It’s these moments in the outdoors that help re-energize your soul for the following week. Whitney summit. This approach saves you from retrieving a car left at the start. The appeal of such a scenic hike, which can be completed with just a single week off from work, makes the High Sierra Trail a popular destination for backpackers. Due to the vast wilderness, present throughout much of the Sierra-Nevada Mountain Range, hiking the High Sierra Trail is one of the only ways to experience a crossing of the Western Divide. 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. The High Sierra Trail features almost 30 miles of hiking above 10,000 feet, and the summit of Mt. The High Sierra Trail connects the western expanses of Sequoia National Park, home to the world’s largest trees, to Mount Whitney’s impressive summit, found within the eastern Sierra. A rugged hike, similar to the other two off-trail routes we hiked in the summer of 2019. Celebrating 30 Years Of Exploring. High Sierra Trail hike. If that doesn’t sound like a worthwhile endeavor, your adventurous spirit may need a serious reboot. Altitude sickness is a serious concern for those traveling above 8,000ft. From the foothills of Auburn State Recreation Area to the high peaks of Desolation Wilderness, you’re sure to find information for your next day hiking or backpacking trip. Mt. Get your creative juices flowing, because crafting a transportation plan for a thru-hike of the High Sierra Trail can be a logistical challenge at best and an absolute nightmare at worst. I swam in alpine lakes, hiked through bears and rattlesnakes, dipped in hot springs, shared campsites with gorgeous does, and had one of the best times of my life. As mentioned above, the Sierra Nevada has a trail system second to none, and opportunities for Hiking and Backpacking abound. This 72 mile trail is stunning, and is an excellent alternative to those who can't get 3 weeks off to do the JMT. The High Sierra Trail – Expansive alpine meadows, famous forests, crystal-clear moraine ponds, granite peaks towering into the sky, and the highest summit within the contiguous United States…all in one hike. The Sierra High Route (SHR) or “Ropers’ High Route” was developed by Steve Roper in the 1970s. Despite the easy navigation for those on the trail, a 6+ day thru-hike across the Sierras should be considered a serious undertaking. Another issue in the High Sierra is black bears, which can be persistent and aggressive about appropriating hikers’ food supplies, usually by trying to steal food at night. You’re in the right place! So, instead of sitting at home wasting away on your couch, try one of these amazing High Sierra hiking trails. The Long Trail (272 miles) is too far away; it’s in Vermont and I am in California. Starting from the western side of the High Sierra, the range gently tilts upward, reaching its highest points at the very eastern edge. This saves me ~10-15 minutes in the morning and at night, too. The photo to the right is a perfect example of this. While an experienced backpacker will notice infinite options along the trail, staying at the designated sites helps to reduce impact. Yosemite National Park has 5 High Sierra Camps arranged in a 49-mile loop. 1 mile). It’s a steep, albeit short, ascent from the lake to reach the first of two notable crests on the trail, Kaweah Gap. Spring conditions on the trail can leave hikers with long, exposed sections of snow and dangerous stream crossings, a greater hazard with colder water, and higher flows, common during that time of year. The Mineral King area of Sequoia National Park provides access to some of the most spectacular high country in the southern Sierra. Whitney. 16:50. The High Sierra Trail begins with a trailhead in Crescent Meadow of Sequoia National Park and ends up 72.2 miles later at Whitney Portal. ** From Big Arroyo Junction, excluding the trip to Moraine Lake. Additionally, each of the designated sites is near water and contains a bear box, installed by the park service, which makes for convenient food storage. Well, the shuttle isn't running this year due to COVID, and … Merino-wool base layer top – chest zip for ventilation a big plus! The High Sierra Trail. Great Deals on 114 styles of Hiking Boots at Sierra. Solo Hiking Advice and Tips OK, so there's good reasons to go solo, things that might make it not so fun, and some trouble you can get into. The JMT can be followed to the summit of Mt. Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks utilize a quota system, which limits permit availability and requires an advance reservation, for any overnight stays between May 25th and September 22nd. The High Sierra Trail begins at Crescent Meadow in Sequoia National Park then heads up the canyon of the Middle Fork of the Kaweah River, past the majestic beauty of Hamilton and Precipice Lakes, and then traverses the Great Western Divide at Kaweah Gap 10,700 feet. Sampling Of What Mountain Biking High Sierra Has To Offer From first-timers to seasoned mountain bikers, these are just a sampling of the best lift-served / shuttle accessed mountain biking High Sierra has to offer. Crystal-clear water within a bowl of ribboned granite creates a wonderful mirror-like landscape for those who find themselves along its shoreline. The high country (and this of course includes the climb over Mt. Nostalgia and emotion welled up through all of me. Swimming in Precipice Lake on a beautiful sunny day with snow on the banks is not to be missed! Whitney summit. Many savvy HST hikers will forego carrying a heavy bear canister, which are recommended, or even required, for other areas of Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks and, instead, camp only at sites with food storage boxes. I finally had the opportunity to hike the High Sierra Trail, a trail I've been dying to do for years! Everest. A dip in these, naturally, warm waters is sure to replenish your spirits, and your body, for the push to Mt. The High Sierra Trail starts in the West in the Giant Forest of the Sequoia National Park, you then hike across the mountain range to Mt. Luckily, Sierra’s a great place to stock up on those last-minute men’s hiking and women’s hiking needs. Proper use of the ‘bear boxes’, located at the listed campsites above, has greatly reduced these encounters. Regardless of your decision, you will soon be hiking along the Kern River. Both trailheads provide ample long-term parking and, to the delight of many, The Portal has a small restaurant frequented by exhausted hikers returning from the summit. Whitney, High elevations present altitude sickness concerns – many have had to turn back, 2 notable mountain ‘passes’ will require steep ascents of several thousand feet of elevation gain, checkCanister or liquid-feed stove – canister will be lighter, but liquid fuel works better at elevation & it will be easier to calculate and carry the exact amount of fuel, Sleeping bag rated to 30* F, or lower – nights can be cold, even in summer, Trowel & toilet paper – wag bags are required once on Mt. As a result, the trail receives considerable maintenance, making it easy to follow throughout most of the hike. Whether you day hike or backpack, you’ll find detailed trail descriptions of top destinations from veteran guidebook author John Soares. Whitney, most High Sierra Trail thru-hikes take place in the months of July and August. 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. Always carry an approved bear-proof container for all food, and use any food storage lockers available at campsites. You should still know how to react, however, if you do come across one. Posts about High Sierra Trail written by JimmyJam. Most will agree that the addition of another scenic, alpine lake is well worth the nominal, mileage addition (approx. It descends into Big Arroyo, then climbs up to the Chagoopa Plateau, and drops down again into the Kern River Canyon. In fact, there is not a single road within the entire national park boundary where this feat is accomplished. The High Sierra Trail is no less impressive but takes six to 10 days. From this point on, the High Sierra Trail, John Muir Trail, and Pacific Crest Trail all share the same path. Overview. This entry will serve as a summary of our trip. The only way is over. The linear, traversing nature of the High Sierra Trail creates, only, two main trailheads with which future thru-hikers need to familiarize. Solo female travel isn't a new trend—in fact, it's been happening for as long as humans have been traveling. The Wonderland trail (93 miles) is too short. There is potential to encounter snow throughout the year, so be sure to study the latest weather patterns, and trail conditions, in the weeks leading up to your hike. The trail starts at Crescent Meadow, near Visalia, California, crosses over the Great Western Divide, goes up Kern Canyon, then joins up with the John Muir Trail and Pacific Crest Trail at Wallace Creek. They are searching in the wrong place because I simply refuse to believe that the obvious route — up THERE and over THAT — is the route we will actually have to climb. You know that it has some of the biggest mountains, deepest gorges, grandest wilderness, and most remote terrain in the contiguous United States. Camps vary in elevation from 7,800’ to 10,300’. This topic has 1 reply, 1 voice, and was last updated 4 years ago by Jeff Hester. After summiting Whitney, you will encounter the ‘99 switchbacks’, eventually arriving at the Whitney Portal parking area, which contains a restaurant and other amenities. And a first aid kit. Whitney is the tallest mountain in the Continental US, standing at 14,505 ft. . Most hikers travel eastward, over the course of 6-9 days, beginning at Crescent Meadows and finishing at the famed, Whitney Portal. Of activity options and is best used from may until November drives his friend John to insanity over 6 ’! 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