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@atleandersen1924... thank you for the health information/warning! I appreciate comments like yours that inform "less plastic educated people" (like me) on an important plastic health issue. And I think you have a dark wit that generations of my family members would have enjoyed if they were still alive to read it. Unfortunately aluminum poisoning, asbestos, radiation, fast food, led paint, pesticides, war, and the air that they were breathing killed them all before the BPA rang their death knell. But... I will look into BPA issues with the Freezer Bag versions of Zip Locs to verify what you are warning me of! All dark humor aside, I do take you seriously. And I will change my trail habits if it is a real health risk. Thank you for commenting. Once again... I like how you expressed yourself, your sarcasm. It runs in my family too. And it grabbed my attention and made me chuckle.

@@stephenswilderness687 :-) Forgive me, I'm Scandinavian - and a old fart! The pitch black humor is baked into me. Really enjoy your content. Thanks a million.

@@atleandersen1924 No no no "sorry"! We are from the same DNA. I'm mostly Swedish in my heritage... even if I'm also a European mutt mixed in. One of my best friends is Swedish royalty, born and raised in Stockholm. No need for apology! I enjoyed your black humor and I understood it. That's why I fired back with some family death humor! I'm also an old fart! Class of 84. Joy Division. Bauhaus. New Order. Simple Minds. Siouxsie. And all the old classic rock and proto-punk. We'd get along just fine on the trail my friend. take care and happy trails!

@@stephenswilderness687 It was an apology with a wink and a smile. Absolutely no offense taken 🙂

Have you tried watching it with the sound on mute? Lol. Joking. I know music or no music... and/or choices of music is a struggle of mine. I'm a huge music fan and that means I don't always make good choices for music for anyone but me. But I appreciate honest comments like yours. So thank you for caring enough to share how you feel. I might just try all natural sound with no music in future trip videos.

I never did try taking my 400ml out on the trail. I've stuck with the custom 550 Toaks. I think 550 is very reasonable.

Thank you for sharing about your trip! It does sound like you had some challenges. I’m glad it turned out to be a good adventure. I do love Piute Pass. In fact Piute all the way down to the PCT is just a great stretch of trail with beauty at every turn. And for the most part it’s a gentle descent/climb depending on your direction. Piute. Bishop. Kearsarge. The Eastern Sierras have the best entry points to the high Sierra backcountry. Each of them are spectacular in their own way. And not too difficult for most hikers. Yeah. I can’t wait to get back up there as well. Thanks again for the comment. Happy trails to you my friend. Stay safe.

Awesome! Thanks for watching!

Hey Ben. Not any reasons that are beyond personal preference. And my reasons are petty if I'm being honest. I really like all the fuel types and stove types. And as far as all my timed boil comparisons vs weight of fuel etc... has proven to me that there is negligeable differences in the end between any of the choices. They all even out in the end. The disadvantage in my own mind with canister stoves is carrying the extra and unnecessary canister weight... even when they are empty. And the limited ability to make trip size adjustments. I like to be more precise. I think alcohol and Esbit appeal to me in their stove weights (cat can alcohol stove and gram cracker esbit namely) and the ability to take exactly what you need for each trip length. I don't need any fancy control over the heat generated except that they need to boil water eventually for my favorite meals on the trail. That's about it. So actually either method works just fine for me. I've used Heat and Fire Gel for my alcohol stoves and although Fire Gel is the safest method since it really cant "spill" if the stove is bumped or knocked over... I think Heat is more efficient. But thats a different discussion.. I suppose, now that I'm re-thinking it all to answer your question... I like esbit over alcohol because it doesn't leak, it's just as easy to calculate, it does what I need it to do, I can store it a bit easier than a bottle of alcohol/heat, and I just really like the Gram Cracker stove. Just a couple tiny bent pieces of titanium. Not very persuasive or deep reasons. So. In the end it comes down to a preference of what simple method I enjoy using on trail the most. And Esbit wins by a hair and a habit. Lol. Now... if I was prepping for a long thru-hike like the PCT or CDT, I would probably take an esbit alcohol combo stove or a gram cracker and cat can so I would have all the options for resupply in small towns with limitations. I think it's more likely to have consistent options for alcohol stoves in those cases. And for a long multi month adventure, even an ultralite canister stove could fit into the equation. Although, with my obsession with grams and ounces... I'd probably stick with the lightest way to use both alcohol and esbit along the journey. Sorry for rambling. Thank you for your question. It was a good one and it made me think about it. Happy trails my friend.

@@stephenswilderness687 I use plumbers cloth or fiberglass insulation in my diy or other stoves (Trangia, BRASSLITE, Sgt Rock ion stove, aluminum beer cap 16oz-qt size) that prevents the fire hazards of a burning spill It also lights faster & evenly but possibly it lowers the BTU? Test that one out if you could? If that helps you to try on your next hiking trip lmk Thanks !

Awesome! So glad you liked it! Thanks for letting me know.

It's a Borah Gear Cuban Bug Bivy (side zip version). I love it's amazing light weight and bug protection. But they are a tight fit. If i'm not worried about bugs I use my Zpacks Solo-Plus Bathtub Groundsheet. I love the shape and size. Fits perfectly in a few of my shelters and tarps. And there's room for the junk I like to keep close at night.

@@stephenswilderness687 Thank you very much for the info I'll have to check them out. I already got this tarp after watching your video. What area was this filmed if you don't mind me asking? It's beautiful.

