A couple of years ago a hike was profiled in Backpacker Magazine (or maybe it was Outside, I don’t know), and it was said to be one of Yosemite’s unknown and hidden gems where one could get away from the crowds. Of course, by publicizing such a hike, one can no longer expect solitude. Still, I decided it would be a fun and scenic hike to do over five days, and hoped that it would still be less busy than many other trails over the week of July 4th.
The hike is referred to as the ‘Yosemite High Passes Loop’, but it isn’t well known. The core of the hike is a ~35 mile loop that goes over four passes: Merced Pass, Red Peak Pass, Post Peak Pass, and Fernandez Pass. Depending on what trailhead is used for access, one can also throw in another pass or two. We headed in on Saturday, June 30, from the Quartz Mountain Trailhead, making a ~50 mile ‘lollipop’ loop out of the hike, and adding Chiquito Pass to the list.
I took away two main memories from the hike. First, the mosquitoes this year simply suck. I don’t know if it has to do with the strange winter, but I have never encountered the swarms that we found below treeline. Fortunately, the other vivid memory is the stunning views from around the passes. Once above treeline the mosquitoes disappeared and suddenly didn’t seem so bad in exchange for the sweeping views.
After this trip and last year’s hike along the JMT, I’m finding myself drawn to these passes – even the climbs up the rocky switchbacks at altitude don’t seem so bad when accompanied by such scenery. The High Sierra is certainly a wonderful place to have in our ‘backyard’.
