No matter which start variation you choose, this is one of the finest ski tours in the world and one to be long remembered. Box 559 Prather, CA 93651 559-855-5355 (TDD) 559-855-5367 ... Campfire permits are free Best description of our route. The Sierra High Route. And the weather was consistently cloudless, so the sun’s radiant heat fried us to our gizzards. Need to rent equipment for your trip? USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer." The winter of 2007-08 began strong, but its strength faded and Spring arrived early. Roper’s very fine Sierra High Route fixes these problems with the JMT, but requires a lot of skilled off-trail travel and and navigation. We offer two variation starts to this wonderful route: Both variations join in the upper reaches of the Kern River where we climb up Milestone Creek, climbing to just below the summit of imposing Milestone Mountain as we follow the divide between the Kings, Kern and Kaweah Rivers. But I think most backpackers would appreciate having a hiking partner to help navigate, discuss decisions, and help out in the event of an emergency. I spent the last three months planning for a traverse of the john Muir Trail in August of 2015 until I stumbled upon an article about the Sierra High Route. (The LTBMU was carved out of the surrounding National Forests that previously shared management of the Tahoe Basin. The original guide is Starr's Guide to the John Muir Trail and the High Sierra Region, written by Walter Starr Jr. in 1933 and published by the Sierra Club.It is still available in revised form. The High Sierra Peaks, Passes, Trails. Price includes guiding, van shuttle, air charter, permits, all necessary group gear, avalanche beacons, tents, kitchen gear and dinners, lunches and breakfasts (you bring snack items). A heavy pack increases mental fatigue and makes these tasks more difficult. Learn how to create your own. You can then follo… Best description of our route. so I will not comment. 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. If you want to hike the SHR in sections, get the guidebook—there are trailhead access descriptions. Identification of flora and fauna of the Sierra. Suggestions on preparation - get the most out of your trip! To file a complaint of discrimination, write USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, Room 326-W, Whitten Building, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, D.C. 20250-9410 or call (202) 720-5964 (voice and TDD). If you are not travelling early or late, then you can chose to either way. Often compared to the famous “Haute Route” of the European Alps or Colorado’s Tenth Mountain Trail, this is a true extended wilderness ski tour, with no huts, few other people and no nearby roads. So, I'm looking to shave a few days off the route. Then turn around and look South. Hikers in August and September will experience drier conditions and few mosquitoes, but the melted-out mountains will not look as majestic and the scree fields will be more exposed. If so, the Sierra High Route is for you. Roper, Steve, Sierra High Route: Traversing Timberline Country. Miles of gentle downhill takes us through the amazing undulating Tablelands, below Alta Peak, and down to the giant sequoias at Wolverton. It starts high in the Palisades, the most rugged sub-range in the Sierra, and offers a summit of Mt Sill 14,154′ (4,314 m). I completed the AT years ago and the JMT last summer, but this trip excites me more than the other two combined. Planning on going nobo starting at horseshoe meadows. Explore Inyo National Forest - Wilderness Permits in Inyo National Forest, California with Recreation.gov. (That, and because frankly they have the potential to easily kill you). I’m thinking of using a 20F bag and lightening my load, still being well below 29F. I make up the difference by wearing most of my clothing to bed. SMC operates under permits from Inyo National Forest, Yosemite National Park, Toiyabe National Forest, Joshua Tree National Park, Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks, and other agencies as required. For those coming from the Bay area, or nearby, we will try to arrange a flight prior to the trip. 2020 © Andrew Skurka. If rangers were not out patrolling, I would not take a canister and I would instead rely on the effective techniques I have described above. You need advanced ski skills for this tour. As background, I hiked the JMT a couple years ago and take long off-trail […] Sierra High Route. I offered $60 + gas (about $80 total) and received about five emails from available drivers within 30 minutes; you could probably ask for less and still find someone. 