Mt. Whitney Portal Store & Hostel Forums General Mt. Whitney Portal Store Message Board High Sierra Trail

Hi folks! First off, thanks for such a great resource for information about Whitney and the surrounding area. This forum was invaluable for my first attempt and summit of Whitney this past October; I didn't post - but the information on how to prepare and what to expect was AWESOME, especially since we completed the trip as a day hike. Now i'm preparing for my next adventure - the High Sierra Trail from Sequoia through to Whitney, and was hoping I might pick a few brains in preparation for the trip.

First off, has anyone (recently) done the High Sierra Trail? Any recommendations (books, equipment, maps?) or suggestions? Tips? Tricks? (We are aiming for late July/early August if it matters)

Is anyone aware of any good shuttle options for getting up to Crescent Meadows from Lone Pine to begin the hike?

And lastly, I'm a bit confused by the updated permit system. I understand we need to get an exit permit for the Whitney area, is this done through the Sequoia NP? through Whitney? Any clarification on this would be GREATLY appreciated.

Thanks in advance for any ideas and advice!

=) tif

I don't know if last June and to Hamilton Lakes in August is considered recent but I did do it last year, that late in the year you shouldn't need anything special with equipment and unless you don't really know much about the trail I would say you don't need a map...



The Trail Crest exit quota system does not apply to the HST so you have no worries in this area.

If it helps here is my full June trip:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/roguephotonic/sets/72157611383838624/

Thanks for your reply and the info! That definitely does count as recent... I was just looking for someone who has potentially done it in the past couple years or so.

Regarding the maps, I just noticed on the large maps that there are a lot of trail intersections, and while I think we will be ok (we will have a group of 3-6 of us) I definitely do NOT want to get onto the wrong trail. And I haven't found a dedicated guidebook for the HST like there is for the JMT for instance, and wondered if any might exist that someone knows of.

I will definitely take a look at your trip photos, thank so much for sharing.

=) tif

tif, I STRONGLY recommend taking a nav class, before doing this kind of hike. Navigation skills....map reading and compass skills, are really mandatory skills to have to do multi-day trips in the backcountry of the Sierra. There are trails all over the place, not on maps, and you really need to know how to orient yourself.

This is one of the "ten essential systems".
GPS is NOT a substitute for these skills, although may be a useful complement.

thanks for the advice Ken, i'm pretty good with my nav/map/compass skills (i've recently completed wtc with the sierra club - as have at least 2 of the other people on the trip) and will be brushing up on my skills even more over the summer before the trip. getting lost is definitely on the 'do not want to do' list for this trip!

Well as you probably know on maps such as Tom Harrison every junction where there is a red dot means there is a sign there, so finding your way really means just knowing your destination for the day and the HST is a very easy to follow trail other then a section before Moraine Lake.

I recommend you get from http://www.tomharrisonmaps.com the Mt Whitney High Country pub. 2007 scale 1:63,360 80 ft contours. You can get more detailed maps from http://www.mytopo.com/ -- I have done the HST for 7 years. I was nervous about it initially and got very detailed maps customized for the trail at http://www.mytopo.com/ but at a minimum the "Mt Whitney High Country" is recommended. The trail does have signs at most major junctions. If you use a good map, have a compass (make sure you understand the declination for California), you'll be fine. It's a great trail with bear boxes about every 8 miles until you get to Guitar Lake. For a group, you can use bear boxes until Guitar Lake so for the group, one bear cannister can handle a group because its' only for one final night on the trail. You usually meet people each day on the trail.

Ah, tif, if you've completed WTC, you are fully equipped for the hike. Harry Fremanis and the other nav instructors do a great job of training in basic nav. Your post suggested to me that you'd not had that fine training.

tif:

First, congrats on finishing your WTC coursework. It was fun seeing all the groups rolling through town and the high country in March. I got a good start with that class, and made some amazing friends with whom I still hike and climb! I take it your trip on the HST is going to be one of your experience trips? Hitting any peaks along the way?

Ken is right on in the sense that maps are no good unless you can read them, and you have been instructed in all the basics. Even those of us with more experience can get turned around by the trail signs: look at all the people who head for Guitar Lake from the JMT junction below Trail Crest, or our own AlanK who had a mild detour when he and his son did the HST a few years ago (last summer? Sheesh... I forget).

The Tom Harrison map of the Mt. Whitney High Country is what I used a few yeas ago on my big trek. It definitely covers things nicely, showing good trail junctions and mileages.

If this IS an experience trip, then I might recommend Eagle Scout Peak if you are confortable with some Class 2-3 rock. You can tank up at the tarns above Precipice Lake, below Kaweah Gap, and basically follow the ridge up the backside of the peak. There is a good write-up on summitpost. I am dying to get back to that area again to play!

Have a wonderful time, and good luck!

-L

You forget because 2007 is so long ago. Last summer was error free for us!

Yeah, assuming you know how to use them, maps are a huge help when you have made a mistake. Of course they are even better-used beforehand -- to avoid said mistake.

Hi Tif,
If you still want a book with descriptions of the trail, you can get "Mount Whitney, The Complete Trailhead-to-Summit Hiking Guide" by Paul Richins Jr. This book describes multiple routes to Mt Whitney including the HST. Good Luck and enjoy the beautiful HST!

Gary

Thanks so much for the map recommendations. I think we might have the Tom Harrison one, but I"m not sure off hand. Also I wasn't aware of mytopo.com so I will definitely be looking into that!

Thanks for the congrats! WTC was an amazing experience and so very much fun not to mention how much I learned. I don't know that this trip will count as an experience trip, but not sure as there isn't much/any off trail navigation. I'm hoping it will though because of the length (both mileage and time). Either way, we are doing it just to do it, and in prep for doing the JMT next year. (It's funny how ya get crazier and crazier with trips as time goes on and stuff gets 'easy' haha! A year ago I never would have imagined planning a 70+ mile hike, let alone a 200+ mile hike for next year)

Right now we are a little pressed for time to get the trip done in just about a week, so I don't think there will be any peak bagging this round - maybe next time though. I definitely want to get on more and more peaks and work on my class 2-3 experience. I will definitely mention Eagle Scout Peak though to the group. If we have time, (or want to make the time) it sounds like that would be an excellent option - we are all comfortable with class 2-3 rock.

thanks again for your suggestions and advice! =)
tif

Thanks Gary, I have seen that book and considered getting it, but wanted to get some suggestions on which guidebooks are better than others before spending tons of money on a bunch of em - and to see which may or may not cover all or portions of the HST.

=)tif

I've gotten some great advice and suggestions regarding maps, books and the hike itself. But I'm still wondering if anyone has any information or suggestions on existing shuttle services from Lone Pine to the trailhead. The one I've seen mentioned in other trip reports and websites appears to be shut down this year. (There will be between 3 and 6 of us on the hike if it matters.)

Thanks again!
=) tif

Yeah, I have no idea what you're talking about...

Don't know that they're getting 'easier' though.

tif,
The Tom Harrison map is an excellent resource. A guidebook that I have used on two crossing is Sierra South, published by Wilderness Press. It contains excellent descriptions of all the trail segments. Make sure to schedule a night at Kern Hot Springs; nothing like it after a few days on the trail.
Good luck with your trip.

Thanks for the recommendation. I'll look into picking up that book as well. I will definetly have to talk the group into staying at the hot springs. I can think of nothing better than a nice hot soak part way through the trip!!

I know exactly what you mean! since I only got into hiking about 3 years ago the HST was major deal like wow! we are going to hike 70 miles across the sierras! and now this year I have a roughly 488 mile hike planned! after that who knows...