(1) HSC (High sierra camp trail loop is God's wonder). Its 50 miles of pure bliss in eastern yosemite. The trail includes 6 high sierra camps (luxury living, where you can get a cabin for 150 bucks for 2 people - if you are lucky enough to qualify in the lottery). Camp provides bed, linens, breakfast, lunch, dinner. Folks from around the world apply and make this a adventure of a lifetime. A day pack is enough to get you from one camp to another.
(2) If you are not as lucky to qualify (or think 150$ a night is too much), there are cheaper option of backpacking. This trail allows you to be back on the road (if you want to refill supplies) in 3-4 days, so backpacking is an appealing option (ofcourse, you don't get to have any benefits of the camp but you are in the same natural wonder with pristine lakes, majestic mountains and valleys, and fresh air breathing through the pines at your disposal). Compared to option (1) you are carrying 30-40 lbs of load on you, and with total 9000+/- ascent, in hot summer weather, you are looking at a good effort in a day.
And then there is option (3)
(3) If you don't have time, or you can't be lucky with lottery, there is a third option to just hike it (or better run it, if body allows). An average ultra marathoner can take a shot at it. Off the bat, a longer day will help with light on trail, a bit early arrival to acclimatize will help (as run starts and ends at 10k', with lowest point being 7500' and highest being 12k' -- all rough approximation from what I can remember).
We planned option 3 last year. Started at 5am and reached back on road (after 33 miles) at 6pm which was late (no light) so aborted.
This year, hope was to start earlier and use 'extra' day light to wrap up last 19 miles (that includes May Lake and Glen Aulin HSCs).
Showed up late Friday evening at Toulumne meadows but didn't get any first come first serve campsite. Went back to our secret campsite from last year which is 30 minutes away. Called it a night Friday.
Woke up at 330am Saturday. Drove to Junction of PCT and Hwy 120 near Toulumne meadows and started the hike/run at 430am.
Hit Volgesang (~8 miles and 1500 odd feet of elevation gain) at 710am). We were doing good time. Headed down to Merced lake and 10 miles and 4000 feet elevation drop later we were at the lake. So far so good, except now came the familiar 9.5 mile ascent to Sun Rise camp (and along with 2700 feet elevation gain). It was gonna be slow, no pushing, no running and we refilled our water at Merced so we had good ration.
Except we didn't!
With 3 miles to reach Sun Rise HSC, we both were out of water and the nearest stream was 2 miles behind or 2 miles ahead! At elevation, any effort is added effort as you are struggling against hills and less oxygen (not to mention 25 odd miles of up/down the hills/rocks/cobblestones paths our legs had endured since morning)...and I could feel early signs of heat exhaustion (body sweating profusely to keep you cool). Vishal, my running partner, had the same issue but seemed to be holding his spirits well (he always plays father figure and I let it be as with him I am always in safe hands :). Anyway, we made it to the stream eventually and just sat there refilling our water supplies with water filter.
I do recall asking heavenly help in finding water an hour ago...little did I know it will be heard so quickly.
Out of no where, the blue skies turned grey and it started raining - followed by hails. Wow! The trail suddenly was a running stream :)
The rain reminded me of Forrest Gump in Nam scene, where the rain was coming from all angles, sideways, straight and sometimes from down-up. We tried taking cover under the trees but within 5 minutes it was clear that we were helpless against the rain (and being summer, we didn't get any of our rain stuff) so just stood there letting the rain gods have it.
I had a trash bag which I quickly converted to a half dharmendar-rajpoot-motorcycle shirt, that kept the core dry. 40-45 minutes of that rain and the earlier de hydration had slowed us by 2 hours!
Next few miles were eating/drinking and letting body settle phase. Mind and spirits were dandy soon enough and we left the choice of making a call on last 19 miles after we reached Tenaya lake.
Tenaya lake came...and clock showed 530. Target was 3 :)
And I wasn't really looking forward to upcoming 3000+ feet elevation gain and couple of hours of hiking in dark.
So just like last time....called it a day...hitched ride back to car. Given we were early, just decided to head home after packing camp.
Thinking about it, that was 500 odd miles of driving and 35 odd miles of running in a matter of 36 hours!
Need to plan it better with a bunch of 'relax' thrown in!
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(2) If you are not as lucky to qualify (or think 150$ a night is too much), there are cheaper option of backpacking. This trail allows you to be back on the road (if you want to refill supplies) in 3-4 days, so backpacking is an appealing option (ofcourse, you don't get to have any benefits of the camp but you are in the same natural wonder with pristine lakes, majestic mountains and valleys, and fresh air breathing through the pines at your disposal). Compared to option (1) you are carrying 30-40 lbs of load on you, and with total 9000+/- ascent, in hot summer weather, you are looking at a good effort in a day.
And then there is option (3)
(3) If you don't have time, or you can't be lucky with lottery, there is a third option to just hike it (or better run it, if body allows). An average ultra marathoner can take a shot at it. Off the bat, a longer day will help with light on trail, a bit early arrival to acclimatize will help (as run starts and ends at 10k', with lowest point being 7500' and highest being 12k' -- all rough approximation from what I can remember).
 |
| The evening before the run. 30% chances of rain, did bring rain and multiple rainbows. |
This year, hope was to start earlier and use 'extra' day light to wrap up last 19 miles (that includes May Lake and Glen Aulin HSCs).
 |
| Starting at Pacific Crest train at 430am. |
Woke up at 330am Saturday. Drove to Junction of PCT and Hwy 120 near Toulumne meadows and started the hike/run at 430am.
 |
| Reaching Volgelsang |
Except we didn't!
With 3 miles to reach Sun Rise HSC, we both were out of water and the nearest stream was 2 miles behind or 2 miles ahead! At elevation, any effort is added effort as you are struggling against hills and less oxygen (not to mention 25 odd miles of up/down the hills/rocks/cobblestones paths our legs had endured since morning)...and I could feel early signs of heat exhaustion (body sweating profusely to keep you cool). Vishal, my running partner, had the same issue but seemed to be holding his spirits well (he always plays father figure and I let it be as with him I am always in safe hands :). Anyway, we made it to the stream eventually and just sat there refilling our water supplies with water filter.
I do recall asking heavenly help in finding water an hour ago...little did I know it will be heard so quickly.
Out of no where, the blue skies turned grey and it started raining - followed by hails. Wow! The trail suddenly was a running stream :)
The rain reminded me of Forrest Gump in Nam scene, where the rain was coming from all angles, sideways, straight and sometimes from down-up. We tried taking cover under the trees but within 5 minutes it was clear that we were helpless against the rain (and being summer, we didn't get any of our rain stuff) so just stood there letting the rain gods have it.
 |
| On way down to Merced |
Next few miles were eating/drinking and letting body settle phase. Mind and spirits were dandy soon enough and we left the choice of making a call on last 19 miles after we reached Tenaya lake.
 |
| First view of Merced lake |
Tenaya lake came...and clock showed 530. Target was 3 :)
And I wasn't really looking forward to upcoming 3000+ feet elevation gain and couple of hours of hiking in dark.
So just like last time....called it a day...hitched ride back to car. Given we were early, just decided to head home after packing camp.
Thinking about it, that was 500 odd miles of driving and 35 odd miles of running in a matter of 36 hours!
 |
| Reflections |
 |
| Stud muffin |
 |
| All done....enjoying sunset. |
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