@@consciousmatter7584 This was extra footage from a little three day hike over Piute Pass on the Eastern side of the Sierras. The campsite was in Humphreys Basin. Check out the video I titled Backpacking the Piute Pass "FLOOPY" Loop/2020 to see the actual loop trip. It's a very beautiful little section of the high sierras.

Thank you. But I'm not depressed at all in the video. I'm just not that comfortable in front of the camera, so perhaps you're feeling that from me.

It's actually a Colombia Silver Ridge Lite long sleeve shirt with the sleeves rolled up and buttoned.

No sir. I purchased both wind screens. But a handy person could create similar wind screens with very little money and time. A paper clip could hold the wind screen together and a hole punch could be used for creating the ventilation holes for airflow.

No mosquito problem at all on this trip. Just a few here and there at dusk. But so few I can't even remember a moment where they were an annoyance let alone a problem. Thank you for our kind words Ray.

@@stephenswilderness687 thank you very much! I'll try to time it at the same ~window as you did.

So true Ben! I did Mt. Whitney almost 30 years ago with a 50-60 lb pack load! Everything was heavier back then and that was with NO mandatory bear cannisters! Lol. I've aged badly since then, sadly. Plantar Fasciitis in my feet and a bad knee that locks up sometimes (from work). Decades as a Local 80 Grip carrying hundreds of pounds of equipment 12-16 hours a day gave me a herniated lower disc and degenerated discs all the way up my spine. I'm actually 1 1/2" shorter than I was when I hiked Whitney the first time. An MRI a few years ago showed arthritis through my lower back on top of all that. The only way I'm able to keep backpacking is to take the lightest load possible. That's one of the reasons I've tried to lighten my equipment over the years. I really hope I don't come off in my videos as a "weight shamer" or judgmental towards stronger hikers than myself who enjoy carrying a heavier load. I honestly don't care one tiny bit what peoples pack weight is as long as they are enjoying themselves in their own way in the great big beautiful outdoors. The mountains are calling to everyone. And they are worth the effort to get out there and see and discover. If you watch my South Lake/North Lake hike video I don't mention it but the morning after the big storm that lasted half the night my knee locked up painfully and I hiked the next two days without the use of my right knee. I couldn't step up or down with that leg the whole way out. Had to use my left leg to bend and let myself down every stair step of granite the next 40 miles. I am always that close to my last backpacking trip. My body is a trainwreck. Lol. But I'll keep heading out to the trail until I just can't do it any more. Then I'll just car camp! Happy trails and best wishes to you my fellow backpacker. Thank you for taking the time to watch one of my videos. The hiking ones are way better than the "gear videos". Which is why I don't really post any gear videos (except 2).

@@stephenswilderness687 Damn! Almost the exactly same issue with the back. No knee issue for now, knock on wood. But that's the same reason I go ultralight at 61. Same fear that every trip might be my last, though I keep on pushing the boulder up the hill for now. Will car camp when I have to. Going out to central PA this weekend and excited for it. Thanks for your posts. 250 subscribers. Should be more. Oh well, their loss. I'm one now. Will check out your locked knee vid. Happy trails!

@@kelwenator You are too kind. And I'm sorry you have similar physical issues. It's almost the only thing I dislike about getting older. But on the up-side... I'm glad to hear you aren't letting that hold you back! Pennsylvania is a beautiful state. I camped in the Welsh Mountains (barely hills actually. lol) with some local Lancaster County friends a few decades ago. Also was asked to drive a group of Amish north for game night into the Allegheny Mountains. Snow and black ice and a fun all-nighter with board game loving young people. I was the first one to fall asleep. Have a great time in PA Kevin. Thanks for watching my videos.

It really is awesome. And it never gets old.

I do really like the warm sack from GG. It's a very light (thin) insulation though so it needs the diy reflectix as well to really keep things HOT in the ziplock freezer bag. The combination really works. Even the last bite of food is still hot! And it's easy/pleasant to eat out of when the food is ready. More natural, like we are used to at home, than eating out of an envelope shape. A long handled spoon is still helpful though to keep the food off the fingers. What I also love about the warm sack (on top of the added insulation) is that it's a DCF stuff sack that keeps the whole kit together in a nice little package. Multi-use or multi-function gear is always top gear. Happy hiking my friend!

It depends. If the large dog is just laying down in the front then it’s probably big enough. If it’s an active dog or something very large like a mastiff then probably not. My dog never comes on trail with me so I have no experience handling animals in a tarp (and it’s only a chihuahua). But I would probably try the 2P size if I were to take a large dog along. I’d feel confident there would be enough room for the dog and anything the dog carries if he/she has gear on. If you don’t mind taking risks, start with the 1P. Or... try the 1P at home with your dog and see if you can get away with it to your liking. See if Gen will send you one with the condition you can exchange it for a 2P if it seems too small when you try it out before your trip. Just an idea. Best to you and happy trails!

I think 4am would be a great start time. The sun would be coming up around the time of some great views and beating the heat and sun would be ideal on this steep and unrelenting climb. If you can do it... I’d say shoot for it.

YAMA Mountain Gear 1P Cirriform Tarp - Dyneema (2020 Updated Version)

I have a first impressions video review of this tarp in my video list if you want to see more about it.

Thanks for watching! I hope you can do the hike some day. It's worth the effort.

