Sierra High Route Video and Pictures

[Jason Lee]

This was definitely one of my favorite trips of all time. Most of my trekking has been long distance slogs that go on for months which mean some high points mixed with a lot of monotony. Not this one, every day was exhilarating with some of the best views. I'm including a link to a video and some pictures as well.

Some folks had asked about the trip in one of the other threads and want to answer it here.

Casey- I doubt I will ever get around to writing a full blown trip report. I started one at http://www.trailjournals.com/highsierra but I really feel my ADD has gotten worse with age and really can't sit still long enough. However, I did use the voice recorder on my phone for most nights so if I ever work up the initiative most of the day's events can be easily captured to paper.

Dave-T = Yes, it was an awesome trip! I felt like it was a challenge but we probably had much easier conditions than what you experienced.

Zack- There wasn't really much snow at all. We encountered more the further north we traveled. The boulder fields were sometimes sketchy but you just really had to pay attention. I took a spill just a day before the end because I got into a rush. It really rung my bell but all in all I was okay. Some of those boulder fields can take over an hour to negotiate so you just have to remember to be careful, take your time, and concentrate on what you are doing. It's a long way to get help out there…..unless you have the spot beacon and I think it comes with a free helicopter ride for only an extra $10. I really wouldn't want more snow unless it was a TON of snow to completely bury it all. If we had done it a few weeks earlier there might have been more chance for injury if postholing became a big factor.

Thanks Jay, glad you liked the video.

The video:
http://vimeo.com/8048145

The pictures:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/ganj/sets/72157622533185028/

Thanks and hope you enjoy. If you want to see people that are doing something really cool then you should check this out:
http://www.tetongravity.com/forums/showthread.php?t=169211

[Brandon Sanchez]

Your video was certainly entertaining. The photos you took are definitely high quality, they would look great on anyone's wall.

PS, the last link is awesome, thanks for sharing.

[Tony Wong]

Jason,

Thanks for taking the time to post the amazing photos up.

Boy, I can not wait to get out onto another long trip out there!

-Tony

[Brad Rogers]

Amazing Photos. Thanks for sharing.

[Tom Clark]

If I didn't want to do that trail before (and I did)…I do now. You've got some great photos that probably pale in comparison to the memory of a trip like that with two good friends.

Thanks for sharing,
Tom

[Larry Sullivan]

I'm planning on exploring the Lakes Basin this next summer and enjoyed getting some insight. The contrasty images were real well-done photography. Funny video too.

Thanks for sharing Jason

[Frank Deland]

What would recommendations be for spending a week on the High Route?

[Steve S]

can you give us the basic rundown.. total days you were out, time of year etc… the short version trip report!

and yes, that last link, that trip had me staring at my screen until I went through every pic there was. One of the most amazing treks I've ever seen. Just un-real!

[Hiking Malto]

Thanks for the video of snow tongue and frozen lake passes. It is bringing back the memories of the miles of talus that we "danced" across. We did the section from Roads end to Reds Meadow and it was a great trip.

Frank,
I would do the first section from Roads End to Cartridge Pass (near frozen lake pass) and loop back to Roads end on JMT and Woods Creek trail. Marion Lake was the very blue Lake early in the video and is part of this section That was the highlight of the trip that we did. (I have not done the off trail section from Red's Meadow to Yosemite.)

[Dave T]

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[Ken Helwig]

Great pictures! It looks like you guys had alot of fun!

[Bob Gabbart]

What did you use to record the video?

Thanks!
Bob

[Greg Mihalik]

nm

[Frank Deland]

For the JMT I wore low cuts (Merrell Ventilator), but was thinking I would need mid-height for the SHR to protect my ankles from talus scrapes. Since the Merrells fit well I looked at the mid-heght, but thought the mesh might be torn. I like the Keen Voyageur because it was a bit stiffer and had better side protection. In general I like low cuts, not only because they are light, but because it means less "leather" over skin…less area of the foot to be chaffed by the sides of footwear.
In noticed low cuts in your photos, including one close-up of "frozen shoes."

Were low cuts fine for your hike? I do not think I want gortex.

The sales person thought the Merrells too "sneaker like" and thought a stiffer shoe better on rock. Wouldn't a flexible shoe be better? Rock climbers use what look like slippers, but I do not know about the stiffness of the sole.

Traditional hiking boots have stiff vibram soles to get the "lever effect", so I have been told.

Greg, thanks for your route recommendation for a section hike. I like your loop idea to make transportation easier, but I am considering the Tuolumne to Twin Lakes section. It looks a bit easier with some bail-out options fo my first off-trail Sierra hike. Thought I might loop to Tou. via Matterhorn Canyon Trail as suggested by Roper.

[A Wilson]

I used to be one. In a bike shop, though.

I've hiked over many a talus field in the Cascades, all in running shoes. There's a technique to it: you don't have to step on sharp edges, so a stiff sole is by no means a necessity.

As to abrasion resistance, I find that even in fairly lightweight, non-trail runners, the midsole breaks down before the upper. just look for something with more than fabric to the right and left of the ball of your foot. That's the only part that will wear ridiculously fast in rock gardens. Traversing puts a lot of pressure on these areas as well.

Throw this out the window if you're going early season. If I were to be hiking mostly on snow, I'd go for a smaller, stiffer sole for kicking steps, and possibly accepting crampons.

[Frank Deland]

Thanks, Andrew. Yes, I had a pair of Montrail Vitesse and that is just where the fabric wore out along with the stitching on the sides holding the rubber toe pieces. The Ventilator has a fabric piece very close to the sole at that point.

I am considering the Inov-8 Terroc 330, and Roclite 315, 310.

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