Blog – Hiking & Backpacking
Quick hikes through extended backpacking trips, follow my adventures through the mountains.
High Sierra Trail Day 6 – Crabtree Ranger Station to Guitar Lake
The High Sierra Trail continued for a bit through the same, dried up forest we encountered the previous day, but as we approached treeline, the landscape gave way to familiar soaring alpine habitats with trickling creeks, grassy tussocks, soggy meadows, and occasional tarns.
High Sierra Trail Day 5 – Junction Meadow to Crabtree Ranger Station
Waking up on our fifth morning, we were already a day ahead of schedule and still technically had that Guitar Lake rest day built-in, so we decided to break up that section with a night at Crabtree Ranger Station before continuing on the Guitar Lake.
High Sierra Trail Day 4 – Kern Canyon: Moraine Lake to Junction Meadow
Leaving camp at Moraine Lake, the trail meandered east, south of Funston Creek and after a quick mile or so, we crossed the creek and rejoined the official High Sierra Trail at Sky Parlor Meadow.
High Sierra Trail Day 3 (Part 2) – Kaweah Gap to Moraine Lake
From Kaweah Gap, the High Sierra Trail began a long, gradual descent through drastically different terrain going from the the barren alpine zone to a flourishing tundra.
High Sierra Trail Day 3 (Part 1) – Hamilton Lake to Kaweah Gap
Right from camp, the trail crossed Hamilton Creek and quickly started switch-backing along the side of the northern wall of Hamilton Lake’s basin.
High Sierra Trail Day 2 – Bearpaw Meadow to Hamilton Lake
In under a quarter mile, we quickly found ourselves at the Bearpaw High Sierra Camp, a wilderness lodge (glamping) perched on a cliffside high atop a 7,800′ granite saddle overlooking the Great Western Divide.
Packing for the High Sierra Trail
Packing for the High Sierra Trail was one of the harder parts about the entire trip. It was a careful balancing act of not carrying more weight than I had to for a week, but also not being in the middle of nowhere and not have something I needed or wanted.
Planning for the High Sierra Trail through Sequoia National Park
I would argue that planning for the High Sierra Trail was more difficult than the hike itself…
The History of the High Sierra Trail in Sequoia National Park
he High Sierra Trail is a spectacular 72 mile trek across the famed Sierra Nevada mountain range in California, arguably the finest mountain scenery in the United States.
The High Sierra Trail – The Famous Sierra Nevada Traverse in Sequoia National Park
It turns out that the High Sierra Trail (HST) is like the JMT’s little brother and an incredible alternative. At only 72 miles, it can be completed in under a week, but it still features everything the Sierras have to offer; Colossal mountains, jagged peaks and ridges, crystal clear alpine lakes, magnificent lush forests, stunning meadows, towering waterfalls, and an abundance of wildlife.
A Quick Overnight Backpack to Missouri Lakes in the Holy Cross Wilderness
Despite the popularity of Missouri Lakes, it’s still in a remote part of Sawatch Range and the Holy Cross Wilderness with rugged ridgelines, alpine meadows and lakes.
An Overnight Backpack to Gore Lake in the Eagles Nest Wilderness
Six miles into the Gore Range and the Eagles Nest Wilderness, Gore Lake sits at 11,414′ at the base of Snow Peak (13,024′), Willow Peak (13,357′), and Red Peak (13,189′).