Tutorial: Plan a Backpacking Trip to the High Sierra

The High Sierra is probably our favorite backpacking destination in the lower 48. The range is huge and intricate; the towering mountains are majestic; the off-trail travel is both blissful and exciting; road access is very limited; and the crowded, high-use areas are easy to leave behind. These are just a few of the reasons we run trips every year in areas like Yosemite, Sequoia-Kings, Emigrant, and Inyo.

Yesterday evening, Andrew and I hosted a livestream tutorial about how to plan a backpacking trip to this spectacular location. We fit in as much as we could in one hour, covering topics such as:

The appeal of backpacking thereThe challenges of backpacking thereAn orientation to the rangeWhat to expect during each month of the Sierra backpacking seasonHow to know what conditions to expect for your upcoming tripGear considerationsPermitting and regulationsDeciding whether to take traction for early season conditionsHigh creek detoursResources for planning an itineraryWhen to expect mosquitoes and how to prepareResources mentionedCalifornia snow water contentPlanning logisticsDetouring the San Joaquin RiverHazardous High Sierra creeks: list, map, and alternatesConditions assessment templateTrip planning: go-to resourcesBackpacking the Sierra in a high snow yearWatch the event:

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