LogFAQs > #972690300

WarfireX posted...

Did you go with a group? I want to do this. I'm in good shape and know my stuff from years of climbing, but I have two hang ups. One is that I refuse to use a mule because I hear they are mistreated. The other thing is that I don't know a group to go with, so I would conceivably need to backpack all my stuff down and back. The logistics got me to bail on the idea.

Yeah, I went with my brother, my cousin, and my dad. It was in early May so the weather was good.

We mostly all backpacked our own stuff though. The only thing that was shared was my cousins backpacking stove, pot for hot water, and gas. You dont need to carry a huge amount of stuff for just an overnight stay in good weather. I just slept on a little air mattress with a light sleeping bag without a tent since there was no chance of rain.

I had a 64oz hydro flask bottle for water that I would refill when able. For food I ate a big breakfast before starting, and then had a mountain house freeze dried meal for dinner, another mountain house for breakfast the morning at the bottom, and then an MRE for lunch about halfway going back up (at the Indian Garden where you have restrooms and water available)

I just wore the same clothes during the entire hike, maybe had a change of underwear but cant remember for sure.

I wore long sleeves, jeans, and a sun hat, while putting sunscreen on my hands and face. I also had a small first aid kit but didnt need to use it.

I was pretty beat by the time we made it back up but if my dad at 62 could do it, then anyone in good shape and adequate preparation should find it manageable.

I did reserve a night at one of the lodges inside the park on the rim so we could just crash after making it back up and didnt have to worry about traveling anywhere else right away.