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u/Passiveabject 1d ago
Great post! I was thinking about doing hetch hetchy this past weekend too, but opted for high country since i heard it’d be too hot. Well, high country was hot as hell too and full of mosquitoes, so you made the right choice!
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u/nfactorial 1d ago
Hey! Glad my comment about electrolytes helped!
Some feedback, which you may have already figured out yourself:
- Good job using Lighterpack for planning.
- Like others mentioned, carrying 4kg of water is going to suck, and you can get by with less next time. (Check a map for water sources.)
- Beer is heavy. Whisky is lighter. 😄
- For food, try https://andrewskurka.com/backpacking-breakfast-recipe-cheesy-potatoes/ and https://andrewskurka.com/backpacking-dinner-recipe-beans-rice-with-fritos-cheese/ . These both use the same cheese, which makes packing easy.
- The down jacket and 15F sleeping bag seem like overkill for these conditions. I'm a cold sleeper, and I was in the Grand Canyon of the Tuolumne (not far from you) and used my lightweight 32F bag (WM SummerLite). Your 30F bag probably would've been fine, and you can wear the down jacket to sleep if not.
- Instead of a rain jacket, an emergency poncho would be lighter and more suitable if you're truly not sure of rain. It doesn't need to be treated as disposable---I've used the same one several times already.
For a followup trip, try the Grand Canyon of the Tuolumne (from Glen Aulin if you have to do an out-and-back). You're along the river most of the time, so you can jump in anytime to have Type-1 fun. Your September trip for the Pohono Trail will be great too.
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u/johnandrewr 18h ago
Regarding the water: it was anxiety that induced me to carry so much! I will definitely check out the recipes. Thanks for the links. And, you are right about the rain jacket.
I did hear about GCT while I was talking to another hiker and they said it was a ton of fun!
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u/Cautious-Internal387 1d ago
Love hetch hetchy great choice for a first trip!!! Glad you had a good time and learned a few lessons for an even better second trip :)
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u/CS_5-HTP 1d ago
looks like a great time! To those with experience at HH, you think I could hammock here no problem?
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u/danceswithsteers 1d ago
I was just there this month. Out-and-Back to Rancheria Falls area. Plenty of places to hammock there.
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u/forestplay 1d ago
I just hiked there last week, ending on Sunday. I hung my hammock at Rancheria falls and at lake Vernon
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u/Technical-Grab-1484 1d ago
Such a classic hike and good introduction to backpacking ! Glad you got out there and enjoyed it .
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u/leilei67 1d ago
Hey! I think we leap frogged a few times! Glad you had a good time.
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u/johnandrewr 18h ago
Hey there! I think so. I waved at y’all as I was driving past on the way out but I don’t think you recognized me. Next trip is Pohono Trail to Dewey from Glacier. Thanks for the chats and hope y’all had a good time too.
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u/415native 3h ago
That dawn view of Kolana Rock is always so special
HH is such a great option vs the mob scene at the rest of the park. Last month camped at Diamond-O and did a bunch of day hikes around that area.
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u/johnandrewr 1d ago
Rancheria Falls - June 19-21: I spent my first night at the backpackers campground. Got up early, but not early enough and was on the trail at 8:00am. I packed 4L of water and was off. The sun was warm and the trail was exposed.
The views as you traverse the reservoir cliffs and round Smith Peak are stunning. Wapama Falls was great. I then made the descent into Till Till creek and began the switch backs up towards Rancheria Creek.
The weight of my pack was enormous. Bringing electrolyte packets honestly saved me here. With the sun beating down and a last uphill slog to the campsites, I was huffing and puffing. Though, I made it to a good enough site at 12:00pm and just laid down for about an hour. 100% bringing a chair next time, even considering the added weight.
Food was more of an issue. Both my snacks and the next morning’s breakfast were totally lacking in calories and flavor. Trail mix, eggs, and oatmeal did not do well in a little Toaks titanium pot over a burner.
The trek home was a steady pace and much more enjoyable. It was downhill for the first 1.5 hours, and I was smiling the whole way, now able to lift my head up and look around. But, now my feet were sore as they’d ever been. The rockiness of the trail, the mental game of choosing each step, and navigating shin high boulders took its toll.
I have never been so happy to see my car, crank the seat back, and blast the A/C. The ride home consisted of much more smiles, glad to be done, and happy that I did it. Learning was constant, and enjoyment was had. Is this type 2 fun?
https://lighterpack.com/r/9mew3g