Rock Lake, Dinky Lakes Wilderness

Check out the photos! Yes, we got caught in a snow storm. All my buddy and I had to sleep under was a tarp. The snow would cause the tarp to sag until it rested on my nose. The pressure would wake me and I would have to knock the snow off the tarp before I could go back to sleep. That same weekend, several other backpacking groups in our area got trapped by the snow and had to be rescued. Two climbers even died in Yosemite in that storm! Luckily, we were fairly prepared for weather.

Rock Lake is a great destination for beginners and those of you looking for a relaxing weekend without a lot of stressful hiking. The trail is fairly flat with relatively little elevation gain. The trail passes several other lakes including First Dinky Lake and is a good staging area for day hikes to Island Lake, Dogtooth Peak, and the Three Sisters. Dogtooth is known for it’s rock climbing and is a very prominent landmark that can be seen for miles around.

THE DESTINATION
Rock Lake is in the Dinky Lakes Wilderness, Sierra National Forest. Lots of camping sites with large, flat areas around the lake.

THE DRIVE
About 45 minutes from Shaver Lake, CA. About the last 20 minutes of the drive is on a dirt road that can be difficult for a car. A truck or SUV is definitely recommended, especially if there has been recent rain or snow.

THE HIKE
Gradual incline, well marked trail. About 2-3 hours hike to the lake and some nice places to stop and rest along the way. Because the trail follows a canyon of sorts, it is almost impossible to get lost. Apx distance is 4 miles.

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How to Stay Warm at Night

One of the most miserable things that can happen on a backpacking trip is to get cold while you’re sleeping. When I go to bed cold, I tend to stay cold all night long. Here are several ways that I have found to insure that I stay warm all night long.

• Put on clean socks. You may not realize it, but your feet sweat even in cold weather. Get those damp socks off and get your feet into a clean pair. When your feet are cold, the rest of you is cold. When your feet are warm, it’s much easier to stay warm.
• Wear layers. Again, make sure that your sleeping garments are clean and dry. Use a couple of layers on your torso if it’s really cold.
• Wear a bini. Keep your head warm. The scalp is incredibly vascular and a lot of heat is lost through your head, especially since it is usually the only exposed part of your body while you’re sleeping.
• Get a good sleeping bag. In my opinion, there’s no substitute for a good goose down bag.
• Use the “bathroom” right before you go to bed. Getting up in the middle of the night when it’s freezing is no fun and you may not be able to warm up again.
• And finally, my secret weapon… the hot water bottle. On really cold nights, I boil a quart of water and fill my lexan water bottle. Throw that heat source in the bottom of your sleeping bag a few minutes before you climb in, and I guarantee that your bag will be toasty warm. It will warm up even the coldest of feet and will probably stay warm almost the entire night! Just make sure the lid’s on tight to prevent leaks.

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Isberg Lakes, Ansel Adams Wilderness

The further in you hike, the more rewarding the trip. At least that has been my experience when choosing a backpacking destination! Last summer, I was in the mood to get away from some of the more frequently traveled lakes in my “neck of the woods” so I chose Sadler Lake. I estimate that it’s about a 8-10 mile hike and I didn’t expect to see many people up there. Unfortunately, Sadler Lake is flat and grassy - it should be called “Mosquito Hatchery”. I kept hiking about another 45 minutes up to Isberg Lake which was well-worth the extra hiking.

Isberg lake (lower) is a great backpacking destination and rates very high on my personal favorites. It is a great staging area for bagging Isberg Peak as well as Sadler Peak, Post Peak, etc. It sits up on a rocky outcropping so it gets a breeze at night to keep the bugs away. There is also a killer view of the sierras from one end.

My only beef with this destination is that it is a LONG hike. Most people you see back there have horses. I estimate that it is 9-12 miles to the lower Isberg Lake.

THE DESTINATION
Isberg Lake, Ansel Adams Wilderness, Sierra National Forest, California

THE DRIVE
2 hours from Oakhurst. Take Beasore Road from Bass Lake all the way to the Granite Creek Trailhead. A truck is recommended due to dirt roads and occasional bad road conditions.

THE HIKE
Well marked trail, 9-12 miles, fairly steep in sections. Not for the beginner! Count on hiking for most of the day. If you poop out early, you can always stay at Cora Lake, which is about 1/2 way there.

