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Two years ago, my son and friends completed a trek in the High Sierra out of the Florence Lake trailhead. Photos from that trip were published in Rambling the High Sierra. On that trip, we pieced together an off-trail route with packrafts.
We returned in 2015, this time using Mammoth Lakes as our base, traveling along part of Roper's Sierra High Route (the part from Minaret Lakes to Twin Lakes), and then peeling off the SHR at Twin Lakes. From Twin Lakes, we traveled over Clinch Pass, traversed high to Marie Lakes, and then worked our way back to our trailhead at Devil's Postpile.
Our primary goals were to explore, fish, and tackle some challenging cross-country terrain. We pieced together the route as we went, napped when we felt like it, fished when we happened across a dimpling lake surface - in other words, we settled into a rhythm of wilderness travel with no agenda other than to get back to the trailhead when we ran out of food.
The result: 10 days of travel through the High Sierra away from the crowds!
ARTICLE OUTLINE
- Introduction
- Photos
- Section 1: Devil's Postpile to Catherine Pass
- Equipment Notes
- Clothing, Shelter, and Sleep System
- Packing
- Footwear
- Trip Journals & Live Dispatches
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Discussion
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Companion forum thread to: Notes from the Field: Rambling the High Sierra
Great trip, wonderful photos. I've been to those places and somehow my own photos don't do my memories justice. :) If you don't my my asking, what's your setup for tenkara up there? I've brought my tenkara setup in addition to my spinner on my last couple trips up there, and only seem to have success with tenkara at streams and outlets. I can't seem to cast far enough on most lake shores. Maybe I need a heavier braided line? Anyhow, thanks very much for sharing.
I loved this article. It makes me look forward to when my kids (now 6 and 9) will be with me on subalpine trips like this. Thanks for the inspiration! I'm curious- what's that chair? Thanks Ryan!
Great trip report. Miss seeing more of these up here. Great photos too.
I guess it's a Helinox Ground Chair, no?
Just looked up the iSavi. Way pricey! $1350 for device, $50 to register, and minimum $25/month. Roughly $3.50/MB for data. Wow! The inReach SE is looking pretty minimalist in comparison, both in cost and capability. Sat coverage is divided into four zones, with little coverage in high lats and western Alaska. The iSavi descriptions I found in a brief search did not bother with specs at all. Weight is "light". Want a spare battery? ~$350.
I enjoyed the trip report and photos…thanks.
> climbing gear (a 25m x 5.5mm Dyneema core rope, harness, and a few carabiners – used for the occasional belay, rappel, or pack lower) I'm very curious to know how well this kit worked out and maybe hear some examples of how you used it. I've thought about bringing a stripped-down rack of climbing gear on scrambling-intensive backpacking trips, but have always concluded that anything light enough wouldn't provide enough usefulness. Did you build anchors? How did you rappel and belay—I'm guessing a Munter, but did you miss having an ATC? Did your son also bring a harness? What would you change if you were to do it again? Thanks in advance!
I began to feel a little inadequate enjoying your beautiful post. Professional-grade photography, haute cuisine in the backcountry, oh and by the way the son is composing music over there by the tent! You guys know how to do it up right. Thank you for taking the time to compile your Notes, and good luck raising that beautiful Lab puppy!
@mebbott: I wouldn't change a thing. Pack lowers and raises are the most common use and anchors aren't needed there. Likewise with the occasional below, we'll use part of the rope for securing around a horn, or make do with a hip belay and a good stance. Yes, Munter hitch. No problem on the 5.5 Dyneema with some practice and attentive technique. Raps are the most challenging to deal with so we downclimb when we can (belayed if we have to, except the last person of course). I hate leaving slings in the backcountry so I try to avoid raps at all costs. If it absolutely has to be done, I'm usually the last one down and just downclimb the route that was rapped by others (using part of the rope as the anchor). If they have to rap the route then it was probably hard enough that I will have to lower my pack before downclimbing. Usually these are mid-5th class or lower drops. Higher grades than that and I prefer to rap and I do carry some extra cordage length (also 5.5 Dyneema) to create slings if needed, but I haven't used one in about two years. It's an absolute last resort for me – I just don't like to leave junk behind. Best case scenario is that I can rap off a tree and pull the rope down.
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