Im doing a long section of the high sierras in September which will include Mt. Whitney. Since this is my first hike in the west (AT completed in 05), what are some of the basics that I should consider. I plan on taking a tent(not free standing), 20 degree bag, fleece, rain jacket, resupplying with food using both maildrops and buying, capacity to carry 4 liters of water using platypus and bottle, filter, whisperlite stove, plus other personal items. Does this sound reasonable.
Buckeye
There seems to be a considerable distance between re-supply locations on the PCT, especially between Echo Lake (Tahoe area) and Tuolumne Meadows. Is there a reasonable way to resupply in that area or is 150+ miles do-able by carrying more and hiking longer. Also, can one resupply by buying at Vermilion or Mammoth (hiker food that is or is a mail drop in order). Am I also to assume that going into Independence is a must as Kennedy Meadows is a long trek from V or M. Thanks for your help.
Buckeye
Much has been written about this, and people will probably reply with more info, but you can hitch down to Bridgeport between T-Meadows & Echo Lake - I did. It’s a long 2-leg hitch, but what the heck.
Some people do pack all the way from KM to VVR, but I think it’s more sensible to take your time & go to Independence. It is a serious side-hike over kearsarge pass, and another decent length hitch out, but many people do & have done it.
It all really depends on you - how much weight you carry, and how fast you hike.
Jonathan
If you hike over Kearsarge Pass, you will never regret it. I thought it was one of the most beautiful parts of the High Sierra. Yeah it’s about 18 extra miles round trip, and another pass, but its’ so worth it. The scenery is a knockout. Onion Valley is lovely, too. I don’t know if they dry up completely, especially with this year’s snow pack, but it was flowing with waterfalls in July '04.
Besides, Independance is a cool little town where you can look up at the High Sierra from a totally different perspective. There’s also a bus to Bishop where you can find a really good outfitter if needed.
Oh, if you’re not cold-acclimated, you might consider adding a liner to your sleeping bag or going a bit lower for the temp. rating.
I’m usually a warm enough sleeper that I can count on one hand the number of times I slept inside my sleeping bag on the entire PCT (or the AT, for that matter). I usually just sleep under it, quily-style instead. When Jeff and I hiked in northern CA last September, though, it was downright COLD for the first few nights until I got used to sleeping outdoors again, and that was at a lower elevation than the Sierra, with a 15° bag and in a warm tent.
Have a great time.
-Chipper
Chipper
First off, leave the filter at home and carry Aqua Mira. You’d save a lot of weight and the water in the high Sierra is gorgeous. Unfortunately you can’t get it in CA, so you’d need to send away for it before you leave. Everything else sounds pretty reasonable.
It is possible to go from Echo Lake to Tuolumne without resupply, but it’s a long push. I’d recommend sending a package ahead to Kennedy Meadows (north) and hitching there from Sonora Pass. It’s about 12 miles west. They have a small store that will hold packages, a resturant, and showers. Last year the showers were $5 but there’s no time limit. The store also had enough that one could resupply for a couple days in a pinch. The resort hosts a lot of fisherman and hunters that time of year so they keep it supplied. Plus this way you don’t have to do a double hitch to overpriced Bridgeport.
Ducky
yes you can resupply at both vvr and mammoth. mammoth has a big supermarket, outfitters etc.
VVR has a small store, but very hiker focussed - if you’re fussy you’ll struggle, but if not it should be ok. It also has 2 very large hiker boxes of leftover food. By September they’re reportedly overflowing with food.
dave
Thanks for everyones help. I didnt realize so much had been written about the resupply problem. It didnt take much time to find additional info and opinions in the hundreds of threads. I now think a wise investment might be Yogi’s book. I have some maps of the PCT/JMT section which will probably get me through this hike. Does anyone think maps of the section north to Donnor Pass are a must?? Thanks again.
Buckeye
Another Buckeye here to lend some thoughts. I stopped in Truckee at Donner Pass. The hitch is a little tough here, but there is a grocery in town with everything.
Unless you have massive snowfall, I do not see any need for maps around donner.
As for the long stretch between Tuolomne and Kennedy Meadows, I suggest stopping in the town of Mammoth. It is a great hikers town. It has food, outfitters, cheap lodging, and public transportation. You need to take a National Forest Bus system to get there and back (at a small cost) but it is a great town.
About the only place on the trail that I am probably willing to steer people around is Vermilion. It is very expensive to get there and back on the ferry, it is very expensive to have food shipped in there, and some of the peanut butter I purchased there was half eaten before I got there. Much of the food on the shelves appears to have either come from a hiker box or from other hiker’s unclaimed packages.
A potential source of food that you may think about are those finishing the JMT. As I got close to Whitney, I ran into a bunch of JMT hikers who had too much and were offering it up at every opportunity. I also stopped in the Ranger station at the bottom of Whitney and was offered a huge box of food that hikers had left with the ranger before ascending the mountain. Of course, this is not a certain source of food, particularly if the ranger station has closed for the year, but it may help you bear the load. I carried almost everything from Mammoth to KM, but I was hurting.
Finally, I found Yogi’s book, http://www.cupcakewalk.com/yogi/, to be extremely helpful in planning my resupply points. It might help you as well.
Buckeye (AT 02, PCT 05)
Buckeye - another
Hello Buckeye #1,
If you’re talking about whether you need maps of the area north of the JMT (i.e., north of Yosemite) to Donner, I do know that the PCT on the west side of Lake Tahoe is lightly marked and can be quite ambiguous in spots. I’d recommend picking up Tom Harrison maps (order direct or get them at REI) for all of the areas you’re talking about, JMT and north through Tahoe. Most of this area is covered by various maps he’s published.
Shelly Culbertson
Thanks to everyone for your help, advice and info. Ive ordered Yogi’s book and a friend has maps on the computor to send me and I think Im ready to go. Now, I have to wait until late August to start. Thats a bummer, but Im so looking forward to starting. Thanks again.
Buckeye