[pct-l] 200 mile backpack

[RBALCORN at cs.com (RBALCORN@xxxxxx)]

Hike the John Muir Trail south, starting at Toulumne Meadows instead of Yosemite valley.  That saves you a very hard 1st couple of days.  Sleep overnight in the backpackers campground at Toulumne Meadows.  That will get you acclimated to the elevation.  Have a food drop at Vermillion Valley Resort. Each carry a Bearikade Expedition (rent from manufacturer). After VVR, food drop is problematical. Logical point is via Kearsarge pass, but that would be a side trip out.  The Bearikades carry about 12 days of freeze dried food, and it is roughly 120 miles out to Whitney Portal, so you could do it with 12-15 mile days. There is an east side shuttle service that would take you back to Toulumne Meadows. More detailed info is on my website www.backpack45.com