Sierra High Route

Sierra High Route

The Sierra High Route (also called the Roper Route) is a cross-country hiking route, convert|195|mi|km long, through the Sierra Nevada. It was scouted by Steve Roper and described by him in his book "Sierra High Route: Traversing Timberline Country" (1982; 1997).

In cross-country backpacking terminology, a "route" is an unmarked passage through the wilderness. Without a trail to follow, hikers must find their way by consulting the route finder’s descriptions, their topographical maps, and their compasses. Sometimes it is necessary to send members of the hiking party ahead to scout terrain. As well, hikers may use GPS devices to pinpoint their location. Writes Roper in "Sierra High Route", "High Route adventurers will not be put off by the lack of an actual trail, since much of the singular joy of cross-country travel lies in wandering through the timberline country as the pioneers did—wondering what the next turn will reveal." [Roper, Steve (1997) "Sierra High Route: Traversing Timberline Country." Seattle: The Mountaineers. p. 12.]

Much of the Sierra High Route runs parallel to the John Muir Trail, staying east of that trail and keeping above the timberline to higher elevations—between 9,000 and 11,500 feet (2,743 and 3,505 m.). About a third of the route follows maintained hiking trails (including 28 miles [45 km] of the John Muir Trail); the rest of the route traverses off-trail meadowlands, granite slabs, and, at high elevations, difficult loose-talus terrain. Hiking the route does not require advanced mountaineering skills, but the hiker occasionally encounters class-3 rock faces in which footholds and handholds must be carefully chosen and tested.

Very few people have hiked the entire Sierra High Route in one trip. Roper divides the route into five segments:
* "Cirque Country:" Cedar Grove to Dusy Basin, traversing the Monarch Divide, Lake (Cartridge Creek) Basin, Upper Basin, Palisades Basin, Barrett Lakes Basin, and Dusy Basin.
* "Whitebark Country:" Dusy Basin to Lake Italy, through LeConte Canyon, Muir Pass, Evolution Basin, the Glacier Divide, Humphrey's Basin, and Bear Lakes Basin.
* "Lake Country:" Lake Italy to Devils Postpile by way of Bear Lakes Basin, Mono Lakes Basin, the Recesses, the Silver Divide, and the Mammoth Crest.
* "Headwaters Country:" Devil's Postpile to Tuolumne Meadows, crossing the Ritter Range and the Cathedral Range. Roper calls this "Headwaters Country" because the route crosses headwaters of the San Joaquin River.
* "Canyon Country:" Tuolumne Meadows to Twin Lakes through Yosemite's north country.

From south to north (the direction Roper recommends hiking it), the Sierra High Route passes through Kings Canyon National Park, the Inyo National Forest, and Yosemite National Park.

In 2006, "Backpacker" magazine editor Steve Howe hiked the entire Sierra High Route in one month. He described his trip in a series of podcasts (see “External references”).

External links

General information
* [http://gorp.away.com/gorp/location/ca/roper_highsierra.htm The Sierra High Route: A Journey at Timberline] , Steve Roper recounts his discovery of the Sierra High Route
* [http://gorp.away.com/gorp/location/ca/roper_highsierra5.htm Sierra High Route: Kings Canyon to the Second Recess] , Roper’s account of this trail segment
* [http://gorp.away.com/gorp/location/ca/roper_highsierra6.htm Sierra High Route: Silver Divide to Rainbow Fall] , Roper’s description of this trail segment

References


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Поможем решить контрольную работу

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Sierra High Route — le long du Lac Minaret Localisation  Éta …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Sierra Nevada (U.S.) — Geobox|Range name=Sierra Nevada image size=300 image caption=Little Lakes Valley: typical eastside terrain country=United States state=California| state1=Nevada parent= | border= length imperial=400 length orientation=North South highest=Mount… …   Wikipedia

  • Sierra de Guadarrama — Sub Range Peaks of La Pedriza …   Wikipedia

  • Sierra Leone — Sierra Leonean /lee oh nee euhn/. /lee oh nee, lee ohn / an independent republic in W Africa: member of the Commonwealth of Nations; formerly a British colony and protectorate. 4,891,546; 27,925 sq. mi. (72,326 sq. km). Cap.: Freetown. * * *… …   Universalium

  • List of books about the Sierra Nevada (U.S.) — The following is a partial list of books about the Sierra Nevada of California, USA. Please see Sierra Nevada for more information. General travel * Yosemite The Southern Sierra Nevada: A Complete Guide, Including Sequoia Kings Canyon, Death… …   Wikipedia

  • List of Sierra Nevada topics — This is a list of Sierra Nevada topics, about the Sierra Nevada of California, USA. Please see Sierra Nevada for alternative meanings. See also: List of books about the Sierra Nevada for further reading.Principal MountainsList of mountains over… …   Wikipedia

  • Route of the Lincoln Highway — The Lincoln Highway followed the following route:New YorkThe very short Lincoln Highway section in New York went west from Times Square on 42nd Street to the Weehawken Ferry. It was realigned down Broadway from which it turned right and passed… …   Wikipedia

  • High Sierra Trail — Infobox Hiking trail Name = High Sierra Trail Photo = High sierra trail.jpg Caption = Trail near Hamilton Lake Length = Convert|49|mi|km|0cite book last = Secor first = R. J. title = The High Sierra: Peaks, Passes, and Trails (2nd ed.) publisher …   Wikipedia

  • Sierra Blanca — Infobox Mountain Name = Sierra Blanca Peak Photo = Sierra Blanca and electricity pole.jpg Caption = Elevation = convert|12005|ft|m|0This is the new NAVD88 elevation, superseding the old elevation of convert|11973|ft|m|0. See the peaklist… …   Wikipedia

  • Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta — Infobox Mountain Name = Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta Photo = Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta desde el espacio.jpg Photo size = 250px Caption = Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta viewed from Space. Elevation = 5,700 metres Location = Northern region of… …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”