We both woke up the next morning happy because we were on the trail and because we knew we only had 5.3 miles to go that day. High Sierra Trail: Crescent Meadow to Whitney Portal es un sendero de punto a punto de 72 millas con tráfico pesado localizado cerca de Stony Creek Village, California. We charged up devices, and resupplied at Lodgepole then headed over to Wasatch Lodge to get WiFi. There are campsites here, as well as at Crabtree Meadow (53.1 miles/85 km). John Muir Trail, Pacific Crest Trail, High Sierra Trail, Rae Lakes Loop, Yosemite High Route, and, Kings Canyon High Basin Route. High Sierra Camp Lottery Process. Whitney. The tub is only a few feet from the cold, rushing Kern River, and runoff from the tub mixes with river water to create a warm pool, allowing you your choice of temperatures for bathing. (Entries are required.) We hit mosquitoes the first few weeks but they went away when the temperatures dropped. High Sierra Trail (Sept 2019) We got our permits! This event is free to the public, and is a preview party for the NatureTrack Film Festival. Creek crossings may be hazardous early in the summer. The nearly-level trail then passes through part of the area burned by the Buckeye Fire in 1980. If you camp here, however, be aware that the sun drops behind the crest of the Sierras fairly early in the evening, and at 12,000' (3658 meters), the air cools down quickly. All of us got up early and Sonic set off to get same-day permits for the next couple of weeks of hiking. The High Sierra Trail is a maintained trail, making hiking and route finding straightforward. Storm clouds were threatening and we had a hasty lunch before continuing on. The metal roof of this hut attracts lightning which can be conducted through the building to individuals inside. We set up, ate our ramen and passed the F out. Beyond Kern Hot Spring, the trail continues along the bottom of the glaciated valley of the Kern River. Still sweaty from the heat of the day and dusty from the fine soil trail, but it was so nice to be on an actual trail!!! We hiked some connecting trails to our starting point for the High Sierra Trail. Altitude sickness is an illness that can occur when at high altitude (typically above 8,000 feet or 2,400 m). High Sierra Trail, Sequoia National Park thru-hike. The 1.2 miles to Bearpaw and High Sierra Camp is a constant climb. Day 3 - to Moraine Lake (8 miles/12.8 km) or Upper Funston Meadow (12 miles/19.2 km): After 2 strenuous days of hiking, the journey from Big Arroyo to Moraine Lake is relatively easy. It descends into Big Arroyo, then climbs up to the Chagoopa Plateau, and drops down again into the Kern Rive There is a lottery process for reservations at the High Sierra Camps due to high demand. I’m Paul “Pie” Ingram a British dude living in Finland who hikes all over the world. I provide some background info on each of the routes/trails and insert appropriate links to further reading. 2019 High Sierra backpacking and backpacker's Calendar. From here, it descends to the bottom of the Kern Trench. 7/23 - Creek on the north end of … 5 hours), Lodgepole Visitors Center to pick up permits. We experienced some snowfall and plenty of below-freezing nights and frost. The left-hand trail follows a more direct route across the Chagoopa Plateau, rejoining the Moraine Lake Trail at Sky Parlor Meadow (30.8 miles/49.3 km). The hard work of hiking the Sierra High Route pays off and this is a classic American hike for a reason. We shuttled over to the largest (not tallest) tree in the world, The Sherman tree. The Mount Whitney Hut was built at the summit in 1909 as a station for meteorological observations. The High Sierra Trail is a moderate to strenuous 61.5-mile trail through Sequoia National Park. East Lake. The shorter, 72-mile High Sierra Trail runs west to east across the Sierras and can be done in six to ten days. For most of the trip, I’d been cowboy camping but I’d sent my tarp up for the first time in ages. In 1932, Park Service engineers erected a steel suspension bridge across the Gorge, but in the winter of 1937, a massive avalanche tore the bridge from its moorings and swept its twisted wreckage down to the shores of Big Hamilton Lake. Fill your water bottles before starting on this climb; there is no reliable water supply between Guitar Lake and Trail Camp on the east side. Hikers taking a more leisurely trek to Mt. Lone Pine seemed a classic quirky trail town with everything we would be looking for. Rain clouds were threatening all day long. Together they