all possibilities.

Anyone else interested?

I think I would like to see some people with prior backpacking experience in the group. Nothing against beginners. I have some backpacking experience myself but I'm not one of you guys that started thru-hiking the PCT as soon as they could crawl I just wouldn't feel comfortable leading a handful of complete newbs out into the wilderness. If there's someone else with plenty of experience then it's a different story.

Great idea. If the timing works out I'd love to go.

Yeah, I'm definitely interested depending on the timing. Great idea.

I'd be up for it as well if the schedule works out

Ditto for me. If I'm available, I'd love to join. Revive the topic as the summer approaches so we can talk dates.

Great, thanks for the responses everyone! I think it would be pretty cool if we could get 4 or 5 people up there. Also looks like my worry about too many inexperienced hikers isn't an issue.

Actually Anish touches on a question I have. How much planning do you guys need? Would it be better for you guys to setup something now? Or would you rather wait another several more months before we reserve a date/location? I can go either way, but I'll end up making other plans in the mean time. Glacier NP woooo!

Great topic Mat. If date permits, I would love to join you guys...the only thing that you might want to keep an eye is the permit, they usually run out quickly in summer ?

Reserving a backcountry permit is a lot easier than, say, reserving a campsite in Yosemite Valley. I haven't had any problems when reserving about a month out.

Yeah, like Anish says it depends on where you're going. I tried to get a permit for Little Lakes Valley last July for a late August trip and it was full.

Great idea!! I'd be interested as well. Also, I'm experienced.

My vote is to plan the time far ahead......

Matt,

This is a great idea. I would love to come. My schedule is flexible. I have a lot of old school experience with longer term (1 to 2 weeks) backpacking trips and traditional mountaineerig/rock climbing. I have gotten a little lazy in my old age but would definately be up for a 2 or 3 night walk in the back country. Please keep me posted.

Roland

If we want a popular trailhead on a specific date with a fairly large group, we may need to plan more than a month in advance. I think what we should do is vote on a trailhead now. Then once and a while I can call the ranger office and check on availability. If/when things start to fill up we can make the reservation. Sound good?

My vote is for Sabrina Basin. I haven't been there before, but from my research the hike isn't super strenuous, and with lots of lakes and waterfalls there should be plenty of composition options.

Feel free to nominate something else!

I've actually organized quite a few back packs with friends and find that the most useful starting point is deciding what kind of trip you want. Hiking in and setting up a base camp, or a moving walk staying a different place each night? How many miles a day hiking, and what kind of elevation gain? How many nights? How important is it that the area you go not be very crowded? If we want this trip to be first a photo trip, and second a backpack (meaning carrying full camera/tripod regalea) then my preference would be to hike in somewhere and set up a base camp. Some other caveats: planning a trip for August is a safer bet than July. Sometimes the higher elevations (like Sabrina and most of the eastern Sierra trailheads) don't open up until late July or even August, depending on the winter. Also, there are fewer mosquitos and less challenging water crossings in August. July is usually possible in the lower elevations, like the western slopes farther north, trailheads off of the highways 50, 88, 4, and 108. In my experience, the least crowded backpacks are trailheads off of Highways 88, 4, and 108. Sabrina and the trailheads out of Bishop tend to be popular and relatively crowded.

I'd love to go wherever the group decides. My own preference is for less crowded, a less than ten mile walk in, and set up base camp. A very sweet hike is out of Gianneli Cabin trailhead into the Emigrant Wilderness. The hike is a gentle climb in for about ten miles. The first lake (Powell) is only two or three miles in and then there is a new lake every two miles or so. After about ten miles, there is a pass to climb over which leads to Northern Yosemite. Anyplace before the pass would be a great base camp.

That's my two bits worth.

Nice idea Mat as I'd welcome an opportunity to meet and work in the field with others here. I pretty much agree with what Tony input at the head of his comment. One issue with getting Californians together on web boards for outdoor activities is that we often live in distant parts of the state so selecting a relatively central location that allows all interested to reach is often a challenge. Thus when members chime in with a note of interest, it would be useful to know where they are coming from. I also live in Santa Clara County.