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Chili Cup Dinner - Leave the Pots at Home!

My wife found these great boxed chili dinners at the grocery store. I was going on a really long backpacking trip by myself (about 12 miles in one day) and I knew that I needed to shave every ounce off of my pack weight that I could if I was going to make it. I decided to leave almost all of my cooking gear at home. All I brought was my 4 ounce stove, a half-empty canister of propane/butane gas, my stainless steel camping cup, and a spoon. The chili and dinner rolls were delicious! And I managed to shave about 2 lbs off of my pack weight.

Here’s how it worked. I emptied the contents of the box of chili into my stainless steel cup and placed the cup on my stove with the heat on low. Stirring if often so the bottom wouldn’t burn, I heated the chili until it was steaming (the chili is pre-cooked so all I had to do was warm it.) Then I ate the chili right out of the cup.

Clean up is easy, too! wipe out the cup with a piece of your dinner roll and then boil a little water in the cup to clean up what’s left. Boil a little more water and make some hot chocolate. Burn the chili box in your campfire.
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Bring the Booze

Here’s a little tip to bring some luxury to your next backpacking trip - bring your favorite wine. There are many brands and flavors that come packaged in mini plastic bottles that are easy to pack, fairly light weight, and unbreakable.

A friend of mine did this on our last trip. He cooled the wine in a pot full of ice-cold lake water just before dinner. It sure beats drinking warm lake water with your meal!

Leave a comment if you've done this or have another idea!

Tube Tents

I hate carrying a tent. I gave it up several years ago. When evaluating my backpacking gear and looking for things to leave at home to save weight, my tent stuck out as an unnecessary item. I know, tents are cool, and it’s nice to have a little privacy, but can you justify carrying the 5-7 lbs in the summer? That’s a huge percentage of your pack weight!

I’ve been leaving my tent at home whenever possible for several years now, but there have been a few times where it has cost me dearly. One night it dewed so heavily that when I woke up my sleeping bag was soaked as was the ground around me. Needless to say, I was a little cold that night. Another time it rained on us.

I would love to afford a Bibler Tripod, but can’t afford it at this time, so I began looking for an alternative. What I’ve come up with seems almost laughably simple… a tube tent. They are usually made of orange 4 mil plastic. Not very durable, but very multi-purpose. They can be used for a ground cover, wind shelter, emergency signal, or a 2 person tent. They only weigh 2 lbs, are very compact, and fold up to the size of a camp pillow. Best of all, you can buy one at Longs or Wal-Mart for about $10.

You will want to bring a length of nylon rope, some plastic tent stakes, and some clothes pins. String the rope through the tube and between two trees or use some sticks or trekking polls as tent poles. Use the clothes pins to keep the tent stretched out. Put rocks or gear inside the tent to keep the sides of the tent shaped like a triangle. The apex of the tent should be about 3-4 feet off the ground.

Using a tube tent is light-weight, cheap, serves multiple uses, and is an effective shelter in light wind and rain. Try it! You may find yourself leaving that expensive (and heavy) tent at home.

Survival Gear Checklist for Hiking

Even if the weather looks good and you’re only hiking a few miles in, it never hurts to have a backup plan. Many unexpected events could lead you from the trail and it’s easy to get lost when you’re unfamiliar with the territory or unable to see landmarks because of tree cover or bad weather. Here’s a list of some lightweight and inexpensive items that may “save your bacon” one day.


Compass and Map
Essential to finding your way home. Know how to use your compass to locate landmarks and read topographic features.

Emergency Blanket
Hypothermia is a main medical problem encountered while backpacking. Use this to keep warm.

Black 33 Gallon Garbage Bags
Use these for all sorts of things! Great for makeshift rain ponchos, waterproof backpack liners, backpack rain covers, etc. You can even use them to melt snow for water! Bring at least two.

Cord
Usefull for building a shelter, hanging food out of the way from critters, making makeshift splints, and much more. I like the orange cord that you can get in the camping section of Longs Drugs or Wal-Mart.

Water Bottle
A wide-mouth Nalgene bottle is the perfect multi-use container.

Foam Pad
Essential to staying warm on a cold night. Can be used to isolate your body from snow when sleeping or sitting. Can be cut up and used for a leg or arm splint.

