I'm Gearing Up for a 5-Day Hiking/Camping Trip in Yosemite, Advice?

[Lof8]

A group of my friends have organized a 5-day hiking and camping trip through Yosemite this summer. We'll be going on the John Muir Trail in Cali. Our plan is to check out Half-Dome as a side trip, it is supposed to be pretty spectacular. The plan is to cover 10-12 miles per day.

I've done a bit of camping before, but never for more than 2 days at once and I've never done an extended hiking trip like this. I'm looking for some advice on gear and preparation.

I try to run 2-3 miles a day after work and usually do so 3 or 4 times a week. I'm in decent shape, but I'm sure a little more prep couldn't hurt.

Have any of you guys done this stuff before? What are your suggestions?

[dannyyisntt]

Avoid eating the yellow snow.

I actually have no useful information to post in this thread, but good luck, keep safe and have fun!

[xphiledan]

haven't been to half-dome myself, but heard it's amazing.

unfortunately it's going to be closed when i go to yosemite next week.

pack light and prepare by doing day hikes with your weighted pack

[Aluke123]

Plan your meals out. On my backpacking trips I do freeze dried food (Mountain House) for dinner. The two serving bags are really one serving. Breakfasts are always oatmeal, lunches are summer sausage and wheat thins. My snack food is a 3/4lb bag of beef jerky and a big bag of M&Ms.

Remember your 10 essentials from Boy Scouts, that is probably the most important.

I do 5-10 day hikes every summer, I don't find it necessary to do prep for them. As long as you're in decent shape you'll do fine. The first two days will kick your ass but after that it is easier since your pack is lighter and your legs are stronger.

Try to shoot for a 40lb pack max. If it's any heavier you're bringing shit you don't need

[gearheadE30]

Half dome is spectacular, but the whole area is really beautiful. Take a camera and bring back some pics for us. You sound like you're in pretty good shape, but the biggest thing for me was posture. I'm not unfit, but the first day I was out there I wasn't paying attention to how I was standing and walking and it killed my back, but I'm quite tall so ymmv. I didn't really do any prepping, and I think we probably covered 8-10 miles a day. Everyone got a little more sore the first day than expected, but after that it levels out and it's no big deal. Make sure you drink enough. Super easy to get dehydrated.

[YosemiteSam]

Try to shoot for a 40lb pack max. If it's any heavier you're bringing shit you don't need

This is not true. If you have all high end gear or are on a short trip, then it has some truth to it but for an extended trip a <40lb pack is not always an option. I cannot tell from your origional post, are you going backpacking or are you going car camping with hikes every day?

[gwb72tii]

i camped on top of half dome years ago (against park rules) and its not to be missed
take a fishing pole for smallish trout as you'll wind up by alpine lakes and streams.
oh, and don't be mr. daring-i'm-standing-on-the-edge-of-the-cliff. numbskulls are killed every year trying to be the most daring.
it can rain in a flash also so a poncho or a gortex shell of somekind will come in handy.
for boots, i'd go down to REI or a local camping store and talk to someone there. the most inmportant thing to do is break them in before you hike or you're going to be sorry.
fwiw

[ohthejosh]

You cant have the "oh I'll be fine, I won't get lost or hurt. It can't happen to me" type attitude.

Well so they say lol be safe man, wouldn't wanna read about a missing person on Yahoo!

[Kershaw]

i've done 12 miles with 60lbs on my back and 8lbs on my shoulder. it was also night time and i was on 3 hours of sleep. it sucked.

i hope your trip is a lot more fun. 40lbs should be really easily doable. how are you managing water?

[Lof8]

I cannot tell from your origional post, are you going backpacking or are you going car camping with hikes every day?

We will be living out of our backpacks only on the trail for 5 days.

how are you managing water?

I don't know yet.

My plans at this point are to pack as light as possible. I need to pick out an appropriate tent and sleeping bag. I'm told it could get down to the 30s at night ?!

[IRON-E]

I'm here just to say that Yosemite is a beautiful place.

I went there, when my Son was 6mths old, he's 18 now. The memories are endless.

Have a great time and take tons of pics dude.

[Yakinho]

Keep in mind the altitude change. Considering your florida (sea level) location, you're going to get tired much quicker and probably need to take quite a few more breaks.

[mrsleeve]

Ok 1st off. Bear spray have it and have it handy

Most of the other high ponits have been hit. I would sugest getting a good comaps and know how to use it and a good topo map of where you are going. Practice with it and a map of your local area area before you leave. Orientiering (sp) is a skill set you should never venture into the back country with out even on a well marked trail system. Far to many people put all the eggs in the gps basket and end up lost when it stops working for what ever reason, gps is a tool not a 100% plan in the mountains and back country.

