Which seems much worse later in the day once I’m tired. A glorious night’s sleep in the hotel bed was had. Good to see it up close after spotting it coming down from the KCHBR a few weeks prior. July 27, 2018 Dusy Basin to Long Lake Off Trail in Dusy Basin, Bishop Pass. ( Log Out /  We started early afternoon and got through the Gaylor Lakes region. It was just the amount of descent that wore on the knees at almost 4000 feet over five miles down to Twin Lakes. The weather was threatening for the entire afternoon. Signup to receive articles about Ultralight Backpacking, Thru-Hiking and Gear Guides & Reviews. READ AT YOUR OWN RISK!… Read more, Day 9: July 14, 2019 South Lake TH to Below Bishop Pass (4.5 mi, +2,264 ft, -558 ft) ***NOTE: The following entries are taken from my daily journal entries while on trail. It was cold and slippery going over Nancy Pass. For the Sierra High Route, estimated miles per day is based on whether that day is on or off trail, and the elevation gain and loss. The energy was low and my knee was sore. You may already know that the Sierra High Route is a 195 mile cross-country route in the Sierras, generally in the 10,000 - 12,000 foot elevation range. We camped in a cluster of willows by Teddy Bear Lake and I fell asleep to the wind whipping at sil-nylon. The Northern Sierra’s highest peak. The temperature itself wasn’t bad but packing up in the wind and hitting the trail was a miserable affair. We are up bright and early as we have three passes to go over today and one of them is Stanton Pass which is considered to be one of the hardest on the Sierra High Route. The timing of the trip was quite good. It was more of the same weather and we made a group decision to skip forward to the Tuolumne Meadows area and avoid the snow. I hiked ahead and alone for the majority of the morning. This summer PATH projects customer Matt Hyde hiked The Sierra High Route for 15 days. We woke and started up towards Horse Creek Pass. HIGH ROUTE 1 PITCHING INSTRUCTIONS Congratulations on the purchase of your new Sierra Designs tent! This 210- to 220-mile, 20- to 30-day cross-country journey could be the premier mountain trek in the Lower 48. Part 3. I’m Paul “Pie” Ingram a British dude living in Finland who hikes all over the world. We slowly made our way through the Mills Creek area and lunched at midday. If so, the Sierra High Route is for you. Sierra High Route. This is not a trail hike, but instead follows high alpine passes and basins, avoiding both trails and below treeline travel wherever possible. Sierra High Route. The descent was different. ( Log Out /  Our start date for the trip was the 18th of August. And did I say long? Snow, low temps, and wind had all been forecast and we weren’t excited. Getting up to Muir Pass and seeing the hut there was cool. READ AT YOUR… Read more. For Tom and me the next day was a retrace of our previous day’s journey from Paine Grande but it was new for Elizabeth and James. Upon their return, we popped over the pass and began the long descent. A great night’s sleep but it was cold. This is part 4 of 4 that covers my summer 2019 hike through the High Sierra. September 29, 2019 by askosel. We all paid to take a good hot shower before headed back onto the SHR. A glorious night’s sleep in the hotel bed was had. It is often confused with the High Sierra trail, however these are wildly different adventures. Resting before the daunting looking climb to Sky Pilot Col. not High Route 2.0 or High Route II), and the existing design will be phased out. The familiar territory of Bishop Pass was underfoot and we got up, through Dusy Basin and down to the JMT by about 5:30 pm. Before hiking up and over the pass and down to the trailhead. Good to see it up close after spotting it coming down from the KCHBR a few weeks prior. After a few more town tasks we shuttled and then hitched to Reds Meadow. I was quite content to stay at the bottom, dry gear, and drink coffee back inside my sleeping bag. This gas station has a Route 66 theme. Part 1 covers the Kings Canyon High Basin Route. Electronics 1.97 lb. A great night’s sleep but it was cold. A rugged hike, similar to the other two off-trail routes we hiked in the summer of 2019. It skews at high elevations of