Thank you so much!

I don't have a Plexamid. That may be a more ideal all in one shelter. I do love my Zpacks Hexamid Solo Plus. But the entrance is too low for entry. I have a massively degenerated spine and herniated lower disc so the Yama became my favorite for saving my back. I have a MLD Solomid that is similar to the HMG and I do like the storm resistance and simplicity. But the Yama has all that in a slim form factor. (Smaller footprint). It is just a bit less simple to pitch than a four corner mid. But I respect the advantages of the Yama and once again, it saves my back and gives me complete storm safety/protection. I really hope you like yours when you get it. I never intend to direct anyone to a product that won’t work for them. I hope the information I shared was helpful and clear. Best wishes for your future trips! Stay safe and enjoy the trails.

@@stephenswilderness687 ha, I have the same back issues exactly. Interesting, helps put the puzzle together. I have been chasing this “perfect shelter” rainbow for a long time and think that this pretty little lady is about as perfect as I am going to get. I have read in other threads about your bivy’s and your reasoning for choosing one over the other. I wouldn’t use the Yama without a bag bivy at the very least. In fact I want a bedroll. Bivy, Foam pad, inflatable pan, quilt and the odd bit of clothing, all rolled up in one. Which of your bivy’s would work best for this?

@@DavidKD2050 In theory, almost any bivy would work in the set-up you describe if you have enough space in your pack for it. On durability, I would have to say the ALL net top bivy's would be more fragile and prone to tearing with the added force needed to compress the contents within it as a bedroll system. I'd lean towards the MLD Superlight. Or any bivy enclosed primarily in a strong fabric. As long as you have net over your face it's not claustrophobic. I like your idea, and the simplicity of housekeeping in a bedroll. I have much too small a volume pack to be able to do that unfortunately. Although I do keep bed clothes in my bivy some times when it's stuffed and packed. With my limitations in space I have to deflate and roll/stuff each of my bedding items separately or they just won't fit. I hope you find an ideal set-up that works amazing for you! Happy Trails fellow hiker!

@@stephenswilderness687 another question regarding the ability sit up in the tarp. At 5:10 based on the peek height I can sit, just. In your experience how comfortable, or not, is sitting in it. One is unable to place one’s head directly under the heights point as the vertical pole will prevent this.

@@DavidKD2050 Lol. every time I try to reply to you I somehow screw up and erase my long answers. This is the fourth try. Sometimes it just doesn't go as planned.

Thank you!

I'm so glad you liked the video and that it was informative. Yes, I use the Zpacks DCF bathtub floor (made originally for the Hexamid Solo Plus). I like the size so much that I own a few for different shelters. The Plus works perfectly with the 1P Cirriform. I also use the MLD Superlite with DCF floor, but it was for another shelter and the zipper opens on the wrong side for the Yama so I purchased the Borah Bug Bivy for buggy times. Honestly I prefer the MLD Superlite because It's larger than the large Borah Gear Bug Bivy. The Borah is lighter and obviously has more air circulation keeping condensation off your quilt better than the MLD. So there are trade offs. On my Big Seki Loop video I'm using the Zpacks bathtub AND the Borah Bug Bivy together so I was protected from bugs but also had protected floor space for gear. Protected from extreme weather if it ever were to get "floody". Which it didn't. Some polycryo on the ground and the MLD Superite would also work fine but i'm paranoid of super rain storms (i've been in them) so I always use a bathtub floor. As for your second question... If the 1P Min version had been released when I was choosing the Yama Cirriforms I may have purchased that one instead of the standard version. I'm always looking for safe, well made and ultralight shelters. But, if I HAD purchased the Min version... I'd probably be contemplating also getting the Standard version right now to see if it's better. LOL. I really do appreciate the large front vestibule space of mine, and the Min version vestibule is smaller. I really love the low condensation in mine due to the upper vent (partly due to that plus opening the side etc). I suppose realistically that the condensation in the Min is probably no worse since I'd be rolling up the side access every night that there's no rain. So... that may be a wash. I do like the choice of DCF/Dyneema weight Yama chose for my shelter. Very very storm worthy. I don't ever worry about corners ripping out in high winds. It's a tank in it's construction. But... the Min may also survive super high winds. I haven't seen the construction for myself but everything Yama makes is incredibly crafted and well made. I like the simpler pitch of the Min, and the flexibility in pitch WIDTH for different tent site options. At least that's what the website says. When you're exhausted and worn thin from an extreme day... the simpler the pitch the better. But i've had so much practice pitching mine that it's not at all hard. It may take a minute or two longer than pitching the Min... not sure. But easier is better most of the time. Unless it's a trade off for something more important, and I don't see that with the Min. The trade off for simpler pitch seems to be a smaller vestibule and that's about it. The strength issue is in using the lighter DCF for the Min. So that is an intentional design choice by Yama. Ok so bottom line is... both shelters are excellent and every review from users loves them. So are you looking to be as ULTRALIGHT as possible? Would the smaller packed size help in your ultralight backpack? Is condensation or hurricane force storms NOT a real problem in your area? Go with the Min. Lighter, simpler, faster pitch, still storm worthy. But If the weight difference of 2 ounces and slightly bigger packed size doesn't matter to you, and you like the mental comfort of stronger construction for very stormy weather and the added venting hole reducing condensation a little more and the larger vestibule for your gear or cooking... then go with the standard (updated) 1P Cirriform - Dyneema. If I had it to do over again... I'd be in your shoes. It's not an easy decision. But I have absolutely no regrets. I LOVE my 1P Cirriform! I think you can't go wrong with either shelter. Get the one that's available! If both are available... I'd probably go with the Min. You can always sell it and get the other version if you're unhappy with it. Ultralight forums are an easy place to sell off good equipment. There's a serious demand for it and people are willing to pay what it's worth. The Ultralight community is very knowledgeable. Whatever you pick, I hope you love it! Happy Trails!

