Once you go west, you’ll forget the rest. We live in the SE but spent our first three years backpacking out west. Fast forward to 2019 and I went to the Smoky Mountains for the first time...it felt underwhelming. It was pretty in its own right, don’t get me wrong, but it can’t compare to the awe inspiring views you find in a dozen+ states out west. Looks like you guys had a great time on this one!
Great video! But if you loved this then you and Andy must hike the High Sierra Trail. ( I know I made the same comment in your TRT video but if you loved this hike I know you’ll be blown away by the Southern Sierra). Hope you can get back to California again soon!
Awesome video as always, but would love to see you use a GoPro7. The stabilization it has or even the new DJI action camera would make the vlogging while hiking so much smoother.
Awesome trip... First backpacking trip here is spoiled. That trail is exposed... full brim hat required. Great video. Thank you for sharing. Take care.
Awesome video young man As for the outdoor vitals pillow I am not very happy I managed to have it for one night only and now it will not hold any air The pillow got wet from a little bit of sweat and rainwater and it will not hold any air whatsoever and I desperately need a new pillow
Right on! Desolation Wilderness is beautiful! So much to see and so many lakes to fish! I keep putting this off, maybe next year i'll make the 7 HR drive and spend a weekend there.
Hello my hiking friend, greetings from Northern California. Thank you for sharing this really fine video. You did a fine job of capturing the beauty of Desolation Valley. I'm sure that your Brother is jealous that he didn't make the trip. Medaglia D'oro is my favorite for backpacking. Another really fun day hike is from Eagle Falls down to the Vikingholm Castle at Emerald Bay, Lake Tahoe. All the best to you and your family. Again, great filming. 🤗
18:14 This may be the best "Good morning" camera angle you have put together. The way you captured the evergreen needles was a fitting touch. Thank you for your great eye. : )
Effective July 18th 2022 all overnight campers in Desolation Wilderness must have a hard sided bear proof container. They are saying the fine for non-compliance is up to $5,000. Forest order lasts 3 yrs. The ones for sale or rent at the Ranger's station(s) weigh eight pounds. Ridiculous. One third of the zones have not had a bear in a hundred years.
Super helpful video, thanks! How long was the hike from Aloha to China Flats would you say? I see permits for both Rubicon and China Flat, I'm wondering what the difference is. Aloha permits are all booked for when I will be up there, so I'm hoping to mirror your trip a bit but from the Glen Alpine trail head. Thanks!
My nephew and I must have passed you as we hiked back to Echo Lake parking area on the Friday morning of Labor Day weekend, as we were ending a 5 day trip in Desolation. So, our last night camping (that Thursday night/Friday morning), we camped at Lake Aloha on the unprotected East Side, and between 10p and 5am, winds had to be gusting 40-50mph. It was insane! Luckily my Zpacks Duplex held up in the wind, but I would never camp on the far side of Aloha without the tree protection again. Surprised u didn’t see/hear bears, that Tuesday and Wednesday heard them all night long around Gilmore and Susie Lakes~
I "lived" up in here back in the early 70s and look forward to getting up there again. Good video, except I like to see more of the scenery and less selfies. Just saying...
Kevin, let me get this straight, this hike may have been the most beautiful place you've ever hiked, is that correct?? You looked like a cooked Lobster at the end of the first day, painful??
Were there restrictions on hammocks? Your views were nice on the rock but the comfort would have (arguably) been more comfortable in the trees. Love your footage! Need more spf for your face next time. 😁
Just curious what drives the tent or hammock for you and your bro. I’ve seen Dan Becker as well mixing in tents where it used to be almost exclusively hammocks in videos. Wasn’t sure if it was due to curiousity, comfort, or broadening your RUclips audience. All good either way! 👍🏻
Great video - I’m finally hiking into Aloha from Echo Lakes over the upcoming holiday weekend. It should be a good shakedown hike for the TRT that I”ll be starting June 23rd. I watched your first solo trip from Brockway Summit to Tahoe City. I’ll be starting the TRT from Tahoe City. Hopefully water won’t be too much of an issue. If you like Desolation Wilderness, you gotta check out Evolution Basin - the most spectacular area I’ve been to. Permits can be a bugger, but if you get out to Cali now that your sister lives in Nevada, you should really check it out. So freakin amazing! Look like you and your brother-in-law had a good time!
you probably know by now, but the water taxi on echo lake is quite the worthwhile experience...it'll save you a couple miles and offers a beautiful tour of some of the homes on the crystal clear lake...during peak hours/days, they might have 15-20 people on board, so, there's that, but it's still a treat...as far as other trips into desolation, check out yt channel 'sacwildlife' for an extensive collection of lakes...he also mentions/shows snowboarders headed up to some of the taller peaks...good luck and enjoy california...