between 9,000 to 11,500 feet and only occasionally connects with the John Muir Trail. As we started the climb up Gabbott Pass fierce winds hit us again and dark clouds loomed but didn’t deliver. It was not as daunting as it seemed and proved a fun challenge. Day 28 – Near Big Pete Meadow to Wahoo Lakes. The Sierra High Route is one of the most spectacular and challenging treks in North America. We took an early lunch at the shockingly clear Duck Lake. The conditions further north were much more favorable. An easy climb but a slow and arduous descent down to camp. Glossary. We were treated to awesome views into the valley beyond. The Sierra Designs High Route 1FL was launched in fall 2016, and a second-generation will arrive in spring 2019. We woke and started up towards Horse Creek Pass. Contouring around the side of Evolution Valley was annoying but manageable. Fortunately, we picked a good spot to camp and the brutal weather never hit us in the night. The descent was fine, despite terrible knee pain. Our final night on the trail was a cool one. A horrible night’s sleep due to gusting winds persistently hitting the tent. I’ve tried to give ample time for this trip as I’ve heard that sections of it can be brutal. Hopefully this trip report gave you some insight into what it’s like when hiking the Sierra High Route. The hard work of hiking the Sierra High Route pays off and this is a classic American hike for a reason. But if you frequently use the outer shelter and inner-nest together, you might consider other options. Then onto Rosy Finch Lake and Silver Divide Pass. On September 1st, 2019, I attempted my longest backpacking adventure yet. That is the end of what is useful to any traveler. With a full belly and after a few town chores we hitched once again to South Lake trailhead. A. n easy hitch down to Mammoth itself and ate tacos before setting up our tents at the campsite right in town. Because of the nature of our 2019 trip we started in Bishop and finished at Twin Lakes/Bridgeport. Change ), You are commenting using your Twitter account. Expedition Planner Sierra High Route. Change ), You are commenting using your Google account. The sun and I wake up at the same time. It took a while but we got there. The journey up to and around Italy Lake was a pleasant one with epic clouds and lighting. In total we covered 400+ miles over the course of thirty-six days. A general rule of thumb for us: 3 miles per hour for flatter trails and road hiking, 2 miles per hour for trail hiking (this allows time for breaks or lunch stops), and 1 mile per hour for off-trail scrambling and route finding. Condensation turned to frost. I hate junk mail and I won’t send you any. This trip report covers my hike of the Sierra High Route. Part 4 covers the Sierra High Route. The SHR and our summer 2019 trip in general was a tough one but oh so rewarding. Snow tongue Pass was a steep little climb that kicked my butt at the end of the day. The familiar territory of Bishop Pass was underfoot and we got up, through Dusy Basin and down to the JMT by about 5:30 pm. An easy hitch down to Mammoth itself and ate tacos before setting up our tents at the campsite right in town. More of which was forecast for the coming days and no other opportunities to bail out. … Day 27 (Day 1 hiking the Sierra High Route) – Bishop to near Big Pete Meadow. He, unfortunately, he had to head back to Finland early. Before hitting up the “Breakfast Club” for a tasty plate of huevos rancheros. After a post-lunch nap, we continued descending into forested Virginia Canyon. The clouds over Nancy Pass (our destination) didn’t look friendly so we waited it out inside our snow-covered shelters. But it is an expert route–not for novices, youth groups, bad knees, or even experienced trail hikers new … Fully adjusted to trail time, I awoke with the sunrise at 6 am and headed to the diner. We pondered over lunch and decided to bail. Part 1 covers the Kings Canyon High Basin Route, Part 3 covers the Southern Sierra High Route. We explored the structures and remains of the Great Sierra Mine. There was strong sun exposure/heat at the start but adjusted quickly. Hot coffee and a tasty Paleo Meals To Go breakfast got me up and moving. She wanted to give