We had to pay to park our car for a few days and was 14 dollars. Compared to the john muir trail jmt, the soshr is higher and more remote. Because we will be navigating linearly we will not. 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. This trail is a remote trek and a route finders dream. The following is the stateoftheart combination of equipment and technique that has. Sierra high route couples backpacking the lovers passport. The southern sierra high route soshr is a superb alternative to the jmt for the.
Mar 23, 2018 the sierra high route is one of the most spectacular and challenging treks in north america. After parking the car, we carpooled to the start at tuolumne meadows trailhead. Sierra high route 6 day the premier transsierra highlevel route. Overview of the soshr, southern sierra high route its always confused us that the sierra high route neglects the highest and grandest section of the high sierra, including mt. The sierra high route has intrigued me ever since i heard of the fabled 195 mile trek almost a decade ago. Sierra high route 6 day the premier trans sierra high level route. Posted on november 9, 20 march 23, 2018 author cam. Only three remainedfred, julie, and yours trulyfor the second half of the trip. Traversing timberline country, the shr is a classic mountain journey similar to the john muir trail jmt, but with a huge difference. Likewise, we welcome alternative ratings for existing nontechnical routes up nonsps high sierra peaks. Expedition planner sierra high route this 210 to 220mile, 20 to 30day crosscountry journey could be the premier mountain trek in the lower 48. Originally published in the marchapril 2009 edition of national geographic. It avoids the jmt crowds, the landscape is more spectacular, and the travel more challenging.
Asi has pioneered an ultralight, yet very comfortable method of ski travel. Sierra high route july 2008 a rugged 195mile hike with over 100 miles of offtrail travel, through both idyllic subalpine forest and tedious talus fields. Wind river high route skurka version southern half. We ski high ridges, passes, cirques, and glaciated plateaus, reveling in breathtaking views and superb downhill runs. Consider just one popular tour where remoteness is a key part of the trip the classic sierra high route. The sierra high route is one of the most spectacular and challenging treks in north america. Starting in the low desert of the eastern sierra and crossing.
Location the route traverses the crest of the sierra nevada range. Jan 11, 2016 home forums campfire pretrip planning solo on the sierra high route viewing 12 posts 1 through 12 of 12 total forums are supported by our merchant partners disclosure rei coupons zpacks hyperlite patagonia arcteryx rbtr drop backcountry feathered friends campsaver. I assume sobo is the better direction, but a permit from yosemite would be harder to get right. On day 7 we took a resupply day in mammoth and our fourth hiker, david, departed. It stays close to the crest of the continental divide in one of the most rugged and glaciated mountain ranges in the lower 48. In order to familiarize yourself with your new tent, we recommend you test pitch it before embarking on your wilderness adventure. 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. Aug 14, 2016 the sierra high route has intrigued me ever since i heard of the fabled 195 mile trek almost a decade ago. Do all of this in a comfortable, supportive environment with other women and women instructors. Andrew skurka, from whom the english language gets the word skurking, meaning moving quickly over great distances in a lightweight fashion an antonym for lurking, has given the lightweight community a tremendous gift in the form of a cd map and data set for steve roper s sierra high route. Sierra high route map near the sierra mountains, ca, usa.
These systems were originally developed for the sierra high route and similar sierra tours. Beginning at wolverton trailhead in sequoia national park and ending at shepards pass in owens valley, the sierra high route offers one. It was scouted by steve roper and described by him in his book sierra high route. The high sierra trail a guide to the famous sierra nevada traverse. The route is thrilling and the scenery spectacular. Im thinking about hiking the sierra high route this summer. Sierra designs high route 1 fl tent the sierra designs high route is a oneperson, nonfreestanding, and doublewalled tent that sets up with your favorite pair of trekking poles. Waypoints and hiking timetable pdf current gear list of the gear wed. Our southern sierra high route soshr extends south from upper basin, where the shr turns west and goes toward lower terrain.
Michael and genevieve have experience with finding rides in this area. Thruhiking the sierra high route objectives the objective of our expedition will be to complete the full 195mile sierra high r oute shr, also known as the roper route, from kings canyon to twin lakes. Sierra high route route notes, thoughts and photos talusfield. Since there is a lot of walking off trail, how exactly do permits work. The sierra cascades bicycle route runs roughly parallel to the pacific crest trail along the cascade range and sierra nevada from the canadian border to the mexican border.
