High Sierra Topix

Does SEKI count? I don't think parks are the same as official wilderness area designation....but that's just me nitpicking!

For memories of the times spent there....Yolla Bolly Wilderness!

For beauty and the rest...John Muir!

All of the John Muir Wilderness that wraps around SEKI.

On forest service land: Ansel Adams. The Ritter Range is one of those places I never stop going to. One of those places you take friends when you want to REALLY show off the Sierras.

In a national park: Kings Canyon. No competition here at all. If you're scratching your head at this, you have probably not been more than a day in from the west side. You need to go in deeper. This park requires a longer approach to get to the really knock-your-socks-off stuff.

It's kinda like trying to pick your favorite song or band. It depends upon the time and the moment at hand, because there are so many that are just flat out fantastic!. For me at the end of the day, the John Muir Wilderness will always be at or near the top. Started there in the 70's and have been going back ever since.

What is one without the other ?

"Those of us who have been drawn to the Sierra for years and decades understand her magnetic draw on our souls, the beck and call at the beginning of each and every season, the rejuvenating experience one feels after each and every trip no matter how difficult" Maverick, High Sierra Topix

Not sure how I missed this, thanks for the tagline troutdog.

I too fall into the "it's all good" category for wilderness. If I had to pick just one, it would likely be Kings Canyon.

John Muir Wilderness: with my dog
SEKI: without my dog

If choosing a wilderness area - not national park, per se, and limiting the choices to the Sierra I am with @Mavereck, the John Muir and Ansel Adams Wilderness Areas get my vote. But if we are to widen the search to US wilderness areas writ large, there are so many, and I haven't seen most of them. But I spend lots of time in the Joshua Tree Wilderness Area. Its beauty is well known, so I will not digress why I am drawn to this wilderness area. I have also spent lots of time in the 30,000+ acre San Gabriel Wilderness Area, located within the Angeles National Forest, just outside Los Angeles. The SGWA was established as a refuge for the local black bear population. To this end the park service has decided to discontinue maintenance on selected trails, to discourage hikers penetrating the depths of the wilderness area. Thus about half of the 30+ miles of trail into the area are now virtually impassible, due to rugged terrain, and impenetrable, overgrown scrub. It is an understatement to say exploring this area is very difficult, but if you like coastal mountain scrub ecology, this is among the finest.

Ed

For the Sierra and the classic views, Ansel Adams, which is appropriately named as it is among the most photogenic places on earth. And since my first love out there is photography, it comes in first.

Outside the Sierra I have several:
1) Sawtooth Wilderness in Idaho
2) Alpine Lakes Wilderness in Washington
3) Trinity Alps Wilderness in northern California

Unfortunately, all three of these wildernesses can be overrun with people. I am glad I saw them all long ago.

A tough choice so in order:
Emigrant (Should be part of Yosemite.. after all it is part of the Toulumne River Drainage)
Ansel Adams (Both the Minarets and Merced/Post Peak areas ... why aren't these part of Yosemite?)
Carson/Humbolt
Golden Trout
Trinity Alps
Marble Mountains
(as an after thought I better include John Muir)

I'm all for the idea of an inter-connected National Park system from the Emigrant all the way to Golden Trout encompassing the whole of the Sierra high country (Emigrant, Hoover/Humbolt-Toyabe, Yosemite, Ansel Adams, Sierra NF, John Muir, Inyo NF, SEKI, Golden Trout). Does this idea help or hurt such issues as permit availability (Emigrant and Humbolt do not have trailhead quotas)? Would this make all trail heads over populated? To much power to the National Parks? Unfair to those whom like to bring dogs on their hikes? there are other considerations. What do you think?

-Ken
-CalMntHkr