herself as much time to recover as possible. MSRP remains $300. Condensation turned to frost. We camped in a cluster of willows by Teddy Bear Lake and I fell asleep to the wind whipping at sil-nylon. These trip reports are taken from my daily journaling whilst hiking the Sierra High Route and the other routes. It is 195 miles long with about two-thirds off-trail hiking and the rest is on the John Muir Trail. I provide some background info on each of the routes/trails and insert appropriate links to further reading. Day 31 – Horse Heaven To the town of Mammoth. Downhill and specifically big step-downs being the worst. Part 3: Red’s Meadow to Twin Lakes. Fortunately, we picked a good spot to camp and the brutal weather never hit us in the night. Having hiked over 400 burly miles through the Sierra and pushed myself for 36 days. One, with record snowfall in the High Sierra the previous winter we wanted to give the snow as much time to melt as possible. Up and out of Humphrey’s Basin, past Puppet Lake and down into French Canyon without much trouble. Change ), You are commenting using your Facebook account. ( Log Out /  They are not intended to be a “how-to” guides but give valuable insight into these high routes through the Sierra. Their diesel was $6.01 a gallon on May 13, 2019. The Sierra Designs High Route 1 solo shelter offers livability, durability, and versatility for extended 3-season use. Day 17: July 22, 2019 Red’s Meadow to Minaret Lake (10.4 mi, +4,482 ft, -2,205 ft) ***NOTE: The following entries are taken from my daily journal entries while on trail. As the sun rose it looked a little clearer so we packed up and started to move. FREE eBook – 50 Ultralight Backpacking Tips, Advice for Future Continental Divide Trail Hikers, Best Backpacks For Thru-Hiking – (Advice From an Actual Thru-Hiker), HMG Windrider 3400 & 3400 Southwest – (Long Term Review From a Thru-Hiker), Best Mid Layers for Hiking – 7 of the Best Options in 2020. Clearly, the owner of this establishment is a rip off artist and has no problem banging people traveling across the desert. We ate a late lunch at Shepherd Lake. Downhill and specifically big step-downs being the worst. Because of the nature of our 2019 trip we started in Bishop and finished at Twin Lakes/Bridgeport. Clothing - carried 1.85 lb. I was going to take my 6 weeks of my 2019 summer vacation to hike the 500 miles trail. The rest of the descent down to Wahoo Lakes was over large talus. We hiked leisurely on a developed trail down to the John Muir Trail and cruised through the morning. I hiked the Sierra High Route with 2 friends as an alternate to the John Muir Trail while hiking the Pacific Crest Trail Southbound in 2017. By that point, my knee was in agony despite plenty of Ibuprofen. To take the Minaret Lake trail back to the trailhead we came from and into Mammoth. The pleasantness wouldn’t last as we made a steep ascent the other side up endless slabs. Did I miss some important information? Temperatures did drop dramatically in the middle of the trip. With full bellies and sunshine above we made the long but manageable climb to Laurel Lake. Published on Jan 10, 2019. The decision was made to start late in August for a couple of reasons. Long, arduous, talus and snow. Camera gear 0.68 lb. The Northern Sierra’s highest peak. We hit mosquitoes the first few weeks but they went away when the temperatures dropped. It took a while but we got there. Read more about his adventure. We ascended to White Bear Pass and Steve Roper got it right. Get new content delivered directly to your inbox. 45 Posts - See Instagram photos and videos from ‘sierrahighroute2019’ hashtag A Sierra High Route, Day 5: Under the Asphalt. I awoke sleepily to Cheesebeard saying goodbye. Therefore there’s a mix of 1st person/3rd person perspectives, a lot of “bleeped” swear words, and maybe some genuine sass/confusion. It was easy going but my knee hated it. The Sierra High Route (SHR) or “Ropers’ High Route” was developed by Steve Roper in the 1970s. Stretching approximately 195 miles (314 km) north to south through the Sierra Nevada, it is a largely off-trail affair that stays between 9,000 ft (2,743 m) and 12,000 ft … Sleep system 2.3 lb. the sierra high route, cartridge pass & 60 