Thread: Across the Sierra Nevada on foot? How?

I have always wanted to traverse the Sierra Nevada Mountains, solo backpacking session. The first time this came to mind was at Pear Lake, Sequoia National Park out of Lodgepole. The next few weeks are as good a time as any for this trip, but I do not know the way...

I was thinking West to East, one way, coming down off Whitney at the end. I have googled a bit but with not much to show or share for it. What would really like to hear is about the experience and advice of the maggots who have clambered over the granite of the Sierra Nevada.

Couple questions that rise to the top:
1) Best route, most aesthetically appealing and somewhat direct? Where do I start and what is the destination?

2) How do I get back to the vehicle that I arrived in? Or can I avoid driving vehicles to get to and from all together? This seems to be the trickiest part. I have done my fair share of hitchhiking and it seems that might be part of the plan.

3) What do I need to know that I wouldn't be able to anticipate? Experience of the maggot collective would be greatly appreciated.

So post up what you can, any help welcome. TR to follow.

Thanks in advance,
Rip

I've never had the block of time required to do a full traverse, but I'd really like to at some point. My preference would be on skis, but this year hiking is probably the way to go!

The "Roper Route" is the standard high Sierra trek that I know of. Some info Here. That's a 200+ mile traverse of the whole range, mostly off trail, with a pretty high & hard route. Tons of variations are possible.

Another option, with some TR's available around here is the trip that ASI out of Tahoe does. Some basic info on that here.

I have no idea how competitive permitting for exiting via Whitney is, but that would definitely be something to check on. If you're starting mid-week though, I'd imagine you'll be fine.

the obvious answer would be the john muir trail starting in yosemite valley and ending at the whitney portal

The Eastern Sierra transit authority would get you from Lone Pine (Whitney) to Mammoth. There is a shuttle that runs from mammoth to Yose valley.

Getting from the portal to lone pine would be a hitchhike, I can't imagine a hard one. Permits for exiting at whitney are possible as a walk-up the day before, standing "in line" or at the door to the permit office early. Then load up, drive to Yose and begin that day or stay at the backpacker's camp and start the next day...

Another option, that wouldn't be a traverse, but would be a really good trip, would be Yose valley to mammoth for 4-5 days depending on peak bagging. Then down to Bishop for a semi-loop from South Lake to North Lake (not Tahoe) for 5 days through the Evolution Basin

Originally Posted by Rip'nStick

I have always wanted to traverse the Sierra Nevada Mountains, solo backpacking session. The first time this came to mind was at Pear Lake, Sequoia National Park out of Lodgepole. The next few weeks are as good a time as any for this trip, but I do not know the way...

I was thinking West to East, one way, coming down off Whitney at the end. I have googled a bit but with not much to show or share for it. What would really like to hear is about the experience and advice of the maggots who have clambered over the granite of the Sierra Nevada.

Couple questions that rise to the top:
1) Best route, most aesthetically appealing and somewhat direct? Where do I start and what is the destination?

2) How do I get back to the vehicle that I arrived in? Or can I avoid driving vehicles to get to and from all together? This seems to be the trickiest part. I have done my fair share of hitchhiking and it seems that might be part of the plan.

3) What do I need to know that I wouldn't be able to anticipate? Experience of the maggot collective would be greatly appreciated.

So post up what you can, any help welcome. TR to follow.

Thanks in advance,
Rip

PM HIghanxiety... He just finished an amazing trek of the High Sierra.

Originally Posted by Rip'nStick

I was thinking West to East, one way, coming down off Whitney at the end. I have googled

Try "High Sierra Trail." Lemme know what you find, it's on my list.

As Big Daddy mentioned, I just did the High Sierra Trail last week and it was amazing. I highly recommend it to anyone. Here is a link to my TR, hope it helps..

http://highanxietyfilms.com/blog1/20...-sierra-trail/

As you mentioned, the quick and short route is Lodgepole to Whitney which could be done in a few days. Permits could be a hassle, but you just as easily end in Horseshoe meadows just south of Whitney via new/old army pass. Shuttle is a bit of a hassle, but hitching a ride from/to Horseshoe Meadows/Whitney Portal. Hitchhiking backpackers are common on both roads since they are major resupply points for through hikers.

