High Sierra Topix

Anywhere south of tahoe, including tahoe itself.

I'm a little confused. I thought the theme was destinations that did not live up to your expectations. Much of what has been described are sections of trails that people did not enjoy. So I can understand listing Whitney but not the section of pct s. of Post Pile. That just doesn't sound like a destination to me. How is this for a destination that doesn't live up to expectations--Lake of the Fallen Moon. Sounds romantic and scenic but ... blah!

Mike

I’m with Markskor and others on the JMT south of DP. I would expand on that section of JMT though, say from Agnew Meadows south through the burn area to near Purple Lake. Too many horse flies for me. On one such trip the llama fly dope was forgotten and left behind on a 10-day trip. The llamas were miserable and there was nothing I could do. From that burned area through the red cones, Deer and Duck creek crossings is uneventful and infested with horse flies and people.

I also agree with blazacom on Kibbie Ridge with all the deadfalls. And rattlesnakes right next to the trail….

There are too many “least desirable” places in the Emigrant for me to mention.

Many places in both the Moke and CI with meaningless ups and downs without reward or views.

I hate Rafferty Creek with all the steps…..and people.

Tom hit it though, beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

dave54 wrote:
Anywhere south of tahoe, including tahoe itself.

Ha, it is nice to hike without people huh? And without large commercial pack trains. I do several trips pre year in the northern Sierra and love the solitude.

Flip

Hi OR

I also asked about areas you pass through to get to a destination that you would
rather avoid if you could, which would include trail sections, since some of the
time, unfortunately we have to use them.

mav

Sorry it was the old age attention deficit disorder kicking in!

Mike

Yeah, any place or trail section can be a destination even if you don't want to go there. I did not mind the junction to the hot springs in Kern Canyon because we went from way upper Kern to the hot springs in one day, so we were moving. And the early season waterfalls in the canyon are something to see. We had the hot springs and tub all to ourselves, which was nice after two weeks+ on the trail. We left the next day, which was a good thing too because the Swedish Bikini Team arrived and boy it was getting just too crowded around there!

I am not sure citing crowds makes a destination undesirable- you just need to go when there are not so many people- the destination is just fine; it's just the particular condition. I was tempted to say the JMT in its entirety because every time I have been on it it has been packed with people, but the trail itself is great - I just need to go on it off-season.

I was highlly let down by Lake South America. It is pretty bleak.

Kennedy Creek in Emigrant was pretty awful. Just full of cows and thier droppings.

The scenery up Whitney is spectacular. No amount of people can ruin that. So I would not put it on the "let-down" list.

Tilden Lake was not what I expected. I may be jaded because I was there when mosquitoes were thick. Rancheria Trail to Pleasant Valley was not pleasant!

I actually hiked up Kibby Ridge before it burned and it was very pretty then. Now it is not. I think that is true for any place that has had a recent forest fire.

Wandering Daisy wrote:I am not sure citing crowds makes a destination undesirable- you just need to go when there are not so many people- the destination is just fine

Good point, but crowds can ruin the "quality" of the experence.

How many times have you arrived at a remote location only to have it ruined by the activities of others? Trash on at a campsite is just one example. On the way down from Whitney, when you pass those winderness slums (outpost and trail camps), you can't help but be disappointed.

But I guess it's the same as commuters complaining about traffic. While you are in your car sitting in gridlock, you must also realize YOU are the traffic!

Few thoughts:
Flip writes, " I would expand on that section of JMT though, say from Agnew Meadows south through the burn area to near Purple Lake." I agree - expand it North a bit too - that stretch from Agnew to Reds sucks. Quite the comedown to leave from the majesty of 1000 Island Lake to enter the drab, over-saturated lowlands all around the lower San Joaquin area. All the Winnebagos, generators always humming, campsights right atop each other - two-story tents and color TVs - ARGH!
Parts of the June Lake loop, Virginia Lakes area too, and do not get me started on the capitalism called Bridgeport...Trail out of Twin Lakes/ Mono Village is an abomination.

Re Whitney - also underwhelmed by the endless stream of humanity - most just do summit and back, never leaving the trail and tunnel visioned on one thing only...(Half Dome section, much the same) - all peppered with TP and trash.

Bearpaw ghetto...I mean meadow I am also not huge fan of glen Aulin or vogelsang Hsc....beautiful setting but overrun