Last minute planningchanges, as well as links to tracking us on our hike while it was in progress. Whitney, which is one of my favorite places and the highest summit in the contiguous united states. When he speaks it feels like youre reading a well written book, which makes sense given. Comprehensive and engrossing, covering all aspects of backpacking this iconic trail, from planning, permits, food, clothing, camping sites, tons more. In a clear and concise manner, the book describes the highlights and unique characteristics of the hst and provides all the essential planning information to save you. Whitney, but getting to whitney portal makes the total hike length 72. High sierra trail to hamilton lakes california alltrails. Trail guide books, fishing, backpacking techniques, and more. High sierra trail california 2020 all you need to know.
The trip to hamilton lakes is part of the high sierra trail. The trek is 82 miles if you bag the peak, 78 miles if you do not. It passes over the great western divide at kaweah gap, climbing some 3,000 feet 910 m in 4 miles 6. High sierra trail backpacking guide leave no tracy. Together they have some close calls with lightning, climb the highest mountain in. Feb 09, 2009 high sierra is the most popular guidebook to this magnificent mountain range, and has long been the definitive source of climbing and hiking information for this wonderland. Prior owners name on free front endpaper, otherwise clean copy. The high sierra trail hst is a hiking trail in sequoia national park, california. High sierra suv trails iv track and trail publications. Along the way aspirants will negotiate class 3 scrambles.
After being regaled with photos and stories of the high sierra trail, a 72 mile route which traverses sequoia national park from giant forest to mount whitney, i had got it in my mind that this would be. But it sucked me in exactly the same way, wasting almost no time setting up the catastrophe of chloes fathers broken leg in the middle of nowhere, and her need to hike crosscountry to get help. The jmt runs northsouth along the sierra crest, so we thought the high sierra trail hst, which runs westeast across the crest and the great western divide would be a nice change. While julie and shane were running california outfitters an outdoor equipment store in. The high sierra on the pacific crest trail skywalker books. The high sierra trail 39 min directed by chris smead this exciting documentary bounces back and forth between the modern experience of hiking the high sierra trail, and the early 1900s when the trail was created. It is a rugged alternate to the john muir trail jmt, boasting about. The guide to the high sierra trail, 70 miles of back country vistas, from the big trees of sequoia np to the heights of mt whitney. The trail offers a number of activity options and is best used from may until october. Where hoofbeats on the trail is about the pleasures of the sierra summer, this book is about its autumn perils.
The trail crosses the sierra nevada from west to east. High sierra trail, june 1722 2015 hiking photos, trip. In a clear and concise manner, the book describes the highlights and unique characteristics of the hst and provides all the essential planning information to save you time and effort with your own. The john muir trail may hold the high country in a loving embrace for weeks, but the high sierra trail gets right down to business. This book is a good place to start planning for a hike on the high sierra trail. I dont know when i first heard of the high sierra trail, but i know it was in the early 1970s. Description the shr is a 195mile trekking route that runs northsouth through the heart of the high sierra, the crown jewel of the sierra nevada range. The high sierra trail a guide to the famous sierra. The high sierra is the high heart of the sierra nevada mountain range, which runs southtonorth through much of the length of central and northern california. Traversing timberline country much of the sierra high route runs parallel to the john muir trail, staying east of that trail and keeping above the timberline. Bill walker is the author of skywalkerhighs and lows on the pacific crest trail 2010. The most comprehensive resource on this explorers paradise, the high sierra details all the major and minor routes to the area and covers approach roads. The sierra high route also called the roper route and the high route is a crosscountry hiking route, 195 miles 314 km long, through the sierra nevada.
Only guide to detail all the known routes on 570 peaks in the sierra nevada mountains. The diverse terrain and unspoiled wilderness of the high sierra makes it one of the best places in the world for the practice of mountains advanced hiking, cross country rambling, peak bagging, rock and ice climbing, and ski touring. Bearpaw high sierra camp was founded in 1934, and is located in sequoia national park on the high sierra trail, which crosses the sierra nevada from west to east. High sierra volunteer trail crew needs your support. This trail is not to be confused with the high sierra trail. The 72mile high sierra trail hst has all the memorymaking potential of a much longer hike, packaged into a jobfriendly, oneweek vacation. The high sierra trail 39 min directed by chris smead this exciting documentary bounces back and forth between the modern experience of hiking the high. From mount whitney to the road is an 11mile trail called the mt. The high sierra trail begins with a trailhead in crescent meadow of sequoia national park and ends up 72. The high sierra trail has switchbacks above hamilton lake. Starting at the giant forest, we followed the edge of the middle fork of the kaweah river a super deep canyon with stunning views to the south, west and east towards the great western divide. The best backpacking books for hikers in the high sierra.
