Sierra High Route

SIERRA HIGH ROUTE SKI TRAVERSE
5-11 May 2006
Tom, John H, Lino, Robin

ROUTE
This is an east-to-west traverse of the high Sierras in California, starting near Independence CA and ending in the Sequouia National Park above Three Rivers CA. From the Symmes Creek Trailhead on the east side, over Shepherd’s Pass, 3-D pass, and Coppermine Pass, and out through the Giant Seqouias near Wolverton Ski Area. The trip is about 45 miles and should take 6 days en route. The route stays above 11,000 feet most of the trip, and includes over 10,000 feet of climbing, most of that in the first two days.

"This tour justifiably ranks as one of the finest ski tours in the world – high traverses, great ski descents, spectacular scenery, and exciting mountaineering challenges…" - Backcountry Skiing California’s High Sierra, John Moynier

The route is rated class 3-4 by Moynier, which means the route includes “very steep terrain (35-45 degrees)” and may involve belaying, anchoring, rappelling. Kit needed include basic gear for a day in the backcountry plus (possibly) an ice axe, 8 mil rope, crampons, some long slings, possibly chocks for anchoring belays.

PICTURES TRIP CHRONOLOGY Sierra Mountain Center guides the route. We didn't use them, but they do have a nice description and map

Pictures and reports from OTHER SKI TRIPS

TRIP CHRONOLOGY

				Meter	Meter	Feet	Feet
		CAMP	NOTES	Ascent	Descent	Ascent	Descent	Laps	Time
Friday	5-may-06	Symm's Creek Corral	Two miles from trail-head	0	0	0	0	0	0
Saturday	6-may-06	Above Anvil Camp, about 3150m	Hike up, mainly on dirt.	1,411	162	4,630	530	1	10:00
Sunday	7-may-06	Milestone Creek basin, about 3340m	Hike up to and over Shepherd's pass, down to headwaters of Kern, and up into Milestone Creek basin.	805	521	2,640	1,710	0	10:30
Monday	8-may-06	Milestone Creek basin, about 3340m	Stay in Milestone Creek basin for ski day. Skin half-way up Midway. Robin, John, Steve took another lap on a closer face.	567	567	1,860	1,860	1	5:00
Tuesday	9-may-06	Below 'No-name pass', about 11,800?	Ski up and over Milestone Pass (about 3920m) then down Milestone bowl and up over 'No-name Pass' at about 12,000ft. Set up the MegaMid below the pass to escape the mid-day sun, and camp.	780	607	2,560	1,990	2	7:40
Wednseday	10-may-06	About 10,840ft at big rock above Lonely Lake.	Up and over Triple Divide pass, down around Glaciery Lake, contour to Copper Mine Pass, then continue to contour to the pass above Lonely Lake.	503	689	1,650	2,260	3	5:20
	10-may-06		Short ski tour from Lonely Lake	223	223	730	730	1	1:50
Thursday	11-may-06		Out of Lonely Lake, over the Tablelands, to Pear Lake.	155	643	510	2,110	2	4:40
	11-may-06		Take a couple laps from Pear Lake Ranger Station	213	213	700	700	2	1:20
	11-may-06		Up and over the hump, then down to Wolverton	180	738	590	2,420	2	2:50
TOTAL				4,837	4,362	15,870	14,310		48:40