have some close calls with lightning, climb the highest mountain in the United States, and discover the history of the trail. Or do you have a question about the gear I used? Those 6 days in some of the most remote parts of Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Park blew me away with everything the Sierra has to offer - snow capped mountain ranges, sheer exposed drop offs and peaks, crystal clear alpine lakes, and lush grassy meadows. The windswept, barren summit of Mt. For the first half-mile, the trail travels through shady, well-watered terrain covered with dense forests of red and white fir, sugar pines, and occasional giant sequoias. It was completed in the late 1920s / early 1930s. The hike depicted in the documentary, which involved taking a 2.5-mile spur at the end of the trail, would end at the top of Mt. The Kern River Trail drops into a marshy area beyond the junction, then leads through a forest of Jeffrey pine and incense-cedar. The decision was made to start late in August for a couple of reasons. 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. Although often crowded, this site offers an impressive early morning view of the rising sun's light striking Mt. Whitney, the highest peak in … If you have camped at Kern Hot Springs, however, remember that cold air from the surrounding peaks flows down the canyon at night, and that the sun will not clear the 2000 to 5000' (610 to 1524 meter) high canyon walls until relatively late in the morning. Day 2 - to Big Arroyo Junction (11 miles/17.6 km): East of Bearpaw, you begin your ascent into the Great Western Divide. Day 1 - to Bearpaw Meadow (11.4 miles/18.2 km):The trail leaves from Crescent Meadow on the southeast edge of the Giant Forest. For instructions, refer to the end of this post. In total we covered 400+ miles over the course of thirty-six days. A bad night’s sleep punctuated by a 5 am rain shower and distant thunderstorm. On this page you will find a list and map of known creek hazards. High Sierra Trail: Crescent Meadow to Whitney Portal is a 72 mile heavily trafficked point-to-point trail located near Stony Creek Village, California that features a lake and is rated as difficult. Use these links to head to the other trip reports: Signup to receive articles about Ultralight Backpacking, Thru-Hiking and Gear Guides & Reviews. Day 10 - to Crescent Meadow via the High Sierra Trail (15.5 miles/25 km): Retrace your previous route. It was great to chat with Michelle after such a long time, I got emotional. Hiking the High Sierra Trail was MUCH easier than the KCHBR and all other portions of our 2019 hike (see details of our trip below). The camping areas were well taken care of by the campers. High Sierra Trail Summary. Whitney. Day 6 - to the summit of Mt. 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 … Beyond the lake, the route passes a series of shallow glacial ponds, to finally arrive at Kaweah Gap on the Great Western Divide (20 miles/32 km). High Sierra Trail (Sept 2019) We got our permits! * If you take the side trip to Moraine Lake, add .8 miles (1.3 km) to all subsequent distances. Soon, the trail begins to climb out of the Kern Canyon, offering increasingly impressive views of the canyon to the south, and west to the Kaweah Peaks, which were to the east of you three days ago when you came over Kaweah Gap. Above-average snowpack has damaged the tent cabin structures and delayed access for pack animals critical for repairs and supplies, and the camp will remain closed for the remainder of the 2019 season. I was super thankful I had while I listened to the rain on sil-nylon from the comforts of my sleeping bag. The route crosses Hamilton Creek just above the lower Hamilton Falls and climbs another series of switchbacks to Big Hamilton Lake (16.6 miles/26.6 km). This stretch of the trail can be long and dry, so be sure to fill your water bottles at Sky Parlor Meadow. There was strong sun exposure/heat at the start but adjusted quickly. I hate junk mail and I won’t send you any. High Sierra Trail (2019 Hiking Trip Report) The High Sierra Trail is a fully developed trail in Sequoia National Park. Check the weather conditions before beginning the hike to the summit. Three Rivers, CA Whitney. They are not intended to be a “how-to” guides but give valuable insight into these high routes through the Sierra. Please share your experience(s) to help make this a more accurate and thorough resource, ultimately helping to keep hikers safer. 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