Wool socks. Wear them you will get foot rot fast in cotton socks

Boots find what fits you well talk to some people that know their shit at a place that deals a ton in hiking type boots not a chain place in my expierance. Make sure you get something that's for backpacking and not just hiking as they need to have stiffer lastes than plain hikers due to the weight of the pack. I really like my asolo's for long treks into the back country, the little woman lkikes her zamberlands. Buy them now and break them in on day hikes of several miles in similar terain and lugging a similar pack weight. This way you will make sure they will work for your trip.

I do lots of back country hiking around glacier park and the neighboring national forestes


Edit: water. Just get a good katadyn water filter kit for hiking and a few good water bottles. I have the ceramic plate filter one and it works fantastic. There is nothing like fresh filterd water from a glacier fed alipine streem that is ice cold beats the best bottled water by a hundred times

[gwb72tii]

i've done 12 miles with 60lbs on my back and 8lbs on my shoulder. it was also night time and i was on 3 hours of sleep. it sucked.

i hope your trip is a lot more fun. 40lbs should be really easily doable. how are you managing water?

REI has a portable ultraviolet water sterilizer that's battery powered that works really easy. we took it to peru and had no issues

[BobombETA]

Backpacking is one of my hobby's. I have no experience in Yosemite, but I hike/camp/kayak in the Adirondacks spring, summer, and fall.

I'm not an ultralight backpacker, but I try to keep my gear to a minimum. I made the mistake of overloading on my first long-ish through hike. It was only 15 miles, but I had over 50 pounds of gear and there was a steep elevation change. It made the experience less than pleasant, and I actually suffered a minor injury (twisted ankle) along the way due to my overload.

I don't know what kind of gear you currently have, but backpacking gear is a little different than just camping gear.

This is a list of the gear I bring with me, and their respective weights [in ounces]:

[104] Pack: Unissued Genuine Military Surplus CFP-90 (Overkill for what I need, it's heavy, but it will last forever)
[62] Shelter: Eureka! Backcountry 1 (Amazing tent, have stayed dry in deluges with this. "Bathtub" design makes it water tight)
[64] Sleeping Bag: Northface Dolomite (Good, "lightweight" 20 degree bag, packs small)
[19] Sleeping Pad: Thermarest RidgeRest Cell Foam Pad (Does it's job, keeps your back warm. Not supposed to be for comfort.)
[2.7] Stove: Optimus Crux Lite (Boils fast, can simmer. Never had a problem)
[7.1] Cookset: Optimus Terra .6 L Solo (Packs small, good for one person. The stove, spork, mini bic, and a 110g gas canister all store within the cookset. Add a bandana to keep it rattle free and use it for cleaning.)
[.45] Utensils: MSR Folding Spork (All you need)
[4.5] First Aid: Adventure Medical Kits.5 Ultralight & Watertight Medical Kit (Covers the basics, you will end up tailoring this area of gear to meet your needs. You definitely want to carry moleskin's in it. Pain relief, anti-diarrhea, any prescriptions, anti-allergy stuff you might need, bandages, maybe a couple gauze pads, alcohol wipes.)
[5] Trowel: Coleman Exponent Hand Trowel (For digging catholes)
[4] Light: Energizer 02221 Headlight (Works well, runs on AAA batteries, go for a headlamp over a handheld.)
[7] Saw: Corona Folding Pruning Saw (Makes quick work of downed trees, I like having a camp fire)
[5] Work Gloves: Basic no-name leather work gloves (For use with cutting wood, building a fire, etc.)

284.75 Ounces or 17.8 Pounds.


This is my basic gear. Relatively light, but that's just the gear. Everything else is what makes pack heavy - "the variables". How much fuel, water, food, clothing, and miscellaneous stuff you carry depends on the trip.

Regarding the variables:

Fuel:
Plan your meals ahead of time so you know how much fuel you need to carry. Understand how many "burns" you get out of a tank of fuel. If your water is clean you don't need to bring everything to a boil (ie: water for your oatmeal or tea). I find that a 110g gas canister is enough for a weekend trip if your smart with it. Might want to double up for your trip.

Water:
Carry enough to get you to your destination. And have a way to make drinkable water at your destination. I carry my water in a Platypus 2 liter bladder in my pack. I use chemical treatments (Katadyn Micropur) rather than a filter. They're lighter. If I were to invest in a filter it would be a Steripen.

