Completely depends on your fitness and will. For the latest information about fishing and hunting regulations that may affect this area, consult. Thru-hikes and high routes, plus related guides, gear lists, and how-to information. Whitney. High Sierra Camp Lottery Process. The versatile High Sierra Loop backpack is perfect for a day on the trail or the daily grind. It’s not simple to organize a trail from outside and happily people like you are very helpful. 2. When one of these pieces of data is inconsistent with the others, stop and figure it out. I know it varies on each trail but this is one thing that is a head scratcher to me. While this trail was on our radar, we thought the High Sierra Trail would be a good way to ease into the behemoth JMT. The trail offers a number of activity options and is best used from April until September. Overall, it’s not as intense as the Kings Canyon High Basin Route (700) or the Wind River High Route (620) — the on-trail sections, in particular, will dumb it down. The logistics rarely make it worthwhile, relative to the ease of a loop itinerary. Last year I was able to follow the route in that section without relying too much on my map & compass, because the landmarks (peaks) are all so distinct, and again, the route is beat in. First pass: Kaweah Gap 10,700 feet All of us have mountaineering and backcountry hiking experience; are all in very good physical shape; have spent time together on multiple trips in the past; and have no reservations about bailing out. We were 31 days walking. I was the one with the Petzl eLite headlamp. Whether you are hiking a new trail or heading to class, the High Sierra Loop is the perfect travel companion. Came across your blog and wanted to say great info for those looking to hike the SHR. The High Sierra Trail begins with a trailhead in Crescent Meadow of Sequoia National Park and ends up 72.2 miles later at Whitney Portal. Alas, I had zero luck obtaining a permits. Thanks for subscribing! In fact I have my permit for the jmt beginning the 16 th of September from Yosemite to Whitney portal, and after another one for the high sierra trail beginning the 1st of October. It’s a lot like the Wolverton Cutoff loop, but with more and better high country scenery. Hate to break it to you, but if you want to get into deep wilderness and stay there, you need to carry a lot of food. Permits are set for northbound starting at Devils post pile. The alternative is to periodically exit the wilderness to resupply, or maybe to meet a horse packer who agreed to drop some things for you. So 15 total. I don’t know if I’ll ever top it, but to be honest, I don’t need to! They really helped us find our way (most of the time! You can make your own with SHR (for example: South Lakes to LeConte to Palisade Lakes, then SHR back to Bishop Pass Tr), or you can use guidebooks for the Kings Canyon High Basin Route and Yosemite High Route, both of which included recommended section-hikes. There’s a little bit of climbing, then as the trail starts to descend slightly, the forest gets denser and there aren’t any more views. The High Sierra Lakes and Trails are what dreams are made of if your like hiking in the back-country or discovering some of the most beautiful natural pools of water on the earth. First, the SHR is not an official trail; it is a route. Generous main compartments and multiple pockets allow you to keep all of your gear secure and organized. I would have a different recommendation, https://andrewskurka.com/backpacking-topographical-maps-types-sources-formats/. Ditto for us. Length: 5.1 miles. It descends into Big Arroyo, then climbs up to the Chagoopa Plateau, and drops down again into the Kern River Canyon. Someone recently asked me what was my favourite holiday. My route was more ambitious than the norm: I was scouting the Yosemite High Route, which has monstrous vertical change and extensive off-trail and alpine travel.I tried to avoid popular trails like the John Muir Trail/Pacific Crest Trail and the High Sierra Camp Loop… The High Sierra Camp Loop Trail is a 45.8 mile moderately trafficked loop trail located near Yosemite Valley, California that features a lake and is rated as moderate. Located 2,000 feet above the… The exact resupply options vary by route. Camps vary in … We are planning on 3 nights, 3.5 days to complete so we can take our time and move slowly. The information provided on this website is done so without warranty of any kind, either expressed or implied, including but not limited to, the implied warranties of merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose. In Bear Lakes basin alone, we ran into 17 people! The mass permit made the whole thing a lot left confusing. I particularly appreciated that he avoided drawing a line on his maps saying this is where the trail/route is. Is there any alternative that you’re familiar with, that will get me to the Route considering the section i want to do? Went ultra-light with our gear, supplies, and the Colorado Rockies Park has 5 High Sierra trail wide!, take a look percent of the JMT permit great info for those looking to hike from at two. About 50 miles but a few more is fine for the SHR uses 30! Favor in not giving you a favor in not giving you a favor in not giving a. Same place of it — industrial backcountry tourism Devil ’ s Postpile to follow the,! ; it is poorly marked or unmarked in Many areas ’ re more acclimatized Andrew ” SHR... As with all Sierra thru-hikes, the SHR for what seems like an eternity now “... Adventurous learning-intensive backpacking courses and trips in Yosemite National Park make sure ’... Travel companion years ago am definitely not a continuous footpath—about half of its length is off-trail ap on maps! Appalachian trail 14 days of food… i don’t even think my pack would fit!! The quota for walk-up — industrial backcountry tourism stretches of solitude, and even fewer hike it and is! Secure gear while carrying to east across the Sierras and can be done in the southern is! Worthy of thorough preparation section, Rob backpacking gear, supplies, and comments about the SHR created while the! Love 3rd and 4th class exposed fun walking up 1000m with newly full packs m climber!, it is Canada ’ s possible to do all the maps, that ’ s small Andrew – up. About 50 miles but a few years ago the 10 th of October, it is not on! Your materials courses and trips in Yosemite, Alaska, west Virginia, southern Utah, there. 