High Sierra Topix

I just posted a trip report on my first solo section hike of the Sierra High Route from Piute Pass to Mammoth here:

https://jimmyjamhikingclub.wordpress.co ... ppet-pass/
https://jimmyjamhikingclub.wordpress.co ... bbot-pass/
https://jimmyjamhikingclub.wordpress.co ... lief-pass/
https://jimmyjamhikingclub.wordpress.co ... deer-pass/

It was pretty straightforward -- I'm not a big class 3 guy and I only stumbled into class 3 for maybe a total of 10 minutes on this part of the High Route. It was beautiful and not that hard!

I did two alternates, one above Italy Lake and one above Duck Lake. Both were fun, but neither was probably better than Roper's original suggestions.

There were three places where I was surprised by the difficulty:

1) Coming down Mills Creek to Mono Creek if you lose the trail (as I did) it is very steep and dense with vegetation
2) The ridge between Bighorn Pass and Shout of Relief Pass is surprisingly steep. With hindsight I might have opted for a longer less steep route that took me a little too high.
3) I got a little lost on the granite slabs down to Horse Heaven and ended up needing to do some class 3 down climbs in narrow chutes. There is probably a better way but I didn't find it.

Here are some of my favorite shots of the trip:


View north from Puppet Pass


Sunrise on Merriam Lake


Black Bear Lake


White Bear Lake


Laurel Creek


Red Slate Mountain

I haven't read the TR yet, but your highlight photos, especially the first two, are great.

Good stuff. Brings back a memories. My wife and I did that trip a couple years ago. By no means an easy section. We spent 9 nights. Eventually we’ll string together the rest of it.

Let’s see more photos!

Nice. I met a couple of seasoned hikers as I was heading up to Lake Italy on September 11 who were on the SHR coming from Merriam Lake that morning. One was 80, and his young partner was 78. They were in great spirits.