Northern Yosemite's Lakes, Canyons, and Passes, California
Sierra Club Outings Trip | Backpack
Highlights
- Hike the remote loop around Matterhorn Peak
- Climb a peak and enjoy the scenery on a layover day
- Enjoy the camaraderie of a shared group adventure
Includes
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Vegetarian-friendly meals
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All cooking equipment and supplies
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Permits and first night camping
Overview
The Trip
“In all things of nature, there is something of the marvelous.” - Aristotle
Our Sierra Nevada trip will begin in the Hoover Wilderness and enter the remote, less traveled northern portion of Yosemite National Park. We will backpack -- mostly on trail -- to remote lakes, hike along serene meadows, and enjoy dramatic vistas, glaciated valleys, and canyons on a journey rarely experienced by most who come to visit Yosemite. Our hike will wrap around Matterhorn Peak as we traverse through alpine and subalpine areas rich in diverse environmental habitats and geological history. We will travel beneath the Sawtooth Ridge along valleys and canyons and over passes to complete this scenic and challenging 50-mile loop
The Trip
“In all things of nature, there is something of the marvelous.” - Aristotle
Our Sierra Nevada trip will begin in the Hoover Wilderness and enter the remote, less traveled northern portion of Yosemite National Park. We will backpack -- mostly on trail -- to remote lakes, hike along serene meadows, and enjoy dramatic vistas, glaciated valleys, and canyons on a journey rarely experienced by most who come to visit Yosemite. Our hike will wrap around Matterhorn Peak as we traverse through alpine and subalpine areas rich in diverse environmental habitats and geological history. We will travel beneath the Sawtooth Ridge along valleys and canyons and over passes to complete this scenic and challenging 50-mile loop. During our week we will enjoy a planned layover day to explore alpine lakes, climb a peak, or find a secluded spot to reflect and soak in the beauty. Come saunter with us and enjoy this moderately paced alpine adventure in Yosemite National Park.
Itinerary
Day 1: Our trip will officially start on Saturday at 3 p.m. We will gather at our campground for a final equipment check and meet-and-greet social with light snacks and beverages. Our campground will be located near a café where we will meet for dinner at 5:30 p.m. (not included in price of trip). After dinner there will be time to review the route, answer questions, and finalize our trip gear.
Day 2: After an early breakfast, we will disperse group commissary and make arrangements for parking at the trailhead. With loaded packs and 2,400 feet of elevation gain, our first day on trail will be our toughest. Our hike will start at the Twin Lakes trailhead (7,092 feet) and continue eight miles along a scenic forested trail and past emerald lakes as we ascend to our first camp at Peeler Lake (9,520 feet)
Day 1: Our trip will officially start on Saturday at 3 p.m. We will gather at our campground for a final equipment check and meet-and-greet social with light snacks and beverages. Our campground will be located near a café where we will meet for dinner at 5:30 p.m. (not included in price of trip). After dinner there will be time to review the route, answer questions, and finalize our trip gear.
Day 2: After an early breakfast, we will disperse group commissary and make arrangements for parking at the trailhead. With loaded packs and 2,400 feet of elevation gain, our first day on trail will be our toughest. Our hike will start at the Twin Lakes trailhead (7,092 feet) and continue eight miles along a scenic forested trail and past emerald lakes as we ascend to our first camp at Peeler Lake (9,520 feet).
Day 3: Today our hike takes us to the remote northern entry of Yosemite National Park. We will hike down Kerrick Meadow toward Seavey Pass, where we will make camp by a nearby lake (9,150 feet).
Days 4-5: Our hike will continue on trail with a moderate up-and-down segment from Seavey Pass (9,150 feet) to Rogers Lake (9,508 feet). We will plan to stop at beautiful Benson Lake -- known for its large sandy beach. Our hike continues to Rogers Lake, where we will make camp for two nights with a layover day to explore nearby lakes, climb Volunteer Peak, and/or enjoy the serenity and solitude of a peaceful day.
Day 6: Refreshed from our layover, we will head over Benson Pass (10,130 feet) and enter Matterhorn Canyon. There we will hike farther up the canyon and make camp along the river, enjoying views of the nearby majestic craggy peaks of the Sawtooth Ridge.
Day 7: Today we start early and continue up Matterhorn Canyon and over Burro Pass (10,650 feet). We will hike down from the pass and make camp beneath the Sawtooth Ridge near Piute Creek. Our early start and shorter travel day will allow time to amble and explore the upper canyon.
Day 8: We will hike over Mule Pass (10,470 feet) and return to the Hoover Wilderness for our last night together. We will make camp at Crown Lakes (9,500 feet).
Day 9: Today our hike will conclude with an Eastern Sierra finale that covers eight miles and descends 2,400 feet. We will complete our 50-mile loop back to the trailhead at Twin Lakes.
Logistics
Getting There
We will meet on the eastern side of the Sierra Nevada at a campground near Twin Lakes, located about 15 miles southwest of Bridgeport, California off of Twin Lakes Road. Please make plans to arrive no later than 3:00 p.m on Saturday. It’s recommended that you arrive a day or two early to adjust to the higher altitude. A reserved campsite will be available for camping Friday as well.
We will have dinner at a local café (not included in trip price) or you can bring your own meal to eat at the campsite. Our first provided meal will be an early breakfast at camp on Sunday. After breakfast, we will drive a short distance to the trailhead. There is a parking fee per vehicle (not included) to park at the private trailhead parking area at Mono Village Resort
Getting There
We will meet on the eastern side of the Sierra Nevada at a campground near Twin Lakes, located about 15 miles southwest of Bridgeport, California off of Twin Lakes Road. Please make plans to arrive no later than 3:00 p.m on Saturday. It’s recommended that you arrive a day or two early to adjust to the higher altitude. A reserved campsite will be available for camping Friday as well.
