High Sierra Topix

i don't mind someone selling their route. but after roper and skurka, the range does seem pretty full up on these named high routes. running north to south in the high sierra, there is a formidable ridge every 5-10 miles, with typically only one or two non-technical routes across. it's a narrow range; there are only so many options.

i do think "grand traverse" is a bit grandiose of a name, though i suppose i haven't seen the route. maybe it lives up to that kind of billing?!

Wildhiker will not be pleased with this: https://www.sfchronicle.com/outdoors/ar ... 104867.php

balzaccom wrote: ↑Sun May 28, 2023 7:16 am Wildhiker will not be pleased with this: https://www.sfchronicle.com/outdoors/ar ... 104867.php

Wow...I won't even get to the issue of the headline referring to this as a "new route", or the lameness of the never ending slew of acronymed/grandiose named routes that defeat the purpose of x-country hiking.

What kills me is the inclusion of a paragraph mentioning that the route can be done without any snow gear. Realistically I assume there's not too many people that are going to read an SF Chronicle article and suddenly be inspired to light off on a 50 day journey into the backcountry, but nonetheless this feels so irresponsible. You'd think in a year of biblical snowfall they'd maybe include a disclaimer about how it's not a great idea to jaunt off into the backcountry for a month plus without some serious snow experience.

For those interested, here is a sample of the northern portion from the book (was only able to put in an 1/8 of the route).

https://caltopo.com/m/BD1RU

It is class 2 with some low end 3 in parts. They do a good job putting in time estimates that consider the terrain (e.g. 1mph). Obviously the biggest question in my mind is talus and scree in the areas, which can drastically slow things down.

IMO topographically it doesn't look too hard (minus actual terrain), and FWIW I see some overlap with sections I have done myself before. If anything, it's fun to get some ideas you can adapt to your own routes. In any case, all with a grain of salt and see how it pans out.

Adding to this thread:

SFGate ran this article, which will certainly attract some people to do insanely dangerous things. Tenaya Canyon should only be attempting during low water, late in the season--and by people who are seriously skilled.

https://www.sfgate.com/california-parks ... -Spotlight

I'm pretty sure I could write whole books on route ideas in the Sierra. But should I? Probably not. haha

Alpinemike and I have years of hiking routes already planned out and constantly are making new ones.

balzaccom, where did you get the idea that the route goes down Tenaya Canyon? I have done that route and it requires a rappel. It IS very technical, but the map does not show the route going down Tenaya Canyon.

I assume you just meant that that article may attract people to the route. It has nothing to do with the "Grand Traverse". The criticism should be directed at the newspaper, not the Grand Traverse, whatever you feel about the Grand Traverse.

Wandering Daisy wrote: ↑Thu Jun 08, 2023 8:32 pm balzaccom, where did you get the idea that the route goes down Tenaya Canyon? I have done that route and it requires a rappel. It IS very technical, but the map does not show the route going down Tenaya Canyon.

I assume you just meant that that article may attract people to the route. It has nothing to do with the "Grand Traverse". The criticism should be directed at the newspaper, not the Grand Traverse, whatever you feel about the Grand Traverse.

SFGate publishes a bunch of pretty dumb outdoors stuff IMO

Daisy, my point was just that SF Gate seems to badly miss the point on the outdoors in general, and in a way that could be fatal to credulous readers...

I bet that article is causing the Yosemite staff indigestion! I doubt they would write a permit for that route. But you can self-register after late season. We did it just before Tioga Road was closed, with our main concern that our car would be towed.

Unfortunately, "journalism" nowadays is more interested in profits than being responsible. What I observed when reading the article is that the people shown doing it look like run-of-the-mill day hikers instead of climber-dudes. However, the start of the route is scary enough for non-climbers that most would turn back. Unlike dangerous river crossings which usually look easier than they are, steep slabs look harder than they are.

The route is historical and there has always been information out there. It's no secret.