From: johnf@Auspex.COM (John Fereira)
Newsgroups: rec.travel,rec.backcountry
Subject: Re: Day Trips in Northern California
Date: 20 Aug 92 21:21:00 GMT
Followup-To: rec.travel
Distribution: usa
Organization: Auspex Systems, Inc.

In article <1992Aug18.202958.23571@linus.mitre.org>, mbmg@beethoven.mitre.org (Michae writes...
|I am planning an 8 day trip in Northern California in the middle of
|October.  I plan to visit Shasta NF, Lassen NP, Lake Tahoe and Reno,
|Yosemites and Kings Canyon. I will be staying in motels, and make
|backpacking day trips, up to 10 hours/day.
|
|I have never been there before, and would appreciate information on
|the highlights of the area (accessible by day trips). Am I trying to visit
|too many places? What is your advice?

Michael is doing a trip that I've wanted to do for some time (actually I'd
like to make it a three week trip though).  However instead of hitting
Shasta and Lassen I would start at Tahoe and work south.  Highway 395
runs along the east side of the Sierras so a lot of miles can be covered
north and south.  Beginning at Lake Tahoe I'd spend some time in 
Desolation Wilderness or down near Blue Lakes Basin (near Markleeville)
I'd head south from there and hit Lobdell Lake (the only lake that I know
of in California that has Grayling).  That would only be a morning trip.
From there, Twin Lakes are just a bit south, as well as Green Lakes.  Both
provide good trailheads. Just a few miles south I could go up to Virginia
lakes where cabins are available for rent.  Another good trailhead appears
here.  Just a few miles south I could head east and visit the ghost town
of Bodie, but I've been there so I'll pass.  I'll pass on Lundy Lake
as well.  Oops, the turn off for Bodie is north of Virginia lakes.  Mono
Lake is definately worth a visit.  Rather that stay at one of the places
in Lee Vining though I'd continue down to the June Lake loop (about 10
miles south) and stay in one of the housekeeping cabins next to Silver
Lake or one of the many others on the loop.  This is a good place to
"basecamp".  Day trips to any of the places from Lobdell lake south are
easily accessible from the June Lake Loop.  The Loop is about three miles
from hwy. 120, which goes into Yosemite.  I've done day trips into
Toulomne Meadows from June Lake loop.  I'd highly recommend you consider
it as a base camp for covering a wide area.  

Here's where we would split up.  I would continue south and go into the
Mammoth Lakes area, on down to Rock Creek, and down to the area east of
Bishop.  I could continue down to the Mt. Whitney area or visit the
Mohave desert.

Since you want to visit Yosemite you'd be heading up hwy. 120 at this
point.  A good day trip is to go to 20 lakes basin just behind Saddlebag
lake. Saddlebag lake is just before you hit the eastern entrance of 
Yosemite.  A shuttleboat will take you to other end of the lake and you
can do a nice ~4 mile loop hike around the basin and visit about half of
the 20 lakes in a day.  Bring your fishing rod. Some of the lakes hold
golden trout.  The others have some of the prettiest brook trout you'll
ever see.  Finding a place to stay in Yosemite can be real difficult.
You'll want to visit Yosemite valley.  It's extremely crowded but it still
is worth experiencing at least once.  As someone else mentioned Kings
Canyon is best done with a bit of hiking.  Sequoia National Forest (just 
sout) is worth a visit though.
-- 
+============================================================================++
| John Fereira            "Is that all you ever think about?"                |
| johnf@auspex.com                                                           |
+============================================================================++
Newsgroups: rec.travel