I'd be more interested if it was just a weekend trip on the west side. 2 or 3 nights means 3 or 4 days that complicates my personal situation. I've backpacked alot over decades so have visited all your mentioned locations and many more. However most of that was carrying smaller formats while in this past decade have been lugging a heavy view camera to pick off the best locations I've already been to. I'm a base camper, because as a photographer I would rather spend a few days at the most superb areas getting to know them well than the usual backpacker mindset of hiking most of the time to all the favorite must see publicly known places in a region and staying anyplace little. Generally the greatest disadvantage to dayhiking to photo locations versus backpacking is that for anything beyond about 3 miles it is difficult or impossible to be at those locations for early and late light. Especially so if part of the route is offtrail. I'm rather infamous for night hiking with headlamps and such can be a quite difficult challenge crosscountry.

Any of your suggested destinations would work well because they have several lakes and ponds with nice backdrops of peaks. The advantage of the Eastern Sierra is there are lots of good destinations with lakes only one day in and back out from trailheads while the negative is a long painful drive. Conversely from the Sierra western slope reaching good lake basins usually requires two days in and out effort that negates the shorter drives.

One easy westside destination with lakes that would easily work on a weekend is the Cathedral Lakes basin in Yosemite. Although the lower lake is only 3.5 miles via the Tuolumne Meadows trailhead, climbers and park rangers (and this guy) reach it in just a bit more than one mile of trail via an obscure trail from the Virgin Dome area that is not on any topo. In any case, the main issue would be getting a wilderness permit for a group of several people at one of the most popular areas in the Sierra. So would need to send in an early permit reservation with a firm commitment (and fee) from those interested.

Another weekend lake choice would be Little Lakes Valley near Tioga Pass. Very popular again, however there are no quotas so logistics are easier. And a good choice at the end of August into early September due to arctic willow leaves that turn red. The west side has lots of good weekend destinations if one can forgo the need to be beside a lake and instead are content to work with streams, peaks, and trees.

David
http://www.davidsenesac.com

I can't wait that long, how about April?

Tony, I think you and I are pretty much on the same page. To be honest, given the forum, I assumed we were all photography first, backpacking second group. But it's good to state it explicitly so we're all on the same page. Setting up a base camp would be preferable, but for me it would depend on the specific location. If there's a shot I really want to get for sunrise that's 2-3 miles from first night's camp it might be easier to re-break camp near there instead of hiking in the dark. And I was late July/early August, depending on how the snow pack looks.

David, Cathedral is a possibility. Also, when you say LLV do you mean Saddlebag Lake/20 Lakes Basin/North Peak near Tioga Pass? There's no quota there. LLV has a quota. Personally I prefer to keep the non-quota areas available as a backup in case other plans fall through or I need to get away on short notice. Otherwise what's the point of planning months in advance?!

Steven, LOL. What's good in April? Snow camping? My wife is going to kill me if I buy more gear

I'm usually a spur of the moment guy, so if my schedule permits I might be able to join up as the date nears.

20 Lakes Basin does have a quota now. I think it's 60, high but still a quota.

C'mon, you guys are really getting me thinking about summer now.

I was wondering if anyone has hiked into the 1000 Island Lake area before? Since moving back to CA from CO I've been dreaming about high altitude spots like that and Sabrina Basin. I know they are probably tougher than some which start lower. But talk about dramatic snaggle tooth granite peaks and crystal clear blue water. Geesh, that kind of stuff just gets me going.