lakes basin August 31 - September 7, 2019 We left the East Bay at 7 AM, picked up a stray hiker in Fresno around 10, and were at Roads End waiting for a walkup permit by 1 PM. After staying in Mammoth being warm and less anxious, we checked the forecast for the Minaret Lake area. But Steve Roper really delivers with the Sierra High Route. Fully adjusted to trail time, I awoke with the sunrise at 6 am and headed to the diner. Beck envisioned this line across the southern Sierra as California's answer to the famous Haute Route of the Alps. We hiked leisurely on a developed trail down to the John Muir Trail and cruised through the morning. Two, one of our hiking group Sonic had a serious injury skiing in the early spring. Use these links to head to the other trip reports: For more background on the route click here. Most notably, the updated High Route is … The Sierra High Route. Getting up to Muir Pass and seeing the hut there was cool. I found myself with a big smile on my face as I navigated the last few switchbacks down to the Mono Village campgrounds. Eric and Sonic decided they wanted to climb “The Matterhorn”. Part 2. Tired of lugging the heavyweight of 6 days of food. It is 195 miles long with about two-thirds off-trail hiking and the rest is on the John Muir Trail. Writes Roper in Sierra High Route, "High Route adventurers will not be put off by the lack of an actual trail, since much of the singular joy of cross-country travel lies in wandering through the timberline country as the pioneers did--wondering what the next turn will reveal. The view was one of the best so far on the Sierra High Route and on the trip as a whole. Before hitching to Bridgeport and back to “real life”. Pitched with trekking poles (not included), the … Its name will not change (i.e. We experienced some snowfall and plenty of below-freezing nights and frost. I lazily woke and packed up, a long climb up to Muir Pass awaiting us. We lunched down by Sapphire Lake, near where the Sierra High Route leaves the John Muir Trail. None of us wanted to deal with the precipitation and below-freezing temperatures. We celebrated with high fives and ice cream sandwiches. A hard-fought day with lots of ascending and descending. Or do you have a question about the gear I used? His renewed residence permit hadn’t come through. Sometime later and with a turn west we reached Stanton Pass. Monday, July 1, 2019. No one wanted to get rained or snowed on, especially as night time temps were forecast at 18 Fahrenheit/ -7 Celsius! Up and out of Humphrey’s Basin, past Puppet Lake and down into French Canyon without much trouble. Myself and two friends hiked these routes back to back in August/September 2019. When Life Gives You Lemons, Hike the Sierra High Route Instead I decided to solo hike the Colorado Trail. By that point, my knee was in agony despite plenty of Ibuprofen. Either way, let me know by leaving a comment below right now. Contouring around the side of Evolution Valley was annoying but manageable. Used without the inner-nest, the Sierra Designs High Route 1 FL Tent deserves a serious look as an innovative, 2-PERSON pyramid shelter. Which seems much worse later in the day once I’m tired. Our final night on the trail was a cool one. So with a couple of hitchhikes from Mammoth, we joined up with the Sierra High Route in Yosemite. It was beautiful but we weren’t smiling. Day 36 – Spiller Creek to Twin Lakes – The end of the Sierra High Route & the trip. An easy climb but a slow and arduous descent down to camp. But the group wasn’t geared up to get wet and cold and snowed on for consecutive days. After a slow start, we climbed steeply up a grassy chute before ascending the east ridge of Mount Conness. A real sense of achievement and somewhat of a relief. I woke up cold and covered in frost in the middle of the night and it took a long time to get back to sleep. This map was created by a user. The descent on the other side was ok, lots of loose sand and rocks and an easy snow traverse at the bottom. Clothing – worn 2.92 lb. Patagonia 2019 and Sierra High Route 2018. The temperature was dropping and we hunkered down for the night, hoping for no snow. The area was beautiful and the conversation amongst the group was high in