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. A guide to the sierra mountains that details mountains and trails of sierra high country where glaciated valleys, pinnacles and spires, moonscape meadows, and. Comprehensive and engrossing, covering all aspects of backpacking this iconic trail, from planning, permits, food, clothing, camping sites, tons more. He knew every inch of the high sierra trail and the history behind it. The high sierra trail a guide to the famous sierra nevada traverse. This group is a friendly gathering of people that appreciate the glorious high sierra trail. We planned a 75mile trip over eight days, starting in the giant forest of sequoia national park and ending at horseshoe meadow, just south of mt. I dont know when i first heard of the high sierra trail, but i know it was in the early 1970s. High sierra suv trails iv track and trail publications.
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. On july 22, 1997, i hit the trail ready to hike to precipice lake. 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. Tenth edition stiff card cover wraps with map in rear pocket. Along the way aspirants will negotiate class 3 scrambles.
Backpack the high sierra trail, crescent meadow trailhead. Bill walker is the author of skywalkerhighs and lows on the pacific crest trail 2010. Join chris as he drives his friend john to insanity over six days in the sierra nevada mountains. The 72mile high sierra trail traverses the sierra nevada from west to east, visiting the highest point in the contiguous 48 statesmt whitney. 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. The high sierra trail a guide to the famous sierra nevada. High sierra trail high sierra trail, hiking, documentary. 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.
Full of detailed maps, directions, and vital trail information, this book guides you off the paved roads and into the breathtaking backcountry. 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. It descends into big arroyo, then climbs up to the chagoopa plateau, and drops down again into the. The high sierra trail runs westtoeast, across the sierra nevada mountains, from crescent meadow in sequoia national park to mt. 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. From mount whitney to the road is an 11mile trail called the mt. High sierra trail sierra nevada geotourism mapguide. But that two or threeweek long stretch is honestly one of the best times of your life. The trail offers a number of activity options and is best used from may until october. A long hike to hamilton lakes on the high sierra trail.
It barely joins any established trails and crosses 33 high passes. 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. There is perhaps no better way to laterally cross the immense sierra nevada mountain range on foot. High sierra suv trails, volume iv the southern end will describe rough road excursions at the southern end of the sierra nevada. Home forums campfire photo gallery high sierra trail to mt. 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. 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. Whitney, but getting to whitney portal makes the total hike length 72. High sierra trail california 2020 all you need to know.
These rough road adventures will take the four wheeler on excursions out of sanger, porterville, bakersfield, kernville, lake isabella, tehachapi, inyokern and mojave. 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. 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. High sierra volunteer trail crew needs your support. 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. Starting from the western side of the high sierra, the range gently tilts upward, reaching its highest points at the very eastern edge. Whitney, which is the highest point in the continental u. 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. 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. The sierra high route shr is about 200 mile across the high sierra. 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.
Includes links to the resources i used to learn about this trail. Tom harrisons maps have become the standard for back country travel. 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. 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. 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. 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. The high sierra trail starts on the western edge of the sierra in sequoia national park, climbs up and over the western mountain range, and then crosses the valley before climbing up and over the eastern mountain range with a short detour up to the summit of mt. 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. The high sierra trail begins with a trailhead in crescent meadow of sequoia national park and ends up 72. 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. 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 trail is not to be confused with the high sierra trail. 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. It is a rugged alternate to the john muir trail jmt, boasting about. While julie and shane were running california outfitters an outdoor equipment store in. 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. 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. This hike was created by the national park service and was completed. 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.
You will get a taste of the high sierra on your way to a beautiful pristine lake. 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. High sierra trail to hamilton lakes california alltrails. The high sierra trail is an unforgettable backpacking route located in. The high sierra trail has switchbacks above hamilton lake. The high sierra trail a guide to the famous sierra. This trail is a remote trek and a route finders dream.
This book is a good place to start planning for a hike on the high sierra trail. The high sierra trail runs 71 miles from crescent meadow on the west side of the sierra to mount whitney on the east side. The trek is 82 miles if you bag the peak, 78 miles if you do not. The best backpacking books for hikers in the high sierra. Where hoofbeats on the trail is about the pleasures of the sierra summer, this book is about its autumn perils. 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. It was scouted by steve roper and described by him in his book sierra high route. The 72mile high sierra trail hst has all the memorymaking potential of a much longer hike, packaged into a jobfriendly, oneweek vacation. 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. In 1995 shane krogen discovered the forest service adoptatrail program. 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. The trail crosses the sierra nevada from west to east. 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 most comprehensive resource on this explorers paradise, the high sierra details all the major and minor routes to the area and covers approach roads. 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. Day 1, wednesday, august 11 wolverton th to buck creek though the official start of the hst high sierra trail is at crescent meadow, many hikers start on the alta trail from wolverton, which is generally considered more scenic, and about the same mileage with a little extra climbing at the beginning. The 71mile high sierra trail traverses the sierra nevada from crescent meadow in sequoia national park to 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. It passes through two national parkssequoiakings canyon and yosemiteand two wilderness areasjohn muir and ansel adams. The journey begins amidst giant redwoods in sequoia national park and ends at mt. The trip to hamilton lakes is part of the high sierra trail. Aug 24, 2010 with a sabbatical on the horizon this summer, i had been thinking about a major hiking objective.
The high sierra on the pacific crest trail skywalker books. 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. High sierra trail, june 1722 2015 hiking photos, trip. Most people complete their high sierra trail itinerary in 68 days. Any edition is worthwhile and used books stores often carry more than one the older the better. Only guide to detail all the known routes on 570 peaks in the sierra nevada mountains. 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. This comprehensive and exhaustive guidebook includes route descriptions, historical information, and gpsenabled driving directions. 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. Hiking the high sierra trail in california buckettripper. The high sierra trail begins at crescent meadow in sequoia national park, on the west side of the sierra nevada range, and ends at whitney portal on the east, traversing the highest and most beautiful part of the sierras. It passes over the great western divide at kaweah gap, climbing some 3,000 feet 910 m in 4 miles 6. Whitney high country map covers the entire high sierra trail. The first 11 miles are relatively easy as elevation gain is slow.
Together they have some close calls with lightning, climb the highest mountain in. 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. High sierra trail backpacking guide leave no tracy. This program enables individuals, business and special interest groups to adopt and maintain trails within the national forest. The high sierra trail hst is a hiking trail in sequoia national park, california. Thats because it cuts against the grain of the sierra nevada, from crescent meadow in. There are essentially three options for navigating this obstacle. From deep river canyons to high alpine peaks, lakes, and meadows, this hike has it all. 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. Starrs guide to the john muir trail and the high sierra region. Trail guide books, fishing, backpacking techniques, and more. This section of the high sierra trail only gains about 1,000 vertical feet from start to finish, there.
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. When he speaks it feels like youre reading a well written book, which makes sense given. 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. Prior owners name on free front endpaper, otherwise clean copy. Apr 14, 2012 yes, it is dauntingsometimes even perilous. Whitney, the highest peak in the contiguous united states. 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. The stakes go up for a pct hiker in the high sierra. High sierra trail heathers wild and wonderful blog.
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