Many of my best childhood memories were made in Desolation Valley. In the 1970s, I used to attend a camp called Pinecrest (now, it's Sierra Pines Camp). In 1975, we hiked this route in reverse; we were dropped off at the base of Eagle Falls, and hiked up to Velma Lakes where we camped. The next day, we camped at Dick's Lake, which waa frozen over. The 3rd day, we climbed over the incredibly steep ridge between Dick's and Jack's Peak to camp at Lake Susan. On Day 4, we camped at Lake of the Woods, then on the 5th day, we hiked back to Pinecrest. Thanks so much for this video!
Desolation Wilderness is one the most highly used Wilderness areas in the United States, which is why the permit process was started. We would like to protect and preserve the area for generations to come.
Yeah permits are a pain. If only we could preserve the wilderness without the red and green tape. I think, if anything, preservation starts with ourselves and we teach our children what to do. Rule of thumb: treat it better than what you treat your home.
Hey Bubba...use that sunscreen and buff beforeyou fry instead of after!!😎😎
Great video and great trip! Who needs Andy??!!😋😋
Hahahaha Fred
Once you go west, you’ll forget the rest. We live in the SE but spent our first three years backpacking out west. Fast forward to 2019 and I went to the Smoky Mountains for the first time...it felt underwhelming. It was pretty in its own right, don’t get me wrong, but it can’t compare to the awe inspiring views you find in a dozen+ states out west. Looks like you guys had a great time on this one!
I’m starting to agree with this
go back to the bay
Time for a dead cat mic cover
@Restlessoutdoors you have to use this line in one of your up and coming videos @15:58
Great video! But if you loved this then you and Andy must hike the High Sierra Trail. ( I know I made the same comment in your TRT video but if you loved this hike I know you’ll be blown away by the Southern Sierra). Hope you can get back to California again soon!
Thanks for the tip Greg!
Awesome video as always, but would love to see you use a GoPro7. The stabilization it has or even the new DJI action camera would make the vlogging while hiking so much smoother.
Yes sounds neat. Unfortunately we work with what we’ve got
Awesome trip... First backpacking trip here is spoiled. That trail is exposed... full brim hat required. Great video. Thank you for sharing. Take care.
Was so excited by scenery my neck got super sunburned. I was peeling for next week.
Too bad I can’t read lips - all I can hear is wind.
Don't put your tent on "pockets of vegetation" smh
Awesome video young man
As for the outdoor vitals pillow I am not very happy I managed to have it for one night only and now it will not hold any air
The pillow got wet from a little bit of sweat and rainwater and it will not hold any air whatsoever and I desperately need a new pillow
I want to buy a SBO hat
Right on! Desolation Wilderness is beautiful! So much to see and so many lakes to fish! I keep putting this off, maybe next year i'll make the 7 HR drive and spend a weekend there.
Hello my hiking friend, greetings from Northern California. Thank you for sharing this really fine video. You did a fine job of capturing the beauty of Desolation Valley. I'm sure that your Brother is jealous that he didn't make the trip. Medaglia D'oro is my favorite for backpacking. Another really fun day hike is from Eagle Falls down to the Vikingholm Castle at Emerald Bay, Lake Tahoe. All the best to you and your family. Again, great filming. 🤗
Thanks Ronald!
18:14
This may be the best "Good morning" camera angle you have put together.
The way you captured the evergreen needles was a fitting touch.
Thank you for your great eye. : )
Thanks Adam!
You're welcome SBO.
Kicking it guys thanks I'm headed out get some footage for you...
Effective July 18th 2022 all overnight campers in Desolation Wilderness must have a hard sided bear proof container. They are saying the fine for non-compliance is up to $5,000.
Forest order lasts 3 yrs. The ones for sale or rent at the Ranger's station(s) weigh eight pounds. Ridiculous. One third of the zones have not had a bear in a hundred years.
Super helpful video, thanks! How long was the hike from Aloha to China Flats would you say? I see permits for both Rubicon and China Flat, I'm wondering what the difference is. Aloha permits are all booked for when I will be up there, so I'm hoping to mirror your trip a bit but from the Glen Alpine trail head. Thanks!
Absolutely beautiful. Thanks for sharing your trip. Also, my face feels a little burned after watching.