It has arguably become the most well known and popular route of its kind. Sep, 2015 7 days on the high sierra trail august duration. When the state of california began conceiving its own route network, modern sr 168 was conceived as a trans sierra highway connecting fresno and bishop. It barely joins any established trails and crosses 33 high passes. Is skurkas map and data set the most updated option. Then, the big finish where the high sierra trail, jmt and pct all connect on the route up from wallace creek to guitar lake and mt. 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. The sierra high route shr is an alternate route not a trail through the high sierra nevada suggested by steve roper in his 1990 book sierra high route. The route continues south along the highest part of the sierra where the sierra high route goes to lower elevation and terminates in kings canyon. First defined by dave beck in 1975, it traverses the width of the sierra nevada between shepherds pass on the east side and wolverton to the west. The high sierra trail a guide to the famous sierra. No ordinary guidebook, sierra high route leads you from point to point through a spectacular 195mile timberline route in californias high sierra. But it is an expert routenot for novices, youth groups, bad knees, or even experienced trail hikers new to loaded scrambling and offtrail navigation. 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.
On this burly, 210mile traverse, which crosses 33 passes and barely touches established trails, you can find. State route 168 sr 168 is an eastwest state highway in the u. Home forums campfire pretrip planning solo on the sierra high route viewing 12 posts 1 through 12 of 12 total forums are supported by our merchant partners disclosure rei coupons zpacks hyperlite patagonia arcteryx rbtr drop backcountry feathered friends campsaver. How do you shave 12 ounces off an already light tent. Much of the route stays above 10,000 feet as it crosses seven high passes along. The sierra high route couples backpacking trip that we started involved us parking a car at the trailhead for twin lakes. The route was from roads end up the copper creek trail and then a little bit off trail on the sierra high route, and a decent day relaxing at state lake with some fishing thrown in for good measure. Readers are encouraged to offer new route ratings for nonsps high sierra mountains. The western segment runs from state routes 41 and 180 in fresno east to huntington lake along the western slope of the sierra. The area enclosed by the fly measures 9 feet by 4 feet, which is similar in size to many ultralight 2 person tents. It contains detailed information for more than 200 of the worlds great hikes and was put together with the mission of inspiring and enabling folks to go backpacking. The following is the stateoftheart combination of equipment and technique that has proven successful on over 40 group crossings of the sierra high route since 1981.
San manuel indian bingo and casino, san bernardino transit center, aquinas high school, arrowhead regional medical center, colton high school, department of motor vehicles, san bernardino city hall, san bernardino valley college, sierra high school, st. You get your permit for the trail head you start at, tell the ranger your itinerary, and thats all. High route 1 pitching instructions congratulations on the purchase of your new sierra designs tent. The wind river high route is in our opinion, mile for mile, the finest nontechnical alpine route in north america. The eastern segment connects lake sabrina in the eastern sierra to state route 266 in. The sierra high route shr is a 195mile trekking route that runs northsouth across the heart of the sierra nevada range, through sequoiakings canyon national park, john muir wilderness.
When climber steve roper conceived of the sierra high route shr almost 40 years ago, it was a visionary conceptencouraging backpackers not just hardcore climbers to get off of crowded trails and follow higher and cleaner lines in the sierras. Whitney the highest peak in the lower 48 and the traditional finishing point of the jmt. With a goal of loosely following the john muir trail jmt but frequently going off trail, higher and closer to the sierra crest when. Sierra high route on the trail guide to the outdoors. Sierra cascades route adventure cycling association. Conceived by climber steve roper in 1977 and first published in his book sierra high route. This post has been rewritten, updated and expanded as of march, 2018. Womens trips sierra mountain center offers allwomen programs to suit any desire, whether you want a leisurely hike through alpine meadows or to climb the highest peak in the lower 48. Sierra high route map the sierra mountains ca usa mappery.
Thruhike of dixonwilson southern sierra high route 100 mi 627732016. The sierra high route shr is about 200 mile across the high sierra. The sierra high route is a 195mile long route charted through the backcountry and along some existing trails of the high sierra nevada. Hike the sierra high route, california, best american. Mar 15, 2016 guides are now available for the 97mile wind river high route, 125mile kings canyon high basin route, and 104mile southern sierra high route. The shr parallels the john muir trail but about 60% of it is offtrail, opting for higher passes instead of diving down into the forested canyons. The route follows a general direction but no particular trail, thus causing little or no impact and allowing hikers to experience the beautiful subalpine region of the high sierra in a unique way. I ran into yall at one of the most remote areas of the high sierra according to roperwhite bear lake. High sierra update not showing in mac app store fix. Home forums campfire posttrip reports the southern sierra high route a guide a southern extension of the sierra high route to mt. This trail is not to be confused with the high sierra trail more to come on that which runs from cresent meadow in the sequoia national forest to whitney portal. Feb 03, 2017 beginning at wolverton trailhead in sequoia national park and ending at shepards pass in owens valley, the sierra high route offers one of the most memorable ski traverses on the west coast.