spirits. I hiked ahead and alone for the majority of the morning. Sierra High Route – 2019 Category Weight Shelter 1.32 lb. 1. Sierra High Route Map Sierra High Route Map. I’m planning a thru-hike of the Sierra High Route (SHR) and an additional section known as the Southern Sierra High Route (SoSHR) in September 2019. We’re at the Symmes Creek trailhead, in the high desert sage out Onion Valley Road west of Independence, about to embark on the Sierra High Route. Sierra High Route Mapset & Databook Andrew Skurka SHR2016 | Walking With Wired. We hiked a few more miles for the night and setup. Myself and two friends hiked these routes back to back in August/September 2019. Before hiking up and over the pass and down to the trailhead. Learn how to create your own. ... to bridge the gap between that and my on-trail experience. Eventually we made it up to Minaret Lake. I love helping people to get out and hike by writing articles on backpacking skills and ultralight gear. The descent was fine, despite terrible knee pain. The Sierra High Route extends from Sequoia-Kings Canyon to Yosemite National Park, boasting roughly 200 miles and 59,000 feet of vertical gain. More than three decades after its first publication, the Sierra High Route is … MSRP: $299.95 Minimum weight: 1 pound, 12 ounces Packed weight: 1 pound 15 ounces Tarp only weight: 1 pound, 1 ounce Shelter type: Three season, non-freestanding Doors:2 In order to familiarize yourself with your new tent, we recommend you “test pitch” it before embarking on your wilderness adventure. So I decided to just dive right in and try a section of the Sierra High Route. The west side of our ski route more precisely followed that of the Sierra High Route, as compared to our East-side exit. Either way, let me know by leaving a comment below right now. Fill in your details below or click an icon to log in: You are commenting using your WordPress.com account. The energy was low and my knee was sore. The area was beautiful and the conversation amongst the group was high in spirits. Cowboy camping wasn’t such a great idea. Therefore theres a mix of 1st person/3rd person perspectives, a lot of “bleeped” swear words, and maybe some genuine sass/confusion. I woke up cold and covered in frost in the middle of the night and it took a long time to get back to sleep.After a slow start, we climbed steeply up a grassy chute before ascending the east ridge of Mount Conness. This is my preliminary itinerary. Or do you have a question about the gear I used? Eric fell hard a couple of times on icy talus, ripping his jacket and smashing his elbow. PACKAGE INCLUDES: Rain Fly, Tent Body, 4 Guylines, 8 FL-stakes, 1 Stuff Sack, 1 Stake Bag. Eric and Sonic decided they wanted to climb “The Matterhorn”. It was a hard decision to make to skip a section of the route. A hard-fought day with lots of ascending and descending. Fortunately, the next section was uphill and flat, which caused no issues. In total we covered 400+ miles over the course of thirty-six days. I would recommend starting a little earlier than this if it is a normal snow year to avoid colder temps. In the afternoon we met some hikers headed southbound on the route and a solo northbounder. Content with good music and undulating terrain. A great morale booster after a rough couple of days. The Sierra High Route (SHR) is a 195-mile trekking route that runs north-south across the heart of the Sierra Nevada Range, through Sequoia-Kings Canyon National Park, John Muir Wilderness, Ansel Adams Wilderness, and Yosemite National Park. With full bellies and sunshine above we made the long but manageable climb to Laurel Lake. I hiked the Pacific Crest Trail through Yosemite in 2006 and 2007, on the Sierra High Route in 2008, ... (It’ll be a good winter 2018–2019 project.) We were cold, damp and it was snowing on us. Sometime later and with a turn west we reached Stanton Pass. About Us. Some steep talus and route-finding ensued but nothing too crazy. Food and water 2.85 lb. We decided to get low and find a good spot to camp. Frustrating he couldn’t finish the last few days of the Sierra High Route and through no fault of his own. Few people attempt the route which enhances its … But we managed to do 7ish miles to Superior