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Mt. Conness

Hiking/Trekking in California with Southern Yosemite Mountain Guides, Inc.

Highlights

  • Expert guides with years of experience leading hikers off-trail
  • Climb Mt. Conness, one of the best kept secrets of the Sierra
  • Class 3 peak ascent
  • Perfect long weekend getaway
  • Stunning scenery rarely seen by others
  • Gourmet backcountry cooking

Full Description

COME CLIMB A PEAK! Mt. Conness, which sits along the northeastern border of Yosemite is considered one of the best kept secrets in the whole National Park.

This trip is unique with respect to SYMG's other backpacking trips in that its primary goal is to summit the 12,590-foot peak of Mt. Conness.This trip is ideal for those looking for a classic high sierra backpack experience with beautiful hiking, a challenging 3rd class alpine peak ascent, and who want to do it in “long weekend” format.

Accommodations: All nights will be spent in backpacking tents.

Grade: Difficult: on- and off-trail hiking or backpacking on uneven terrain with steep grades. These trips are physically and mentally challenging and up to one week in duration. Because these types of trips have a required mileage to complete each day, the level of commitment is high. Trips in this category may spend significant time at higher elevations. For the Conness Trip specifically, the hiking is moderate and the peak ascent is difficult in that it requires some rock scrambling and has some exposure.

Equipment: SYMG can supply all needed personal (backpacks, sleeping bags, ground pads, tents) and group camping equipment if requested on the registration form. There is no additional charge for this service.

Meals: Meals begin with breakfast the second day and are provided through breakfast and trail snacks the last day. Our "Backcountry Gourmet" meals have been acclaimed in Sunset Magazine.

Preparation: We recommend increasing your exercise routine in the month prior to the trip to increase your cardiovascular/aerobic ability.  Hiking, with a backpack, preferably on hills and off pavement is excellent practice.

Group Size: 3-12 participants with 1-2 guides.

Includes:

Meals provided, Tuolumne meadows campground on night 1, camping gear, permits, and guide(s).

Excludes:

Personal gear, meals noted above, alcoholic beverages, tips for guides (10-20% of trip fee), transportation. Optional trip cancellation insurance.

Day by Day Itinerary

Day 1

Meet at the Tuolumne Campground(8580') 5pm for orientation, back country protocol, gear check etc. This night is essential for acclimatization. Dinner on your own at the Tuolumne grill.

Day 2

After a campground breakfast, we drive a few minutes to the nearby trailhead. The trail starts out in forest with occasional open areas offering views of domes, meadows and glacial tarns. After a few miles the trail crosses Delaney Creek at a beautiful meadow with views of MT Dana and Gibbs and the Sierra crest. After crossing the meadow the trail goes back into the forest for two miles before entering the meadow of Dingley Creek. Lunch is made along the creek and there are spectacular views of the domes of the Tuolumne area as well as the peaks and glaciers of the High Sierra from Cathedral Peak past MT Lyell to the Ritter Range. After lunch continue to the Young Lake Basin, past Lower and Middle Young Lakes to the beautiful campsites of Upper Young Lake (10,200'). 7 miles, 1,700 feet elevation gain.

Day 3

Easy morning, leaving camp by 10 AM. Take the easy cross country route to Roosevelt Lake arriving in time for lunch. After lunch there are optional short hikes in the area. Back to camp in time to rest, swim, fish and relax. 4-5 miles, easy/moderate acclimatization day.

Day 4

Leave camp by 8 AM. The hike to Conness is short but is cross country and quite strenuous in sections. Also, much of it is above 12,000 feet. The summit ridge is exhilarating and the views from the 12,590 foot summit seem endless, extending from central Nevada to most of Yosemite and the Coast Range of Central California, including the famous Grand Canyon of Tuolumne. 6 miles, 2,300 feet of elevation gain arriving back at camp by 4 PM.

Day 5

Leave camp by 9 AM and walk the Dingley Creek trail back to Tuolumne Meadows to complete our loop, arriving by early to mid afternoon with snacks along the way. 7.5 miles mostly downhill with easy uphill at the finish.

About The Operator:

Southern Yosemite Mountain Guides, Inc.

Headquarters:

Bass Lake, California

Established:

January 1991

Voted by National Geographic Advenutre Magazine in 2007-2009 "Best Outfitter  Earth" and the "Best Adventure Travel Company," Southern Yosemite Mountain Guides has shown thousands of people the beauty of the mountains and wild places in Yosemite National Park, the Ansel Adams and John Muir Wilderness, Sequoia & Kings Canyon Nat'l Parks, and the Eastern Sierra region. SYMG is a leader in the active travel and mountain guiding world, providing carefully planned and operated trips and programs in the most spectacular Wilderness areas ofCalifornia. Programs and courses include hiking, backpacking, rock climbing, and fly fishing; and haven't changed much over the years.

There's a reason for this. The style of trip offered, the locations and times of the year in which the trips or courses run, the types of meals chosen, itineraries, and your guides; all contribute to the quality of your experience. Our trips are highlighted in the following pages. Visit Our Trips for daily itineraries, gear lists, and reviews. Visit Reservations for availability and registration. Or, call our office and talk with us. We look forward to speaking with you, and meeting you soon.

Southern Yosemite Mountain Guides, Inc operates under special use permits in Sierra National Forest, Inyo National Forest, Stanislaus National Forest, Yosemite National Park, and Sequoia/Kings Canyon National Parks and is a bonded and licensed fly fishing guide service with the CA Department of Fish and Game. All SYMG rock courses are instructed by certified PCGI instructors and AMGA trained guides. SYMG is also a proud member of Trout Unlimited, the Worldwide Outfitters and Guides Association, and the Sierra Club.