High Sierra
Backpacking & Scrambling

Scrambling

Scrambling is one of the great recreations of the Long Distance backpacker.

Once you handle the weight, high angle climbs, and the altitude, it is now time to consider packing an extra day's food for each section to climb a nearby mountain, explore some lakes in a hanging valley, climb up to a gap in the Sierra Crest Line to see what's on the other side, or just check out the full extent of the valley or mountain where you are camped.

We have put ourselves into some of the most wonderful terrain in the world.

We are going to be heavily taxed just getting through the trail If we are struggling and hurting. Others will find they have just begun to tap their internal resources as they approach these magnificant Natural Resources around them.

Our options are infinite.

The Tahoe to Yosemite Trail
Those of us hiking the Tahoe to Yosemite Trail route are going to find ourselves on substantial lengths of "cross-country backpacking," being travel with full pack through unmarked and unmaintained self-selected routes as standard parts of our trip.

DA PCT
PCT hikers, though hiking on the "superhighway of trails," are putting themselves through some of the finest scrambling terrain in the world, if they just give themselves some time to explore it.

Da Difference
Scrambling would be different from Cross-Country Travel as the former is done from an established campsite with no more than a day pack, while the latter is crossing unmaintained/unmarked terrain between our campsites with our full pack.

Da Point
We are going to cross a lot of trails leading a short distance to a nice lake, overview,or some other curiosity. I like to have my daypack and a plan set up to secure my main pack for when I take off on extra-cirricular scrambles.

I secure food, secure the pack, pull out the daypack, figure water, snacks, and necessary insulation, then take off!.

Classic Scrambles

Desolation Wilderness (MAP) is full of them.

Meiss Country Roadless Area (MAP)
Dense brush is a bitch other than during Winter.

West Mokelumne Wilderness (MAP), TYT:
It is a major cross-country section
Monty Wolf's Cabin

East Mokelumne Wilderness (MAP), PCT
Check out Blue Lakes

West Carson Iceberg Wilderness (MAP), TYT
It is a major cross-country section

East Carson Iceberg Wilderness (MAP), PCT
East Carson River

Emigrant Wilderness Backpacking (MAP), TYT
Granite Dome & the Whole High Emigrant Basin

Emigrant-Hoover Wilderness Areas (MAP), PCT
Tower Peak

North Yosemite (MAP)
PCT-TYT

--IT'S DEEP--

South Yosemite-Muir Wilderness
JMT-PCT

Lyell, Ritter, Banner, down to June Lake (MAP)

--MORE COMING--

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A basic approach to scrambling is included in the
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