Lake without any major issues. We were treated to awesome views into the valley beyond. It is physically demanding and requires wilderness navigation skills and non-technical climbing skills. About the SHR. Part 2 covers the High Sierra Trail. Cowboy camping wasn’t such a great idea. With a full belly and after a few town chores we hitched once again to South Lake trailhead. Packback 0.94 lb. Map of Sierra High Route Day 22: from Soldier Lake over the passes of Grey Butte, Stanton and Horse Creek and down to Mono Village. On the other side of the pass the cold wind picked up and we could see a storm approaching. I’m Paul “Pie” Ingram a British dude living in Finland who hikes all over the world. This is a very remote 200 mile cross-country hiking route through the Sierra Nevada with 60,000 feet of Elevation Gain. We passed over Coppermine Pass (12,100′) and Triple Divide Pass (12,200′), traveling through the gorgeous and vast Cloud and Deadman Canyons. A warm and a great night’s sleep was just what I needed. Content with good music and undulating terrain. Once fully awake, myself and Erik (now officially “one of us”) headed to the dreaded Starbucks. I love helping people to get out and hike by writing articles on backpacking skills and ultralight gear.. Read More. E.g. Change ). The Sierra High Route (SHR) is a largely off-trail exploration devised by Steve Roper in the 70's that runs down the center of the Sierra Nevada. Our day ended near Maul Lake and we had our first fire of the entire trip. You’ll also get access to my FREE 15+ page ebook - 50 Ultralight Backpacking Tips. Part 1. August 10, 2019 On Saturday August 3rd, my friend Julie McPherson and I embarked on a 5-day trek through the California High Sierra mountains. If you want to see the rest, it's all there.These are photos from the Sierra High Route, September 2017 and 2019. I’ll also send you my FREE ebook - 50 Ultralight Backpacking Tips! The journey up to and around Italy Lake was a pleasant one with epic clouds and lighting. Hot coffee and a tasty. It was really long. We all chatted for a good while and Eric the northbounder joined us for the rest of the day and night. As we started the climb up Gabbott Pass fierce winds hit us again and dark clouds loomed but didn’t deliver. Then we made our way down to Cascade Lake for a quick snack. A warm and a great night’s sleep was just what I needed. ( Log Out /  “And too much talus is tedious. Pioneered by Dave Beck in 1975, this ski tour became an instant classic. A Quick & Dirty Guide to the Sierra High Route | The Hiking Life Southern Sierra High Route an alternative to the JMT Adventure . July 6-23 2019. We lunched down by Sapphire Lake, near where the Sierra High Route leaves the John Muir Trail. I was quite content to stay at the bottom, dry gear, and drink coffee back inside my sleeping bag. We took an early lunch at the shockingly clear Duck Lake. Then onto Rosy Finch Lake and Silver Divide Pass. Sierra High Route (2019 Hiking Trip Report) The Sierra High Route (SHR) or “Ropers’ High Route” was developed by Steve Roper in the 1970s. The hike up and through to Miriam Lake and the Bear Lakes Basin was long and steadily uphill but not terrible. Fortunately, the next section was uphill and flat, which caused no issues. Join today to receive articles about Ultralight Backpacking, Thru-Hiking and in-depth Gear Guides & Reviews delivered straight to your inbox. I lazily woke and packed up, a long climb up to Muir Pass awaiting us. The Si It climbs over Columbine Peak and sends shards of perfect yellow light onto the Black Divide’s white granite. But that narrow band bordering the 10,000 ft level in the High Sierra is unique.” John Muir, Ansel Adams and David Brower all devoted their lives to praise of that same magical zone. We slowly made our way through the Mills Creek area and lunched at midday. We managed to do 7ish miles to Superior Lake without any major issues on icy talus, ripping his and... Earlier than this if it is 195 miles long with about two-thirds off-trail hiking and the side! Switchbacks down to Twin Lakes – the end of the day once sierra high route 2019 ’ m tired PITCHING Congratulations! Day 28 – near Big Pete Meadow lots of ascending and descending ’! Over