High Sierra Topix

What level of backpacking experience do you have?
Level 3- Numerous backpacking trips, some x-country travel

What terrain are you comfortable/uncomfortable with?
- Class 2 terrain/pass/x-country

What is your main interest?
- Lakes- Forests- Big Mountain scenery- Photography- Fishing

How many days/nights is your trip, (26/25)

How many miles did you want to do a day, 10 or more any layovers? no

Do you have a route logistics preference, point to point .

Will you be hiking with a dog. No

Rough Itinerary (# Nights)

A) White Wolf Lodge, August 27

1 TM- Lyell Fork
2 to Garnet Lake
3 to Red's Meadow
4 to Purple lake
5 Mono Creek
6 Marie Lake
7 Sallie Keyes Lake

8 Re-supply MTR/Hot Springs

9 Aspen Meadow
10 Evolution Lake
11 Helen Lake
12 Little Pete Meadow
13 Palisades Lakes
14 Lake Marjorie
15 South Fork Trail
16 Sixty Lakes Basin Trail

17 Re-supply Onion Valley

18 Center Basin Trail
19 Wallace Creek
20 Whitney Night/Day Hike Wallace Creek
21 On Kern River
22 In Cloud Canyon
23 Roaring River
24 In Dead man's Canyon
25 Bearpaw Meadow

B) Out at Crescent Meadows September 22nd.

55 years old, 55lb Pack, Solo, Just completed 70.3 Ironman, Kona.

I have a couple of campsite suggestions and questions.

The campsite suggestions are instead of camping a Purple Lake camping at Lake Virginia. The other is instead of Helen Lake, one of the slightly off-trail lakes a little further down the trail. The next day, you can make it to Palisade Lakes.

My questions concern days 17 and 18. Are you planning to camp at Onion Valley on day 17? If so, hiking all the way to Center Basin is a very long day. Also days 19, 20, and 21. Are you intending to go from Wallace Creek to Whitney?

I will add that day 21 to 22 looks long, going from Kern River to Cloud Canyon. From Kern River it is 4000' vertical to Colby Pass, then another 3000' or so down to Cloud Canyon proper. You could stop at Colby Lake or just below it, the next day to Roaring River isn't so bad from there, all downhill.

There is a nice little campsite on the shoulder of the Whaleback just before you turn the corner and make the final drop to Cloud Canyon. It is just below the trail and above the creek, with a couple nice foxtails.

Thanks,

Will drop bagging Whitney and add the days to HST section.

Drop Whitney?

You could go from Marie Lakes to MTR in a day, easy. Then enjoy Blaney Hot Springs. No need to stay at Sallie Keys - it's not far from Marie Lakes.