Folding Saw or Wire Saw
When snow covers all the good fallen fire wood, you may have to find wood on dead trees.

Head Lamp
Don’t ever get caught in the dark without a light! I like the LED headlamps because the batteries often last up to 3 days. On cloudy nights, you may not be able to see your hand in front of your face. This makes searching for fire wood, tending to injuries, or setting up camp almost impossible.

Marking Tape
A small roll of orange tape can help signal a rescue team or even keep you from getting lost if hiking from camp during snow fall.

Signal Mirror
I use a compass with a mirror on it.

Tarp / Shelter
Here’s another multipurpose tool! I like using orange 4 mil plastic sheeting at least 6’x8’. It can serve as a shelter, signaling device, or just something to keep your stuff isolated from the snow.

Tinfoil
Use for building a fire on in wet conditions

Knife
Cooking, starting fires, hunting, building shelters, and tending to injuries often require a good, sharp pocketknife.

Flint
Flints last longer than matches and lighters and are not fouled by moisture. They are lightweight and cheap.

Tinder Canister
Should contain magnesium (my flint has a bar of magnesium attached), waxed cotton, small candle and 00 steel wool. These will burn even if wet. Essential for starting fires in wet conditions.

Whistle
Good for attracting attention.

Toilet Paper
Euphemistically referred to as “mountain money”, know one wants to be stranded without means of taking care of business. Can also assist in fire starting and drying things.

Castle Peak, John Muir Wilderness

Here’s a peak with some views! The actual top of Castle Peak is a very interesting rock formation that looks like a stack of pancakes. This is a great day hike from the Chain Lakes of John Muir Wilderness.

Elevation is 10,677″. No climbing gear is required.


Click the Google Maps button below. It doesn’t show the 3D formation very well, but you’ll get an idea of how to get there and what the views are like. Also, check out the photos! There are some great pictures looking towards Kings Canyon National Park.

View area on Google Maps

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Madera Peak Day Hike, Ansel Adams Wilderness

This hike could take most of the day and it is fairly difficult but well-worth the trouble. I started at the Jackass trailhead on Beasore Road but you can also hike from Norris trail head. The trail disappears between Lower Jackass Lake and Upper Jackass Lake Lake so bring your topo.
The hike is somewhere around 10 miles round trip and there is significant elevation change. It passes several lakes so water is not a problem if you bring your filter. The elevation of Madera Peak is 10,509′.

Madera Peak is located in the Ansel Adams Wilderness of the Sierra National Forest near Bass Lake, CA.

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Backpack to Lady Lake, Ansel Adams Wilderness

If you are heading to Vandenberg Lake in the Ansel Adams Wilderness, it is worth the few extra minutes it takes to get to Lady Lake. Nestled at the bass of Madera peak, it is a great staging area for a day hike to the top of serveral peaks including Madera, Sing, and Gale. Just watch out for the Marmots… I had one eat my favorite hat last time I was there!

DESTINATION:

Lady Lake, Ansel Adams Wilderness, Sierra National Forest, California

THE DRIVE

About 2 hours from Oakhurst. Take Beasore Road from Bass Lake for about 28 miles, all the way to the Fernandez trail head turn-off. The Fernandez trail head road is 2 miles long and dead-ends in the trail head parking area. A truck is recommended due to dirt roads and occasional bad road conditions but it is travelable by car.

THE HIKE:

5.25 miles. Average incline. Well marked trail. There are several ways to get there, and I do not recommend the Walden trail. I prefer to go via the Vandenberg Trail.

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View on Google Maps

REI Quarter Dome T2 Tent Review

I just bought an REI Quarter Dome T2 Tent and tried it out last weekend. I was very impressed. Here’s the features I like about it.

• It is light weight (4 lbs 2 oz without the footprint.)
• It is free standing so its not necessary to bring the stakes.
• If you buy the footprint (13 oz), you can leave the tent body at home. Just use the footprint, poles, and rain fly for a 3 lb minimalist shelter!
• It has TONS of headroom. Very comfortable. It is ambidextrous too, so you can sleep with your head at either end.
• It has mesh pockets in the ceiling that are perfect for placing your headlamp in so you can see in your tent at night.
• It has collapsible vents in the rain fly for great ventilation.
• The polls and their correlating mounting straps are color coded for super easy set up.
• The tent attaches to the poles with clips rather than feeding the poles through loops in the tent. Again, super-easy to set up.