@@stephenswilderness687 Thank you so much for sharing all the information 🙏🙏🙏 wow I’ve learned so much from you. I really appreciate you for being so kind and inspiring so much. You’re right, I think both are great. I think I’ll go with Min this time!

@@會津藩士 I'm glad to help any time.

Thank you!

This was in August. The Sierras are not very predictable from a year or a few months away. But look at the stats online of your intended date and see what the "average" good and bad weather can be and plan accordingly. In my opinion September and October can be really good for backpacking in the high Sierras. But the fluctuation of temps and conditions can also be a bigger range, needing the added planning for the possibilities. Stay safe and have an amazing trip! Rae Lakes is one of my favorite shorter loops in the Sierras. It takes some leg work with the elevation gain and loss in either direction... but it's just stunning the whole loop! Happy Trails!

I recommend the Borah Gear Cuban Bug Bivy in Wide. They will do custom sizes too for bigger roomier set ups. I’m 6’ 1” and fluctuate between 180-200 lbs. I use a wide NeoAir XLite pad and the Borah Cuban Bug bivy is tight but super duper light and works well with this tarp. I worried about the Cuban floor of the Borah bivy not giving much “bathtub” clearance for storm drainage so I also took the Zpacks bathtub floor in DCF which hooks into the Yama quite nicely. It was overkill on my last few hikes but I’ve been stuck in low drainage sites during long storms in the Sierra’s and the bathtub Groundsheet saved my hike from being miserable. There are probably better options out there than a bathtub Groundsheet AND a DCF floor bivy but I haven’t found it yet. I have an MLD super lite bivy with DCF bottom that I used for years that works great for bug protection. But it’s heavier than the Borah gear and the zipper opens on the wrong side for the Yama 1p cirriform. I would say Just get the largest size UL bivy you can get from Borah or MLD because they are all really tight and you want some room for your quilt or bag to loft and stay warm. My 2 cents.

It's my favorite. I love everything about it. But I'm an experienced floorless tarp backpacker. So it's a pretty simple pitch to me, but not for everyone. It's not like a simple "tent" pitch if you're used to a tent. But to me it is a quick and easy pitch. This thing has great flexibility, an absolutely fantastic storm shedding design, great DCF weight choice for the body. It's adaptable. Easily modified with dyneema stick-on loops or hooks to set up your own bathtub floor or bivy (or simply throw a polycrio ground sheet under it). I keep pulling out my old shelters and weighing each of them before each trip and I, hands down, think this is the best weight to features shelter on the market right now. I think I saw that Yama makes an even lighter version of this now with a lighter choice of Dyneema but you'll have to check Yama's website for that info. If so, that could be a contender as well if they kept the features. Personally, I like this weight Dyneema. It's not a heavy tank like my MLD Duomid or some of my HMG gear. But it's beefier than my Zpacks shelters and yet just a tad heavier than my Zpacks flat tarp with guy lines and hardware. So now I'm not even saving enough ounces to bring a flat tarp. It's just an excellent, weight savings design. Every trip I plan now I just don't see a need to bring any other shelter. It has everything for all conditions... with no worries and no weight penalty for its sturdiness and features. And If you're looking at the Silpoly version I'm sure you've already watched Dan Stenziano's great review of his 2p Cirriform he took on the CDT. Check it out if you haven't. He's also sold on the wind and storm shedding capabilities of the Cirriform design he experienced personally. Yama got it right. So, after a year of use on trail my confidence in this shelter and my love for it have just grown. It will be my go-to shelter for many years to come. If you aren't used to floorless shelters or shaped tarps this is the best one to learn on. Once you get the pitch down so it's second nature you can lay back and enjoy how awesome it is. Thanks for your question and for watching my video. Happy hiking to you!

Water sources were less than along the PCT/JMT and less than other passes like Kearsarge, Bishop, Piute which all have plenty of water the entire way. But from the trailhead all the way to Simpson Meadow this trail has less. I'll elaborate a little. From the Copper Creek trailhead at Roads End starting out, there are a couple of water sources right on trail until about the half way point of the long climb to The Lip. Since we didn't know when we passed the last water source we ended up running out early. It was dry during the hardest, steepest 5 or so mile stretch of the climb before dropping down to Granite Basin. I actually underestimated how much water to carry for those last 5 or so miles up to the Lip and I felt really bad that I let my cousin down on her first trip and we were both anxious to find water. We were feeling the dehydration from the massive climb. So After the lip we could see the beautiful lakes far below and started down to Granite Basin hoping for water near trail, but it was dry too. Completely dry for a few miles heading towards Granite Pass. We kept looking for all the near trail drainage from upper lakes and springs and they were literally ALL dry! So we made a tough decision. It was frustrating but we had to head off trail following dry seasonal drainage until we finally hit some pools of water where we made camp the first night. It was a drop down and backtracking the way we came off trail which I never like doing. But once we had water we were in a better mood and the next morning we had a great day (and long) hiking over Granite Pass and down to Simpson Meadow. There were a couple good water sources along the trail on this section but not as much as I expected from looking at my topo maps. We made sure to carry extra water for this stretch but I think it wasn't necessary. I don't remember being concerned about water on this stretch, but we were taking no chances. There was absolutely no water sources from the approach to the "bitch" (big drop to Simpson Meadow area), all the way to the middle fork of the Kings River. I think there was one small source crossing the trail but it was a few miles up the trail from where the descent flattens out. So bring extra before the bid descent. It's brutal and long and again, there's nothing until you are almost at the middle fork already. I wish I had marked the sources and miles between to be more helpful. But hopefully this helps in some way to give you an idea. Also, we did this trip in August. If you go in a non drought year in late June or July there's probably water flowing all through Granite Basin. Thanks for watching the video! Happy Trails!

