High Sierra Topix

Hi All,

Anyone here done the Sierra High Route yet? I'm thinking about doing it with a July 10th start date. Looking for a little beta on pass conditions in terms of snow/ice. With such a dry winter are the passes clear enough, or will be clear enough, to do without traction devices? I'd like to save a little pack weight.

Thanks for any info you might provide.

Scott Marley

Hi Scott,

Welcome to HST! No reports of anyone doing the SHR as of yet, a little early.
Plenty of previous TR's here on HST, which you can find using the search feature.
Even if do not have anyone chime in who has already completed it before you
departure, you can read the TR's posted here to get an idea of conditions on at
least parts of your route.

Hi Maverick,

Thank you for the nice welcome and response. I'll search the SHR related threads to see what I can find out. You're right it is early for trip reports.

Scott

Seems like VHSVHS posted something this morning which could be helpful.

Last week my friend and I did a variation of a portion of SHR entering from the North Lake and exiting at the Pine Creek. I'll try to post a trip report later today. We've gone over Piute Pass, Puppet Pass, Ruskie Pass and Granite Bear Pass. We also climbed Seven Gables via the North Ridge. Most amount of snow we encountered was on the East side of the Granite Bear and Ruskie Passes.

Hi Redbear,

Welcome to HST!
Thank you for replying to this post Redbear, and helping a fellow HST member!
Any info, especially a TR or Conditions Report, you can supply would be very useful for
your fellow members, not only doing the SHR but also wishing to visit that section
of the Sierra.

You should be just fine! Just returned from a section of the SHR between Mcgee Crk and Pine Creek. Some snow high around 12000 on North aspects but nothing to really worry about. Was nice in the morning when firm to make progress across the talus a bit faster. Mosquitos were bad in some spots but up high just starting to come out.

I hiked sections of the SHR around Palisade Basin (over this last weekend) and the Minarets (in late June). There was little snow to cross. I didn't use crampons or ice axe. Wore a pair of trail running shoes that had plenty of traction when I started, though they are pretty worn down now. I also tried going up the Southwest Ridge of Mt Sill, which is close to the High Route, and ice/snow was not a problem. My only problem was not having enough time to ascend the ridge, and having some concern that I'd be screwed if I broke a leg or something, since I was traveling solo. A guy was just rescued by Mt. Goddard with a leg injury. I'd rather not have a trip end that way. Hope your trip is going well (if you have a way of reading this during a resupply or whatever). Stay safe and have fun!

I did it starting July 8. No ice ax, no crampons, few bugs, coulda used some wings on some of the steeper loose passes and miles of talus. Toughest thing I've ever done. At 61 I don't think I want to do it again - maybe go back to some jewels I found, though.