Tried walking the Sierra High Route in June instead of August, big mistake on snow crossings

I figured going earlier would mean fewer crowds and cooler temps. But I hit a stretch near the Sawtooth Ridge where the snow was still waist deep in places. Took me 3 extra hours to go maybe 4 miles because I kept postholing and had to backtrack. What I learned is that the snowpack in the Sierra can stick around way longer than the guidebooks say. Has anyone else gotten burned by timing on a high altitude route?

2 comments

2 Comments

tyler_fox4125d ago

Wait, the Sierra High Route is a class 3 scramble, not a trail.

mark_smith5925d ago

Oh man, yeah you're totally right. I learned that the hard way on my first try. I went in thinking it was just a long hike and ended up on a sketchy class 3 section with a heavy pack. Idk if you've done it before but the route finding is no joke either - you gotta have a good map and know how to read terrain. Maybe it's just me but I'd say bring a helmet even if you don't think you'll need it. The loose granite on some of those traverses can be pretty unforgiving.