Uh huh, ol' 60/40 here....
Here's what I wrote when DUG invited me:
DUDE!!! Three days, 100 miles....
OV 9200
KP 11800 + 1600
BL 10800 - 1000
GP 12000 + 1200
PV 8500 - 3500
PP 12100 + 3600
-- 10100 - 2000
MP 12100 + 2000
SM 6000 - 6100
GP 10700 + 4700
-- 10000 - 700
-- 10300 + 300
RE 5000 - 5300
KP 11800 + 6800
OV 9200 - 1600
Total gain and loss: 20,200 That's about 7,000 gain and loss each day.
Hell, man! I couldn't have done that in my prime (and that was at least 30 years ago)! Even with an ultralight load of ~10-15 lbs.
That would be an ambitious week-long trip for me.I especially like the drop from GP (Glacier Pass) to RE (Road's End). Over 5k vertical drop in a short distance. And then turn around and climb almost 7k over KP (Kearsarge Pass).
Ya know, we considered a TSDH (Trans-Sierra Day Hike) from Roads End to Onion Valley a few years ago, where we would do the car-key swap mid-hike with another group. But we couldn't find anyone willing to do the RE - KP - OV direction. But I did get people to do the opposite. Did it in 11 hours. But getting a car dropped at Roads End for us to use driving home was a big issue.
...But here's another trip I've been dreaming about: A trans-Sierra hike starting at South Lake. Bishop Pass, Dusy Basin, Le Conte Canyon, Middle Fork Kings River past Simpson Meadow, down to Tehipite Valley. Then for the unknown: off trail the last 6-8 miles to the South Fork Kings, and connect with Hwy 180 where it climbs out of the Kings Canyon. I keep hoping to explore that unknown stretch in the fall when the water is very low, but never get a round tuit. Tell you what DUG, you do that one, and I'll pick you up on the west side!
