Good side trails

imported
#1

Anyone have good recommendations on not to miss side trails while on the JMT? I had been thinking about checking out Cathedral Peak, Half Dome, etc.

Thanx!

Cap’n

#2

Anybody recommend anything further south of Yosemite as well?

Cap’n

#3

I highly reccomend half Dome. First thing in the morning if possible. There are some campsites just south(uphill) of the turnoff to half dome about half a mile past if you are hiking sobo. Water is a little further up.

I did it this suumer- I was the first one up the cables that day, check out my 2004 JMT journal for pics.

Further south- I took the Cascade Valley alternate route- it’s okay- probably easier, but the guidebook lies when it says its the same length as the JMT- it’s about 3 mi longer according to the maps. There are Hot Springs along this trail that are supposed to be great.

I have also heard the Kearsarge pass trail is awesome- this is the trail you would take to resupply at Independence. I plan to take it this summer during my thruhike of the PCT.

Doodlebug

#4

I agree with Doodlebug. Half Dome is a must. We camped about a mile before the turnoff last year, going southbound. (my pics are on my fathers JMT journal page www.dalbert.com/jmttrip )Two things to think about:

  1. It is crowded try to leave early.
  2. My group was very low on water, make sure you are well hydrated
  3. Bears are very bad near half dome! We saw 4 bears within 6 miles of half dome, with two very aggressive bears! Read the journal and see the pics at above site.

Another thing you might consider is the trail to devils post pile. The JMT passes this by a few 100 yards. You can see it from the trail, but it is another thing to sit on it. I would recommend giving it a visit. My group last year did not walk to devils post pile, because we had previously seen them, but I hope to on my upcoming PCT hike!!

rubik

#5

When you say “a half mile past the turnoff”, do you mean the campsites are on the JMT after the turnoff, or that the campsites are on the Half Dome trail after it turns off?

Also, regarding bears and legalities, i had thought of getting a late start, cache my pack, tent, and bear can someplace around the turnoff, and then just bivy at or near the top of Half Dome. Is this done? Do rangers sweep people away after sunset? Would bears demolish an unattended bear can overnight?

Also, has anyone gone up Split Mountain from the trail?

thx!

markv

#6

We camped on the JMT about a mile before the junction to half dome. I am not exactly sure about the legalities of camping, but the rangers told us to camp only in previous campsites. The problem with that is the bears also know where the campsites are. Also if I recall you are not allowed to camp on the top of half dome.

When the most aggressive bear “attacked” us, we left four of our groups seven canisters with the bear overnight, and hiked another mile and a half up the trail. The next morning we went back to get the cans. One can was about 100 yards from where we left it in a stream, and the food was all ruined. The other three the food was a mess inside the cans, and much of the food in those were also ruined. You can read the story at www.dalbert.com/jmttrip .

One last comment about bears: Don’t be too frightened of the bears, be smart, don’t let them get your food, and have fun!

rubik

#7

It’s good to hear Kearsage pass Trail is nice, we’re planning on taking that to Independence to resupply. Then hitchhike up to Bishop to check out Galen Rowell’s gallery. I hear it’s incredible.

It sounds like Half Dome will be on the list. Does anyone know much about Paradise Valley in King’s Canyon/Sequoia? I’ve heard some good things about it, but I’ve not gotten my maps yet.

Thanks for the tips!

Cap’n

#8

If you’re considering Half Dome, Clouds Rest (to the northeast) ought to be a possibility. I’ve never done it myself, but someone I climbed Half Dome with a couple of years ago had done it, and she said the view from there was better. It’s more than a thousand feet higher than Half Dome, and the view down the valley is supposed to be pretty spectacular.

Snowbird

#9

I read your report already, thanks for posting it Rubik. Almost every account i’ve read or heard has had bear trouble everywhere in that vicinity…one reason why i figured i’d just as well avoid a known camping spot and simply NOT camp that first night. I wouldn’t be hauling a tent up Half Dome…just myself and a bag and some water. I just worry about leaving the bear can, even hidden and away from camp areas. And about unhappy rangers.

markv

#10

I am seriously considering going up into Lake Basin via Cateract Creek or Frozen Lake Pass, then over Cartridge Pass back to the JMT (during my southbound JMT trek this summer). Would love to spend several of my layover days up there, particularly at Marion Lake.

Prapanna Smith

#11

If you want to be all alone in some awesome country, hike from Tuly Hole To Reds Meadow Via Cascade valley. You could even stop over at the elusive Iva Bell hot springs. I did it alone in 2004 and good god was I alone 2 days just me and my imagination… I started talking to my self a lot! Awesom country, gonna do it again!:boy

Thinair