So an LA buddy of mine and I recently did a Grand Canyon Phantom Ranch trip and it's official: We are hooked. I wish we'd discovered backpacking earlier in life (we're in our mid 30's now) -- we could have saved a lot of time and money and hepatocytes by shunning bars and instead we coulda gone backpacking. Anyway needless to say we are beginners, and we did stay in the dorms and have our meals at the canteen at Phantom Ranch, so it wasn't real "backpacking." We want to change that.

We are looking to do a 3 day/2 night backpacking trip in SoCal in the August 2012 -- something challenging and scenic, something that allow us to test out our real backpacking skills -- tents, sleeping bags, cooking, etc. I have tried unsuccessfully to get Mount Whitney permits. Any other suggestions?

Thanks in advance!

I've done several backpacking trips along the eastern Sierra's and they are all spectacular. Whitney is popular because it is the tallest, but everything around it is nearly as tall.

Here is the list of trailheads in the Inyo National Forest:

http://www.fs.usda.gov/activity/inyo/recreation/hiking/?recid=20228&actid=51

more good info here: http://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/fsbdev3_003592.pdf

Most of those trails can be viewed with contour maps on google maps. I suggest looking for trailheads that start at higher elevation, that makes it easier to get up high. Hilton Lakes is a good beginner trek. If you get tuckered out early you can stop at Davis Lake. The more energy you have the higher you can go up the chain of Hilton Lakes.

If you want something closer to home, you can do sections of the PCT which goes right by LA. Last weekend I did some day hikes on the PCT up near Wrightwood, CA (Angeles NF). It is beautiful country though it seemed more dry than the parts of the Inyo NF that I have been to, so make sure you make adequate water plans (you can inquire at the ranger station about water sources along the trail).

Great info! Will definitely look into parts of the PCT closer to home.

Also considering the Big Sur trek, length seems about right.