It touches trails only grudgingly, and it rarely dips below 10,000 feet. Stretching 200 miles through the sierra nevada, most of the high route is offtrail, posing challenges both physical and mental as you attempt to navigate dangerous, unmarked terrain. The sierra high route is a crosscountry hiking route, 195 miles 314 km long, through the. Sierra high route overview maps the maps include the pct and jmt trails as well. 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. Southern sierra high route an alternative to the jmt. Sierra high route route notes, thoughts and photos. First skied in its entirety in 1975 by sierra veteran dave beck, this subtle line linking high passes and long contours around huge snow filled bowls has become the goal of many a backcountry skier. This 210 to 220mile, 20 to 30day crosscountry journey could be the premier mountain trek in the lower 48. Maps, high sierra backpacking paper and digital topo trail. 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. Steep, rocky, and often hazardous, its thruhiked only half a dozen times each year and requires more selfreliance and routefinding skill than the average trail hiker possesses. It was devised by noted sierra climber and historian steve roper, and originally, discreetly, published in book form in 1982.
In 2014, alan dixon and i hiked an extension of the sierra high route to the south, following the spirit of the original shr, but covering the highest terrain and peaks of the sierra, including a traverse of mount whitney. The sierra high route shr is an alternate route not a trail through the high sierra nevada suggested by steve roper in his 1990 book sierra high. Designed as an incredibly versatile yearround hiking shelter, the high route is a 31 ounce ultralight shelter that utilizes trekking poles. 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. A good look at the maps revealed a beautiful line that weaves across the sierra crest numerous times, maintaining the spirit of the shr, and offers hiking as good or better than any portion of the shr.
Planning to thruhike or sectionhike the sierra high route. This sixday ski mountaineering traverse crosses the sierra nevada over nine high cols and passes, holding an elegant line between 10,500 and,000. The sierra high route runs from twin lakes just sw of bridgeport, ca to roads end in kings canyon national park, and alan dixons soshr comes in from south lake to join the shr in dusy basin, then continues south, going over mt. The southern sierra high route soshr is a superb alternative to the jmt for the adventurous traveler. Going light with the correct application of techniques increases safety, reduces fatigue. Jul 07, 2009 sierra high route map near the sierra mountains, ca, usa. It somewhat parallels the john muir trail jmt for most its length, and briefly uses the jmt to move from one crest to another. It stays as high in the mountains as possible, and traverses the most beautiful sections of the sierra, while also avoiding trails for about half its length in favor of cross country travel in more remote terrain. 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. The hiking life is a compilation of tips and advice on trip planning, lightweight backpacking techniques, and improving your wilderness skill set. Traversing timberline country free full read best seller. Pacific crest trail, tahoe to yosemite trail, john muir trail resources covering tahoe basin, mokelumne, carson iceberg, emigrant, yosemite ansel adams, john muir and sequoiakings canyon wilderness areas. Sep 29, 2017 macos high sierra update didnt show up in mac app store updates tab at all nor purchases, though apple had an official news feed stating the update was available as a free update four days ago.
Sierra high route route notes, thoughts and photos september 07, 2014 note. Southern sierra high route overview map the southern sierra high route follows high alpine terrain from south lake trailhead in the north to cottonwood lakes in the south. Come ski the sierra high route with the most experienced. Best online, digital, and paper high sierra backpacking topo trail maps. Well, apple wasnt lying its just a bit tricky to download high sierra. Whitney and beyond viewing 25 posts 1 through 25 of 41 total 1 2 forums are supported by our merchant partners disclosure rei coupons zpacks. 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. Guides are now available for the 97mile wind river high route, 125mile kings canyon high basin route, and 104mile southern sierra high route. The high sierra trail a guide to the famous sierra nevada. Updated august 22, 2016 to add special note on inaccurate free maps the idea. A total of eight golden trout were caught, two eaten, with one caught in a rather unconventional manner.
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