Initial thoughts on the Sierra High Route
Whitney “Allgood” LaRuffa tackles the Sierra High Route
Hey folks!
I’ve been out on the Sierra High Route these past few weeks, trading the blogging world for mountain time and the laptop for good ol’ fashioned unplugging.
Now that I’m back, I’ll be covering the Sierra High Route in detail. It’s a hike that a lot of people have interest in, but that is viewed by many as a little intimidating (including a recent article referring to it as the “most difficult hike in the Lower 48”). Here are a few initial thoughts (snarky comments, really) about the Route and a teaser for the bigger details to come.
Felicia “Princess of Darkness” Hermosillo enjoying the SHR beauty
-Want to calculate your Sierra High Route average mileage? Take your biggest on-trail hiking day and divide by 5.
-The Sierra High Route has about as much in common with thru-hiking as dayhiking has in common with backpacking.
-Steve Roper, who wrote the Sierra High Route guidebook is a famous rock climber. He calls those who do the SHR neither “hikers” nor “climbers”. You are “travelers”, and if you can take that to heart, you’ll get a better idea of what it means to be on the Route.
-This route is not forgiving of those who rely on GPS. It requires map reading skills, using your eyeballs, and a sound head.
-The SHR can change how you think about trail and how you think about time in the outdoors, and how you think about your relationship to the landscape.
-This trip really cemented in my mind an idea I’ve been toying with—how difficult you find a trail or route to be is relative to the hiker—her/his experience, fitness level, skills and knowledge, and mental state. It depends on the person, but I’d venture to say a normal PCT thru-hike probably isn’t enough experience to tackle this one quite yet.
I’ll be posting more articles about the SHR shortly. Stay tuned!
Trackbacks/Pingbacks
What does the "hardest hike in America" mean? - Liz Thomas: Long Distance Adventure Hiking - […] recent trip on the SHR really cemented in my mind an idea I’ve been toying with—that how difficult you…
Cheap, Tasty Hiking Foods from the International Market - Liz Thomas: Long Distance Adventure Hiking - […] backcountry barista on the Sierra High Route turned this into a favorite treat on cold mornings or mid-day snow…
A Quick & Dirty Guide to the Sierra High Route | The Hiking Life - […] Whitney “Allgood” LaRuffa on the Sierra High Route, 2015 (photo by Liz “Snorkel” Thomas). […]