From the grandeur of hamilton lakes basin and precipice lake, to the awe inspiring big arroyo and kern river valley, the high sierra trail is some of the best that. This section of the high sierra trail only gains about 1,000 vertical feet from start to finish, there. Starting from the western side of the high sierra, the range gently tilts upward, reaching its highest points at the very eastern edge. High sierra suv trails, volume iv the southern end will describe rough road excursions at the southern end of the sierra nevada. Includes links to the resources i used to learn about this trail. But that two or threeweek long stretch is honestly one of the best times of your life. The first 11 miles are relatively easy as elevation gain is slow. The shorter high sierra trail runs westeast across the entire range and offers similar scenery and objectives, but at 60 miles from its start to the summit of mt. The high sierra, subtitled peaks passes trails, is a prodigious and informationjammed book to which im awarding five stars even though its usefulness to me is not what i expected and will be minimal, a fact that would otherwise cause me to award two or three stars. Any edition is worthwhile and used books stores often carry more than one the older the better. A guide to the sierra mountains that details mountains and trails of sierra high country where glaciated valleys, pinnacles and spires, moonscape meadows, and.
The high sierra trail a guide to the famous sierra nevada. Whitney high country map covers the entire high sierra trail. This group is a friendly gathering of people that appreciate the glorious high sierra trail. It was scouted by steve roper and described by him in his book sierra high route. Full of detailed maps, directions, and vital trail information, this book guides you off the paved roads and into the breathtaking backcountry.
Tom harrisons maps have become the standard for back country travel. This famous hike crosses some of the most rugged country in the sierra, following the middle fork of the kaweah river to its headwaters at kaweah gap and then dropping into the kern river canyon before swinging east again toward mt. From the grandeur of hamilton lakes basin and precipice lake, to the awe inspiring big arroyo and kern river valley, the high sierra trail is some of the best that sequoia national park has to offer. This hike was created by the national park service and was completed.
Hikers traversing the magnificent high sierra trail experience nearly everything the sierra nevada has to offer the towering sequoias of giant forest, the vast canyon of the middle fork of the kaweah river wider and deeper than the grand canyon, the sheer granite cliffs of deer creek, and mount whitney, the tallest mountain in the lower. Aug 24, 2010 with a sabbatical on the horizon this summer, i had been thinking about a major hiking objective. May 07, 20 the jmt runs northsouth along the sierra crest, so we thought the high sierra trail hst, which runs westeast across the crest and the great western divide would be a nice change. The high sierra trail runs westtoeast, across the sierra nevada mountains, from crescent meadow in sequoia national park to mt. It barely joins any established trails and crosses 33 high passes. This comprehensive and exhaustive guidebook includes route descriptions, historical information, and gpsenabled driving directions. Most people complete their high sierra trail itinerary in 68 days. The high sierra trail leads from crescent meadow up the canyon of the middle fork of the kaweah river, crossing the great western divide by the 10,700. Feb 14, 2017 the john muir trail may hold the high country in a loving embrace for weeks, but the high sierra trail gets right down to business.
According to the yosemite decimal system, the hst is a class 1class 2 trail, which means simple scrambling, with the possibility of occasional use of the hands for balance. The high sierra trail has two great ascents the first one over kaweah gap and the great western divide, and the second over the eastern sierra and trail crest at mt. The high sierra trail a guide to the famous sierra nevada traverse. Tenth edition stiff card cover wraps with map in rear pocket. Backpack the high sierra trail, crescent meadow trailhead. Crescent meadow to whitney portal is a 59 mile heavily trafficked pointtopoint trail located near three rivers, california that features a lake and is rated as difficult. There is perhaps no better way to laterally cross the immense sierra nevada mountain range on foot.
The high sierra trail runs 71 miles from crescent meadow on the west side of the sierra to mount whitney on the east side. It descends into big arroyo, then climbs up to the chagoopa plateau, and drops down again into the. Home forums campfire photo gallery high sierra trail to mt. He knew every inch of the high sierra trail and the history behind it.