@@stephenswilderness687 thanks for your long and helpful reply. we are hiking the same loop you did at the end of august, and i'm planning for even dryer conditions than you experienced. i was just up on the north lake south lake loop a few weeks ago and there were some surprising dry stretches in humphrey's basin. your video inspired me to take my friend (who has also never been backpacking), and i'm trying to balance out loading her up with water versus the anxiety of us running out of water,. we're planning on camping at granite lake the first night as that seems like one of the few water sources between lower tent meadow and the valley after granite pass (lake of the fallen moon area). there's also a chance there may be no water whatsoever between the trailhead and granite lake, so we may be hiking up with four liters or more. we'll see what the ranger says when we get there. happy trails to you as well!

@@rachelvessels Granite Lake was an option for us as well but our decision to cut back and off trail was due to our dehydration and exhaustion and may not have been a better choice than pushing on to Granite Lake. I think tiredness took us down the path of least resistance. But Granite Lake is a good, SAFE plan if you have the energy to cross Granite Basin and climb a bit more to the lake after Copper Creek's brutal 10-ish mile climb. If your new hiker friend is hurting after the climb to The Lip and can't make it much more, and you see the first lakes in Granite Basin down below the trail have water... PLAN B could be to drop down off trail to the first lakes (can't remember if they are named) if you don't want to dry camp next to the trail and don't have the energy to make it to Granite Lake. If you get a second wind to make it to Granite Lake then you won't have to lose any elevation, which is good. And Granite Basin is a beautiful little area with a relatively easy meandering single track trail through it. When we came over the Lip I was SO tempted to drop down to those GORGEOUS lakes below the trail, but didn't want to lose the elevation. In hindsight, I think that would have been a spectacular place to camp our first night. It's a good Plan B anyway. LOL.

Great discussion… yes, we were tired and thirsty, but wow, it was SO BEAUTIFUL. I loved that first campsite … I loved them all! So yes, it’s a great Plan B of making it to Granite Lakes is too much of a push.

And what app did you edit with? I did the same loop you did and am trying to make a video like you!

@@malloryrose1835 I used a GoPro Hero 7 Black for most of the filming. I usually just hike and film on the go so the Hero 7 Black stabilization makes it pretty smooth. My "zoom" shots and long lens shots were from my Sony RX100 Mrk VII. I didn't use the Sony that much. A GoPro is so convenient and I'm pretty lazy with my photography.

@@malloryrose1835 I use DaVinci Resolve (free version) for all my editing. It's very good.

@@stephenswilderness687 thank you so much!!

@@malloryrose1835 you are very welcome. If you have any questions at all, please feel free to ask.

Thanks so much for watching. Yeah... Michelle grew up on the west coast. Oregon mostly. She sure loves the mountains out here, but family and work are back on the east coast... so, yep, back to flat Florida. But Florida does have it's own very unique hiking trails and she'll be exploring those now that she's dipped her toes in the backpacking thing. She's hooked. I hope to see her Florida hiking videos on UA-cam sometime in the near future. Anyway. Happy Trails and thanks again for watching!

Hahah yes, I’ve been shooting the videos just haven’t taken the time to sit and create! Florida hiking is no joke… but yeah I absolutely prefer strong elevation any chance I get!

Thanks Luke!

Thanks for watching! All of the Eastern Sierra wilderness permits are obtained online at Recreation.gov. The permit for this particular loop would be either a Bishop Pass Trailhead permit if you decide to go the way I went... or a Piute Pass Trailhead Permit if you'd like to do the reverse loop. I know there have been shuttles from North Lake to South Lake and back to get hikers back to their cars (it's a long road walk if you don't arrange a ride). But with all the recent shutdowns I'm not sure if any are back up and running. Happy Trails!

@@stephenswilderness687 thank you so much!

@@conracewhatever5224 you're welcome!

It's a fun little loop. And GORGIOUS! I don't know how agile or strong your dog is for the cross country off trail part. The hike up to Puppet Pass (off trail) past Desolation Lakes wasn't very sketchy... but the climbs down the north side of Puppet Pass was super steep boulder hopping all the way down. I wouldn't say it was too bad for adults as off trail passes go... but I can't imagine a dog being able to do the descent safely. But then again... you know your dog. Worst case scenario is that you see first hand if the pooch can do the descent... and if not you can always explore the many many lakes in that region. or head down Piute Canyon on trail and take the fork up French Canyon and see the lakes up a few miles. Make it a there and back if the cross country isn't up to your dog's abilities. It's just a stunning and beautiful area. Highly recommended for short trips.

