Due to the Yosemite wildfire in July 2022, I had to change my backpacking plans, which led to this amazing first visit to Kings Canyon. I entered and exited from the Kearsarge Pass trailhead at Onion Valley.
We're heading to 60 Lakes Basin via Kearsarge day after tomorrow. We're excited to see new Sierra High Country and your gorgeous videos were a pleasure to watch just ahead of our trip.
Thanks for a great video. Your humble and respectful attitude towards the wilderness and the sierra is so on point. Love that there was no music or extra crap in the way, just views and your personal reflections. Great stuff.
The hike you got was most likely a lot better , been there and prefer that area because unfortunately Yosemite is just to crowded today . Even the backcountry is often loaded with people , unless you take the under used trails not highway accessible or Grand Staircase , Hetchhetchy Lake backcountry . Anywhere in the valley or along 120 is just to crowded
Awesome video! THANK YOU for not adding music to the hike; for allowing us to hear the wind, water, birds, other hikers, and even the mosquitoes 😄. Thanks for sharing that you weren't feeling well but improved with elevation. Would love to see more of your camp set up; your tent without the fly, what you eat and how you cook it, and how you filter your water. I love to see others camp set ups, looking for new ideas and better ways to improve mine. The quality of your video equipment is outstanding. Glad RU-vid's algorithm found your channel for me. I'm doing this trail this summer just as an overnighter to Kearsarge P, camping at Flower or Matlock Lakes in order to test some new equipment and my body after sustaining an injury in January. Hope you do your original Yosemite trip this year. That's a Bucket List Dream Trip for me and I'd love to see your video of it. Just subscribed ! Looking forward to viewing your past and future trips. 😍
"Stop and enjoy"... I was leading a Boy Scout group of 9 with 2 other adults, and we stopped by the Merced River in the shade about a mile north of Little Yosemite Valley, where the river runs slow and deep. The boys were chatting away and I'm not sure they 'got it' but I told them "Soak this in guys. You don't get enough moments like this in life." Just a perfect snapshot moment in my mind. That was the day before climbing HD for the first time - which was great, but didn't have the same serene feel.
That stretch of the Merced is really spectacular, I’ve been fortunate enough to hike it a few times & it never fails to leave an impression. Even knowing how heavily used and crowded that area can be, the river remains as wild as ever. I always try my hardest to recognize those moments you really want to stop & savor.
ShredHiker, thanks for the quick response! Love your spirit and thoughtfulness. I'm a native Northern Californian and have spent a lifetime hiking in these parts. You mentioned Yosemite which is a must-do, but I tell ya, it's getting harder to obtain permits to do things like hike/climb Half Dome. In 2020 during covid, I hiked the less-popular 30 mile Yosemite North Rim Trail (uphill direction Tamarack Creek across Yosemite North Rim to Yosemite Creek because the downhill direction was all taken), spent night one alongside the trail with a hidden swimming pool, 2nd night atop El Cap (Ranger checked our permits, be sure to get enough water for 18 hours before reaching the top if you plan to spend the night), third day out on to Eagle Peak (overlooking Yosemite Valley via Yosemite (Creek) Falls) and night on the trail up and out Yosemite Creek back to the road (not a loop but a 'U'). If you can't get up Half Dome, I highly recommend Yosemite's North Rim. And if you enjoyed the John Muir Trail / Rae Lakes (hike like I'm hoping to enjoy thanks in part to you), you might consider a trans-Sierra hike also on the John Muir Trail from Mammoth/Agnew Meadows (~mile 57 on the attached reverse course) past Garnet Lake and Thousand Island Lake over Donahue Pass and into Tuolumne Meadows (that direction). Happy Trails! www.alltrails.com/explore/trail/us/california/john-muir-trail--6?mobileMap=false&ref=sidebar-static-map&initFlyover=true
Man that sounds like a heck of a trip!! I've got a permit for Yosemite in early August actually, starting near White Wolf. Still looking at the map and going over options for that trip, I'm also thinking I'll try for a "walk-up" permit closer to then, to see if I can head in at Cathedral Lakes or Lyell Canyon and try to the route that I'd planned last year. So many incredible options in Yosemite, I'd like to do half dome someday if it works out, but I never consider it a loss when I get to spend a week out there & strike out on trying to get a permit for it. It'll be fun if I get to see some of the high country after such a historic year, the last time I really spent time up there was in 2020 and it was hazy from the wildfires during most of my trip then. Happy hiking to you sir.
Thanks for sharing your adventures & gorgeous scenery! I learned 55+ years ago how serious the sting the Sierra Bug can be! Stays with you for a lifetime!
I wish some wise old woman had told me that all those packs and shoes ago. I here a treatment is coming in the future but I'm not holding my breath. I'll just give in and try to squeeze one more trip in this year.
Hey, nice video and thanks for sharing! I'm planning on going to this area in early August this year, so your great photography and right-level dialog is super helpful...although with California's 2x snowfall this year, I suspect the scenery might be a little 'whiter' than your multi-year drought/wildfires footage. Curious about what photo gear you used for pans etc. as well as whether the fly-fishing was worth the extra weight...mostly Golden Trout I assume?