We will have dinner at a local café (not included in trip price) or you can bring your own meal to eat at the campsite. Our first provided meal will be an early breakfast at camp on Sunday. After breakfast, we will drive a short distance to the trailhead. There is a parking fee per vehicle (not included) to park at the private trailhead parking area at Mono Village Resort.
The closest major airport is Reno, NV, located 150 miles north of Bridgeport. The San Francisco/Oakland/San Jose airports are located approximately 250 miles away, and the Los Angeles airport is 325 miles away. A group roster will be provided to assist participants who want to make advance travel arrangements for ride-sharing to Twin Lakes, CA (Bridgeport).
Please do not make non-refundable travel arrangements until notified to do so by the trip leader.
Accommodations and Food
All meals are included, beginning with breakfast on our first backpacking day (day two) and concluding with lunch on the last day (day nine). Meals will be healthy and vegetarian friendly. Some food sensitivities may be accommodated. However, please let us know when you apply of any food allergies or dietary restrictions. Boiled water and tablets for treating group water will be provided. A gravity water filter system will also be made available for group use. For any non-group personal water treatment, you must provide your own water purification method. Trip participants will share in the responsibility of daily meal preparation and clean up while on trail. Throughout our trip, we will adhere to all land agency regulations and guidelines, as well as the principles of Leave No Trace (LNT).
Backpacking in the Sierra Nevada requires preparation for variable weather and travel conditions, including thunderstorms, rain, snow, and wind. Participants are required to provide their own rain shelter and sleeping bags. All backcountry camps will be eco-friendly and selected on the principles of Leave No Trace.
Trip Difficulty
The trip is well suited for the intermediate and experienced backpacker who is comfortable hiking at subalpine elevations. This trip is rated 4 on a scale from 1 to 5, with 5 being the most difficult. The trip requires excellent health and fitness, appropriate gear, and flexibility for the changing conditions that are often encountered in the High Sierra. Our route starts at 7,000 feet and will climb 2,400 feet on the first day. We will average about eight miles per day on trail, with our longest day being 10 miles. Our camp selections will be mostly between 9,000 feet and 10,000 feet. This trip requires some backpacking or hiking experience at or near 10,000 feet and on uneven rocky terrain for short segments of cross-country travel. The route will ascend and descend over four passes, with an overall elevation gain and loss of nearly 8,500 feet. The trip is designed to welcome opportunities to explore nearby lakes, meadows, and dramatic vistas, including the geological wonder of Slide Mountain. We will be mindful of the Leave No Trace principals to help reduce and minimize our impact.
Equipment and Clothing
The Sierra Club will provide group cooking equipment, a group first-aid kit, group water treatment and gravity filter while in camp (each participant is responsible for his/her own personal water treatment while on the trail), and bear-resistant food storage canisters. At the start of the trip you will be given a full bear canister and/or a portion of the group gear with a combined weight of up to 15 pounds. It is very important that you limit your personal gear and pack weight to no more than 25 pounds, so that together with 1-2 liters of water your total pack weight will be less than 45 pounds. We require that you bring or plan to share a tent (highly recommended) or lightweight tarp (at a minimum), sturdy and comfortable broken-in boots that provide good ankle support, a sleeping bag that will keep you warm in freezing temperatures, a small personal first-aid kit, and waterproof rain jacket and pants.
The leader will send detailed equipment recommendations to participants well in advance of the trip. More information regarding personal gear may be found at http://www.knapsack.org/basic_equipment.html/.
References
- U.S.G.S. 7.5-minute quadrangles: Buckeye Ridge, Falls Ridge, Matterhorn Peak, and Piute Mountain
- Tom Harrison Cartography: Hoover Wilderness Region Trail map
- Hill, Mary, Geology of the Sierra Nevada. University of California Press. “A smooth-flowing, easily read historical account of the ‘Sierra Nevada through the ages.’” – G.D. Howell
- Jackson, Louise A., The Sierra Nevada Before History, Ancient Landscapes, Early Peoples. Mountain Press.
- Laws, John Muir, The Laws Field Guide to the Sierra Nevada. California Academy of Sciences.
- O’Neil, Elizabeth Stone, Meadow In The Sky. Albicaylis Press. This book is about the history of Tuolumne Meadows.
- Sanborn, Margaret, Yosemite: Its Discovery, Its Wonders and Its People. Yosemite Association.
- Secor, R.J., The High Sierra: Peaks, Passes, and Trails. The Mountaineers Books. This is an excellent general reference to climbing routes, cross-country routes, and trails in the Sierra Nevada.
Conservation
“Humankind has not woven the web of life.
We are but one thread within it.
Whatever we do to the web, we do to ourselves.
All things are bound together.
All things connect.”- Chief Seattle, 1854
The Sierra Club Outings program provides an excellent opportunity for members to discuss current problems while also celebrating past conservation victories. Our hike will take us through both the Hoover Wilderness and Yosemite National Park. We invite participants to think about past, current, and future issues impacting our natural water resources, climatic conditions, and technology. We will have opportunities to discuss your thoughts and concerns related to these topics as well as explore how we can continue to make contributions to the protection and preservation in these areas.
Sierra Club National Outings is an equal-opportunity provider and when applicable will operate under permits obtained from U.S. federal land agencies.
Staff
Important Notes
- Carbon Offsets
- Carpooling
- Electronic Billing and Forms
- Electronic Devices
- Equipment
- Essential Eligibility Criteria
- How to Apply for a Trip
- Leader Gratuities
- Medical Issues
- Non-discrimination Statement
- Participant Agreement
- Seller of Travel Disclosure
- Single Supplements
- Terms and Conditions
- Travel Insurance
- Trip Feedback
- Trip Price
- Wilderness Manners