High Sierra Trail and Colby Pass - 2014

High Sierra Trail and Colby Pass - 2014
From June 21, 2014 through June 30, 2014

Starting: Crescent Meadows, Giant Forest, Sequoia National Park
Ending:   Marvin Pass Trailhead, Sierra National Forest

Andrea

We traveled 79.5 miles in 10 days this June. Our starting places was Crescent Meadow and followed the High Sierra Trail until we got to Junction Meadow. in the upper Kern Canyon area. There we left the HST and returned westward over Colby Pass, dropping into the Roaring River area, before exiting at the Marvin Pass Trailhead in Sierra National Forest, close to Big Meadow. It was a great and exciting trip, but one which if anything was more grueling, but at least as terrific as last year's John Muir Trail trip. Take a look at the bottom for the "best of" pictures.


There were six of us in our group:

• Gary-that would be me. I planned out the trip and am the default guide.- just a fancy way of saying my name was on the wilderness permit
• Sherri-my wife. She arranged all of the meals for four of us.
• Andrea-our daughter. She works with REI and can carry more weight than anybody whom I know, particularly for her size.
• Steven-our son. He is going to Fresno State and getting a degree in Computer Science
• Ray-we met last year on the JMT and pretty much enjoyed each other's company from the get-go.
• Rachel-Ray's daughter whom we also met on the JMT. Rachel and Andrea turned out to be friends from college.
  
  

  

  Rachel

  
  

Ray

Our journal is given by each day. Mileages came from my Foretex 401 GPS. In my world, all GPS' have a touch of inaccuracies as they need to figure out where they are. So I do filter the results, removing low travel segments, figuring they are static. So my GPS may record something different than others.

Sherri

One of the benefits of this kind of a walk is for those who are overweight like me is the ability to lose weight. On this trip, I was able to lose 8 pounds. Probably having to do with lugging a 55 pound pack over many hours and miles.

Gary

Abbreviations:

• HST - High Sierra Trail
• JMT - John Muir Trail
• PCT - Pacific Crest Trail
• NPS - National Park Service
• NFS - National Forest Service
• DDG - Drop Dead Gorgeous, usually when we are looking at a view
• JDV - Jaw Dropping View

Trail Lesson:
These are thoughts and what we have experienced, usually for that day. They are what I have learned. This was started a couple of years ago.

Steven

Trail Slogan:
Something new which we came up with on this trip. Usually something which goes through our minds to our mouths.

Date	Campsite	Miles Walked	Elevation Gained	Max Elevation
June 21, 2014	Nine Mile Creek	8.64	1,897'	7,683'	Late start, but got in some good miles
June 22, 2014	Hamilton Lake	6.75	1,807'	8,185'	Starting to get a feel for the high Sierra's. Deep canyons, water falls, high cliffs-wonderful
June 23, 2014	Big Arroyo	6.68	2,470'	10,736'	First pass-Kaweah Gap. But Precipice Lake stole the show.
June 24, 2014	Morriane Lake	8.55	1,220'	10,621'	Even prosaic days hold wonder
June 25, 2014	Kern Canyon	11.40	1,148'	9,292'	Hot spring relaxation and the wonders of a deep canyon, plus unexpected beauty-what a day!
June 26, 2014	Kern-Kaweah River	7.02	2,824'	9,581'	A tough day, but what sights!
June 27, 2014	Colby Pass	7.06	3,054'	12,023'	Even a tougher day, but even better sights
June 28, 2014	Cloud Canyon	5.77	384'	10,486'	Coming down out of the high Sierra's
June 29, 2014	Commanche Meadow	11.82	1,414'	8,302'	Hot dry day, with some interesting refreshments
June 30, 2014	Marvin Pass Trail head	5.85	1,834'	9,275'	Last day on the trail
Totals		79.5	18,052'

Our total walking was 79.5 miles. Total ascent was 18,052'. Our average day was 7.95 miles with an ascent of 1,805'. Of course behind that average our days ranged from 5.77 to 11.82 miles and 384' to 3,054'. But as I said last year, it is not the miles or the climb but the enjoyment that still remains with us. This is still true

References:
For those of you who might be interested in hiking the HST or going over Colby Pass, here are some references which you can consult:

• NPS web site on the High Sierra Trail
• Bill Finch's Sierra Hiker 1997 experience on the High Sierra Trail
• Calipidder's trip on High Sierra Trail
• Kevin Kuo's High Sierra trip
• Jim Loco's trail blog
• Miami Herald 2013 article

Sherri, Steven, Andrea, Ray, Rachel, Gary on top of Colby Pass

Pictures:

Warming Campfire

Whaleback and Big Wet Meadow

Andrea

  

Andrea, Steven, Sherri,

Colby Lake

Peak above Colby Lake

Colby Lake from Colby Pass

Galliats Lake

Ray catch and release fishing

Rachel and Steven coming down set of switchbacks

Mt Kaweah from Sky Parlor Meadow

Moraine Lake

Andrea with the Big Arroyo behind her

Water from one of the Nine Lakes

Precipice Lake

Ray victorious

Hamilton Lake

Hamilton Creek