I also thoroughly enjoyed taking a dip in the frigid waters at Guitar Lake (11,400 feet) after a long climb up in the hot sun. There are many alpine lakes on this trail, and I took advantage of EVERY swimming opportunity I could! Hamilton Lake was my favorite: I spent the entire day floating on my sleeping pad, swimming, reading, and eating snacks. If you have some backpacking experience and are looking to possibly do the John Muir Trail or Pacific Crest Trail in the future, this hike is perfect. In addition, some of the route can be technical (river crossings, Class 1 scrambling in sections), which adds difficulty. The amount of elevation gain and loss is physically demanding, and the added weight of a bear canister and long food carry can make your pack bulky and heavy. I wouldn’t recommend the High Sierra Trail for beginner backpackers. I promise you, it will be a memory that will last you a lifetime. If you want the best experience, I urge you to get up there for sunrise. It’s well worth the 3.8-mile round trip detour from Trail Crest Junction. The summit is monumental and offers expansive views over rocky ridges as far as the eye can see. Whitney is the highest point in the 48 contiguous United States. Whitney is not technically a part of the High Sierra Trail, but I implore you to add it to your itinerary. Point-to-point trail: transportation to/from trailheads can be difficult to arrange.There is sun exposure and it can be very hot Cumulative elevation gain for 15,000+ feet. ![]() *Does not include the 3.8 miles round trip from Trail Crest Junction to Mt. ![]() Region: Pacific West (Sequoia National Park, California) ![]() There is over 15,000 feet of elevation gain and it can be hiked in 5-9 days. Whitney, the tallest point in the contiguous United States. The trail crosses the Great Western Divide over Kaweah Gap and culminates at Trail Crest Junction with the option to summit Mt. The High Sierra Trail is a 72-mile point-to-point backpacking route that traverses the Sierra Nevada west to east. By Alexandra Kereszti, 2020 High Sierra Trail Thru-Hiker
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