If you want a long hike, the JMT is one of the fines trips in the world, and as noted the shuttle is fairly easy.

There are literally hundreds of variations to cross the Sierra both on trail and off. Some trails are very busy, others have minimal traffic, and if you go off trail you will likely see anybody.

Originally Posted by highanxiety

As Big Daddy mentioned, I just did the High Sierra Trail last week and it was amazing. I highly recommend it to anyone. Here is a link to my TR, hope it helps..

http://highanxietyfilms.com/blog1/20...-sierra-trail/

WOW.

Incredible.

I hiked the PCT in 2010 and in my opinion the best way to take in the Sierra would be along this route (of course I am biased though).

I would suggest starting at HWY178 - Walker Pass, mile 652 and hike North until you reach HWY70 - Belden, mile 1289. With a 15mpd average you could concievably complete this section in 42 days without any days off, so more like 50 days in total. You start out in the desert like Southern Sierra and travel all the way through the High Sierra, Mammoth, Tahoe, Donner Pass and end up finishing in the Northern most part of the Sierra and the start of the Cascade Range & Lassen NP. It truly is an epic adventure.

Depending on your fitness level you could get this section done way quicker if you could average 20mpd. Once you are acclimated, summer hiking in the Sierra can be quite easy (assuming you have your gear dialed in), especially once you get through Forrester Pass and have a 100 or so miles under your belt.

Also, if you are summiting Mt Whitney from the Interior it is WAY easier to get the proper paper work, you only run into all that bullshit if you summit from the Portal or camp on the Eastside (Trail Camp - Outpost Camp). Actually, if you just apply for a free PCT thru hiker permit you don’t need anything else to hike the Sierra in their entirety.

Here are some links to free shit:

Maps for all 2650 miles of the PCT
http://www.pctmap.net/download/p/mapdl.html

Permits
http://www.pcta.org//planning/before...rmit_form.html

Florence Lake and Edison Lake are both west-side trailheads that leave you about 25-30 miles from an east-side trailhead. You could easily do a 3 or 4 day trip across with lots of time for exploring short side trips. I would go up Mono Creeek and over Mono Pass from Edison and spend a day checking out the Mone Recesses. On the downside this is gonna leave you stuck with your car on the opposite side.

Thanks all. Great start to my research, which I need to get on so I can get moving. Still looking for more info regarding shuttles.

Originally Posted by highanxiety

As Big Daddy mentioned, I just did the High Sierra Trail last week and it was amazing. I highly recommend it to anyone. Here is a link to my TR, hope it helps..

http://highanxietyfilms.com/blog1/20...-sierra-trail/

^^^ That is awesome and what I was originally planning. Can't wait.

Originally Posted by hutash

As you mentioned, the quick and short route is Lodgepole to Whitney which could be done in a few days. Permits could be a hassle, but you just as easily end in Horseshoe meadows just south of Whitney via new/old army pass. Shuttle is a bit of a hassle, but hitching a ride from/to Horseshoe Meadows/Whitney Portal. Hitchhiking backpackers are common on both roads since they are major resupply points for through hikers.

If you want a long hike, the JMT is one of the fines trips in the world, and as noted the shuttle is fairly easy.

There are literally hundreds of variations to cross the Sierra both on trail and off. Some trails are very busy, others have minimal traffic, and if you go off trail you will likely see anybody.

I was originally thinking a five day trip but now JMT is starting to call me. What have you done out there Hutash?

Originally Posted by splitter

the obvious answer would be the john muir trail starting in yosemite valley and ending at the whitney portal

The Eastern Sierra transit authority would get you from Lone Pine (Whitney) to Mammoth. There is a shuttle that runs from mammoth to Yose valley.

Getting from the portal to lone pine would be a hitchhike, I can't imagine a hard one. Permits for exiting at whitney are possible as a walk-up the day before, standing "in line" or at the door to the permit office early. Then load up, drive to Yose and begin that day or stay at the backpacker's camp and start the next day...

Another option, that wouldn't be a traverse, but would be a really good trip, would be Yose valley to mammoth for 4-5 days depending on peak bagging. Then down to Bishop for a semi-loop from South Lake to North Lake (not Tahoe) for 5 days through the Evolution Basin

Thanks splitter, this sounds very promising.

