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