Yosemite Backpacking Trips
Backpacking - Yosemite High Passes Loop - Reviews
Ian, Just wanted to let you know the trip was absolutely fabulous. We had a great group and a wonderful trip. The guides, Roddy and Jenny were both exquisite. They were always helpful and cheerful and the cooking and food were excellent. I'm looking forward to another trip and will definitely bring back some friends.
- Mel Bass. Yosemite High Passes Loop August, 2009
Ian, just wanted to let you know the trip was great. Katie was a terrific guide - she was very competent in her guide duties, but also seemed to be very much a 
part of our group, and made the experience that much better. Hopefully we can do another trip in the future. Pete.
- Peter Jensen, Sept, 2006
Hi Ian, Thank you for providing SYMG trips. We couldn't have had a better guide than Colby. Colby is amazing. He guided, consoled, cooked, and is very diplomatic. I had the time of my life. It was my 50th birthday present and I could have gone another 14 days if I wasn't happily married.
- Randy Alford, Modesto, Ca. July, 2006
Both Chris & I would like to thank you and in particular thank Greg (Aiello) for an amazing week in the High Sierra on the High Passes Loop. It truely was the highlight of our Californian holiday and we have memories that we will cherish forever. Greg was an excellent guide and we both learnt a lot from him. You could tell that he was passionate about the outdoors and about this area in particular and we feel honoured that he shared this with us. Thank you once again for organising a wonderful experience for us and we cant wait to be back in the wilderness again soon !
- Dr. Joyce Abernathy, Ringwood, England Aug. 2005
I just got back from Southern Yosemite Moutain Guides' Yosemite High Passes Loop trip that I went on in September, 2005. What a great trip! The first couple days up through the forests were a beautiful prelude to the vast views once we got to the passes. The next couple days featured rugged otherworldly landscapes with large dark grey boulders and iron red rocks. Like an oasis sits Ottoway Lake, one of the most beautiful sites I've ever seen. Getting through Red Peak Pass was pretty tough mentally as well as physically. Great views to the East of Mt. Ritter & the Minarets. Finally, the last days were like a sweet dessert after a fine meal, as we came back down through the forests to the Staniford Lakes Basin.
The daytime temperatures were neither too hot or cold. One in our group went swimming, but the lake was too cold for me. After sundown, it gets chilly quickly. Many of our campsites were above the No Fire elevation, but everyone was quick to hop into their sleeping bags after dinner anyway. I didn't see any mosquitoes the whole time, either because of the elevation or the season.
Our guide, Colby Brokvist, was excellent! After he got a feel for our pace and our interests, he suggested alternate options for the day's itinerary. Without an experienced guide's insight, we never would have visited some of these remarkable sites. Also, Colby's dinners were never something mundane like hot dogs, but innovative dishes that would've surprised my wife who works at a 5 star restaurant. Seriously, having well thought out meals makes a huge difference after backpacking all day.
Finally, during an emergency that occurred, Colby and SYMG President, Ian Elman, were fast, professional, and on it! They really saved the day. I really recommend the trip. I have only moderate backpacking experience, but the experience of the guide makes up for that. The trip is rated moderate-strenuous and preparing by walking 3-5 miles with a 40 Lb. pack a few times a week at altitude, if possible, during the months prior to the trip seems to me like a must.
- Kelly Bass, Sept, 2005
If you have experienced this trip with the guides of SYMG, you can submit your review for inclusion here!