@@stephenswilderness687 thanks for all that additional info. My dog is a charger, but you're probably right about some of those sketchy parts. Better safe than sorry

Thank you so much! Piute is such a great pass. Beautiful up and down it. Not too high. Pretty quick entry into the back country. I've always taken the Piute Canyon Trail (main trail = high trail) down and back up to answer your question. I noticed on the west side just after the pass Muriel Lake Trail cuts south west but stays relatively high for Muriel Lake fishing. The Golden Trout Lake Trail is the low one that splits off from the main trail down the canyon that you are referring to. I've never taken it but I really want to. Those lower lakes look stunning from the high trail looking down. Especially upper and lower Golden Trout Lake. Just gorgeous. And a little further west and a bit south (cross country) is Packsaddle Lake and surrounding mini lakes. I've run into quite a few hikers who fish over Piute Pass in the Humphreys Basin area and down the trail. Both south and north of the trail they say are many many great fishing lakes as you probably already know. Thanks again for watching. I'm glad you enjoyed it. Happy trails and happy fishing!

@@stephenswilderness687 thanks for the info. Planning on fishing Piute creek around Hutchinson meadow, love throwing dry flies for hungry goldens 👍🏼

@@moscaman559 just bought my daughter a Tenkara rod. She's excited about fishing on our next backpacking trip together. Have a great trip!

@@stephenswilderness687 I don’t personally own one but they look like a lot of fun, definitely ultralight! I built myself a sweet little 6’6”, 4pc, 2 weight fly rod specifically for small mountain streams in the back country. Fished it a couple times out of Lee Vining and had a bunch of fun on tiny fish. Your daughter will only need a few flies to get into fish… have fun.

@@moscaman559 Very cool! Thanks and you too!

That was it! Yes! July 12 was the evening/night of the big storm that hit me on the south side of Muir pass. I turned the sound of the storm and wind way way down in the video so people wouldn't have to adjust volume while watching. Lol. But it was raging incredibly hard that night. It rained the day before off and on from South Lake parking up. And it rained lightly a few times on the 12th before the storm. And it rained lightly on the 13th here and there. And I believe I got a little more rain heading down Piute pass towards North Lake. All in all it was a gorgeous hike. I love hiking in light rain, no wind. I had my UL umbrella and I didn't even have to put my rain shell on. It was very comfortable hiking weather the entire short trip. It was only 6pm to 2am on the 12th that was bad. And I made it into my shelter in record time! Lol. I still got drenched putting it up, but I had plenty of time to dry myself out that night. Thanks for watching and sharing about your side of the storm. I've been told the south side of Muir has its own weather patterns and is much worse than other areas and other passes for storms. Not sure how true that is. Walking down into Evolution Valley on the 13th looked like it hit pretty hard on the North side too. Happy Trails!

@@stephenswilderness687 You know, we probably passed each other. My wife and I are leaving in a couple of weeks to hike the Rae Lakes loop and next year I'm planning to do the North Lake South Lake loop. Thats how I came across your video. Hike on!

@@markadlardstonepipeadventu2589 That's probably true about passing each other that year! Very cool. Rae Lakes Loop and NL/SL Loop are two of my favorites in the Sierras for shorter "loop" hikes. Easy access from the east side and just wonderful, beautiful and grand scenery. You know those passes so no surprises for you but that section of the Sierras north of Forrester and south of Piute Creek I think is the prettiest section of all the Sierras back country. Have a great time!

Thank you for watching. I’m glad you liked it!

Rain splash depends on the wind really. But this shelter is among the most storm proof you can possibly have. Polycro would be fine in almost all cases. Choose a good tent site not in a gully or wash and a flat groundsheet will be perfect as long as it's trimmed to inside the footprint of your tarp. I use bivy and/or bathtub groundsheets more for protection from cold wind blowing in my quilt. I use a Katabatic quilt which has the best insulating system of all quilts in my opinion. But the High Sierras are unpredictable so added protection never hurts. over all... I think this tarp with a poly ground sheet will be perfect in most situations.

