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Red’s Meadow – Mammoth, California

When I staggered into Red’s Meadow off the John Muir Trail I had — like most hikers — a wide grin on my face.

What’s not to love?

The well-stocked General Store has groceries, sporting goods, fishing tackle, sundries and souvenirs. If you’re hiking the back-country, you can have a supply package sent to yourself at The Resort.

The Mule House Cafe serves up delicious home cooked meals. Both open at 7 a.m. and close at 7 p.m. … The resort is located at the comfortable elevation of 7,500 feet.

Red’s Meadow Pack Station and Resort – A Sierra Nevada Vacation Paradise

I had dinner at the Mule House with two grizzled thru-hikers named Bigfoot and Captain America.

My only complaint — why the $18 / site camping fee at nearby Inyo National Forest Reds Meadow Campground? The night I was there every thru-hikers site had only 1 person.

Inyo has a designated camping area for thru-hikers. But it’s with the car campers!

Why not have a walk-in backcountry camp for hikers? Note that the designated hiker’s sites in Glacier National Park near the Swiftcurrent Motel are free. The camping near the hot springs at Muir Ranch is free.

If Inyo wants to encourage people to walk — reducing environmental impact — why are they not encouraging self-sufficient, low impact thru-hikers?

Why are they catering to, even subsidizing, car camping?

I’ll contact Inyo with my “suggestion”.

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Inyo National Forest

PS — Hikers generally do not complain because they are so happy with the wonderful natural hot spring showers at that campground. For some, $18 is a small price to pay.

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hike Half Dome, Yosemite

What are the best day hikes in the world? Certainly you must include:

  • Tongariro Crossing, New Zealand
  • Angel’s Landing, Zion
  • Half Dome, Yosemite

    • may906_077-250x187.jpgRick Deutsch is the author of One Best Hike: Yosemite’s Half Dome, our recommended guidebook to one of the most exhilarating hikes anywhere. (See video)

    Rick has a dedicated website as well — hikehalfdome.com — focused on the Half Dome hike and related topics.

    One Best Hike: Yosemite’s Half Dome

    Yosemite's Half Dome

    HikeHalfDome.com

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    hike and bushwhack the Donjek Route, Yukon

    Owen (the fool with wit) is a big time Canadian hiker.

    His favourite Canuck hike is little known Donjek Glacier in Kluane National Park.

    On a 2005 adventure during high season, Owen was told there were only 10 people in Kluane’s 22000 square kilometers!

    … No signage. No one around but bears, wolves and mountains.

    … creek crossings in frigid conditions. Pure good times.

    Fantastic Donjek photos and video clips are posted on his unique website: eyecsed.com

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    eyecsed.com

    After my own Tombstone hike in the Yukon this past summer, the Donjek Route appeals. It’s next on my list.

    The Donjek is almost a loop if you access the trail off the Alaska Highway at Duke River and finish 11km (7mi.) south of where you started at Copper Joe Creek.

    I’ll check these details with Owen:

    The 96-kilometre (60-mi.) advanced wilderness trek requires map and compass abilities and good trail-finding skills. It takes you across rolling open meadows, up and down steep ridges and through deep gullies before arriving at the sprawling glacier mass.


    Distance:100 km (approx.)
    Time:8 -10 days
    Maximum Elevation: (7100′) …

    Note: A route is not a trail. Routes are not marked with signs or maintained in any manner. The route described here is only a suggestion that may help guide you on your trip. It describes only one of many options for hiking to the Donjek Glacier. …

    Overview:

    One of the most popular hikes for wilderness enthusiasts is the Donjek Route. Rising over the vast alpine of the Burwash Uplands and then descending to the toe of the Donjek Glacier, this hike typifies “pristine mountain wilderness“.

    … The route follows creek and river drainage for the most part with some sections along an old road, horse and wildlife trails, and some sections, without any obvious trail at all. Route finding abilities and solid wilderness experience is essential …

    Parks Canada – Kluane National Park and Reserve of Canada – Activities – Hiking – Summary of Trails and Routes – Donjek Route

    If you need more inspiration, Patrick Verheyen also posted photos of his 2003 hike in the region: A walk in Kluane National Park – PBase

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    Ruth with her pack – larger original

    UPDATE: Owen recommends Kluane National Park Hiking Guide by Vivien Lougheed. Check the COMMENTS on this post for more of Owen’s advice.

