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.
I would argue that planning for the High Sierra Trail was more difficult than the hike itself…
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.
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.
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.
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′).
A couple years ago, my buddy found a hike to the unofficially-named Crater Lake in the Gore Range at the base of the Spider (12,692′) and the Fly, two also unofficially-named twelvers residing on a rugged spur ridge west of the main spine of the central Gores.
I kept putting the hike off because it didn’t sound easy even as a day hike, let alone to do it right as an overnight with a full pack.
Even though it’s nestled up against the Gore Range and just over the ridge to the south of Piney Lake outside of Vail, the views at Lost Lake just aren’t as grand or iconic.