2019 High Sierra Trail Itinerary

Day 0: Drive to Sequoia Park

-camped in park at Lodgepole

Day 1: Crescent meadow- Nine-Mile Creek

8.8 miles; 1410’ ascent

-explored park

-began hike out of crescent meadow around 11:00

-exposed and hot the first 4+ miles

-Mehrten Creek beautiful place for an extended break or an early campsite

-campfire allowed at Nine-Mile Creek

Day 2: Nine-Mile Creek - Hamilton Lakes

6.9 miles; 1760’ ascent

-ate breakfast at Bearpaw Camp

-worth a night, and exploring around

-camped at Hamilton lake, lots of great spots if you hike along the western edge, south, away from trailhead

-short day

-dip in the lake!

Day 3: Hamilton Lakes-Big Arroyo Junction

7.9 miles; 2570’ ascent

-ascent out of Hamilton lake was stunning

-Precipice lake would be an epic campsite but VERY exposed

-Kaweah gap was stunning

-Big arroyo, very cold night, used hot nalgene

Day 4: Big Arroyo Junction-Kern Hot Springs

13.9 miles; 1250 ascent’ (3900’ descent)

-LONG day

-detour to Moraine Lake and it was worth a lunch break...would be a great campsite

-hot spring at camp was worth it

-foot soak each night worth it

Day 5: Kern Hot Springs- Wallace Creek

12.4 miles; 3600’ ascent

-i only remember climbing out of the valley in chacos

-wallace creek had bear bins

-lots of foot traffic here...trail intersects with JMT and PCT

Day 6: Wallace Creek - Guitar Lake

6.8 miles; 1530’ ascent

-no bear bins at guitar lake

-very exposed

-camped further up along the trail

Day 7: Guitar Lake- Whitney Summit- Outpost camp

11.8 miles; 3100’ ascent; 4200’ descent

-very exposed, windy

-1:30 am wake-up

-trail crest left bags

-quilt at summit

-sunrise at summit was worth the view but i felt soooo shitty

Day 8: Outpost camp-Whitney portal

3.6 miles; 2150’ descent

-ate breakfast at whitney portal...HUGE pancakes, and you can smell them from Outpost

-walked and hitch-hiked to Lone Pine

-Stayed overnight in Whitney portal hostel

-ate pizzzzzza

-hung out with Blair at Big Willie’s MC shop

- ate breakfast at Alabama Hills cafe

- explored bug museum

Next time I would bring…

Warmer layers

gaiters that are my size

Better raincoat

Warmer sleeping pad

More fuel!- burns faster and boils slower at altitude and cold temps

Bag after:

Outlet plug for phone!