The REI Quarter Dome T2 is a 3 season, two person backpacking tent. Visit REI’s site for more reviews and specs on this product.

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Backpack to Upper Jackass Lake, Ansel Adams Wilderness

THE DESTINATION

• Upper Jackass Lake
• Ansel Adams Wilderness
• Sierra National Forest

THE DRIVE

Take Beasore Road out of bass lake about 1.5 hours. The trail head is Norris and it is about a 40 mile drive from Oakhurst, CA. I recommend taking a SUV or pickup due to the rough dirt road.

THE HIKE

• Trail conditions are good and the path is clearly marked
• Based on an average hiker’s pace, the hike will take you about 3.5 hours in and 2.5 hours out.
• The trail is apx 5 miles long
• Day hikes include Madera Peak

OTHER INFO

Upper Jackass Lake is perfectly positioned to stage a day hike to the top of Madera peak. About a 3 hour hike (round trip), the peak features 360 degree views of the Sierras and serves as a vista to several lakes, valleys, and notable peaks.

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Backpack to Lillian Lake, Ansel Adams Wilderness

Destination: Lillian Lake
Mountains: Sierra Nevada, California
Wilderness Area: Ansel Adams Wilderness

THE DRIVE
The Fernandez Trail is about an hour and a half from Oakhurst and about 2 and a half hours from Fresno. Take Beasore road from bass lake. It is a long dirt road and a truck is recommended. The turn off to Fernandez trail head is clearly marked.

THE HIKE
There are several trails to Lillian Lake and the old timers have a way they like to hike there and back. Take the Fernandez trail past Vandeberg lake on the way up. It’s a little longer, but not as steep. On the way back to the trail head, take the Walton trail. It’s a little shorter. The hike is about 7-8 miles one way.
DAY HIKES
Sing Peak, Gale Peak, Madera Peak, Stanford Lakes

OTHER INFO
Lillian Lake is a large lake with some good fishing and is located near beautiful lakes and magnificent peaks. The outlet creek was dammed up prior to the wilderness act, creating an interesting historical feature on the lake.

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Backpacker's Omlet

What You’ll Need

• One small onion
• One small can of spam
• 4 eggs 1 cup of dehydrated hash browns
• Salt and Pepper

How to Prepare

• Boil 1/2 cup of water and add to the hash browns.
• Let soak. In a pan, fry onions and spam until onions are soft. Use a small amount of water or cooking oil to keep the bottom of your stainless pan from overheating.
• Add hash browns and eggs and cook until eggs are done, stirring regularly.
• Cheese can also be added, if desired.

Serve!
This is a great meal for 3 or more people. Bring bagels or English muffins and toast over stove or campfire to add some variety to the breakfast. Add extra eggs and hash browns for more than 3 people.

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Share your experience with this meal or tell us how you made one better by commenting, below.

Backpack to Upper Chain Lake, Woodchuck Country

Don’t miss the day hike to Castle Peak. There is no trail so you’ll have to use your topo map, but it’s not far from the upper chain lake and it’s easy to find. Great views of Kings Canyon and many other peaks.

THE DESTINATION

• Upper Chain Lake
• John Muir Wilderness
• Sierra National Forest
• California

THE DRIVE

• Rancheria trail head
• Drive out to Wishon reservoir from Shaver Lake and cross the reservoir dam. The trail head is not far past the dam. It is about a 2 hour drive from Fresno, CA.

THE HIKE

• Trail conditions are good and the path is clearly marked. However, you may find that the trail tends to be wide and dusty from the horse traffic.
• Based on an average hiker’s pace, the hike will take you about 5 hours in and 4 hours out.
• I estimate the trail to be about 6.5 miles long.
• Day hikes include Castle Peak.
• The hike to the lake will take you past finger rock (right)
  

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Backpack to Chittenden Lake

Chittenden Lake is fairly secluded and perfectly positioned to stage day hikes to Sing Peak, Madera Peak, and Gale Peak. From your camp, you will have views of many peaks as well as views of the high country in the distance. There is little vegetation so bugs will not be much of a problem. I recommend taking the trail to Vandenberg Lake rather than the Lillian Lake or the Walton Trail. That way seems to be shorter with less ups and downs. Search the photo gallery for more photos.