Originally Posted by claymond

Florence Lake and Edison Lake are both west-side trailheads that leave you about 25-30 miles from an east-side trailhead. You could easily do a 3 or 4 day trip across with lots of time for exploring short side trips. I would go up Mono Creeek and over Mono Pass from Edison and spend a day checking out the Mone Recesses. On the downside this is gonna leave you stuck with your car on the opposite side.

Looking into it now.

ain't done it myself (ain't never made that kinda time), but the sierra high route is top of my list. fer me, realistically, i'd do it in segments.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sierra_High_Route

IMO the Florence Lake Shuttle would be a big pain in the ass.

You would get into some great terrain, but Florence Lake isn't super easy to get to as far as a shuttle goes.

The JMT trail would be the easiest shuttle.

Originally Posted by highanxiety

As Big Daddy mentioned, I just did the High Sierra Trail last week and it was amazing. I highly recommend it to anyone. Here is a link to my TR, hope it helps..

http://highanxietyfilms.com/blog1/20...-sierra-trail/

I know what I'm doing next summer. Thanks!

Originally Posted by Rip'nStick

I was originally thinking a five day trip but now JMT is starting to call me. What have you done out there Hutash?

I have done a bunch of east side trips, usually 3-5 days. Other then to say you have done a Sierra traverse, there is no real reason to do a traverse since there are so many great trips up and down the Sierra. I personally greatly prefer the east side since I love the high altitude alpine trips, and the east side trail heads give such easy access. Not that there aren't great west side trips, but to me the higher the better.

The JMT or portion there of, is a great trip. It is crowded, but there is a reason. It is also logistically easy, but with a little planning there are many just as, or more spectacular trips to be done. I did a great trip a couple years back out of Horseshoe Meadows with a couple days of cross country and zero people, and finished with a day on the PCT and back over army pass to my car, no shuttle involved. Easy access to Mt Langley if you want to peak out on an easy 14K footer, You also access Whitney from there, but then you are back to dealing with Whitney zone permits, which is a real hassle. Whitney is nice, but again the only real reason to do it is to say you have done it, there are better less crowded options.

PM me some digits if you want to talk. I have not done a super lot of trips, but I started backpacking in the east side Sierras in 1975.

Originally Posted by hutash

I started backpacking in the east side Sierras in 1975.

then you should know better. winkeez.

Having done the Muir Trail I would have to say that a lot of it is relatively boring, by which I mean well below tree line. If you're looking to do a north south traverse the high route might be better, if you're prepared to do Class 3 with a load and a lot of route finding. If you exit whitney you need a Whitney exit permit which from the FS web site I believe you apply for when you apply for your entry permit--25 quota per day, 15 spots reservable 6 months in advance and not done through the Whitney lottery, with 10 of the spots available as walk-up. Not sure how that works-ordinarily Sierra walkup permits are avaialble starting at 11am the day before entry,but I don't know how that would work for an exit permit--you might call the inyo national forest to find out. My personal preference is to do loops from the east-my favorites are piute pass over alpine col (tough off trail) and out Lamarck col (off trail but not really) and bishop pass, muir pass, lamarck col. The first of these gets you back to your car and the second is a very easy hitchhike from North Lake to South lake--both on branches of the road up from Bishop. Another nice loop would be Kearsarge pass to Whitney portal--that would involve more hitchhiking or a commercial shuttle. These trips get you into the highest, most spectacular parts of the Sierra and are in the 4-5 day range.

Originally Posted by highanxiety

As Big Daddy mentioned, I just did the High Sierra Trail last week and it was amazing. I highly recommend it to anyone. Here is a link to my TR, hope it helps..

http://highanxietyfilms.com/blog1/20...-sierra-trail/

Word, that was a great read. Way to go!

Sent from my Dell Streak using TGR Forums

Originally Posted by highanxiety

As Big Daddy mentioned, I just did the High Sierra Trail last week and it was amazing. I highly recommend it to anyone. Here is a link to my TR, hope it helps..

http://highanxietyfilms.com/blog1/20...-sierra-trail/

What an amazing looking trip!

Back when I was in college 30 something years ago, I made a loop from the Mineral King area to Whitney and back which involved a lot of the High Sierra Trail. It is not a trip I will soon forget.