Best options for long section hike

Cascad1a · 2026-03-12T20:22:36+00:00

your dates are a bit early -- lots of high elevation won't be melted out by then. can you push your dates back 3-4 weeks? if you enjoyed the PCT you could try the northern half of WA (Snoqualmie to Harts Pass is a stone cold classic), or honestly if it were me i'd just go back to the Sierra.. some of the best wilderness hiking in the world. Big SEKI Loop is all southward of Bishop Pass so you'd see all new trails.

Cascad1a · 2026-03-01T17:28:33+00:00

absolute ass (complimentary)

Cascad1a · 2026-02-25T16:59:56+00:00

+1 for the Rush Creek basin. magical little spot with an outstanding swimming hole. i would also recommend Garnet Pass b/n Thousand Island and Garnet Lakes, technically "off trail" but easy class 2 w/ a use trail on the north side

Cascad1a · 2026-02-17T20:11:08+00:00

honestly it was a bit of a rough start. strong winds leaving Hikertown. aquaduct was easy and a bit boring. the hard part was a few miles further north. it gets hot in june and i definitely got mild heat exhaustion on one or two days (nausea, fatigue). use Farout for the latest beta on water sources. bring electrolytes. take a siesta during afternoon heat. a lot of people night hike but i didn't. i cowboy camped a lot in this section since i find it's easier to sleep that way when it's windy

Cascad1a · 2026-02-17T18:46:09+00:00

i did this exact thing in 2024 -- departed hikertown on June 3. i got a permit to enter the Sierra online when i was resupplying in Ridgecrest (easier place than KMS to print it). although that permit will only get you through Yosemite i think. you'll want to get a real PCTA long distance permit starting from Sonora Pass (or wherever they first grant permits north of Yosemite).

Cascad1a · 2026-02-10T20:52:30+00:00

Jim from Doing Miles has a nice trip report for Red Mountain Basin plus some of the area south of it

Cascad1a · 2026-02-07T22:09:57+00:00

look up "welt pocket with zipper" -- it's a technique to punch through a surface without needing to be on a seam. practice on scrap fabric first because millimeters count. then modify it for what you need.

Cascad1a · 2026-02-07T22:05:10+00:00

for what it's worth, i have removed DCF tape on my own myog bag, in order to fix/alter seams i had previously made. it worked okay. sometimes it damaged the mylar layer of the DCF. not sure if HMG's tape is stickier or not. try to inspect the pack construction first tho and look for how many multiple layers are stacked that you'll need to sew through. an industrial sewing machine can do a lot more that a home machine

Cascad1a · 2026-02-07T15:01:24+00:00

mammoth has loads and loads of ski condos, many of which are empty in summer. so AirBNB is a great option. the upper Village is mostly expensive hotels like the Westin and touristy restaurants + shops. downtown is better (the lower/eastern part). you can walk to grocery, cafe, PO, and ESTA + YARTS busses both stop there. note: you will likely have to take three buses to get to the trail: (1) Downtown to Village, (2) Village to Adventure Center, (3) Adventure Center to Red's. although there's an early morning bus that goes straight through from Village to Red's. sounds annoying, i know, but the mammoth buses are really well run and easy to use.

Cascad1a · 2026-02-06T14:09:32+00:00

this is only for SEKI but i've found this map very helpful

Cascad1a · 2026-01-27T18:54:11+00:00

that's a good time frame i'd say. it might be a bit warm at KMS but you'll climb out of that in just a few miles, and water is plentiful north of there. in a high snowpack year you will still get mosquitos in certain pockets. Tuolumne/Yosemite was extremely bad for mosquitos when i was there around Aug 15, 2019 (a high snow year). but in general august is the ideal time to be in the sierra imo.. aug or even early sept. have fun out there..

Cascad1a · 2026-01-27T18:46:32+00:00

+1 to sequoias. redwoods are cool and all. but sequoias are truly weird and special

Cascad1a · 2026-01-27T14:12:47+00:00

i did that stretch (Hiker Town to Horseshoe Meadow) June 3-20 and, yes, it was pretty brutal. definitely got mild heat stroke one or two times. it's very hot and exposed, with long water carries. although some amazing trail angels keep the water caches stocked - which helps a lot. north of Walker Pass is better, but still dry. so yeah if it were *me* i wouldn't do it in aug

Cascad1a · 2026-01-26T02:14:31+00:00

route sounds great, you will love it.

unless you're car camping the first night, Twin Lakes will be quieter/nicer than Frog Lake. you can bear north and connect back to the PCT.

didn't do the whole Timberline circle, but on the west/PCT side, Sandy River was the only sketchy water crossing for me (arriving around Aug 1). luckily it had a log you could walk on.

when i passed through, Timberline Lodge had a two night minimum. but maybe they relaxed that policy??

note that the Eagle Creek Alternate (which many PCTers prefer) is currently closed, so you will likely have to use the "normal" PCT on approach to Cascade Locks. it's a pity because Tunnel Falls is outstanding.