I don't remember exactly what I wrote about my camera set-up in the "badder than you" message. But I will add a little about editing that I probably didn't mention. The footage is pretty good right out of the GoPro camera, but I do spend a lot of time in post production to get the color better and match the shots and balance the audio. I use the free editing software Davinci Resolve. The free version is huge and amazing and I don't edit professionally so I don't need the features of the pro (pay) version. A note on color. On the Piute Floopy Loop video I had the GoPro color set to ON. GoPro color is pretty vivid but still can use some post correction. I boosted the saturation for the Floopy Loop video but found it a challenge to ballance after that so it still looked natural. The end result does look really pretty but over saturated at times. I like it, but I went with the "Flat" color profile on my Big SEKI Loop hike video by contrast and I think the results are a bit more natural and subtle but still very nice and "pretty". The footage isn't that great right out of the camera on "flat" color profile though, so if you aren't planning on doing much post production stick with GoPro color. It was easier to work with the "flat" profile in post but I still had some skin tone issues. I think the GoPro is a great camera for backpacking minimalists. A very important note about GoPro battery life. I learned a huge lesson filming the Kearsarge to Bishop Pass hike. I think I had 5 or 6 GoPro batteries and a 20,000 mah battery bank. For a 5-6 day trip I thought that would be overkill. By the end of day three I had no more juice in my battery bank and I think only 2-3 GoPro batteries with full charge. I didn't realize before this that leaving the GoPro ON and letting it go into "sleep mode" (or whatever the stand by mode is called) drained batteries like crazy. So for the next three days I learned to keep the GoPro off until I wanted to shoot... hold the on button down, wait for it to power up, shoot the stuff I wanted and then hold the button down until it fully powered off. This method actually saves MASSIVE battery power. I was going through three batteries a day and then charging them at night. But with the powering down method I made the last two or three batteries last the next three days easily without compromising how much I shot. Just power down your GoPro in between shots. Lastly... if you want to shoot in 4k on Linear profile (non distorting) then you'll need the newer GoPro 9 Black. I shoot all my videos on Linear so I don't get the Wide Angle warping on the sides (that I hate). But Linear with image stabilization can only be used with lower resolutions (1440p or 1.5K). I just got the GoPro Hero 9 and I'm excited to shoot this seasons videos in 4K (and even 5K) on the new one. But, having said all that... you can see how the Hero 7 footage turns out on UA-cam. It's pretty darn good! So, if you don't care about 4K then save some $$$ and get the Hero 7 Black. It's been an awesome camera. All my best to you and I hope you have great success filming your future trips!

@@stephenswilderness687 thanks Stephen for the additional camera info ... it always helps learning from others experiences. Yeh I’ve 2 10,000 Ankers that I’ve always had left over power( iPhone,Apple Watch and inreach Garmin) on 4 day trips and was wondering about battery life for GoPro .. again thanks for additional info it’ll definitely come in handy

Thank you so much! I'm glad you enjoyed the video. Yeah, I only saw the minimal version on the Yama site AFTER I already had the regular (updated) version. I probably would have started with the minimal version if I had seen it first. But, that is always my dilemma. How light and minimal to go. I've been in some massive storms and was thankful I had more than my Zpacks 5x9 tarp for those. I can sleep through anything if I know I'm protected. On the other hand... I'm always happy taking less. And my 5x9 tarp is great in general weather and rain. But It's the combination of hard rain and HIGH and gusty winds that the Cirriform tarp wins hands down at handling. And yes... that SIDE entry! So good!

@@stephenswilderness687 I’m like you and I’ve definitely been evolving to lighter gear. Couple Zpacks packs, Triplex, Plexamid and the 10x8.5 tarp which the tarp I used when I started dabbling with Bivy.. a good friend introduced me to Borah Gear which I absolutely love.. started first with Johns Dimma Satchel which is awesome for the cooler-cold weather, then I got his bug bivy( both with dcf bottoms, and 67 argon on sides with Dimma) for the warmer weather. Gen also makes some awesome bivies as well which when learning about Yama I was fortunate enough to pickup his 9/7x9 dcf tarp and use on my last 2 sections of my 4 part Ouachita trail hike last year. Then he came out first with his silpoly bug bivy which I went the larger and it still was only 8 oz... when he first came out I lucked out .. it was only $80!! Johns are 200+ so I just couldn’t pass it up.. and then when he came out with side entry.. lol I was like a vulture just waiting to see it announced on his website at the beginning of each month ... oh snd switched to frameless pack using Chris’s from LiteAF... have 2 of his packs as well and can’t say enough great things about his gear as well . Anyways glad I stumbled on your video bout Gens tarp ... I’m a follower now 👍

@@dennispixton9353 you sound just like me. Lol. MLD Super Light Bivy, Borah bug bivy, Zpacks Hexamid, Zpacks Tarp, HMG 8x10 tarp, HMG Echo 2. MLD Duomid. I love shelters. I love finding the right one for the right trip. Then there's quilts. I'm a big Katabatic fanboy. I have 4 of them and 2 from EE. And packs. Started in the 80's with external frame "old school" packs. Ended up with a ULA Circuit, then went frameless with an MLD Prophet. Now I'm a Pa'lante packs guy. I have three of their V2 packs and love them. Perfect for me and my gear. Thank you for following my channel. I'm not a regular UA-camr so I work a normal job and only post vids after my trips during backpacking season in the Sierras. In other words, not much content on my channel, but it grows a little every year with each trip. Thanks for joining me.

@@stephenswilderness687 yeh Palante... stumbled on John Z on UA-cam and followed him then learned of Andy ... was blown away both by their amazing feats FKT with the High Sierra Route and the Colorado Trail ( both of which each record has been broken) let alone Johns amazing videos as well .. I’ve always wanted to try Katabatic...or Nunatak... own 2 Zpacks quilts ( older models) 20 and 35 , and honestly only been using the 35 the last 2 yrs with a Xtherm pad and was comfortable in mid 20’s in September, High Uintas using the Dimma Satchel ( which def adds warmth, probably had been in triplex or the Plex might not have been same) and I completely understand the working man... tugboat Capt working 14 days away and 7 days off.. so it’s a nice juggle between my family and backpacking trips. Why I had to breakup my Ouachita trail hike where I’d come in off from work and leave 1am the next day to drive up to Arkansas and do a section then drive home for couple days then back to work and next time off stay home... then back to work then back to Arkansas....it’s not the same as a thru hike but I was very satisfied to having completed it.. my big trip for this year will be the Highline trail in the High Uintas which I’ll have to miss a few days at work but it’s been on my bucket list so that trumps it.. lol Again thanks for all the info on the GoPro... I’ll def be looking at them hard

@@dennispixton9353 Love John Z and Andy B. And I totally understand the working man's challenge for thru hikes. We do what we have to do to get out there when we can however it lays out for us with work and responsibilities. It's worth all the effort. Keep hiking and thanks for connecting. I very much enjoy talking gear and hikes with my fellow backpackers.

