TR: High Sierra Trail 9-16 September 2012
- orbitor
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Re: TR: High Sierra Trail 9-16 September 2012
Alpenglow: Glad to be of help! I benefited just as much from the info mshields and others shared, so I thought it only fair to post my experience for others to draw upon. I had my GPS and recorded the whole trek; the trip is divided into segments according to each day and available online. I will be happy to send you the links if you think they will help with your planning. By the way, the reason I carried the GPS was not for fear of getting lost (the trail is very well marked), but just to record detailed stats. Comparing the stats with the pictures and reliving the experience of each day made me appreciate our accomplishment even more. Finally, the Kaweah climb is a beast, so make sure you're firm if going for it. It will quickly turn too daunting should you hesitate.
mshields: Thank you again for your advice! It was a fabulous trip. I will post the link to the rest of the pictures as soon as I finish sorting.
mshields: Thank you again for your advice! It was a fabulous trip. I will post the link to the rest of the pictures as soon as I finish sorting.
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- The hermit
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Re: TR: High Sierra Trail 9-16 September 2012
How did you arrange travel logistics? Is it possible as a loop, if so how many miles?
- mshields
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Re: TR: High Sierra Trail 9-16 September 2012
Orbitor,orbitor wrote:Glad to be of help! I benefited just as much from the info mshields and others shared, so I thought it only fair to post my experience for others to draw upon.
As a side note, a big part of my trip came together from HST member input a few months prior; I was simply continuing the cycle. In the grand scheme of things, there is something very satisfying about passing on one's experience, advice, and knowledge. After all, we are all after the same thing............. "soaking up some high quality Sierra"
Let's keep the tradition going! In the end, that is what this forum is all about right?
Take Care,
P.S. I look forward to the rest of the post
- RoguePhotonic
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Re: TR: High Sierra Trail 9-16 September 2012
Anything can be looped but it depends on how many days you have or even how many days worth of food you want to carry. I did it in 14 days this summer although I climbed Mt. Russell and then took a cross country route back to Lodgepole.How did you arrange travel logistics? Is it possible as a loop, if so how many miles?
- orbitor
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Re: TR: High Sierra Trail 9-16 September 2012
Hermit: Like RoguePhotonic said, it is possible to do a loop, though until now he's the only one I've heard mention to have actually implemented it. I think for the vast majority it is considered a thru-hike, and after 6 days on the trail (to where it technically ends in the JMT at Wallace Creek), I have to admit the prospect of turning around and hiking back to either Lodgepole or Roads Ends in Kings Canyon held zero interest for me. Of course, no route is impossible given enough time and supplies - of which there seems to a dire shortage of for many of us...The hermit wrote:How did you arrange travel logistics? Is it possible as a loop, if so how many miles?
Driving logistics were the biggest nightmare. We left 2 cars at the Portal and had a friend take us over the Sierras on the 178 and drop us off at Crescent Meadow. Unfortunately, 2 guys had to drive directly to Crescent Meadow, so after we were done, I drove around again to help them retrieve their car. Wasted a whole day doing that, then finally home to LA, but I will take a great backpack over a crappy shuttle any day.
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- Wandering Daisy
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Re: TR: High Sierra Trail 9-16 September 2012
I have partially looped the route, but the other direction. From Whitney Portal I took the trail Kern-Keweah, over Pants Pass (north to south is easier than the other direction), down to the lake below Precipice, took the HST back, side trips to Wallace Lake, Arctic Lake and Crabtree Lake - 12 days. I did not go all the way out to Crescent Meadow because I had done that section many times before. It is easier to do a loop, phycologically if you do not go all the way to the trailhead before returninig, and it helps to not repeat too much of the route. I think a loop is a very nice way to do it. There is also the key exchange - a better logistic plan than staging cars. Just mail each other extra set of keys, each group start at opposite ends, pick up each others car, meet at some town afterwards to get your own car back.
- calicokat
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Re: TR: High Sierra Trail 9-16 September 2012
Great trip report and photos. I was there in August and can't wait to go back. And I agree on the Mt Kaweah climb, what incredible views
- orbitor
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Re: TR: High Sierra Trail 9-16 September 2012
I finally managed sorting through my photos and those of two of my companions, and was able to select the 240 best. They are uploaded to my Picasa web album and I would like to invite anyone interested to view them (special dedication to mshields!).
https://picasaweb.google.com/1166934220 ... directlink" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
I welcome any additional comments and questions.
(Just a note to respect copyright to these images by not reproducing, distributing or saving them without permission, thanks!)
https://picasaweb.google.com/1166934220 ... directlink" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
I welcome any additional comments and questions.
(Just a note to respect copyright to these images by not reproducing, distributing or saving them without permission, thanks!)
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- mshields
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Re: TR: High Sierra Trail 9-16 September 2012
Orbitor,orbitor wrote:I finally managed sorting through my photos and those of two of my companions, and was able to select the 240 best. They are uploaded to my Picasa web album and I would like to invite anyone interested to view them (special dedication to mshields!).
Came across the additional post tonight; sorry I didn't see them earlier. Thanks for taking the time to put these together for all of us; it looks like you guys had a great one!
My favorite shots:
1) Precipice Lake (wow!)
2) Hamilton Gorge Tunnel Shot (wish I thought of doing that)
3) Kaweah Summit Shots (what a view)
Take Care and Keep in Touch,
mshields
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