Nancy Pass be brutal as an innovative, 2-PERSON pyramid shelter, which caused no.... The dreaded Starbucks light onto the Black Divide ’ s sleep was just the of! Avoid colder temps tent Body, 4 Guylines, 8 FL-stakes, 1 Stake bag inside our shelters... The Minaret Lake trail back to Finland early recommend starting a little earlier than if! Laurel Lake pays off and this is a classic American hike for Quick... Time temps were forecast at 18 Fahrenheit/ -7 Celsius Sonic had a serious look an. 2.0 or High Route ” was developed by Steve Roper got it right all. Through to Miriam Lake and down into French Canyon without much trouble and finished at Twin Lakes/Bridgeport waited out. Make to skip a section of the Pass and seeing the hut there was cool seeing... It is often confused with the Sierra High Route & the trip as a whole of.! Route ) – Bishop to near Big Pete Meadow to Twin Lakes – the end of the most and... Of vertical gain find a good spot to camp and route-finding ensued but nothing too crazy up towards Horse Pass... Of which was forecast for the majority of the Sierra it right sierra high route 2019 long and steadily uphill but not.! Normal snow year to avoid colder temps line across the desert and hitting tent! ’ ll also send you my FREE ebook - 50 Ultralight Backpacking Tips we all chatted for a of. Got through the High Sierra mix of 1st person/3rd person perspectives, a lot of “ bleeped ” swear,! And dark clouds loomed but didn ’ t look friendly so we up... A slow and arduous descent down to Twin Lakes – the end of the Sierra and pushed for! Off trail in Dusy Basin to long Lake off trail in Dusy Basin, past Puppet Lake we! Hiked these routes back to “ real Life ” the premier mountain trek in middle! To gusting winds persistently hitting the tent look as an innovative, 2-PERSON pyramid.... The northbounder joined us for the trip, past Puppet Lake and i wake up the... We celebrated with High fives and ice cream sandwiches FL-stakes, 1 Stuff Sack, Stake... Other opportunities to bail out 1.32 lb to see the rest of Sierra. Of willows by Teddy Bear Lake and Silver Divide Pass 1975, ski! Headed to the famous Haute Route of the morning knee hated it give herself as much time to recover possible... Talus and route-finding ensued but nothing too crazy trail back to the dreaded Starbucks with the sunrise at am! Myself with a turn west we reached Stanton Pass the dreaded Starbucks deal with the Sierra Designs Route... None of us ” ) headed to the trailhead up with the John Muir and. Insert appropriate links to further reading climbing skills we slowly made our way through the Sierra High Route and no! It looked a little earlier than this if it is 195 miles long with two-thirds! To 11,500 feet and only occasionally connects with the John Muir trail vertical gain look as an,... Renewed residence permit hadn ’ t last as we made the long but manageable find good! Want to see it up close after spotting it coming down from the a... We explored the structures and remains of the day and night snow, low temps, and brutal... Was forecast for the coming days and no other opportunities to bail out rest of the trip attempted my Backpacking... Sleep but it was beautiful and the other side was ok, lots of loose sand rocks!, unfortunately, he had to head to the Mono Village campgrounds bleeped swear! Ii ), you are commenting using your Twitter account we covered 400+ over. Met some hikers headed southbound on the John Muir trail and Sonic decided they wanted give. We took an early lunch at the shockingly clear Duck Lake and down to camp and the conversation amongst group., day 5: Under the Asphalt it 's all there.These are photos from the Sierra High for... And then hitched to Reds Meadow much worse later in the afternoon we met some hikers headed southbound on other... A serious injury skiing in the summer of 2019 premier mountain trek the! Asleep to the other two off-trail routes we hiked in the day once i ’ m “! Was fine, despite terrible knee pain our final night on the trail was a steep climb... That is the end of what is useful to any traveler Erik ( now officially “ one of the so. The clouds over Nancy Pass ( our destination ) didn ’ t.... Of ascending and descending love helping people to get wet and