Thank you so much! I use a GoPro Hero 7 Black for most of my videos including all of the footage in the Kearsarge to Bishop Pass videos. I used an old iPhone for the South Lake/North Lake Loop (I didn't have the GoPro yet). I also used a Panasonic Lumix DCM-LX10 on the Piute "Floopy" Loop video for some shots but still mostly the GoPro. I used a Sony RX100 VII on the Big SEKI Loop video in addition to mostly GoPro footage. And on the next season of backpacking trips I'll be shooting mostly with the new GoPro Hero Black 9.

Well, don't laugh, but... I did hundreds of "time" vs "fuel" vs "weight" tests years ago with every stove and fuel type (including fire gel and hand sanitizer)... but I can't remember a single number or figure from those days of testing different systems. I actually looked for my old video footage of some of the tests to include in my cook system video but could not find them. I looked for my extensive notes but couldn't find those either. And I was too lazy to do the comparison tests over again. That being said... My choice of esbit comes down to personal preference based on all the elements that go into cooking. They are small (very small) differences, but in the end... they add up over the decades to make it my choice. A lot of backpacking preferences are that way. I like solid cubes as a simple way to measure my fuel needs for a trip. Even though it's also simple to measure ounces of alcohol or float your cannister to see how much you have left. I just prefer counting cubes. I like that I don't need a bottle or a cannister (a minor preference but still part of the over all choice). I like that the Gram Cracker stove is almost nothing at all (even though it's not much lighter than my old "cat can" alcohol stove). I literally just boil water for all my cooking now, (and cook in freezer bags) and when I cook I'm in no rush, so I don't think about the boil time on trail. I can always get a boil with espit no matter the elevation or temps as long as I have a very good wind protecting system. I think that's always a key factor in alcohol and esbit cooking. Wind protection. Once I had a method for lighting esbit that I was used to and then found the gram cracker to go with my Zelph/Toaks pot and Zelph Ti windscreen pot support I felt that I had hit the sweet spot for how I liked to boil water. With all the other prep that goes into planning and packing for a trip, I found that counting esbit cubes for the days I cooked was a way to simplify that part of prep to almost no thinking at all. And lazy person that I am (and forgetful)... that has helped. I like alcohol stoves very much. I used them for years after giving up cannister stoves for backpacking. Esbit was an experiment on one trip and I struggled with lighting them and with wind and with their slow(ish) boil time. But I liked the concept enough to keep digging for a better way to use it. And I found it and have stayed with it for the past few years. Maybe for a long thru-hike a multi fuel stove that uses both could be a great choice. Or since the gram cracker weighs nothing just bring both stoves and use what you find in town. Heat or esbit. Best of both worlds. In the end... esbit just feels the simplest for me personally. Not better. Just simple and consistent. I hope that long winded explanation helps.

@@stephenswilderness687 I like thorough explanations. Thanks!

I think it would. I’m just under 6’1” and I have plenty of room. And if I need or want more length on the floor I can move my front trekking pole point further forward after the initial pitch. I would double check with Yama on their website to look at the diagram of it with measurements just to confirm. Side note: Another shelter specifically made for tall hikers is the Altaplex from Zpacks. Just FYI. But there’s no way it’s as storm worthy as a Cirraform.

@@stephenswilderness687 Thanks for the info! Yep I have a buddy getting an Altaplex in the mail in the next few days. I'll have to check it out but from what i've seen online i'm not a huge fan of the crazy pole height required. Never been a huge fan of Zpacks construction quality either. The Cirriform seems to have the same spirit as a mid with those catenary curves. Can't beat the wind resistance.

@@Tulkas805 So true. I have an MLD mid that I love. Just a bit heavy... but bomb proof! The Cirriform is exactly that if not more so with it's lower overall profile. I do have an old Zpacks Hexamid Solo Plus that I have a love/hate relationship with. But it's not for tall hikers even though it's the "plus" size. And even though it has held up in some massive storms... I did not sleep at all for worry over the light construction. On the other hand, with Yama's Cirriform I sleep like a baby in all conditions. It's rock solid and still light! The construction is so amazing. He also makes an even lighter model with some construction streamlining and a lighter Dyneema. That may be worthy for shorter trips or milder conditions (or who knows... maybe it's a storm killer too). Happy trails and best wishes to you!

We actually had a fun trip. Sort of. I used the "best" moments of us talking to show the bad moments of the trip. But the most stressful hours I didn't even film because we were focused on finding the trail again. Long stretches in snow and massive blowdowns post holing and trying to follow a bearing, around obstacles and tough terrain I didn't film at all. I wish I had. And the funny thing is... I always have a small clip style compass on my backpack... but I used a new pack on this trip and forgot to transfer it to the new one. Lol. Murphy's Law. All we had was the compass on my iPhone. It's a bit of an embarrassing video to be hones, but I thought it might be entertaining and a bit of a cautionary tale. Thanks for watching it. And yes. I'd say always carry a compass. A physical one, not just digital.