Food:
Dry goods only. No canned goods. Maybe treat yourself to a small tin of sardines or oysters. This is where some people go really overboard, and is also the area that requires some planning ahead. The staples: Oatmeal, Ramen, Mountain House meals, Jerky, Macaroni, Summer sausage, Rice, Granola Bars, Trail Mix)

I usually go with:
Breakfast: Oatmeal and Tea
Lunch: Ramen, or just snack on jerky and stuff if it's too hot for soup
Dinner: Mountain House meal, or cook some rice and mix in summer sausage.

Remember that you will be burning a lot of calories during your trip. You will be covering a lot of ground and there is work to do every time you stop for the day.. You want to bring foods that will give you good, sustainable energy. Pack multi-vitamins and take one every morning. If you want to get creative with your food, google some backpacking recipes.

Clothing:
Another area where a lot of people over pack. You are allowed to wear the same clothes multiple times. It's camping. Make sure to bring a poncho or rain jacket though. And something warm for when it's cold and you're not in your sleeping bag. A general rule is to avoid cotton. Synthetics and wool are the best. Wool for warmth, synthetics for moisture wicking.

For a 5 day trip I bring:
1 Rain jacket (LL Bean Stowaway, Gore-Tex.. great jacket)
1 Fleece jacket (EMS, very warm, and I use it as a pillow at night)
2 extra pairs of socks (one syntetic, one wool)
2 extra pairs of underwear (both synthetic)
1 extra shirt (synthetic)
1 pair of mesh shorts for swimming and whatever
1 wool beanie style cap.

I usually hike wearing pants rather than shorts, just because you never know about ticks and sharp brush.

Oh and get a good pair of waterproof boots. I have a pair of Timberland hiking boots that are lined with Gore-Tex and they are amazing. You shouldn't need extra shoes but some people like to bring a pair of sandals for while in camp or for water crossings.

Misc:
Most of this stuff I find essential.

I bring:

Knife:
- Essential IMO. Many options here. I carry a folder but I find the Leatherman Squirt on my keychain can handle most tasks. You don't need a machete in Yosemite.

Cell phone:
- Obvious. But it also doubles as a camera and mp3 player. Turn off your network to save your battery. Only have it on when you want to use it. That's if you have service.

Lighters:
- 3 mini Bics, stored in zip lock bags. Rain jacket has one, first aid kit has one, and one stored inside my cook set. Fire redundancy is important. I also carry vaseline soaked cotton balls if i can't get a fire going with natural tinder.

Trekking Poles:
- I carry one. They're usually sold in pairs though. They're good for keeping balance on uneven terrain.

Bandanas:
- Many uses, I carry a couple. Clean your pots, wipe your brow, etc. They are a lightweight alternative to hand towels and the like.

Dr. Bronner's Peppermint soap:
- Multi-purpose. I bathe with it and clean my pots and clothing with it. It's all natural and won't hurt the environment. It feels awesome on your scalp lol.

Paracord:
- Many uses. I carry about 50 feet. It's usually only used to make a clothes line though lol.

Bugspray:
- Obvious. Get the non-aerosol kind. It's more for your dollar and will have more applications.

TP:
- Get the bio-degradable kind. You can get it at Walmart in the camping section.


TIP FOR PACKING: USE STUFF SACKS
Have a stuff sack for food, a stuff sack for clothes, etc.
Pack your rain gear on the very top of your pack, then your clothes, then your food, then your shelter. Pretty much the order you will need them in throughout a hike. By using stuff sacks you won't have to rifle through your gear looking for stuff and it makes things pack down smaller. It also allows you to create modules of gear. Get different colored stuff sacks so you know what is what.

DON'T FORGET TO CHECK YOUR BATTERIES AND PACK AN EXTRA SET.
If you're carrying multiple flashlights, at least make sure they take the same type of battery.

HEAVY AND OR BULKY THINGS YOU DON'T NEED:
Towel: Let the sun dry you, why are you in a hurry?
Pillow: Use extra clothing to rest your head. Use your clothing stuff sack!
Axe: Bring a folding saw instead.
Stereo: Just bring earbuds for your cellphone or ipod.

YOU MAY NEED A BEAR CANISTER FOR YOSEMITE
Check with your local forest ranger's office. It is a law in NYS for campng in the high peaks.

SPEAKING OF BEARS
If they are in the area, a can of bear spray might be a good idea. Or a pistol, your choice lol.


That's all for now... If I think of anything else I'll add a reply.