The High Sierra Trail Route - Sequoia National Park. Mt. Road Trip Through Banff National Park, British Columbia, Capitol Reef National Park, Utah – Cassidy Arch Trail, The Ten Essentials of Wilderness Survival Gear, https://www.jmpeltier.com/sierra-nevada-backpacking-gear/, A Diary from 2019: the Story that was left Unsaid – Trailing Ahead. This is the version of our website addressed to speakers of English in Canada. Unfortunately I don’t have any “locals knowledge” about unlisted transportation to Crescent Meadow. I woke up that morning feeling a little achy but the fever was gone. From Nine Mile Creek you’ll immediately descend down into Buck Canyon, where you can find some backup campsites if Nine Mile is full. You’ll be on the south-facing side of the valley in which the Middle Fork of the Kaweah River runs through. Day 5, the High Sierra Trail. It was amazing. Start the hike at Crescent Meadow and backpack to Nine Mile Creek. The climb from Lone Pine Creek to Hamilton Lake was a bit of a doosy too. This trail is also exposed and can get hot; an early departure is recommended. Fires: Yes. Plan to camp or lodge in the Lodgepole Village area for a couple of nights prior to your departure to allow your body to adjust to the elevation. Day 6 - Wallace Creek to above Guitar Lake, 8.5 miles Day 7 - Above Guitar Lake to Mt. Approximately 11.2 miles. Whitney - not too difficult, if you have already come till here. Backpacking the High Sierra Trail takes months of planning and preparation, but it’s also a lot of fun. Whitney and then down to Whitney Portal, 14.9 miles The most difficult days on the trail are crossing Kaweah Gap, ascending and then descending into the Kern River Canyon, and - of course - Mount Whitney. High Sierra Trail: Day 5 – Kern Hot Spring to Junction Meadow. Both times I’ve done this I started at 2am and arrived at the summit of Mt. No campfires. As you might expect, altitude and elevation gain factor into planning your trip. This section of the High Sierra Trail also features the tunnel that was blasted through the canyon wall after a steel bridge was destroyed in 1937. Park: Sequoia National Park, Inyo National Forest (California, USA) Trail(s): John Muir Trail, Pacific Crest Trail. Trail Camp: 8.8 miles, exposed, water access, very crowded, trash, no campfires. California, Destinations and Trails, Eastern Sierra Mountains, High Sierra Trail, Hiking 14er's, Sequoia National Park, Thru-Hiking. An Inspired … You’ll soon find yourself above the rock formation known as Valhalla (which you were staring at from below the previous day). High Sierra Trail Day 5 – Junction Meadow to Crabtree Ranger Station Sequoia National Park, California. THE WONDERS OF SEQUOIA NATIONAL PARK. There are two bear boxes at Hamilton Lake and also a pit toilet. Oh no! Day 2: Nine-mile camp to Bearpaw Meadow to Hamilton Lake to Kaweah Gap & camped near a stream about 1.5 miles further down from Kaweah gap - This was one of the tougher days, as it was pretty much raining most of the day and the hike up from Hamilton Lake to Kaweah Gap is a bit tough. Starting Point: Guitar Lake. The camping areas were well taken care of by the campers. These are the ten pieces of essential wilderness survival gear to carry. Thanks for the feedback, and for the update on the trail! March 2, 2019; Distance Hiked: 11.8 miles. People seem to respect this site more. Day 1, High Sierra Trail. My husband and I did an out-and-back (yo-yo) of this trail (120 miles). The final climb from the waterfalls up to Hamilton Lake can exhaust many people. 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. This was my first (and only) hair wash since the morning we left Lone Pine 5 days ago. The pit toilet is more or less useless and overflowing as of July 2018. But despite the logistical challenges, the High Sierra Trail … Also, remember that there are trail quotas. There are two bear boxes at Kern Hot Springs and one newer pit toilet in excellent condition (it’s really just a wooden platform over a hole in the ground with a toilet seat, and a waist-high wooden fence for privacy). Landmarks: Mt. https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/california/high-sierra-trail There are still, however, plenty of sites spread out throughout the area. Our first day of our High Sierra Trail backpacking trip was certainly a memorable one and a great way to kick off our week in the mountains! Water Nearby: Yes. It was a nice leisurely pace that we all enjoyed. The fastest claimed time to traverse is 15 hours 46 minutes, by Leor Pantilat. Grab a wag bag at the trail junction if you don’t have one and continue past Timberline Lake to Guitar Lake. This trail traverses the high country of the Southern Sierra protected by Sequoia National Park. Big Hamilton Lake campsite: There are numerous campsites spread out along the northwest side of the lake, which is backdropped by gorgeous granite cliffs and two waterfalls. And, of course, what is the scenic quality of the campsite? The HST is the perfect length for a week-long trip with nine days (five weekdays and two weekends). Buck Creek: ~9 miles, only a few sites, bear box, water, slightly exposed, in a scenic canyon. High Sierra Trail: Day 6. This was also our actual seven-night itinerary and it worked out great. This is a long day that most backpackers start early, usually around 2-3am. No campfires. March 2, 2019; Distance Hiked: 12.8 miles. Jul 19, 2016 | 12 comments. The northernmost spots have water access at Rock Creek, the rest are better off getting water from the Kern River. If you are looking for a relatively short trip, this is a good choice and is a bit less crowded than JMT and sections of PCT. Traveling as one, the three trails headed south towards Crabtree Meadow, the gateway to Mount Whitney. The 71-mile High Sierra Trail traverses the Sierra