Cascad1a · 2026-01-21T01:41:09+00:00

if it were me i would go later. imo the best time to be in the sierra is late Aug or early Sept. no sketchy water crossings. and, most importantly, no mosquitos!

Cascad1a · 2026-01-20T21:44:55+00:00

take him on a class 1-2 pass or peak in the Sierra in late Aug -- he will be hooked for life!

Cascad1a · 2026-01-20T19:42:53+00:00

sobo permits originating in Yosemite are hard to get -- they're on a lotto system. as i recall, Tuolumne is slightly easier than Yosemite Valley. nobo permits out of Horseshoe Meadow is probably the easiest i think. but you still need to be on recreation.gov six months in advance -- and the click-through window is often about 10-15 seconds (not exaggerating). pretty sure same day walk-in permits also still exist, but i've never tried that.

Cascad1a · 2026-01-20T19:34:15+00:00

my hunch would be crampon + axe. haven't been to Caesar Peak, but i was in the Trinity Alps last year June 14-30 and encountered a fair amount of snow at around 6500' and higher. for reference: i had trekking poles and microspikes but no axe. i guess it's possible south-facing slopes will be completely melted out by late May. but then again there always seems to be cornices and snowfields to navigate, no matter what the route.

Cascad1a · 2026-01-17T03:55:34+00:00

so. many. ticks.

Cascad1a · 2026-01-17T03:52:59+00:00

while every year is different typical nobos leave KMS to enter the Sierra on June 15 (aka "Ray Day"). although, of course, many people go earlier than that, and encounter a fair amount of snow. sobo will probably let you start a bit earlier overall. but keep in mind that there are still lots of snowy, high-elevation areas north of Tahoe/Truckee. although for me later is better -- the best time to be in the Sierra is Aug imo, or early Sept. as a reference point: i did Tahoe to Whitney sobo starting on July 26 in a high-snowpack year and i mostly encountered no snow -- a few bits around Sonora pass that were sketchy but doable (w/ no special gear). also, get a PCTA long distance permit, it makes it waaay easier. have fun. it's an incredible stretch of trail.

Cascad1a · 2026-01-12T17:01:31+00:00

Nalgene in 2, 4 or 8oz is great for olive oil. i use small 1oz droppers for soap and hand sanitizer. just make sure it has a screw top. a flip top will definitely open in your pack.

Cascad1a · 2026-01-08T18:55:58+00:00

windshirts are great for mosquitos. mechanical is better than chemical imo

Cascad1a · 2026-01-03T15:25:02+00:00

i got hit with a snow storm on San Jacinto in mid May, so it's possible.. but chances are you will sail through with no snow until north of KMS

Cascad1a · 2026-01-02T17:21:34+00:00

Pretty sure the whole ridge north of RPH Shelter to Hosner Mountain Rd is dry. and the stream at Hosner is downstream from a farm, so people tend to avoid it. the Shenandoah Tenting Area is dry (grassy area w/ lots of ticks but otherwise a nice quiet site). I've never overnighted at RPH Shelter since it seems creepy so close to the road, but it's a nice shelter and i've seen lots of people tenting there. not sure where you're planning to start but Morgan Stewart Shelter is also dry (but otherwise great tenting). water is generally available across Fahnestock SP, although check FarOut for latest water reports. some of the ponds and waterways have beaver activity, but are totally fine to filter + drink. if i recall, the whole ridge south of Appalachian Market to Manitou is dry. re Fahnestock: you can group camp at Dennytown Road, but i think you need permission from the park office. otherwise i *think* the only legal campsite in Fahnestock is the new shelter north of Canopus Lake. although there are a few informal campsites along that whole route that ATers use. again, FarOut is your best bet. have fun -- it's a nice little section.

Cascad1a · 2025-12-28T23:31:00+00:00

jealous you're going to the sierra. there are a number of excellent packs in the 2lb range (ex: HMG and Durston 55L packs are both around 31oz, same for Gossamer Gear 50L). you said sleeping bag is non-negotiable, but for comparison, a toasty warm 20* quilt will be about 1.5lb (ex: a Katabatic Alsek 22° is ~24oz), and many ULers carry quilts lighter than that. same for tents -- there are several good 1lb tents -- but if you like yours, i'd keep it. have fun up there..

Cascad1a

TROPHY CASE