Start off Summer in Yosemite

My Yosemite wilderness permit confirmation actually came thru with 2 spots, not just one. So, if somebody wants to join me, I'm doing a week-long backpack in NE Yosemite to kick off Summer.

Leave Sat, June 20, 6am. But, if you can leave on Friday, we can actually get going 1:30-2pm on the 19th.

Camp at Tuolumne Meadows CG Saturday (and Friday, if), I'll have reservations made the day they start taking them.

Go to the wilderness center on Saturday to pick up the permit and Garcia bear canisters.

After that, do a little hike up to Elizabeth Lake on acclimation day, then chill/drink around camp.

Hit the trail on Sunday morning the 21st and return to the Meadows either Saturday the 27th or Sunday the 28th. Just depends on how much we want to push it through the last section of the trek.

Main route is a right about 80 miles. A couple spots I'd like to cross-country to for camping. And add in a day of just off-trail day hiking.

Route overview: Start at Tuolumne Meadows, take the PCT North thru Glen Aulin, Cold Canyon and depart PCT at Matterhorn Canyon. Head towards the park border by Sawtooth Ridge, Mule Pass and Snow Lake. Down to the Rancheria Creek drainage and to the Benson and Smedberg Lake area. Looking to spend a couple nights off-trail at smaller lakes north of Smedberg. Then, off to Pate
Valley and up the through the Grand Canyon of the Tuolumne River, back to Glen Aulin and Tuolumne Meadows.

Looking at a 7 day/6 night Sun - Sat trip, daily mileage should be about:

Day 1 - 16 miles
Day 2 - 10 miles
Day 3 - 10 miles
Day 4 - 8 miles
Day 5 - 10 - 15?? Just day hiking from camp
Day 6 - 18 miles
Day 7 - 17 miles

For an 8 day trip, the difference would be:

Day 6 - 15 miles
Day 7 - 10 miles
Day 8 - 10 miles

You can use the links below to download tracks of the main route. I've got both the Garmin-compatible GPX file and a KML file to use in Google Earth to really explore the route.

https://sites.google.com/site/dirtypursuits/files/YNP615.gpx?attredirects=0&d=1

https://sites.google.com/site/dirtypursuits/files/YNP615.kml?attredirects=0&d=1

If the weather is good, and it really should be, I'd much rather bivy it and save the weight, bulk and time of using a tent. So, if you're a bivy type, all the better.

All camp sites should be under 9600', so I do plan on having a fire going in the evenings.

This trip is a full week on the trail in remote Yosemite, with no resupply options. You literally and figuratively have to be loaded and ready for bear! (And, if you didn't know, bear/pepper spray is illegal to carry in Yosemite.)

So, if you truly understand what you're getting into and have the strength, experience, equipment, common sense, desire and time to do this, let me know. It'll be a great trip!

Don't want anybody's money for anything. This trip is happening, whether I do a solo trek or someone does come along with me; just happen to have the extra admission ticket available. Only thing you need money for is your trail food, pre/post trail food/snacks and souvenirs or such.

Now, after saying that, don't read anything more into the following than what you see in print. Currently, my ride has over 226k miles on it. But, it's clean, in good condition and I believe it will run forever. However, if that 226k freaks you out or you just like to drive and have a nice
comfy cruiser too and want to drive, ok. If you do, I've got the gas for the trip and will fill it up when we get back to town. And, I'll take care of any dining we'd do on the drive to and from.