supafreeza

If you guys like a challenge, there's also the Grand canyon rim to rim to rim hike. I know it's not in socal but it too has amazing views. The scenery vastly surpasses that of Mt. Whitney and Half dome. I did this hike last year over 2 days, and it's about 48 miles round trip.

You can easily make it a backpacking trip over the course of a week.

ISF4life

iTrader: (30)

Been there done that, and Havasu Fall too, bring a good long stick to catch those rattle snakes for dinner Mountain hiking is much more strenuous , more challenge because of the high altitude

SB350

iTrader: (1)

My wife and I just did this hike last weekend! It was an absolutely incredible hiking experience. We didn't really know what to expect before hiking Angels Landing...all we knew is that there were chains at the top and figured it would be similar to Half Dome or Trail Crest at Whitney. Nope. It was a treacherous climb up a 6 foot wide spine with a 1,500 foot vertical drop on either side. The hike wasn't difficult, it was just more of a mind over matter thing to conquer any fear of heights. It was also 30 degrees and there was some snow on the trail.

5.4 miles round trip, 1,500' elevation gain, 3 hours.

This was my first time to Zion, and we were just driving through, so we didn't really get to see much of the park. I can't wait to go back though. I want to hike the Subway and the Narrows when I return.

1) View of Angels Landing from Scout's Lookout. Trying to decide if I'm going to proceed.


2)


3) Made it. View from the top of Angels Landing


4) Me at the top of Angels Landing


5) View of the other side from the top.


6) My wife starting our descent.


7) Descending the chains.


8) Looking down the switchbacks "Walter's Wiggles"


9) View of Zion Canyon from the trail

ISF4life

iTrader: (30)

Like always Kelly , awesome pictures
here are some pics earlier on today at Mount Jacinto , pretty cold today .

SB350

iTrader: (1)

FYI: It's about 6 months from the summer backpacking season now, which means it's a good time to reserve wilderness permits. I really had a difficult time getting an overnight wilderness permit in Yosemite this year because everything filled up so quick. I was able to get one, but not for the dates and trails that I wanted.

I got a permit reservation to hike from Tuolumne Meadows to Yosemite Valley. I'm taking a 34 mile route over 3 days:
Cathedral Lakes -> Sunrise Lakes -> Clouds Rest -> Half Dome -> Nevada Falls -> Glacier Point -> Valley Floor

I wanted to start at Tenaya Lake to save about 9 miles of hiking, but the overnighter quota for that trail is only 12 and it filled up too quickly.

This hike should be a good start to my summer backpacking season

ISF4life

iTrader: (30)

Sounds really good

SB350

iTrader: (1)

For some reason, I decided to hike Mt. Baldy a couple Saturdays ago on the hottest day of the century. It was a miserable 108 degrees heading back down.

Here's the view looking back at the summit from the "Devil's Backbone." It was pretty clear that day. You could see Catalina Island on the horizon:



Next week is my 3 day Yosemite backpacking trip.

vwynn

iTrader: (4)

man that looks fun.

2ndGF

iTrader: (1)

[QUOTE=SB350;7601010]My wife and I just did this hike last weekend! It was an absolutely incredible hiking experience. We didn't really know what to expect before hiking Angels Landing...all we knew is that there were chains at the top and figured it would be similar to Half Dome or Trail Crest at Whitney. Nope. It was a treacherous climb up a 6 foot wide spine with a 1,500 foot vertical drop on either side. The hike wasn't difficult, it was just more of a mind over matter thing to conquer any fear of heights. It was also 30 degrees and there was some snow on the trail.

5.4 miles round trip, 1,500' elevation gain, 3 hours.

This was my first time to Zion, and we were just driving through, so we didn't really get to see much of the park. I can't wait to go back though. I want to hike the Subway and the Narrows when I return.



Thats awesome, I m glad you enjoyed Angel's Landing!! We did the opposite though, I did Angel's Landing in the heat and did Mt. Baldy in the snow, lol!!! We all need to get together for a hike.

ISF4life

iTrader: (30)

Let's Roll

SB350

iTrader: (1)

Here's a few pictures from my Yosemite hike last weekend. Unfortunately there was a huge fire in the area making some of my pictures hazy. I highly recommend this 3 day, 26 mile hike in Yosemite:

Day 1 (9.5 Miles) - Tuolumne Meadows > Cathedral Peak > Sunrise Lakes
Day 2 (6.7 Miles) - Sunrise Lakes > Clouds Rest > Sunrise Creek
Day 3 (9.5 Miles) - Sunrise Creek > Half Dome > Valley Floor via Mist Trail

This hike was a warm-up for my next hike in 2 weeks which is a 5 day hike from Onion Valley to Mt. Whitney.

1) Upper Cathedral Lake


2) Cathedral Peak from Upper Cathedral Lake:


3) Cathedral Pass


4) Cathedral Peak


5) Camp at Sunrise Lake


6) Sunset at Sunrise Lake


7) Yosemite Valley at sunset from Sunrise Lakes


8) Sunrise at Sunrise Lakes


9) Ascending Clouds Rest


10) Yosemite Valley from top of Clouds Rest

vwynn

iTrader: (4)

did you guys overnight clouds rest or did it in 1 go?

SB350

iTrader: (1)

We overnighted it and did Clouds Rest on day 2 of the 3 day hike. We sorta took a roundabout way to reach clouds rest because I was unable to get an overnight permit starting at Tenaya Lake.

SB350

iTrader: (1)

Just got back from a 5 day/62 mile hike. South Lake to North Lake loop (Bishop Pass to Piute Pass) in the Sierras which included 30 miles through Evolution Valley on the John Muir Trail. Lots of rain throughout the hike, but still beautiful nonetheless.

1. Bishop Pass looking East


2. Bishop Pass looking West


3.


4.


5. Sunrise on the JMT


6. Evolution Lake


7. Camping at Evolution Lake


8. Evolution Valley


9.


10. The Muir Hut at Muir Pass 12,000 ft.


11. Sunset at Piute Pass

ISF4life

iTrader: (30)

Beautiful places very cool .