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Bensen Lake in the  Morning.
Bensen Lake in the heart of the North Yosemite Backcountry.

HIGH SIERRA NEVADA MOUNTAINS TRAIL GUIDE

Spring Snow Backpacking Season

LETS EXPLORE THE HIGH SIERRA NEVADA MOUNTAIN RANGE

Members
Love you guys...

A Vortex of Backpacking Experience and Knowledge.

Information, Insight, and Intelligence
Engaged with Nature and Man

Hey

Tahoe to Whitney has a new home page.

It, like the trail guide itself, are under construction.

I hope it's easier to find info you need.

Al

Spring Snow Camping
Spring is in full swing

See the
High Sierra Snow Camping Forum

And the
Four Season Gear List

And the
High Sierra Backpacker Weather

A little bit of High Sierra Backpacking Heaven on the Web

High Sierra Trail Guide

Information

INDEXES of INFORMATION

The trail guide is a linear representation of the trail with the tools and skills necessary to hike them.

Link to High Sierra trail guide index.

Link to High Sierra backpacking maps.

Link to Tahoe to Whitney backpacking miles and elevations.

Link to High Sierra Backpacking permit information.

Link to backpacking camp and trail skills information.

High Sierra Resupply information.
Link to backpacking gear information.

Information-Instruction

Trail Skills

Weather

 

Logistics

Five Day Food Supply

Trip Planning Considerations

Links
More information

 

 

Introduction
Who is doing this and what it's about.

Me

About the Guide

Status of the Guide

About Me, Alex.

You

ALL
Backpackers, Day Hikers, Trail Crew, Peak Baggers, Cowboys, Runners, Hunters, and Fisherfolk of all ages, sexes, and backgrounds ALL
Welcome

Translate

AL SEASONAL NOTE

As longer days and incredibly hot conditions bring Spring temps up, it's time for Spring Snow backpackers to check the gear, terrain, and weather for upcoming Spring snow camping trips.

Summer and PCT hikers are also monitoring weather, trail, and fording conditions, but to determine when conditions will permit Summer hiking.

Above we find links to help Spring and PCT hikers monitor evolving conditions, and below we have much information to help bacpackers plan Summer backpacking trips in the High Sierra.

Wilderness Backpacking

Maps

from the

Trail Guide
Deep-Linked Wilderness Hiking Maps: Information at your fingertips

Link to Desolation Wilderness backpacking map.

Link to Meiss Country Roadless Area hiking map.

Link to Carson Pass and Mokelumne Wilderness Maps.

Link to Carson Iceberg Wilderness hiking map. Link to Emigrant Wilderness hiking map. Link to North Yosemite Backcountry backpacking map.
Click the Red Dots on all the maps for trail guide information and the Black Dots on the Large Scale Maps for detailed maps.

 

Backpacking

Information

on the

Backpacker's Forum
The Forum organizes High Sierra Backpacking by TOPIC.

Link to backpacking trail forum.

Link to living things section of backpacker's forum.

Link to backpacking gear forum.

Link to backpacking safety information. Link to backpacking navigation information on backpacking forum.

Link to High Sierra Nevada History information on backpacker's forum.

Link to trail culture information on backpacer forum. Link to trail culture information on backpacker's forum.

High Sierra

Weather

All Sierra Weather
Forecasts, Satellites, Radar, snowpack, real-time temps.

When will the Sierra Trails Open in 2013?

Trail Guide Weather
Local Weather resources for each hiking area.

Backpacker's News and Notes

NEWS TOPICS AND EVENTS OF INTEREST NOTES

May 1 2013

Hwy 4 Ebbetts Pass Open

Hwy 108 Sonora Pass Open

Hwy 120 Tioga Pass projected opening May 11

(Historic early pass openings)

May 2

Final Snow Survey of 2013: 19% of Average

6 Fires Ravage California, Yuba Net

All News: See the Forum.

EVENT

Kennedy Meadows Pack Station
is running a
2013 Kid's Horsepacker Summer Camp in June

EVENT

Spring Snow Backpacking
Get out Now!

INFORMATION

Tahoe to Yosemite Trail

UPCOMING TOPIC

Mosquitoes

First Note: This Trail Guide is Under ACTIVE Construction.

