High Sierra Topix

My vote is for the HST. I did this trail late august in 2006 with a couple friends and we had a blast. After passing bearpaw meadow, we only saw 4 other people until reaching trailcrest. In fact, Whitney was the LOW point of the trip. Once you reach there, there is nothing but a few dozen other dayhikers huffing and puffing on their way to the top. At the top, everyone was whipping out their cell phones, "hey, guess where I cam calling you from!". We saw outpost and trail camp on the way down. They were disgusting. I am really glad we did not plan on staying there. Permits for the HST are easy to get starting on the western side of the sierras. Transport can be a hassle if you decide to exit Whitney portal. It's a 300 mile drive between trailheads.

Doing Whitney out of horseshoe over new army is also nice, but much more crowded.

For me, Mt. Whitney has never been a destination per se. Its always been a part of something else. But considering all the times I've been up there, the approach from Army/New Army Pass has always been for me the most satisfying. Go by Sky Blue Lake, and on up. Unbelievable.

What do you guys think about going up Whitney via Shepherd's pass and then connecting with the JMT? seems it'd be a fun 40-45 mile trip

I have done the Shepherds Pass to Whitney route and I personally do not think it is that spectacular. The upper part of the pass is nice but the long treck down the PCT is boring - but is fast. If you were to take side-trips to Wright Lakes and Wallace-Wales Lake it would be nice.

For me, in my simplistic way for one who tries to make a lot of time for anything, any way to anywhere in the Sierra is wonderful and beautiful. From Shepherps Pass or New Army Pass, or from the west, the way to Mt Whitney is a great route.

Wandering Daisy wrote:I have done the Shepherds Pass to Whitney route and I personally do not think it is that spectacular. The upper part of the pass is nice but the long trek down the PCT is boring - but is fast. If you were to take side-trips to Wright Lakes and Wallace-Wales Lake it would be nice.

I'm getting the impression that you like Wallace, Wales, and Wright Lakes, Daisy, could that be? I rarely get so far south or so far in, but I'll obviously have to put these on the agenda if the opportunity presents itself!

Presumably Wallace Lake is named after Alfred Russel Wallace; any idea who Wright and Wales Lakes are named after?

BSquared wrote: Presumably Wallace Lake is named after Alfred Russel Wallace; any idea who Wright and Wales Lakes are named after?

Answered my own question at Sierra Place Names. All three of the lakes are named after Sierra explorers of the turn of the last century. Wallace is William B. Wallace of Visalia, Wright is James William Albert Wright of "The San Joaquin Valley," and Wales is Frederick Henry Wales of Tulare County. They apparently explored the Kern and Whitney area together in 1881. Mt. Wallace is named after Alfred Russel, appropriately since it is in the Evolution region.

Yup, I like that basin! I have been there at peak wildflowers (unfortunately no camera) and I felt I had to tip-toe so not to disturbe the pristine field of flowers. The photo below was late season (September) just before it dumped snow!

How about this approach to Mt. Whitney.

Wales Lake is on my short list of most beautiful places on the planet.