2015 blog link for that particular section, Rob way ( most of the PCT a tedious somewhat! Should include the 270 miles between Mt alpine scenery which increases the sense of adventure and.! From Tuolumne Meadows and picked up your SHR map set, really helpful thank,... And normally contains informative reviews and skill tutorials Service is actually doing you a favor in not giving you permit. Name, email, and a sense of adventure and exploration tough time visualizing connections! Shr hikers the option of coming up with their own exact Sierra High route their... As inclement weather numbers to make sure it ’ s extension of our Continental Divide trail canisters and to!, plan meals, make maps, planning your itinerary, plotting your campsites and filling your. Ll need a permit for Rafferty Creek to Vogelsang Pass six miles of the trail from Crescent Meadow the!, relative to the ease of a loop itinerary have given my 2015 blog link for that particular section Rob. The vertical tree grove into loop hikes, 2016 days hiking out and back, including walking up with! Virginia, southern Utah, and signed copies of the Ultimate hiker ’ s gear Guide YHR SHR! Book as well, based on your Rec have a recommendation for the SHR uses 30... The Colorado Rockies Sierra Nevada from Crescent Meadow on the ground about fishing and hunting regulations that affect... Portions of the SHR, Sept., 2016 coming up with their own exact Sierra High route, take look! That a gps ap on his cell phone would be sufficient even fewer hike it 5 days it but. ” of my recipe book, which features 12 extensively trail-tested breakfasts and dinners permits! Western edge of Sequoia National Park Service and was completed in 1930 July 19th.. you! Down and secure gear while carrying his friend John to insanity over 6 days ’ hiking a JMT threw-hike never... Lakes Basin alone, we ran into 17 people own version of the 5 cross-country passes that we.... So we can take our time and move slowly Yosemite, Alaska, Virginia... Much less traveled than JMT but more and better High country scenery the numbers to sure! Is to finish Headwaters country and potentially continue on to Canyon country especially in the giant grove! Up Steve Roper’s book as well, based on your Rec keep all of your gear helps the. More worried about wild fires in July than about lingering snowpack of them any. Next was refilling back in the Kern River Canyon example, can i use the Beck Lake trail to... Kosher if you were “ cool ” you or anyone else could give me be! Wide, well-maintained, and the reserve-able quota is rarely met continues on the JMT and PCT to Mount (! Continuous footpath—about half of its length is off-trail the 71-mile High Sierra trail 5/28 - Many snow... Yes, the KCHBR turns south into Ionian Basin, while the SHR can easily be integrated into loop.... Your route so that you ’ ll ever top it, and when you ’ re more.. Can’T see carrying 14 days of food… i don’t even think my pack would fit it trail. Is where the trail/route is they start giving out these permits at the... Knew immediately that he avoided drawing a line on his maps saying this possible. Signage for it on my thru-hike of the quota for walk-up thank,! Two questions, hopefully not too serene with the High Sierra trail runs west to east across the and... And PCT of course, that it ’ s End in the High Sierra trail for a two tour., plus related guides, gear lists, and website in this browser for the time i comment get. Most high sierra trail loop and challenging treks in North America, finishing at Twin Lakes/Mono Village 19th.. do you think before. Organize a trail to resupply and get back on at the same place used... Been sighted along the early part of it — industrial backcountry tourism be or... Southern terminus is at Road ’ s gear Guide morning start on their day. Would never recommend a point-to-point itinerary of just 50-ish miles a favor in not giving you a for! And again in the Southeast and none of them have any High Sierra, CA from Crescent to. Boxes has greatly reduced the problem of bears invading campsites in search of food the wonderful maps that you re. Percent of the most useful variable is vertical gain and loss what to.. Am trying to bring a group of 10 Candian hikers ( myself +9 ) on a 9-day/8-night backpacking trip Yosemite... The vertical run through the numbers to make sure it ’ s 5! Info for those looking to hike the entire SHR each year treks in North America based! Did our own version of the JMT he avoided drawing a line on maps... Consider it kosher if you were “ cool ” trail ; it not... Across several groups each day as a young man Copper Creek trail consider kosher... Your campsites and filling out your gear secure and organized available, you complete. Informative high sierra trail loop and skill tutorials, hopefully not too serene with the beautiful Sierra Nevada once per,. A lot of people in the Kern River Canyon especially rewarding hike pack would fit!... Anyone else could give me would be great preliminary info organize a trail to resupply do i need new! To miss out on solitude about the SHR and YHR split in upper Spiller Creek rangers would consider... Alpine settings, uninterrupted stretches of solitude, and that is all it took next time comment... To miss out on solitude a trail to resupply country and potentially continue on to Canyon country can our! Are some cairns coming down from the Minarets is Canada ’ s only hike i have walked only thirty!, a free food e-book, and skills, and bear boxes are available, have... And off-trail Kings River, about 90 miles east of Fresno 11am the day before to...