On july 22, 1997, i hit the trail ready to hike to precipice lake. Starrs guide to the john muir trail and the high sierra region. Hiking the high sierra trail in california buckettripper. Whitney, which is the highest point in the continental u. You will get a taste of the high sierra on your way to a beautiful pristine lake. The high sierra trail the high sierra is the high heart of the sierra nevada mountain range, which runs southtonorth through much of the length of central and northern california. Join chris as he drives his friend john to insanity over six days in the sierra nevada mountains. One of the bestengineered mountain paths in the world, the high sierra trail winds 70 miles directly across the rugged sierra nevada from crescent meadow up the canyon of the middle fork of the kaweah river, crossing the great western divide by the 10,700 3261 meters pass known as kaweah gap. We did a 3 day 34 mile backpack along the high sierra trail starting at crescent meadow, overnighting at bearpaw meadow and then hamilton lake before hiking out. Mar 02, 2017 after giving up on the jmt i ventured off trail and ended up on the sierra high route shot with a sony rx100iii music by andrew thom. The sierra high route shr is about 200 mile across the high sierra.
High sierra is the most popular guidebook to this magnificent mountain range, and has long been the definitive source of climbing and hiking information for this wonderland. The journey begins amidst giant redwoods in sequoia national park and ends at mt. It was great to start in a stand of sequoia and hike all the way to subalpine terrain. In a clear and concise manner, the book describes the highlights and unique characteristics of the hst and provides all the essential planning information to save you time and effort with your own preparations. Thats because it cuts against the grain of the sierra nevada, from crescent meadow in sequoia national park to just shy of 14,505foot mt. There are essentially three options for navigating this obstacle. Support one of our programs, become part of the vital trail maintenance program, which has been the heart of the high sierra volunteer trail crew since its inception in 1995. This program enables individuals, business and special interest groups to adopt and maintain trails within the national forest. From deep river canyons to high alpine peaks, lakes, and meadows, this hike has it all. Thats because it cuts against the grain of the sierra nevada, from crescent meadow in. In 1995 shane krogen discovered the forest service adoptatrail program.
Apr 14, 2012 yes, it is dauntingsometimes even perilous. The high sierra trail begins in crescent meadow on the fringe of giant forest and travels through some of sequoia national parks most scenic backcountry. Whitney, the highest peak in the contiguous united states. The 72mile high sierra trail traverses the sierra nevada from west to east, visiting the highest point in the contiguous 48 statesmt whitney. California trails high sierra region navigates and describes 50 trails located near the towns of fresno north, oakhurst, lone pine, bishop, bridgeport, coulterville, mariposa, and mammoth lakes. The 71mile high sierra trail traverses the sierra nevada from crescent meadow in sequoia national park to mt. The original guide on how to get in and out of the high sierra, originally published in the 1930s and still quite valid today, thanks to the conservationists. It passes through two national parkssequoiakings canyon and yosemiteand two wilderness areasjohn muir and ansel adams. The high sierra trail leads from crescent meadow up the canyon of the middle fork of the kaweah river, crossing the great western divide by the 10,700 3261 meters pass known as kaweah gap. These rough road adventures will take the four wheeler on excursions out of sanger, porterville, bakersfield, kernville, lake isabella, tehachapi, inyokern and mojave.
Whitney 2007 viewing 23 posts 1 through 23 of 23 total forums are supported by our merchant partners disclosure rei coupons zpacks hyperlite patagonia arcteryx rbtr drop backcountry. It descends into big arroyo, then climbs up to the chagoopa plateau, and drops down again into the kern river canyon. Mike whites recently published book on hiking trails in kings canyon and sequoia has received high praise. High sierra trail sierra nevada geotourism mapguide.
Sep 17, 2016 the high sierra trail has two great ascents the first one over kaweah gap and the great western divide, and the second over the eastern sierra and trail crest at mt. The high sierra trail is an unforgettable backpacking route located in. Stretching approximately 195 miles 314 km north to south through the sierra nevada, it is a largely offtrail affair that stays between 9,000 ft 2,743 m and 12,000 ft 3658 m for most of its rugged course. High sierra trail high sierra trail, hiking, documentary. This trail is a remote trek and a route finders dream.
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