Nevada from Crescent Meadow in Sequoia National Park to Mt. Starting at Crescent Meadow, ending at Bearpaw backpackers camp. If you are a resident of another country or region, please select the appropriate version of Tripadvisor for your country or region in the drop-down menu. Whitney September 18-27, 2021 7 days/6 Nights on the High Sierra Trail $1,195 per person $1,295 with gear rental Your registration includes a 71-mile, 7-day, 6-night wilderness backpacking adventure, training meeting before the trip, a food-kit with all meals on the trail, and devotionals every morning and evening. The camping areas were well taken care of by the campers. Here are a few essential resources that will help make your thru-hike on the High Sierra Trail … So, go ahead and plan a getaway to let yourself breathe the fresh air and melt your cares away along one of these epic trails. The 28-mile trail from Tuolumne Meadows to Yosemite Valley Trail through the meadow in Yosemite National Park. 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. During 1930, a trail crew working with an air compressor and rock drills spent nearly the entire summer blasting a 1-mile (1.6 km) stretch of trail through this area. Moraine Lake: ~7.3 miles, 1,100′ ascent, water, scenic lake, wooded. The camping areas were well taken care of by the campers. Whitney, head back down to Trail Crest, grab your pack, and descend down the 99 switchbacks. On the other hand, it's a net elevation loss that day. The High Sierra Trail (HST), a 72 mile trail in Sequoia National Park, is a major undertaking.There are a few roads on the eastern side of the park that lead to the popular Lodgepole Visitor Center and the Giant Sequoias, but there are no roads that go through the park so there is no place to re-supply. Whitney is the tallest mountain in the Continental US, standing at 14,505 ft. . I felt like a new person afterward. The Sierra High Route is one of the most spectacular and challenging treks in North America. DAY 5 /5; 73.0 miles /73.0 miles (total HST) Daily Mileage: 15.6 miles. The High Sierra Trail is a moderate to strenuous 61.5-mile trail through Sequoia National Park. When it looked too threatening to go over Elizabeth Pass, I figured out a new route for us: back to Roaring River, through Sugarloaf Valley and over Silliman Pass. Whitney. Another advantage of starting early is that you’ll avoid the early afternoon thunderstorms that can often develop in the summer and ruin your hike. High Sierra Trail: Excellent 5-7 days of backpacking with fabulous views - See 4 traveler reviews, candid photos, and great deals for California, at Tripadvisor. We weren’t far up the trail before we were already stopping to remove layers. Almost totally surrounded by 2000 ft granite walls, including the Valhalla, made for great scenery and the crystal clear water made for a cold but refreshing swim. There are numerous stream crossings, some of which can be quite tricky and may require changing footwear if you brought it. There are plenty of water sources after the pass. Hiking the High Sierra Trail. A great alternative for when you can’t do the whole JMT or PCT! Whitney, but getting to Whitney Portal makes the total hike length 72.2 miles. Big Arroyo Junction campsite:  This campsite has numerous spots near Big Arroyo Creek; they’re all spread out and most provide shelter. After some breakfast, we reached the ranger station in Lodgepole around 11 am. The High Sierra Trail also ended up being my first thru-hike, my longest backpacking trip by miles and by days, and honestly the hardest hike that I have ever done both physically and mentally. July 2016. Yesterday was an exercise in being trip leader. After five days and 56.5 miles of beautiful views and hard hikes, it was time for 15.6 more. Stunning Precipice Lake and the views of Hamilton Lake more than make up for the pain!Day 3: Past Big Arroyo Junction to Lake Moraine - A very easy downhill/flat hike, ending in a perhaps the best campsite on the whole trail. It’s next to Kern River. Hi Kelsey, I’m in Guatemala right now and can’t go through it all but I’ve been using pretty much the same setup for years, which you can see here: https://www.jmpeltier.com/sierra-nevada-backpacking-gear/. 71 Miles High Sierra Trail to Mt. Whitney for sunrise. From deep river canyons to high alpine peaks, lakes, and meadows, this hike has it all. Reviewing the maps, planning your itinerary, plotting your campsites and filling out your gear helps build the anticipation. Hamilton Lake. The shorter, 72-mile High Sierra Trail runs west to east across the Sierras and can be done in six to ten days. I think that I held whatever it was at bay by sheer force of will and I hoped that it was only an excess of mosquito poison that had set off the fever the night before. 5D/5N Salkatay Trek Day 2: Wayracmachay to Loreta. The day was mostly spent climbing uphill nonstop gaining 4,357 ft in just under 12 miles. We cruised the 11mi down to the Crescent Meadow Trailhead, the western terminus of the High Sierra Trail. How do you spend five days in Banff National Park? High Sierra Trail to Whitney Portal in 5 days, mid-June: Doable? However, we were able to get one easily for the next day starting at Crescent Meadow from the Lodgepole Visitor Center in Sequoia National Park. Distance: 72 miles Total Elevation Gain: around 19,000ft We woke up at 4:30 in the morning from a fitful sleep. Lots of water crossings, but none were difficult, in July 2013. Your HST descriptions were spot-on and very helpful. The Kern river runs right next to the Hot Spring and you have campsites overlooking the river.Day 5: Kern Hot Springs to Junction Meadow to Wallace Creek (HST - JMT junction) - The first section of the hike to Junction Meadow is flat & easy & somewhat boring. 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