Trail Culture in the High Sierras
Writing this trail guide made it impossible to complete a Tahoe to Whitney backpacking trip this Summer. To compensate, I just returned from a 100 mile Southbound backpacking trip along the Sierra Crest between July 21 and August 1st, 2010.
See The Trip Plan
The timing of this trip allowed me to encounter and talk to a large number of Pacific Crest Trail hikers. PCTers are a key component of High Sierra Trail Culture during the early Summer. In 2010 I was able to meet many PCTers in mid and late Summer.
The reason was the extreme late Spring snow fall that held the PCTers out of the Sierras until July, which is very late in the hiking season for PCTers hoping to reach Canada before snows again cover the trail.
Hey, I was there. I did trips along the Crest in March and June of 2010. The snow in mid June was deep and plentiful from 7500 feet on North facing slopes, and about 8500 on South facing slopes. All the Sierra passes were choked with snow until deep into the hiking season.
So I met a lot of PCTers as I headed South on the PCT between Bond Pass and Tuolumen Meadows in July and August.
I also met other representatives of trail culture. Horsemen, Scientists, Trail workers, Boy Scouts, as well as many many long distance backpackers decorated the trails.
Add to this the great staffs of the two resupply points I crossed, first at Kennedy Meadows Pack Station (Hwy 108) and then at Tuolumne Meadows, (Hwy 120) where this too-short trip ended.
Resupply points are centers of Trail Culture.
This section will give you a glimpse into the variety of travelers on, and the people along, the High Sierra trails in 2010.
You should be one of them! |
Wendsday,
July 21:
To Sonora Pass
Introduction
Thurs,
July 22:
Sonora Pass, for a minute...
Stroker at Sonora Pass
Sonora Pass Monuments
Friday,
July 23:
Entering the Eastern Flank of the Sierras
Solitude off the Pacific Crest Trail: Mill Canyon/Golden Gate Mine Road
Sat,
July 24:
Back on the PCT
North of Sonora Pass
Stacks
Seth and Merlin
Man-up, Gouda, lady leave no Trace, and unidentified
Turbo, Stanimal, Wide Angle, Big Foot
Dinasour
Killer Trail Work
Troop 13, Newcastle
Swazie
Bristle Flower
Ted and Henry
Wolf Creek Lake
Leavitt from Sonora Gap
Sonora Gap inhabitant
Sat, July 24:
At
Kennedy Meadows
Dodge, Scott, Krissy
Kennedy Pack Station
Matt the Walking Ranger
Sunday,
July 25:
At KM
Quince the Dog
Jesse Mestrovic no pic
KM Staff: Casey the Saloon Keeper |
Kennedy Meadows Lobby
KM Staff: Joan
Oz the Dog
Chuck Wagon
Kennedy Meadows Saloon Dance Floor
Kennedy Meadows Saloon
Colin and Chuckwagon
Corral in the evening
Monday
July 26
Matt and Nick
Relief Reservoir
Tuesday
July 27
National Forest Scientists frog counting team
California Conservation Corps Crew: Dimes, Heather, and Zack
Dimes, Heather, and Zack's Trail Work
CCC: A big chunck of the Stanislaus Backcountry Crew
CCC Trail Workers moving up mountain with tools
CCC: Steven, Stephine, and Morgan
Big Granite Formation with a flash of red on it
Red Flowers on Big Granite Formation
Part of the Granite Dome Massif
Lizard
The Granite/Volcanic interface leading to Brown Bear Pass
Brown Bear Pass: Note trail through pass
Horse Packer Dog
Horse Packer
Emigrant Basin |
Bond Pass
Ariel "Medic" and "Flyboy"
July 28
Clint
Tilden Fish
Brains No Pic
Red Cash and Lures
Crow, Dundee, and Scorpion
Mayfly
Alex
Stubblefield Ford
July 29
Stubblefield Camp
Singer and B2
Pack Breakdown
Pack Repaired
Dave Bewley and Nathan
Bensen Morning
Bensen Frost
Steve and Brenda
Wood Rose and Mule Skinner
Josh Meyers
Scott Wales
July 30
Leisha and Jim
Tom, Ian, and John
Don and Laurie
San Diego Desert Crew
PCTer: Stick
Reckless no pic
Pro from Dover no pic
Hawkeye no pic
Lone Ginger no pic
Hawkeye no pic |
Approaching Glen Aulin
Glen Aulin Sign (2009)
Glen Aulin (2009)
July 31
Trail Worker Kids no pic
Jagrup, Mona, Neeti, and Matt
Doe
Tuolumne Meadows Sign
Tuolumne Meadows Tent
TM Store Ladies
TM Store
Tuolumne Meadows Post Office
Teech!
Crazy German Dudes
Do you have questions or comments about trail culture?
Are you featured in this section, and want to add biolographical or trip information?
Do you want to leave a message for another hiker?
Then get your ass to the
High Sierra Trail Culture 2010
Backpacker's Open Thread, Bulliten/Message Board, Information Exchange
See each page to post other comments or questions.
Maps
Ebbetts to Sonora Passes
Sonora Pass to Bensen Lake
Miles and Elevations
Ebbetts to Sonora Passes
Sonora Pass to Tuolumne Meadows |