High Sierra Topix

After reading Feb 08 issue of Backpacker magazine Im kind of
ticked that SEKI was not even mentioned in the top photogenic or
solitude categories.
Though from reading the list of parks that made it to the photogenic
category, they are all windshield parks that don't take a lot of effort to see.
I thought the magazine is about backpacking not drive to destinations!
Whitney is mentioned, which again is easily accessible, and Thousand Is
Lake is considered one of the "sweetest swimming holes", that's a joke
right?
Now don't get me wrong, I do not want the SEKI's backcountry over-run
(not like that's really going to happen, that takes effort), but I'd like see
it get the respect it deserves, as being one of the prettiest, most photogenic,
and wildest parks in the lower 48!
The times they do mention SEKI it's allways the front-country or
something along the JMT, all these areas are pretty too, but its a
very small part of this grand park that offers cross-country opportunities
galore.
What about Ionian Basin(Enchanted Gorge), Goddard Canyon and Bench
Canyon or Dumbbell, Amphitheater and Lakes Basin or Monarch Divide,
Muro Blanco, Cirque Crest or Rae, Sixty, Gardiner Basin, just to name
a few in just the upper half of Kings!
I understand its not Backpacker Magazines responsibility to promote
national parks, but those of you who have been backpacking SEKI for
a while know we have one of the best, if not the best overall park in the
US, and SEKI NP needs to do a better job promoting its natural beauty.

That's ok, it takes long enough to get a permit now and a campsite at the TH if so inclined. Backpacker and REI know where the money is.

Heck, Cherry Lake, listed under "sweetest swimming holes" is a frickin reservoir. Of course SEKI's the best, especially if you're into walking on granite like I am. I'm ok with keeping it to ourselves.

Hi Hikerduane

Maybe at peak season permits are hard to get for the more popular trailheads, but there are ways to avoid or circumvent that
problem.
Sierra Maclure we'll never have to worry about Tehipite Valley turning
into another Yosemite Valley, Im just talking about the park getting
its props as the best backpacking park in the US!
Most place in the Sierra without names or trails to it rarely get visited
and no matter how much more SEKI got promoted that would not change.

Maybe I'll peruse the magazine the next time at the corner Walgreens. I had a subscription for many years and will again when my money situation improves haha. Was never too impressed with their list of best of this or best of that. Similar to best of blah blah blah in other outdoor magazines like for skiing too.

My guess is they don't really have that knowledgeable a person with a Sierra background currently. In other word probably someone that has backpacked in the Sierra a fair extent but isn't into the hard core off trail experience like you Mav, me, or others like us. Just the usual trail stuff. As we both know the Sierra has utterly vast amounts of terrain that sees virtually nobody. If it ain't near a named lake, large named stream, a trail, a crosscountry route between interesting places, doesn't have fishing, not of interest to climbers, or is difficult to access due to whatever, there may rarely if ever have been any visitors. An excellent example I often give is the northwest end of Table Mountain above Sabrina. Truly fascinating boulders in rotting granite ala Peabody Boulders area, easy to access, great view, but no trail, and totally ignored and pristene. Likewise the huge plateau north of Mono Creek, west of Laurel Creek, east and south of the North Fork of Mono Creek. We climbed up there a few years ago and found some weird areas of granite towers. Totally pristene. Could go on and on pointing out places out of sight and out of mind on just about every topo map for the high country. ...David

As we sometimes say: "¡Pobre Sequoia Kings! ¡Tan lejos de Dios y tan cerca de los Yosemite! (Poor Sequoia Kings, so far from God and so close to Yosemite).

Let's just not remind anyone we're there... .

g.

Hey Maverick,
Although my experiences outside the Sierras are not that extensive (couple times in the Wind Rivers, several times in Idaho's Sawtooths, a couple times in the Montana Beartooth-Absaroka, and single visits to such popular spots as the North Cascades, Tetons, Glacier, Uintas and San Juans), there is no doubt that the Sierras win hands down for spectacular scenery, gorgeous lakes, generally cooperative weather and the opportunity to get away from everyone in a state that has 36 million inhabitants. So, although further publicizing SEKI carries the meager risk of slightly jacking up the use of the remote backcountry, I second your sentiment that the more folks who use and appreciate this unrivaled resource, the more likely it is that it will be possible to keep it available (& hopefully, protected and pristine) for future generations (and even for me for however many more decades I'm going to drag my butt up there). So, if Backpacker is not doing its job, maybe you need to clue them in. Between you and Dave (and a few of the other folks who post here), you could hit them with photos that would take their breath away.....even at sea level!
Happy holidays,
cameron

PS: Still crossing my fingers for your mother in law!!!