 

Note: Read the Site Use Terms and Safety Disclaimer.

Nature Freaking Out

Land O' Lakes: Melting Glaciers Transform Alpine Landscape, Spiegel, April 26 2013

2013 Wintertime Arctic Sea Ice Maximum Fifth Lowest on Record, Nasa, Videos+article, 4-3-13

Arctic goes green because of global warming, Daily Mail, 3-11-2013

HIGH SIERRA BACKPACKING

Trip Ideas

The Main North Sierra Crestline Trailheads

and the Miles from

Trailhead to Trailhead between Resupply Points

"SECTION HIKING"

Backpacking
Lake Tahoe Basin

Desolation Wilderness

Meeks Bay to Echo Lake

28.71 miles

Notes
Hike 11 miles SW to PCT from Meeks Bay to follow unified PCT-TYT trail South through the heart of Desolation Wilderness.


West Shore trailheads between Meeks, South to Fallen Leaf Lake, creates lots of short sweet backpacking trips out of either Meeks Bay or Echo Lake.
Busiest Wilderness in America.

Highway 89 Trailhead

South of Desolation Wilderness, still in the Tahoe Basin:

Meiss Country Roadless Area

Echo Summit to Carson Pass

12 miles

Notes
TYT and PCT remain unified across MCRA until we exit the Lake Tahoe Basin.


For local hikers, trailheads ring this small triangular area located in the SW corner of the Tahoe Basin.

Trailheads on Highways 50, 89, and 88.

Backpacking
Mokelumne Wilderness

Pacific Crest Trail

Carson Pass to Ebbetts Pass

27.88 miles

Notes
At Carson Pass the PCT and TYT split, with the PCT following the East flank of the Sierra Nevada South.


We have no trails connecting the PCT and TYT South of the trail to Summit City Creek from Forrestdale Divide (South of Carson Pass), South to Ebbetts Pass.

Highway 88 Trailhead

 

Tahoe to Yosemite Trail

Carson Gap to Lake Alpine

21.15 miles

Notes
The TYT swings into the remote West Sierra Flank and across a lengthy section of unmaintained trail.

No optional trails run around this rough section of the TYT, short of hiking the PCT route.

No trails connect the PCT and TYT South of the Summit City Creek trail junction below Fourth of July Lake.

Crosses Highway 88 W of Carson Pass

Backpacking
Carson Iceberg Wilderness

Pacific Crest Trail

Ebbetts Pass to Sonora Pass

29.44 miles

Notes
The PCT remains (mostly) on the East flank, above or along the stunning terrain of the East Carson River for a significant length of this section.


The PCT and TYT routes are connected by four trails across the Carson Iceberg.

This creates optimal conditions for great hiking loops around the Carson Iceberg Wilderness.

Highway 4 Trailhead

 

Tahoe to Yosemite Trail

Lake Alpine to Saint Marys Pass

34.28 miles

Notes
The TYT traces its way across West flank canyons, climbing through another lengthy unmaintained section of trail approaching Saint Marys Pass.

We have many trail options bringing us up to the PCT to hike around this unmaintained section of the TYT.

Highway 4 Trailhead

Continuing South

Backpacking
Emigrant Wilderness

Pacific Crest Trail

Sonora Pass to South Bond Pass Trail Junction

19.22 miles

Notes
Though we stay on the Eastern Sierra Flank, our trip options really open up in the High Emigrant Wilderness.

Highway 108

 

Tahoe to Yosemite Trail

Kennedy Meadows Pack Station to South Bond Pass Trail Junction

16.91 miles

Notes
Hiking up West Flank to hub of trails at Grizzly Peak opens up trails in all directions.

Yosemite to SE, great granite canyons of Emigrant rolling to our SW, KM back to the NW, Sonora Pass directly to our North, and the West Walker in the Toiyabe to our NE. Wow.

Highway 108

More information Coming Soon
As soon as I build more trail guide !!

Backpacking
North Yosemite Backcountry

Pacific Crest and Tahoe to Yosemite Trails

South Bond Pass Trail Junction to Tuolumne Meadows

54.58 miles

Notes
The PCT finally crosses onto the Western Sierra Flank at the top of Jack Main Canyon to join the TYT for the rest of the hike to Tuolumne, with the short exception of the TYT route variation past Tilden Lake.

