The crowds in Yosemite Valley can be dense, and the best way to experience the grandeur of the High Sierra is to spend a night (or several) in the park’s sprawling backcountry. There, amongst the granite domes and endless stars, you’ll really understand what inspired John Muir and Ansel Adams. Pack the same items you’d carry for a dayhike, plus food, cooking gear, and these Sierra-specific recommendations from the editors of BACKPACKER.
Because the climate is favorable for hiking, you can pack light for overnights in Yosemite. The nights can be cool, especially at higher elevations where there’s no forest to hold the day’s heat, so you’ll want warm clothes and a three-season sleeping bag for the evenings. But your biggest concerns-in terms of gear-are what you need to protect yourself from mosquitoes and to save your food from bears. Our gear list focuses on these items and a few lightweight favorites for camping.
Backpack
Unless you’re planning a two-week expedition or lavish five-course meals, you should be able to pack everything you need for a few nights in a midsize pack built for weekends. BACKPACKER testers raved about the Osprey Exos 58 this year; at just over 2 pounds, it carried 40 pounds comfortably, and its trampoline back panel provides excellent ventilation. If you’re looking for a pack that’s still light but has enough room for weeklong trips back home, check out the REI Flash 65, which earned one of BACKPACKER’s 2009 Editors’ Choice Awards.
Tent
Prolonged rainstorms are rare in the Sierra, and even when they hit, the sound is usually greater than the fury (lots of lightning and thunder, but no multiday deluges). That means you can go with a superlight tent built for living space, ventilation, and bug protection more than mountain weather. The Sierra Designs Vapor Light 2 gets our vote for its minimal weight-only 3 lbs. 4 oz.-and full-mesh ceiling, which keeps breezes moving. Tip: Pitch this tent without its rainfly for wraparound stargazing. For shoulder seasons, high-peak trips, and the Sierra High Route, upgrade to a sturdier tent like the REI Hoodoo 2 or Mountain Hardwear Taurine 2, which are built with stronger structures to resist mountain winds
Sleeping Bag
Temperatures may drop 20ºF in Yosemite’s high country, which is wonderful for sleeping but can make evenings feel colder than you’d expect. BACKPACKER field testers gave high marks to the Sierra Designs Nitro 30, a high-quality down mummy with elastic stitching that stretches with your body as you sleep for maximum comfort. It’s a good choice for most Yosemite overnights, but you might want a warmer bag like The North Face’s Chrysalis (a 15ºF down mummy) if you’re a cold sleeper or visiting in a shoulder season.
Food Storage
Yosemite’s black bears are the craftiest food thieves in the national parks-they even teach their young to crawl out on thin tree branches to claw through ropes that backpackers have used to hang food sacks. These days, the only certain protection is a hard-sided food canister, which are for rent in and around the park. The large-size canisters will hold 5-6 days of food if you pack ‘em tight. Learn how to use a bear canister with BACKPACKER’S video tutorial.
Water Treatment
Purifying your drinking water is a good idea no matter where you camp in Yosemite, due to the high amount of human traffic. BACKPACKER editors often use Aquamira (chlorine dioxide drops), which is a light and expensive. They also like pump filters like MSR’s Hyperflow, which come in handy when you have to collect water from shallow streams and pools that aren’t good for dipping water bottles. Read reviews, learn how to use a hydration unit, and how to clean one with BACKPACKER’s video tutorials.
