Mt. Whitney Portal Store & Hostel Forums General Mt. Whitney Portal Store Message Board Suggestions?

I'm heading into the Stockton area for business Memorial Day weekend. I'll have all day Monday and Tuesday to play and I'm looking for a good overnight hike. I'm an experienced backpacker but do not have Winter hiking skills (crampons/ice ax). No issues keeping warm/dry in sub-freezing temps though. Can someone reccomend a hike for me with a good camping spot somewhere between Yosemite and Lone Pine?

Hi Michigan,

I've been racking my brain trying to find suggestions for you - Stockton is on the West Side, Lone Pine on the East Side...so many places to go and see between the two. You could have a nice overnight hike in Sequoia to Pear Lake since you mentioned that you're not comfortable in crampons. Trailhead would be Wolverton. You wouldn't have to worry about rattlesnakes. Otherwise I can only suggest that you stop by the visitors Center in Bishop and ask them. They are nice helpful folks.

Since there is snow predicted, and I'm a relative newbie to all of this, I really can't offer up much more....sorry. Have fun, be safe.

I've settled on Wildrose Peak in Death Valley. Any tips regarding the Wildrose hike? Good camping spots? Someone at the NPS suggested camping about 3 miles down the trail at the main saddle.

Check out the post: The Dog and Cat Death Valley 2011 TR from March 10th. Pics and info. Bulldog34 and several others did this in February, so there will be lots of info for you to check out.

If you are in Stockton its a long ride to get to the Eastern Sierra, hwy 120 is still closed as of today. Here is the link to check http://www.dot.ca.gov/cgi-bin/roads.cgi. Last time I checked progress was slow clearing it. Emigrant Wilderness may be accessible its worth looking into.

Like others said, getting to the Eastern Sierra would be tough from Stockton. Yosemite Valley would be a good option from Stockton for midweek hiking. Try hiking up the north side (sunny side)on the trail to the top of Yosemite Falls, and overnight camping in one of the meadows at the top (the falls are probably going full blast right now). Hiking up towards Half Dome would also be an option, with an overnight in Little Yosemite Valley. Sequoia Natl Park or Kings Canyon would also be an option, but both probably still have a lot of snow right now.

How about looking west? Pinnacles Natl Monument is unique and only a few hours away - car camping only (and only of the east side of teh Monument), no backcountry camping, but interesting hiking among the remenants of an extinct volcano, including some neat caves. About two hours south of San Francisco, probably 3.5 from Stockton, and pretty quiet during the week (it gets packed on weekends).

Thanks for the information. I'm actually flying into Vegas a couple days early to do the DV hike and driving up to Stockton from there. I may also have some free time next weekend so I'll definately take all suggestions into consideration.

I'm just sorry to hear you have to go to STOCKTON... I work there.

We go to Stockton once a year: The Asparagas Festival. Not as good as the Gilroy Garlic Festival, but close to Sacramento.