Mt. Whitney Portal Store & Hostel Forums General Mt. Whitney Portal Store Message Board 350 Miles to Whitney: My Big Loop TR

I ran into a couple on my recent trip that suggested I post my trip report here, because they would find it and be interested in reading about my adventure.

I took 23 days to cover the 410 miles loop from Road's End in King's Canyon north to Tuolumne on Steve Roper's Sierra High Route, south to Mount Whitney on the John Muir Trail and then back to Road's End via Colby Pass and Avalanche Pass.

I took notes and pictures on each day of my trip, and I am posting the notes on my blog in a nearly unedited format, and interspersing the text with the appropriate photos. I am attempting to post 2 days worth of notes each day until I have the whole thing posted, but I have already had a few lapses and I am sure there will be some more. At this point I have the first 10 days notes up and I believe it is enough to be interesting to other folks, so here is the link to what I have so far.

Intro post
DAY 1+2
DAY 3+4
DAY 5+6
DAY 7+8
DAY 9+10

I welcome any comments or questions you may have.

I barely skimmed the Intro so far, but it looks like you had a great trip and documented it (or "are documenting it") very well. I look forward to looking over the rest of your material when I have some more time. Very inspiring!!

Evan you are a nut. I was hyped for my own 42 mile journey begining next week but your trip is insane. I'm curious to see how your TR ends up. Keep us posted.

Evan, this is AWESOME! I can't wait to read all of it and really delve into the pics.

Nice view south from Split, btw!

-L

Outstanding hike. Ohhh to be 29 again. By the time I can take enough time off to do a hike like this I'll be so old I will need to put some replacement wheels for my walker at my resupply points. I look forward to looking at your pics this eveing when I have more time. The SHR is on my list but I'm sure I will be doing the one way trip.

Evan: Your photographs are excellent - they really capture the beauty of Sierra. I know the camera is only part of the equation to taking a good photograph, but I must ask: What type of camera did you use on your Big Loop?

Kathy

Great images and blog TR. Congratulations on the loop.

right on Evan! Two hikes that I have obsessed over!!! Nice narration and photos. Good for you!!

Wow un-effing-believable.Great job!!!!!!!!!
I loved reading day 9. Oh the ebb and flow of emotions...lol
Only to have a transcendental transformation on day 10.

Excellent photos!! Ditto for your Tuolumne Meadows climbing album -- they have an incredible feel to them!
I'll have to get into your TR when I have some free time.
But from the posts of others above, I can hardly wait!

CaT

Look forward to reading your TR and viewing your pix. I can only imagine what it would feel like to be in the mountains that long. Fantastic!

MC

As far as the camera goes, I went big. I haul around a Nikon D70 with the standard issue 18-70mm lens. I use a circular polarizer but that is about it. Really, it is my only camera and I could not do without it for this trip even with the huge weight penalty. (1.5 pounds for the camera alone)

Evan

Right On! Another climber who carries big iron (D-SLR)! What I've looked at so far is fantastic.