    Kluane National Park Hiking Guide

    On Owen’s recommendation, we’ve added Donjek Glacier to our list of best hikes in North America.

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    video – climbing Half Dome, California

    Includes a bear at Little Yosemite campground.

    Description: For some people, it’s the hike of a lifetime. It’s 5000 feet straight up to an unforgettable view of the legendary Yosemite Valley. For the full travelogue on Yosemite Park’s Half Dome Trek, including related videos, interactive map, and useful links, visit WWW.OPENROAD.TV

    Click PLAY or watch it on Travelistic.

    Yosemite’s Half Dome: Everything You Need to Successfully Hike Yosemite’s Most Famous Landmark | National Parks Traveler

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    newfangled water purifiers – I am CONFUSED

    I’m fed up with traditional water filters.

    Are any of the too-good-to-be-true innovations worth trying?

    If so, leave a comment below this post.


    MSR Miox Water Purifier with Batteries
    MSR Miox Water Purifier with Batteries – Amazon

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    iStraw – official website

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    SteriPEN products – official website

    (via Darren Barefoot)

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    Best National Parks Lodges USA

    If I won a million dollars I’d take a tour of the great wilderness lodges of the World.

    If I won only a hundred thousand dollars I’d start with a tour of the American lodges.

    Here’s the top 10 in the States as selected by Sherman’s Travel:

    1. The Ahwahnee
    2. Big Meadows Lodge
    3. Camp Denali & North Face Lodge
    4. Crater Lake Lodge
    5. Jenny Lake Lodge
    6. Maho Bay Camps
    7. Many Glacier Hotel
    8. Phantom Ranch
    9. Volcano House
    10. Zion Lodge

    10 Best Lodges in the National Parks | National Parks Traveler

    National Geographic chose these five:

    1. The Ahwahnee – Yosemite National Park, California
    2. Old Faithful Inn – Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming
    3. Big Meadows Lodge – Shenandoah National Park, Virginia
    4. Kennicott Glacier Lodge – Wrangell–St. Elias National Park, Alaska
    5. Sperry Chalet and Granite Park Chalet – Glacier National Park, Montana

    National Geographic

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    Big Meadows Lodge, Shenandoah National Park – Travelocity

    Yes, these lists are very subjective. More conversation starters than anything else.

    On my grand Lodges tour I’d put together my own definitive top 10 list.

    Any other great Park hotels you would include on your own list? Worldwide? If so, leave a comment below.

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    hmm – raft for $800? Or $20?

    Warren Long saw I was thinking of buying an $800 Alpacka for paddle hiking.

    He offered to loan me his $20 raft.

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    Will a Cheap-O get me across the lake to the trailhead? Sure. In most cases.

    I’m not on a 4000mi Pacific coast mega-adventure.

    Well played, Warren. I’ll try a cheap raft first before buying an Alpacka.

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    non-hiker tackles the West Coast Trail

    janet.jpgJanet Wilson, as part of her 50th birthday fitness program, decided to walk our #1 hike in the World.

    She did the research, bought the gear, finished a series of training hikes (adding 5lbs each time), grabbed her husband … and headed for the wild Shipwreck Coast.

    … I suggested to my husband that for my birthday he give me, not some extravagant present or party, but his support and partnership in tackling a big physical goal: hiking the West Coast Trail.

    It was something I had always wanted to do, but now I was not at all sure my aging carcass could withstand the training, let alone reach a point where it could carry a 40 pound pack over rough terrain for 7 days. But I decided to try. I read every book and web account on the trail I could find.

    … we bought all the rest of our gear: the Mutha Hubba tent and footprint, Exped 7 Downmats (a bit heavy, but I knew I needed a great sleep to recover at nights), MontBlanc DownHugger sleeping bags, a SilTarp II for the inevitable rainy days, MSR’s Superfly stove and fuel canisters (3), hiking poles (purchased last and on impulse, but one of the best purchases we made) and a Katadyn Vario MicroFilter …

    See Janet’s entire trip report – WesternWilson – The West Coast Trail, September 2007

    Congratulations. We are proud of you Janet!

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    We’ve linked Janet’s trip report to our West Coast Trail information page.