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This trip is an ultimate crossing of Sequoia National Park through some of the most remote areas of the high Sierra, culminating in an ascent of the highest point in the contiguous US; Mt Whitney (14,500’). It’s rugged and remote and those who are up to the 83-mile challenge will be rewarded with a backpacking adventure like few others. Highlights include crossing the Great Western divide via Colby Pass (12,000’), the massive Kern River Canyon, Foxtail Pine forests, and of course panoramic views from atop Mt Whitney.
$2,750 per person
Price based on shared hotel occupancy
Single Room Supplement:
Requested $260, Forced $130
Your trip begins in Fresno, CA at the Wyndham Garden Hotel across from the Fresno airport. You can check in at the hotel anytime after 4pm. At 6pm you will meet your guides and group for a trip orientation, where you'll do a final gear check and discuss the details of the trip. Dinner tonight is on your own at the hotel.
Following breakfast on your own, we will drive to the trailhead at Horse Corral Meadow (8200’). After a final gear check we will begin our hike over gentle Marvin Pass (8900’) and the Kanawyer Gap, before we head downhill to our campsite along Ferguson Creek (7200’).
12 miles, Elevation: +2644'/ -3081'
From Ferguson Creek we’ll continue past the ranger station at Roaring River and head into Cloud Canyon. We’ll make camp in the vicinity of the looming Whaleback, a giant granite ridge that dominates the landscape.
9 miles, Elevation: +2559’/ -666'
Today, we’ll follow the trail along Colby Creek up to the crest of the Great Western Divide. The dramatic Colby Pass (12,000’) leads us to the eastern side of the ridge and is often considered the most remote spot in the Sierra. After enjoying the views, we’ll descend to Gallats Lake (10,200’) where we’ll make camp for the night.
7 miles, Elevation: +3268'/ -2264'
We begin our day following the Kern-Kaweah River valley down into Kern Canyon. We’ll pass through the Jeffrey Pine forests at Junction Meadow and climb up to our campsite on Wallace Creek at 10,400. It is here that we meet the John Muir and Pacific Crest Trails.
11 miles, Elevation: +2710'/ -2375'
Today’s hiking will get us within striking distance of Mt Whitney. We’ll travel over moderate trail through foxtail Pine Forests, unique to Sequoia National Park. We’ll then set up a basecamp at Guitar Lake under the Whitney massif at 11,500’. We’ll hit the sack early in preparation for our attempt of Mt Whitney in the morning.
7 miles, Elevation: + 2034'/ -951'
An early “alpine” start, we’ll leave our basecamp and extra gear behind for our summit attempt of Mt Whitney (14,495’). The trail is very well-graded and we’ll quickly gain final summit ridge. Bathed in early morning light, stunning views await of the Sierra high country and the eastern deserts far below. We’ll then return to Guitar Lake, where we’ll have lunch and pack up camp. A few more miles of hiking take us below tree line to Crabtree Meadows (10,400’). From Guitar lake to Whitney and back is 9.5 miles round trip without packs and then downhill another 5 miles to camp.
14 miles, Elevation: +3360'/ -4511'
From Lower Crabtree Meadows we’ll hike a relatively flat section of the Pacific Crest Trail before a short climb in the afternoon to Rock Creek lake at 10,400’. This campsite is perfect for our last because it is truly one of the most beautiful of the trip.
10.5 miles, Elevation: +1985'/ -1886'
This is our last day on the trail and we’ll complete our grand trans-sierra crossing by hiking eastward over Cottonwood Pass (11,200). At the trailhead, we will be met by our private shuttle and cold drinks. Our shuttle takes us to our hotel in the quirky western town of Lone Pine. After a well-deserved shower, we’ll meet in the lobby and take dinner together in town.
10 miles, Elevation: + 1690'/ -2175'
Continental breakfast is served at the hotel and we’ll depart for Fresno in the early morning. We’ll arrive around 1pm and can drop at either the Fresno Airport or Wyndham Garden Hotel. We suggest not planning flights before 3pm.
This trip begins and ends at the Wyndham Garden Hotel in Fresno, CA conveniently located across the street from the Fresno Yosemite International Airport. The hotel provides a complimentary shuttle service from the airport if needed. Plan to arrive at the hotel before 6pm so you can meet your guides and group for your trip orientation. If you are driving to Fresno, you are welcome to leave your vehicle parked at the hotel during your trip for no additional fee. Any additional luggage you have will be stored at our secure facility and returned to you for your final night in Lone Pine. We'll provide your transportation back to Fresno on the last day of the trip, we recommend booking flights no earlier than 3pm on this day.
This is one of our more strenuous trips and is one that we do not recommend for those who are new to backpacking. Plan to carry a fully weighted backpack for 9 trail days without a resupply. It is essential to come prepared! To ensure the most enjoyable and successful experience out on the trail, we recommend a rigorous training plan leading up to your trip, focusing on:
We strongly encourage having recent backpacking experience or practice before embarking on this section of JMT. The most successful people on these trips have completed several backcountry trips carrying a fully weighted pack (35-40lbs) for 3-5 days. If you do not have this experience, we recommend joining us on a "shake-out" trip prior to joining the Trans-Sierra Trail.
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