THE DESTINATION

• Destination: Chittenden Lake
• Location: Sierra National Forest
• Wilderness Area: Ansel Adams Wilderness
• Elevation: ?

THE DRIVE

• Trail Head: Fernandez
• Road Conditions: Dirt road for 45 minutes. SUV or light truck recommended. Not accessible during winter due to snow.
• Directions: Drive 1.5 hours up Beasore Road outside of Bass Lake. There will be a sign for the Fernandez Trail Head.
• Nearest Town: Oakhurst, CA

THE HIKE

• Trail Conditions: Good trail, clearly marked.
• Apx. Hiking Time In: 5
• Apx. Hiking Time Out: 3.5
• Apx. Distance: 7 Miles
• Day Hikes: Gale Peak, Shirley Lake, Sing Peak, Lillian Lake, Stanford Lake

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Prepare to Hike Half Dome

If you’re planning on hiking Half Dome in Yosemite National Park, you’ll want to prepare for it - for many it is the most physically challenging thing they’ll ever do.

I hiked it again this morning (my 5th time) and scored a personal best. It took me 3 hours and 45 minutes to hike from Curry Village to the top of the “cables”. On the way up, I took the Mist Trail which would be better described as “Stairs of Death Trail”. It is a mile or so of very steep stone stairs. The way back took me about the same time because I took the John Muir Trail from Nevada Falls back to the valley floor. That way is about 1.5 miles longer, but much more gradual then the Mist Trail and much easier on the knees. I recommend taking the John Muir trail back if you have shaky or sore knees or legs.

Anyway, enough of my trip. I’ve found a few tricks that help on this long hike that may mean the difference between a fun day and a miserable one.

What to Bring

• Water. I like to bring (2) one quart bottles and a water filter so I don’t have to carry as much water (heavy). Keep in mind that a person can easily consume a gallon of water or more on this trip. 1 gallon of water weighs 8 lbs but 2 quarts of water and a filter only weigh 5 lbs. The last place to pump water is the top of Nevada Falls which is about 1/2 of the way to the top.

• Good hiking shoes. I prefer a good trail running shoe over a hiking boot for this trip. The trails are in good condition so unless you have really bad ankles, shoes should be fine. A heavy boot can really drain your energy.

• Flashlight. Handy in the morning if you leave before dark, VERY handy at night if you have an injured person in your party and have to help them off the mountain.

• Lightweight camera and/or binoculars. Leave the huge SLR camera at home! Remember that every ounce counts on this trip.

• Sun Protection. Unless you leave early, you’re going to spend many hours in direct sunlight. Bring a good hat, sunglasses, and sunscreen.

• Food. I always bring soft candy. When you need a sugar boost, soft candy is easy to chew and digest. I usually snack as I go. Dried fruit and nuts is high in energy and fairly light.

• Trekking poles. If you are out of shape or have bad knees, these can really assist you on the steps and going downhill.

• Small medical kit. Probably the most serious injury you’ll encounter is blisters. Bring moleskin, if nothing else. I also bring aspirin for altitude headaches and some band aids for that occasional scrape.

Just a few tips…

• Leave the trail head about 4:00 in the morning. The worst of the hike will be over before it gets hot, you’ll consume less water, and you’ll feel more energetic.

• Get a good nights rest before the trip. (Duh)

• Get a head start on your water consumption. Try to drink a lot the previous day to make sure your body is completely hydrated before you even start hiking.

• Focus on going light. Every ounce counts when you have to carry it so far. Even things you don’t think about (like heavy boots) add weight that you have to carry.

Don’t say I didn’t warn you

This trip is about 15-18 miles long depending on which trails you take. You will climb nearly a mile vertically. Half Dome is definitely not for everyone and I highly recommend a lot of exercise and walking before attempting it.

If you’re athletic or in reasonable shape, you should have no trouble, but plan on hiking for a long time. If you’re overweight or have bad knees or ankles, consider a lot of physical training before attempting. I’ve taken several small groups of people in various physical conditions and it usually takes about 11-13 hours.

There are several bathrooms along the way so don’t worry about “going in the woods”. Even so, I always bring a little bit of TP.

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