Whitney on this gorgeous, 73 mile thru-hike. High Sierra Trails website makes no warranties regarding the accuracy, completeness, reliability or suitability of any of its maps. DAY SEVEN on the High Sierra Trail –We decided to get up at 4:30 a.m. and begin hiking between 5:30 and 6 a.m. at sunrise.We had no interest in hiking in the dark and trying for the summit at sunrise – for our first time up, we wanted to see everything. The Sunrise Lakes aren't mentioned on the trail signs, but the Sunrise High Sierra Camp, which is a mile beyond the last lake, is. Trailhead: Various possiblities. A long hike to Hamilton Lakes on the High Sierra Trail. Pretty much the bible of off-trail travel for the Sierras; The Sierra High Route: Traversing Timberline CountryMay 1, 1997 by Steve Roper The book that started it all! High Sierra Camp Loop. Hike south over a shallow saddle and pass tiny Raisin Lake below the flanks of Tuolumne Peak. A contender for the best trail in Sequoia National Park – it's definitely on many world's best hike lists – the High Sierra trail begins at Crescent Meadow and continues for 49 miles. The trail winds north, making a short ascent, before turning south again to May Lake High Sierra Camp, directly below 10,850-foot Mt. Hoffmann. Four miles along, fork right (west) at a junction, then left (south) at another junction a half-mile farther. Turn-by-turn from the Crescent Meadow trailhead. 3) Cross the wooden bridge over Lone Pine Creek and veer east to … Elevation Gain: 6,450 feet (1,970 m) Permit Demand: High. Description: Well marked and easy to navigate, the High Sierra trail is considered moderate with a warm southern exposure. The Bearpaw High Sierra Camp was nicer than any of us were expecting, especially when talking about the incredible view from the front porch! Distance: 11.5 miles each way. Every effort is made to provide accurate and up to date information, but we cannot be responsible for errors or for changes that may have occurred since publication. The High Sierra Camp loop follows trails linking Tuolumne Meadows to Vogelsang, Merced Lake, Sunrise, May Lake, and Glen Aulin High Sierra Camps. Elevation Gain: 1,000 feet. But it’s more committing and skill-intensive than other long-distance endeavors like the Pacific Crest Trail, High Sierra Trail, and John Muir Trail (which it overlaps for less than a mile). High Sierra: Peaks, Passes, Trails, 3rd Ed.Feb 9, 2009 by R.J. Secor. Highlights: High Country, Lakes, Waterfalls. Distance: 73 miles; Elevation Gain: 15,475 feet (cumulative) Difficulty: Moderate (eight days), Challenging (six days) The High Sierra Trail is nothing short of You descend downhill from 1.5 miles and climb up to the lake the last 1.5 miles. 1) Take the High Sierra Trail 10.6 miles east, threading together lodgepole pine forest, alpine meadows, and big views of the Great Western Divide high above the Middle Fork Kaweah River gorge, to Bearpaw Meadow High Sierra Camp. Distance: 48.2 miles (77.6 km) loop. The map displayed above is for illustrative purposes only. Why you should go: Cross the Sierra Nevada and finish triumphantly on top of Mt. High Sierra Trail Photo by Emily Pennington. Prepare for scenic views from start to finish. The trip to Hamilton Lakes is part of the High Sierra Trail. Turn left to go to the Sunrise Lakes instead. The first 11 miles are relatively easy as elevation gain is slow. Going straight will take you to Clouds Rest, another 4.7 miles (7.5 km) ahead. 2) Next day, stay on the trail 1.6 miles. It demands similar fitness and backcountry aptitude as the Kings Canyon High Basin Route and Sierra High Route (with which it shares five miles). The main building with the kitchen sits on the edge of a cliff with a 180 view of the Great Western Divide towering in the distance. High Sierra Trail to Bearpaw Meadow. From 6700ft it climbs to an altitude of 10,700ft, crossing ridges, rivers, lakes, waterfalls and offering the most jaw-dropping mountain and valley views. Time: 5 to 10 hours, one way (average 7 hours) Trailhead: Crescent Meadow, approximately 10 miles south of Wuksachi Lodge. Should go: Cross the Sierra Nevada and finish triumphantly on top of Mt left to go to the the. Left to go to the Sunrise Lakes instead a junction, then left ( south ) at another junction half-mile! 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