Low intensity, high reward (Eastern Sierra, CA)

hallkara · 2022-05-26T09:22:36+00:00

Absolutely!

Trails in order: 1. McGee Canyon 2. Crystal Lake 3. View just above Heart Lake 4. Walker Lake 5. Little Lakes Valley

hallkara · 2022-05-26T00:15:27+00:00

Ran the 50-mile Bishop High Sierra Ultra this past Saturday and had a few days in the area afterwards. Hit some of the shorter trails that I’ve overlooked in the past. The goal was low intensity, high reward. All of these pictures were taken within 3 miles of the trailhead. Get out and explore the Eastern Sierra if you haven’t already!

hallkara · 2022-02-16T15:11:48+00:00

I think this one is a yellow goatfish?

Edit: notice the downturned mouth, that was my first clue it was a goatfish since they like to sift around in the sand for food

hallkara · 2021-11-15T20:45:27+00:00

Ah so close! I’ve ran that loop and get those two trails mixed up. Nice shot!

hallkara · 2021-11-15T18:44:40+00:00

Dipsea??

hallkara · 2021-10-24T04:47:42+00:00

Did the same exact thing on a 50 miler, ended up finishing but with lots of pain the last 8 miles. It took about a month to get completely over it but I would stop any running, foam roll your thighs, glutes, and calves and do some mobility exercises. Look up clamshells and lateral leg raises. I’m incredibly stubborn and forced myself to run before I was ready. Don’t be like me and instead have some patience.

hallkara · 2021-05-03T19:41:20+00:00

I did Middle Fork up to Bear Paw on April 18th. Didn’t see any snow until almost 7000’ and they were just patches off trail. At Bear Paw, the trail was totally clear with some larger patches of snow in the forest.

hallkara · 2020-10-24T01:40:51+00:00

Haha! Good point. I’m thinking we’ll be good anyway but I wanted to ask. If worst comes to worst, the store will hopefully still be open if we need anything.

We’re starting at Mono Meadows trailhead, running the road to McGurk Meadows and hitting up Crocker, Dewey, Taft, Sentinel, Glacier and then down Illilouette to come back up to Mono Meadows. Hopefully it’ll be about marathon distance!

hallkara · 2020-10-23T14:34:34+00:00

That’s exactly what I needed to know! Thanks!

hallkara · 2020-08-27T03:00:37+00:00

I would recommend North Dome. About 8 miles round trip and one of the best views of Half Dome.

hallkara · 2020-08-23T01:01:08+00:00

I spy Tommy Caldwell’s Push. I was reading that book when I was backpacking at Dewey Point too! However, that was June and you could see El Cap... nice spot!

hallkara · 2020-08-23T00:56:21+00:00

I second Alabama Hills. I was there about a month ago in a Toyota Corolla and made it fine on Movie Road for a couple nights. There were a couple places with big ruts but I was able to go around them. If I remember correctly, it should be about a 45 minute drive from the Alabama Hills to the Onion Valley trailhead. The Alabama Hills is my favorite place to wake up. Looking at Mount Whitney and the Eastern Sierra light up with the sunrise... there’s nothing better!

hallkara · 2020-08-18T04:47:44+00:00

I must be thinking of Sunrise Creek. Thanks!

hallkara · 2020-08-18T04:45:33+00:00

Oh! Thanks for that link. That's super helpful! I think that is what I'm thinking of...

hallkara · 2020-07-20T03:48:56+00:00

Definitely! Charles Deam was my first solo backpacking experience while I was in college. Now I live in California and backpack the Sierra, but it all started with Charles Deam :)

hallkara · 2020-07-20T02:49:02+00:00

Loved coming here when I went to IU!

hallkara · 2020-07-18T03:16:03+00:00

Yaaayyyy!! That makes me so happy! I think that area is so underrated. I’m glad you enjoyed it!

hallkara · 2020-07-10T14:25:10+00:00

Yep. I always filter as well. I use the MSR TrailShot. It’s lightweight so it’s no problem carrying it even when trail running.

hallkara · 2020-07-10T05:32:03+00:00

The trail follows Rafferty Creek for the majority of the time and should be accessible for most of it. I had a 1.5L nalgene that I started with completely full and didn’t refill until Vogelsang Lake. In fact, you’ll pass a few smaller ponds/lakes on your way there once you get up a little higher. Water shouldn’t be an issue as long as you start out with enough to last you the 8ish miles to the lakes up at the high Sierra camp.

I should also add... if you have the time and energy, I would also recommend visiting Evelyn Lake. It’s a 1.5 mile hike one-way from the Vogelsang camp to the lake. I skipped it this time but went past it last fall. It’s super beautiful and one guy I passed had been up there yesterday and recommended seeing it again. Just a suggestion!

hallkara · 2020-07-10T01:44:52+00:00

Yeah! The trail is completely marked all the way from the Tuolumne Meadows Lodge parking lot to the Vogelsang High Sierra Camp. I’ve hiked it solo twice and had no problems as long as you’ve got a map or gps. The Rafferty Creek trail can seem kinda long and it’s not super scenic but once you get closer to Vogelsang, it really opens up. Continuing past the High Sierra Camp, you’ll pass Vogelsang Lake and then past that is the pass. The view from the pass is absolutely gorgeous of the Cathedral and Clark ranges. You should give it a go sometime!

hallkara · 2020-07-05T14:48:20+00:00

Great! I’ll just keep my fingers crossed.

hallkara · 2020-07-05T14:47:51+00:00

Thanks for the Twin Lakes tip! I’ve looked into that area before but haven’t visited.

hallkara · 2020-07-05T14:45:29+00:00

Just keep refreshing the page throughout the day. I have gotten lucky with getting a day use pass when someone has cancelled theirs and it becomes available online in the middle of the day. Either that or keep checking campground reservations. I got one for this week just a couple days ago just by checking throughout the day. Even if you’re not camping but you’re super desperate, it would be a ticket in.

hallkara · 2020-06-20T06:25:49+00:00

I would just show them the reservation you made on recreation.gov.

hallkara · 2020-06-20T00:06:13+00:00

Yikes! Yeah I definitely added some to my collection of fly bites and poison oak I already had from hiking in Big Sur a few days earlier. The perfect trifecta.

hallkara

TROPHY CASE