New to backpacking - want to see more

Wouldn't a more suitable last resort to stave off caffeine withdrawal simply be caffeine pills?

That's what I mean! Wouldn't you opt for chocolate espresso beans before the pills?


When I look in the food bag for this weekend's trip, it seems like half of it is chocolate (-bars, -covered almonds, -bark, hot-). It's the only time I get away with it. ;-)

Yeah, weekend trips are tough. We only get to the Sierra on longer trips; it's a minimum of about 5 hours from here to anything like a trailhead, and where we really want to start are the trails out of the Owens Valley. From where you are, I think that Sequoia/Kings Canyon is the most viable for a shorter trip. I think the ability to hit the trail in an hour or so from home was the best thing about living in Seattle (which is where I lived in the 80s when I started backpacking). That was a lovely time, when I was out every weekend all summer and a lot in the spring and fall, including some times when I should have been in class

Hopefully, after this winter, come spring the springs will be flowing again in the deserts and southern mountains, too.

Expanding a bit on HSF and others hints at the Sierra. Most of us hang out in the local mountains of SoCal during the winter. It is cooler and there is a good chance there is water.

Come summer and too hot here, it is eastern Sierra up US-395. From San Diego it is quite a haul. The Sierra back packing begins at Lone Pine with trail heads starting over 9800 to 10,500' feet. Every wide place in the road has a road leading off to the west and for the most part up a mountain road to the start of the trails.

The snow is above 11,000' by mid June and the passes are all clear by mid-end of July. That doesn't mean you have to wait for a pass to clear. The snow resembles its name - Sierra Concrete. You can follow others footprints and steps ahead of you for what  it takes to get over passes.

The passes range from about 3-7 miles in from a trail head with lakes normally between 3-6 miles in for the first night. There is normally plenty of water that should probably be 'treated' with a filter to get rid of some nasty critters. Or as some have done, disregarding the advice by the filter manufactures, save a pound of weight and drink directly from the creeks that cross the trails.

The passes are around 11,000 to 13,200' depending upon where you are. The lower passes are usually the first ones you cross to get into the High Sierra. Sometimes associated with the passes are 14,000+' mountains such as Langley, Whitney, Williamson, Tyndall and others.

A typical three day trip would be out of Independence west to Onion Valley, then up over Kearsarge Pass to Kearsarge Lakes (about 7 miles). 2nd day exploring the area even day hiking over to Glen Pass north of the lakes, Third day out and back to car.

Most of the other trail heads (like Bishop Pass trail west of Bishop) can follow a similar pattern. Each of the passes into the National Parks on the other side of the high range, introduces you to a 1000 miles of trails, including the John Muir Trail and the Pacific Crest Trail. You can spend most of a life time in the Sierra and not hike them all.

All of the trails in the Wilderness area and National Parks require a permit to reduce the impact on the environment caused by too many hikers. The permits are rationed and go to the early birds. For the most part you have to also carry a personal food canister that is bear tamper proof. The government is not kidding by putting hefty fines on disregarding the bear regulations. Not that you will see one. Human's aren't on the menu but their food is. They mostly steal their food from campsites, car break-ins and unattended packs.

Loads of campgrounds along US-395 all the way up to Reno. You can base camp at a campsite (daily fee) and day hike any of the trails that go over the passes. One strategy is do one trail as far as you can get round trip in a day (usually you would get to the first nights camping if overnight). You stay at a camp ground or a motel in Lone Pine, Independence, Bishop, etc. The motel offers the luxury of a hot shower, comfy (?) bed and access to meals you don't have to prepare.

You might consider this a strategy that could include your wife.  You can check out several trials that you might take in the future with your hiking buddies (and wife) and she can have a nice walk with amenities. Long week end could be challenging tho.

Then there is the west side of the Sierra. Different geology early on and much lower trail heads. They are farther away and take longer to get there (CA 99 usually).

If you get interested in BIG hiking in the Sierra, ask at the California (and southwest) hiking forum at this web site. Or search it.

In the meantime have you checked into Mt San Gorgonio (northern 'twin' of San Jacinto) either from the north side (Fish Creek, Dollar Lake) or the South (Vivian Creek)? Three days would be a leisure backpack with water even now in a drought.

There is a fer piece of the Pacific Crest Trail starting just east of San Diego, leading up to San Jacinto, across the I-10 and into the Angeles Mountains with several drive to accesses, such as Buckthorn Campground north of Mt Wilson a bit and thence to Canada. You would have to carry most of your water needs when there is not snow on it.

Speacock? There were reports of a monster washout, 30 foot plus vertical walks, cutting across the Shepherds Pass trail. Has that been repaired?

I figured to bookend the possibilities and Symmes Creek road end seemed the direct opposite of Onion Valley. Heck by what a vertical mile? Lol