I remember last year Anish did Sabrina Basin and took a killer shot of Moonlight Falls. However when I searched the forum I couldn't find his post. I did ask him and others last year about the intensity/pain factor of such a hike and it sounded like one of the tougher ones. Getting to the first lake - Blue Lake sounds like the biggest challenge. Here is the discussion of that area's hike - http://www.naturephotographers.net/imagecritique/bbs.cgi?a=vm&mr=44932&CGISESSID=9724b9ff0f1599b9bcb81a753d6aac24&u=11010

Derek

I have a suggestion. Since you, Mat, came up with this idea and put it forward, I think you should read over the suggestions for a bit longer and then declare yourself the benevolent dictator and decide on a date and place and the number of people you would like in the group. Make the announcement and take the first ones who can commit, then close the group. Otherwise, it might be impossible to come up with a group consensus and make it happen online. Those who want a different time and place could start the process over and get a new group going.

Late responder here, but I'd be up for it should my schedule allow. All of the suggestions so far I'd consider very crowded locations, but for a large group with differing experience great choices. Amongst them all 1000 Island Lake area - because of the multiple trailheads one could use to access - may be the most flexible when it comes to getting permits, but also could be considered a bit difficult for the novice backpacker (at least relative to 20 lakes basin or Little Lakes Valley).

Sorry I've been meaning to respond as well... been occupied with non-photography junk.

Tony, I had the words "benevolent dictator" in mind as a matter of fact But I was hesitant to go that route, not knowing what people want to do. But after posting this I think it's safe to say that lots of people are interested in a group trip; some people want to plan in advance, some people want to plan things right before the trip; no one has super strong feelings on where to go; people would prefer to leave the planning to someone else if that's an option So I think I'll wait some more time then post a "who's with me?" thread.

Greg, you raise a good point about being able to get there from more than one trailhead. Lots of day-hiking options around there, too. My nit with that area is that it seems like there is always the one comp that has been done over and over again for 90 years, and I get a little tired of seeing it... even if it is incredibly beautiful. Maybe that's just inviting some people with more creativity to try something different?

Hey all, time to revive this idea! I've been thinking about the mountains lately, and I still think this would be a great group trip.

I just got off the phone with the Inyo NF permit office. Things are getting full but there are still decent options for entering on a Friday or Saturday from the second half of July thru late August.

But the following trailheads appear to be out of the question during that period for our group size (I was asking for 4+ hikers): Bishop Pass (Dusy) and Big Pine Creek north fork (Temple Crag).

Unfortunately if I'm going to take a day off I need to give a little notice to work. So what I'd like to do NOW is to figure out which dates work for people. Once we have a date and an alternate or 2 we can then decide on a trailhead. Hopefully by now people will know their availability this summer.

If you're seriously interested please reply below with:

1) Preferred entrance date
2) Second entrance date pick
3) Third entrance date pick

Or anything else you want to say!

1) 8/7
2) 7/31
3) 8/6

Sounds great. Mat! Wish I could go along.

I'll put in a vote for Sabrina Basin. Although it is pretty well traveled, there are many places to go cross-country that will be very satisfying.

The bit up to Blue Lake is a bit stiff, but one should be able to reach the Baboon Lakes or Dingleberry Lake easily in a day.

When you get to Blue Lake there is a ridge that divides the basin. The left branch goes up to Baboon Lakes, Donkey Lake, and finally to Sunset Lake under Mount Thompson. This is a 'use trail' and is rougher than the main highway, but doable. If one stays on the main trail, this goes to the right toward Dingleberry and Hungry Packer. Either way, the area is simply sublime. I have hiked and climbed there many times.

Just thought I'd throw this out there for those considering the trip.

--P

Wish you could join us, Preston. The Sabrina trailhead had plenty of spots available, so it's definitely a trip to consider.

Mat, I think you might be better off starting a new thread.

Mat,

I agree with Tony. Just make some decisions, post them, and I will let you know if I can make it or not. I am definately interested in going. But this planning process could be endless.

Thanks

Roland

8/6 or 8/7 works for me.

Mat thanks for the email reply... I forgot all about this thread. I'd still be interested in a backpacking trip. In fact, I just got back today from a trip to the Kearsarge and Charlotte lakes in the Kings Canyon National Park. I can't give any commitment at this point in time, but as the time nears I'll let everyone know if I can.

Eric