The Yosemite High Route: Type 2 Fun, Running out of Fuel, and Mystery Swelling with Elise "SOS" Ott (BPR #371)

In today's episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, brought to you by LMNT, we are joined by our longtime pal Elise Ott, aka Sauce, who recently completed the 94-mile Yosemite High Route. She breaks down the realities of off-trail High Sierra travel, from navigating 7,000-foot vertical climb days to the difficulty (or lack thereof) of route-finding without a GPX line. 

In this one, Elise gives us a full breakdown on Skurka’s new(ish) route through Yosemite- including everything you need to know regarding navigation, camping, water, difficulty, highlight views, and more. Elise also shares some fun anecdotes from her hike, including waking up with some mysterious edema that blew her face and feet up like balloons, her emotional breakdown on day four after a massive granite boulder crumbled under her weight, the nightmare of scrambling up the steep, loose gravel of "Lemonade Pass" after breaking both of her trekking poles, and the agony of cold-soaking a beef stroganoff Knorr Pasta side in the dark after running out of stove fuel. 

We wrap the show with the sad news of the passing of a CDT in the Tetons, a shout-out to Trek blogger Starlight, which continent's cuisine we would choose eat forever, a story where I recently maybe got rabies, a Triple Crown of summer drinks, a one-minute gear review on Jess testing a backcountry bidet on the JMT, and a listener shares a story about meeting two hikers tripping on acid on the Tahoe Rim Trail.

LMNT: Get a free sample pack with any order at drinklmnt.com/trek.

Gossamer Gear: Use code "BACKPACKERRADIO" for $20 off LT5 Trekking Poles at gossamergear.com. 

Shady Rays: Use code “TREK” for 40% off two or more pairs of sunglasses at shadyrays.com.

Hyperlite Mountain Gear: Use code “BPRADIO15” for 15% of hyperlitemountaingear.com

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Interview with Elise Ott aka SOS

• Elise's Instagram
• Elise's Website
• Elise's Youtube

Time stamps & Questions

00:05:20 - Reminders: Apply to work for the Trek, check out The Trek: On Trail on Youtube, and listen to our episodes ad-free (and bonus content!) on Patreon!

00:08:39 - Introducing Elise

00:09:00 - Tell us about your puppy

00:15:42 - What was the inspiration to do the Yosemite High Route?

00:18:45 - What permit did you need for Yosemite backcountry?

00:21:22 - Give us the fast facts overview on the route

00:26:27 - How do you plan your days on a high route?

00:30:00 - What does using a Skurka guide entail?

00:35:27 - Were you feeling good or nervous going into it?

00:36:55 - Is the route a figure eight shape?

00:39:35 - What was so rough about the first few days and when did things turn around?

00:47:47 - What was the timeline of your hike?

00:50:07 - What were the conditions like on the trail?

00:52:44 - What did that conversation with your hiking partner look like?

00:56:26 - Tell us about the mysterious swelling and edema

00:59:40 - Discussion about navigation, map layers, and campsite planning

01:02:04 - Do you attribute your foot issues to the footwear itself?

01:03:30 - Is this all type two fun? Tell us about Lemonade Pass

01:05:53 - Rank the three Skurka routes by difficulty and walk us through the terrain

01:11:03 - What was the most beautiful part of the route?

01:14:53 - Any alpine dips on the route?

01:16:42 - Walk me through the water carry situation

01:18:47 - Did you do anything specific gear-wise for this route?

01:21:39 - Did you experiment with iPhone satellite texting?

01:24:54 - What about wildlife on the route?

01:31:30 - Tell us about breaking both your trekking poles

01:34:11 - Tell us about running out of fuel and cold soaking beef stroganoff

01:37:38 - Discussion about potentially submitting an FKT

01:39:43 - Discussion about reflecting on the overall experience

01:42:20 - Where can folks keep up with you?

Segments

Trek Propaganda: 

• Missing CDT Thru-Hiker Found Dead in Tetons by Kelly Floro
• Ch. 64 – Vermilion Valley & Vitamin I by Starlight

QOTD:  If you could only eat one continent’s cuisine for the rest of time, what would it be?

Batty Thing of the Week

Triple Crown of summer drinks 

Mail Bag

5 Star Review

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