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 (3658 m) for most of its rugged course. This is a long tour and pack weight needs to be kept as low as possible. The snowfields melted out earlier than normal, leaving behind technical scree to cross; and snowfields that did remain were heavily sun-cupped. However, if you are caught by a ranger and you are not carrying a canister, you can receive a hefty fine. Two aussies (myself and my partner SImon), have just found out about this amazing trail, and are now avidly researching it, to make it happen in the next year or so. I’ve been hiking in the high Sierra backcountry for over 15 years and am just buzzing to start the route this summer. Identification of flora and fauna of the Sierra. Posted by 2 years ago. Finally, (4) the SHR demands a high level of mental engagement in order to navigate efficiently and to travel safely. If you are going late in the season, you’ll probably want to travel south: the northern sections of the route are more likely to get whacked with snow first. Since I wash my clothes every 1-2 days, I’m not worried about getting the bag dirty. Kearsarge start $1875 Do you think I will regret it, provided the temperatures remain the same? The route is the brainchild of long time Sierra climber and wanderer, Steve Roper, who pieced the route … If you do not reserve your permit beforehand, approximately one-quarter of the permits are available on a first-come, first-serve basis. Is Skurka's map and data set the most updated option. This June when I got to Road’s End to pick up a permit, I was dealt a surprise when the Ranger informed me that I should have gotten permits for every jurisdiction that we were passing through on the hike. If you start at Road’s End, you will need a permit from Sequoia-Kings Canyon NP; they detail the permit system on their website . We do not include accommodation in the pricing but can make local suggestions for you. The problem here is resisting the overwhelming temptation to drop the packs and ski a several thousand foot run to the valley floor below; and then be faced with the long haul back up. I assume SOBO is the better direction, but a permit from Yosemite would be harder to get right? If you start the SHR from a terminus, you will need a wilderness permit. where to pick up your permit, their reservation policy, etc. We highly recommend that you spend at least one night at moderate altitude (higher than 8,000 feet) just prior to the trip. (3) The SHR goes through some very remote country that is not well suited for search & rescues or easy self-extraction. The better location at which to resupply is Red’s Meadow, which is located about 118 miles north of Road’s End and 77 miles south of Mono Village. (. Nicknamed Peter, the author vanished during a trip to the Minarets in 1933, his body was found after an intense search, and his book was published posthumously. Kearsarge start Hikers in October will experience the driest conditions, the coldest temperatures, and the fewest bugs. For more information, visit the following land manager websites: Sequoia-Kings Canyon National Park, Yosemite National Park, and Inyo National Forest. Roper, Steve, Sierra High Route: Traversing Timberline Country. AIARE Recreational Level I Avalanche Course. The route tries to stay above 10,000 ft as much as possible. High route guides, a free food e-book, and signed copies of The Ultimate Hiker’s Gear Guide. SMC does not rent ski equipment, but we work with Mammoth Mountaineering (760-934-4191) to get you set up on the correct equipment. Since there is a lot of walking off trail, how exactly do permits work? This 210- to 220-mile, 20- to 30-day cross-country journey could be the premier mountain trek in the Lower 48. After parking the car, we carpooled to the start at … Permits & Regulations – A wilderness permit is required for all overnight travel in the Sierras. Laws, John Muir, The Laws Field Guide to the Sierra Nevada. We’ll then descend into the lush meadowlands below … Published by The Mountaineers. Archived. Is Skurka's map and data set the most updated option. Hi Andrew, thanks for your pointer to the NOAA sites; not all are working but some in that area are; it’s good enough I think. In the High Sierra, you should only need a permit from the agency where your trip starts. I recommend this system especially for the SHR because there is only one convenient opportunity to buy supplies en route—at Tuolumne Meadows, where there is a small grocery store about two miles down Tioga Road. I would greatly appreciate hearing from you after complete your hike. Getting There: Because the Sierra High Route stretches about 195 miles between Kings Canyon and Yosemite National parks, and takes in long stretches of national forest lands, it can be assessed from both parks and from highways off California’s Highway 395. Permits and Bears. Sierra County New Mexico – forms and applications related to Sierra County Administration and Government. I can’t speak to access points other than the two termini because I’m not from the area and because we stayed on the trail the entire time. Day 1 of Sierra High Route Couple’s Backpacking. 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