My nephew and I must have passed you as we hiked back to Echo Lake parking area on the Friday morning of Labor Day weekend, as we were ending a 5 day trip in Desolation. So, our last night camping (that Thursday night/Friday morning), we camped at Lake Aloha on the unprotected East Side, and between 10p and 5am, winds had to be gusting 40-50mph. It was insane! Luckily my Zpacks Duplex held up in the wind, but I would never camp on the far side of Aloha without the tree protection again. Surprised u didn’t see/hear bears, that Tuesday and Wednesday heard them all night long around Gilmore and Susie Lakes~
Small world!
The ranger was VERY surprised we didn't see any, they were all over by you guys :)
As always Jealous of all the beautiful places you get to explore. See you at the Hang coming up.
I "lived" up in here back in the early 70s and look forward to getting up there again. Good video, except I like to see more of the scenery and less selfies. Just saying...
Thank you for showing us the beauty of the trail that you are on it is absolutely gorgeous
I know this is an old trip but wondering what month you went? Doing Big Meadows thru DW to Tahoe City in later July. Curios about night temps?
Wow this is beautiful. Just some awesome views, thanks for sharing. Would love to check this out someday.
Do you guys have to hang your food, ursack, or did you just sleep with it?
Did not sleep with it
Kevin, let me get this straight, this hike may have been the most beautiful place you've ever hiked, is that correct?? You looked like a cooked Lobster at the end of the first day, painful??
Thanks for the Vid! I've been wanting to backpack up there for a long time.
Absolutely beautiful! What an amazing experience. Thanks for sharing!
Sweet great times beautiful country we all live in love it
It was the most cool place I have ever been hiking. It kind of looked liked Mars in some areas.
I will be watching this tonight when I get home
LOVE this area!
Were there restrictions on hammocks? Your views were nice on the rock but the comfort would have (arguably) been more comfortable in the trees. Love your footage! Need more spf for your face next time. 😁
Honestly not sure if there were any restrictions, I don’t think so
Just curious what drives the tent or hammock for you and your bro. I’ve seen Dan Becker as well mixing in tents where it used to be almost exclusively hammocks in videos. Wasn’t sure if it was due to curiousity, comfort, or broadening your RUclips audience. All good either way! 👍🏻
Sasquatch at 12:03.
Lake Aloha is beautiful
Great video - I’m finally hiking into Aloha from Echo Lakes over the upcoming holiday weekend. It should be a good shakedown hike for the TRT that I”ll be starting June 23rd. I watched your first solo trip from Brockway Summit to Tahoe City. I’ll be starting the TRT from Tahoe City. Hopefully water won’t be too much of an issue. If you like Desolation Wilderness, you gotta check out Evolution Basin - the most spectacular area I’ve been to. Permits can be a bugger, but if you get out to Cali now that your sister lives in Nevada, you should really check it out. So freakin amazing! Look like you and your brother-in-law had a good time!
Are you sure BIL brought enough water? LOL
you probably know by now, but the water taxi on echo lake is quite the worthwhile experience...it'll save you a couple miles and offers a beautiful tour of some of the homes on the crystal clear lake...during peak hours/days, they might have 15-20 people on board, so, there's that, but it's still a treat...as far as other trips into desolation, check out yt channel 'sacwildlife' for an extensive collection of lakes...he also mentions/shows snowboarders headed up to some of the taller peaks...good luck and enjoy california...
Many of my best childhood memories were made in Desolation Valley. In the 1970s, I used to attend a camp called Pinecrest (now, it's Sierra Pines Camp). In 1975, we hiked this route in reverse; we were dropped off at the base of Eagle Falls, and hiked up to Velma Lakes where we camped. The next day, we camped at Dick's Lake, which waa frozen over. The 3rd day, we climbed over the incredibly steep ridge between Dick's and Jack's Peak to camp at Lake Susan. On Day 4, we camped at Lake of the Woods, then on the 5th day, we hiked back to Pinecrest.
Thanks so much for this video!
Could have used an ND filter
Try McGee Creek in the Inyo
I have done Echo to Aloha - strong day hike. Those little lakes are awesome.
First
I did the desolation wilderness for the first time last month. It's beautiful. I'm off to backpack the whole TRT starting this Saturday!
Nice!!
Beautiful. “Just like Ohio”.. got a little sunburn ..take care.
Hahahaha
Getting permits? No thanks. California is too much of a police state for me.
Desolation Wilderness is one the most highly used Wilderness areas in the United States, which is why the permit process was started. We would like to protect and preserve the area for generations to come.
Yeah permits are a pain. If only we could preserve the wilderness without the red and green tape.
I think, if anything, preservation starts with ourselves and we teach our children what to do. Rule of thumb: treat it better than what you treat your home.
great comment