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7-6-21 Onion Valley to Roads End
#59010 07/09/21 11:19 PM
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 648
Likes: 52
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Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 648
Likes: 52
I’ve almost always attempted a peak when I’ve done significant hikes, but this was different. Like the 2019 Grand Canyon Rim to Rim hike, this was point to point, with no peaks attempted. Not an especially exciting or entertaining trip report, but maybe informative for someone wanting to repeat it.

It’s a 367-mile drive from Onion Valley to Roads End, but it’s only 21 miles to hike across. CalTopo says 3,655’ of gain and 7,865’ of loss. I initially estimated ten hours, but I thought I might do it in nine. Then I saw the 96° forecast for Roads End and reconsidered.

I had been to Junction Meadow (East Creek) from both Onion Valley and Roads End, so I had hiked the entire route at one time or another. It’s a straightforward hike on good trail the whole way. I started at 4:15 AM from Onion Valley, with my wife breaking camp and heading for Roads End via Bakersfield a few minutes later. I took the “low road” past Bullfrog Lake to save a little mileage.

Sometimes, I filter my water, and sometimes I don’t. I wouldn’t trust the water in Bubbs Creek, right next to the trail and the horses much of the way. But Charlotte Creek runs a long way with no trail nearby before it joins Bubbs Creek. I figured I could get water there at mile 14 and not carry a filter. The 96° forecast for Roads End convinced me to bring the filter anyway. Two quarts and a refill at Charlotte Creek were more than I needed. Better safe than sorry.

Thanks to the early start, a few clouds, and the shade from the trees, I spent less than ten minutes truly baking in the hot sun. I finished at 1:45 PM, and my wife had only been waiting 20 minutes for me to arrive. It was a nice adventure, despite putting over 1,000 miles on the car by the time we got home.

2 members like this: BFR, Snacking Bear
Re: 7-6-21 Onion Valley to Roads End
bobpickering #59012 07/10/21 07:29 PM
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 8,507
Likes: 103
S
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Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 8,507
Likes: 103
That's a lotta car miles for a 21 mile hike! Glad you made it.

When I did that with friends, one of the hikers' partner dropped us off at Onion Valley after camping overnight there. And the week before, a friend drove my car up and parked it for us at road's end. So I guess it still took lots of miles of driving, but it was divided between three cars.

It's still a cool hike to start on one side of the Sierra and walk to the other in a day!


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