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Backpack shakeout Hardesty to Sawtooth

ByMichael Goatbells

To prepare for upcoming PCT adventure, a backpack kit shakeout was definitely needed. After driving last week to ID and planned adventures, driving more than 1 hour away was not an option. 3 hikes were possibles: Alpine Trail to Tire Mountain, King Castle to Macduff Mountain and finally Hardesty to Sawtooth (or June). The decision tipped on a) driving distance, b) tree age (along the trail) and c) solitude probability.

Hardesty won given shorter drive and older trees with fewer forest service roads. Just a green forested path the entire way and probably 4 different forest types.

Backpack kit

Started with 4 days / nights of food and 1.5L water with a pack of 28 pounds – only camera was not included. A base weight diet exercise will be done with goal to get 4 days to <25 pounds. Mariposa was stripped simple – no shoulder pad adds, no extra gimmicks. Only new gear added was sun umbrella (Gossamer Gear)

The Route

A simple up and down – from Hwy 58 straight up the ~6 miles to Hardesty and then down to the saddle between Sawtooth and Hardesty. Up Sawtooth and around to the end of the meadow where the decent starts to the saddle between Sawtooth and June (the junction of Hardesty and Sawtooth trails) – turned around there to have lunch in the meadow and then return to car – a bit fatigued.

The Sawtooth meadow is infrequently visited but worth the time imho.

I left the trailhead about 5:45 and returned about 1:00pm for the drive home.

Trail conditions were perfect – no mud, no water and not too hard. Only blowdowns were in the small section to Hardesty summit (no MTBs). MTB damage was noticeable but not irrational imho. Bugs were non-issue and the flowers were blooming everywhere – forests and meadows. Human traffic was null from 5:30 until after noon – I saw 4 humans all within 1.5 miles of TH on way down.

Along the way

This little one just couldn’t get off the trail in time, so a photo taken.

The flowers, however, stole the show.

Data Geek Cellar

  • Shoes: Altra Lone Peak mesh lowers #3
  • Pack: Gossamer Gear Mariposa
  • Upper Layers: 1 (Tech short sleeve base layer)
  • Upper shell: none
  • Trekking Poles: Gossamer Gear
  • Approximate Times: 05:45 – 13:00
  • Carbon ratio: +5.6 hours; YTD = 107.6 hiking hours banked YTD
  • Notes:
    • Photos: medium
    • Speed: medium to slow
    • Difficulty: moderate (+4,000 ft elevation gain and full 4 day backpack)

New Gear tested

  • Ultra Gam Calf Gaiters: I am on my 3rd pair of Ultra Gam ankle gaiters, but wanted to try the calf high ones to wear shorts (without getting dirty!). I think I ordered the wrong size, as I could not keep them pulled up. I wanted to love them as soon as I put them on based on feel, but couldn’t keep ’em up. – Probably a bust.
  • Lecka Coffee Energy Gels: As a cottage alternative to runners’ popular GU, I tested out the Cacao / Coffee gels – worked great! Just the right amount of boost without caffeine overdose – will take for morning gels moving forward.

GaiaGPS data

All Trails data – note that the distances are similar, but the elevation gain algo way different.