On this trip I just used an iPhone 12 with a little handheld joby tripod, those panning shots are usually several takes to get a decent one. If you’re taking time to stay at the lakes & can fish in the mornings or evenings, I’d say a fly rod is certainly worth the added weight. The snowpack this year is exciting for sure! We’d made plans to hike the High Sierra Trail a bit early, hoping to summit Whitney for July 4. We made the call to bail on that plan a few months ago, now I’m hoping to get to the high country in Yosemite around early August. Hope you have a fantastic time out there, I’m eager to see some trip reports from the Sierra this summer.
Geez, what a wonderful video, luvd not only the beautiful scenery you artistically captured, but the serenity underlying it all. (Still don't know how you did it - the altitude, elevation climbs and descents, the backpacking - musta been that 14inch mattress in your tent smuggled from S.C. and all that nourishing gourmet food!) This reminiscing 85 yr old admires and salutes you. May you make many more of those hikes! Thanks!
Thank you so much. There was a time or two during those 12,000’ sections where I really questioned myself. I joked that I was the slowest hiker climbing those mountain passes every day I was there! I enjoy the chance to take these trips, I hope to be doing them for many years to come.
When we came into Middle Rea there was a mom and cub, we had to stop to wait for them to get off the trail. I didn't think you were that far behind us! We saw 8 bears total in our 5 days. Really enjoyed the video!
Sarah, I found a perfect campsite hidden up in the trees overlooking Upper Rae. I didn’t make my way onto Middle Rae Lake until that following morning. I’m bummed I missed it! Bear sightings in the Sierra are always exciting.
Great video! I loved how you made the most out a bad situation. No bad days in the mountains! I am doing the Rae Lakes Loop counterclockwise starting this Sunday.
Great job on the video. Loved all the slow pans of the views and your humble and positive vibe about nature and trail camaraderie. I did an 8-day loop in 2020 like the one you described that got cancelled due to smoke. A truly wonderful and memorable trip.
Gary as much is I love backpacking in the western US & am thankful for the opportunity to do so, I’ve learned you really have to keep your head on a swivel. After a year of careful planning, permit lotteries, studying the map, & planning meals… show up ready to improvise every moment.
@@shredhiker6209 Absolutely! And that approach is only going to become more and more necessary if the trend of climate and environmental issues keeping going in the direction they're headed. Have a Plan A…and a Plan B and even Plan C.
Really nice work, thanks for sharing! As someone who's just getting going making adventure films and who just did Rae Lakes Loop and documented it, this is awesome to see it from a different perspective.
Man it looked like you found your bliss. Your dedication to this hike was over the top. Yosemite is a bucket list item but if your talking about pure back country hiking NOTHING beats the eastern sierra. From the towns to the people its the only way to go. Its better than Yosemite if not only for the different and lesser crowds. I've been trolling here for a cpl years now for a partner do do a section of the Sierra High Route. I'm a healthy(ish) 60....not too smart to do it alone but I'm gonna if I can't find someone crazy enough to go with me. Sounds like you have the bug and further that this state owes you for jacking up earlier trips...I think we are like minded and just might get along. I'm in San Diego so your normal Sierra trip logistics (and ungodly California prices) could be minimized. There it is....bait. August next year....thats the time. Great vid, thanks for sharing Greg
I actually just finished up another eastern Sierra trip, around Thousand Island Lake. I absolutely love everything about this area, except that I don’t get enough time to spend out here… I’m trying to figure out how much time I can get away from work next year, let me see how august is looking.
Love your video! Excellent camera work. I'm heading there in six weeks to do something very similar. Can't wait after seeing your video. Keep up the good work! What's your camera set up?
Hey Mike. I believe I met you on the way up to Kearsarge Pass and my backpacking partner Diana and I ate lunch with you as well as Bob and Stephanie (Curious George doll in pack) on the pass. I enjoyed our brief encounter. Who knew you were such an artist and philosopher? I really enjoyed the video. - Marty in the orange sun shirt.
Oh wow, yes!! I remember you all! That was a great time up there hanging out with everyone that day. I remember the curious george doll specifically, my gf has a little bear we bought in Yellowstone that she brings on many of our trips! I don’t consider myself much of a philosopher, but spending multiple days solo hiking makes for a lot of time to think & reflect, and do so in an immersive environment. I do the best I can to share some of it from time to time.
Very entertaining video featuring a gorgeous wilderness! Bravo! No bear sightings during the trip? And do you have portable batteries to re-charge your iphone camera for 4-5 days?
I meant to talk about wildlife sightings at some point and it completely slipped my mind!! No bear sightings, and hardly even any deer, just a lot of squirrels & two of the largest rabbits I’ve ever seen!
Oh wow! I’d planned to start the High Sierra Trail in late June but the snowpack put a stop to that. Hopefully conditions will be right for my Yosemite plans in August this year.