The PCT will stay on the West Flank until we pop over to the East side crossing Southbound out of Yosemite through Donohue Pass.

Highways 108, 395, and 120

 

HIGH SIERRA BACKPACKING

FEATURES

VIDEOS

Information

Tahoe to Whitney Backpacking Videos

Currently there are 159 videos supplementing the trail guide arranged in 8 playlists covering each completed section of the trail guide.

Latest
Backpacking Video
North Yosemite Backcountry: Into Kerrick Canyon

 

Playlists
Tahoe to Whitney trail sections by Video

 

All Backpacking Videos

 

 

Seasonal Information

2013 Report

 

 

Logistics

Five Day Food Supply

Trip Planning Considerations

 

GALLERY

Inspiration

DAVID MAXIM

Tahoe to Whitney is proud to feature
David Maxim High Sierra Watercolors

Dinkey Lakes High Sierra Watercolor by David Maxim.

David's works capture the both the spirit of the Sierra and its hikers.

David Maxim Backpacker                David Maxim Artist

GEAR

Innovation

Camp Comfort

Water System Innovation

TW Members George and Sue evolved the efficient jug water system into a new role as a fine camp shower.

Backpacking water system with shower.

G & S have brought me to a new level of Sanitation and Luxury on the Trail.

Check out the Video

 

HIGH SIERRA BACKPACKING

FEATURES

 

Members
Love you guys...

A Vortex of Backpacking Experience and Knowledge.

Information, Insight, and Intelligence
Engaged with Nature and Man

Hello!

As you can see, I am rolling out a new home page design.

 

Have patience, it will be done soon.

Al

 

Spring Snow Camping
Spring is in full swing

See the
High Sierra Snow Camping Forum

And the
Four Season Gear List

 

HIGH SIERRA BACKPACKING

Latest TAHOE TO WHITNEY

VIDEOS

NORTH YOSEMITE BACKCOUNTRY

Hiking the North Yosemite Backcountry on the combined TYT-PCT routes.

SEE LARGE VIDEO ON TRAIL GUIDE PAGE

Trail Guide Under Construction

Trail Guide Construction Information

The Trail Guide currently covers the Tahoe to Yosemite Trail from Meeks Bay along with the Pacific Crest Trail route from the North end of Desolation Wilderness at Lake Tahoe Southbound down to the Kerrick Canyon ford in the North Yosemite Backcountry.

To the Left and Right are a couple of the latest videos of this area, and below links to the relevant maps, miles, and trail guide pages on the leading edge of site construction.


Stubblefield Canyon to Seavy Pass

Sonora Pass to Tuolumne Meadows miles

Sonora Pass to Bensen Lake map
Click Red and Black dots on map for more information.

The short but steep drop into Kerrick Canyon.

SEE LARGE VIDEO ON TRAIL GUIDE PAGE

Stubblefield Canyon climbing South to top of ridge.

South from top of ridge between Stubblefield and Kerrick Canyons down to the Kerrick Canyon ford.

 

HIGH SIERRA BACKPACKING
content
HIGH SIERRA BACKPACKING
content

 

Site Resources

 

 

Music to our Ears

Steve Scheppers

Tahoe to Whitney Backpacking Music Created, Performed and Produced by
Steve Scheppers

Need some Fine Tunes to chill you out?

Need some Sounds for your media work?

I rely on Steve for both !

Listen to Steve's
New Album
on his Website

and check out

Steve's YouTube Channel

and Steve Scheppers on myspace

As

 

Analytical Survival

Analytical Survival

Building your capacity to be a self-contained individual across time and space is the point of this backpacking website.

Analytical Survival takes this a step further, and demonstrates how to be a self-contained individual in control of time and space.

Analytical Survival's approach translates your backpacking gear and skills into an emergency setup within a framework of intelligent emergency planning and preparation.

Lake Tahoe to Mount Whitney

Your Guide to the Pacific Crest, Tahoe to Yosemite, and John Muir Trails across the High Sierra Nevada Mountains