Mt Whitney Zone Forums General Discussion High Sierra Camps In Yosemite - Guided Trips

Hello Fellow Zoners,

My friends and I submitted our application to the lottery for a 5-day guided High Sierra Camp trip in Yosemite in 2014.

I tried searching on the Whitney Zone to see if anyone has discussed these trips but, of course, searching on 'Sierra', 'Camp', 'Yosemite' produces many, many results.

If anyone knows of a previous thread on this subject can you please post a link in this thread.

If there is not a previous thread, does anyone on the WZ have first hand knowledge about one of these trips. If anyone can share their experience I would love to hear about it.

Thank you.

I did this in 2009. It is what started my love affair with the mountains...led to Whitney in 2010, etc., etc. I think mine was a 7 day/6 night deal ... we hit all the camps, with two nights at Merced.

Accommodations are shared and rudimentary, while the food is excellent and plentiful. You can easily keep your pack below 20 lbs since you don't have to carry food, bedding or utensils.

I met a lot of interesting folks at the camps, too. Conversation was never in short supply.

Now, I prefer to carry my stuff, be self-sufficient, and save $$$. But I still have wonderful memories of my loop trip.

If you have any questions, happy to answer them here or offline.

I hope you will discuss this in public!

A note on searching: Put a + in front of each word to find only posts with all words. I tried:
+high +Sierra +Camp +Yosemite
using 5 years and got 32 results. But none are discussing the Yosemite High Sierra camps.

Lynn, I'll but you and friends would have a fantastic trip.

...and if you don't get in, remember the Thousand Island Lake trip -- hire packers to drop your gear and hike in, then you could make various dayhikes with base camp by T.I. Lake.

i found these:

trip advisor

ny times 2007 article

la times article 2011

Thank you, Achikow, Steve C., and smithb,

Achikow, I know this trip is pricey and can be done without a guide but my friends are not into backpacking long distances with heavy packs and they hate to sleep on the ground for more than one night. The only backpacking I have done in the past five years is one or two nights on the Mt. Whitney main trail. I don't mind sleeping on the ground. Happy to hear you enjoyed the High Sierra Camp guided trip.

Steve C., thank you for the reminder about the Thousand Lakes trip.

smithb, thank you for the links. I read the responses of those who have taken the trip, overall they are very positive. I will read the articles this weekend.

Thanks again, everyone.

I'm a big fan of the trip. Like I said, it got me started on the adventure that is the second half of my life, as I see it! And for logistical challenges that are involved in running the camps, the prices are reasonable, as long as one goes in with a clear idea of what to expect!

my one and only stay at a HSC was at May Lake HSC in 1996

if you have time, be sure to pop up to the top of Mt Hoffman from there. Nice view looking over at Clouds Rest and Half Dome. Mt Hoffman overlooks the lake, but you go around the side on easy terrain and trail. The very last bit on rock up to the radio tower is optional. I'm thinking maybe it was 4 hr round trip from the camp to top and back. 1600 ft climb.
Mt Hoffman

we 4 snuck in when someone cancelled. Even so, the 8-person tent cabin only had 1 other person. Did not stay to use the propane-powered hot water showers, but I guess they still have those.

I've hiked through, ate at, or camped near all of the HSC in Yosemite, but never actually stayed in one. They are a great alternative and everyone seems to have a fun time with energy to explore the area, like climbing Mt Hoffman. Hoffman is at the geographic center of the park which helps explain those awesome views, as Harvey wrote. We like Vogelsang the best, but they're all great.