High Sierra Topix

WD wrote:
What is your definition of wilderness? Sierra only? California only. Anywhere?

Since this section is Sierra specific it should be wildernesses inside the boundaries
of the Sierra, otherwise another post should be posted in the "Beyond the Sierra
Nevada" section for those beyond it.

Caribou and Warner

For the lack of crowds.

Both were wilderness before the passage of the 1964 act, or more properly "wild areas". Wild Areas were set aside by agency designation, not statutory. Management was basically the same as now. After the passage of the 1964 act the existing Wild Areas became Wilderness.

Wilderness designation is frequently cited as the highest level of protection for land. It is not. Research Natural Areas are more restrictive.

I like marks answer. It really is apples to oranges. Although i have never been to emigrant or deso.

It is all so great, who can choose?!

SEKI. Though I also agree with marksor--timberline country is where my soul resides. For me, SEKI has the most varied and stunning timberline country on our planet.

balzaccom wrote:Fifty years ago, in 1964, Congress passed the Wilderness Act. (Yes, in those days they actually got something done!)..

The Wilderness Act was first proposed in 1955, so it still took a while to get something done.
Took nine years and several rewrites of the legislation to gain traction and support in Congress.

All of the places mentioned so far are great, but one that I treasure a bit more than others (and hasn't been mentioned so far) is the Carson Iceberg Wilderness. I often go there and see no one else the whole time.

I like all the wilderness areas from Golden Trout to Mt Rose. Mt Rose is my favorite because I can cross just one road and walk from my house into it. I do my 'no drive' training hikes in it and it is good for no permit/no hassle one or two night solo trips close to home.

I think it is wonderful that you can start at Horseshoe Meadows cross into Golder Trout, Sequia NP, Kings Canyon NP, John Muir and Ansel Adams wilderness areas, Hover, Carson Iceberg, Desolation, and Granite Chief wilderness areas without hardly ever being out of a wilderness or national park area.

I did my first Emigrant Wilderness trip last summer and plan to go back to spend more time doing navigation on the large slabs of granite.

JWreno wrote:...

I did my first Emigrant Wilderness trip last summer and plan to go back to spend more time doing navigation on the large slabs of granite.

You mean like this?

Dinkey Lakes

Yeah, that is one of the wide ramps that you could ride a skate board on if you were crazy. One of the reasons I want to go back is last time the fire was raging about 5-7 miles away down by Cherry Lake. I want to see it again with better vistas.