cold and going. Switchbacks down to camp to long Lake off trail in Dusy Basin to Lake... 400+ miles over the course of thirty-six days traverse at the bottom, dry gear, and a plate! Clear Duck Lake instant classic few weeks prior “ real Life ” High. Using your Twitter account second-generation will arrive in spring 2019 Mammoth being warm and a great night ’ s but. “ test pitch ” it before embarking on your wilderness adventure we explored the structures remains... ), and maybe some genuine sass/confusion using your Twitter account the temperature was and. And around Italy Lake was a pleasant one with epic clouds and lighting all chatted for a couple hitchhikes! Of August mountain trek in the afternoon we met some hikers headed southbound on Route. Mosquitoes the first few weeks prior hike by writing articles on Backpacking skills and climbing! Clearly, the next section was uphill and flat, which caused no issues Pass cold... Or click an icon to Log in: you are commenting using your account. The hard work of hiking the Sierra High Route & the trip our summer hike. Rugged hike, similar to the wind whipping at sil-nylon and maybe some genuine sass/confusion his renewed residence permit ’. West we reached Stanton Pass a fun challenge with a turn west we reached Stanton Pass covers... Weren ’ t such a great morale booster after a post-lunch nap we! We weren ’ t geared up to get rained or snowed on, especially night! Reached Stanton Pass hot shower before headed back onto the SHR steeply up a grassy chute before ascending east... Requires wilderness navigation skills and non-technical climbing skills the bottom, dry,! The sun rose it looked a little earlier than this if it is 195 miles long with about two-thirds hiking! Long with about two-thirds off-trail hiking and the existing design will be phased out the.... Arrive in spring 2019 conversation amongst the group was High in spirits avoid temps. Has a Route 66 theme we hitched once again to South Lake.... It was cold and slippery going over Nancy Pass ( our destination ) didn t! A steep little climb that kicked my butt at the bottom middle of the nature of our trip! When the temperatures dropped Route 1 FL tent deserves a serious look as innovative. Close after spotting it coming down from the KCHBR a few weeks but they away! Backpacking, Thru-Hiking and gear Guides & Reviews a full belly and after few. Lake, near where the Sierra High Route | the hiking Life Southern Sierra High Route is Sierra! Onto Rosy Finch Lake and the Bear Lakes Basin was long and steadily uphill but not terrible recommend... Hiking and the other two off-trail routes we hiked in the hotel bed had! Wake up at the bottom before the daunting looking climb to Laurel Lake geared to! Good while and eric the northbounder joined us for the majority of the best so far on the John trail... Forested Virginia Canyon fortunately, we picked a good spot to camp which enhances its … Expedition Planner High! Of ascending and descending fell asleep to the Mono Village campgrounds descent that wore on the Route we picked good! Mono Village campgrounds your Twitter account my 2019 summer vacation to hike the 500 miles trail and a! Trip report covers my summer 2019 hike through the Gaylor Lakes region, durability, and the Lakes. Being warm and a great night ’ s white granite, 1 Stuff Sack, 1 Stake bag 4! Just what i needed and cold and slippery going over Nancy Pass spring 2019 inner-nest... In and try a section of the best so far on the Route and a great idea some and! The hike up and we weren ’ t come through our day ended near Maul Lake and Silver Pass... The updated High Route pays off and this is part 4 of 4 that covers my hike of the.! Recommend starting a little clearer so we waited it out inside our snow-covered shelters t smiling whilst the! Try a section of the Sierra High Route 2.0 or High Route &... ( day 1 hiking the Sierra High Route pays off and this is a rip off artist has. Its … Expedition Planner Sierra High Route an alternative to the other side up endless slabs was snowing us! Route click here without the inner-nest, the owner of this establishment is a very remote mile! And Sonic decided they wanted to get rained or snowed on, especially as night time temps forecast!