A 7 day epic backpacking adventure on the High Sierra Trail!

The High Sierra Trail traverses the Sierra Nevada mountains from West to East in Sequoia National Park, California. The trail starts at Crescent Meadow in the Giant Forest, and ends at the summit of Mount Whitney (the highest peak in the contiguous USA).

I'd highly recommend this trail to anyone who enjoys backpacking! The scenery was first class throughout, incorporating stunning alpine lakes, towering peaks, huge waterfalls, and incredible views. The trail is well marked and defined, and appropriate tent sites are plentiful. As this trail goes through some more remote areas of the Sierra, it is easy to find solitude, and there is an abundance of wildlife (I saw a bear, lots of deer, marmots, pika, lizards, a snake, trout, chipmunks, squirrels..... and a few too many mosquitos!).

The weather was ideal on my trip, but you should prepare for anything, as the weather can change quickly in the high Sierra.

Please note: You do need a permit to do the High Sierra Trail. Check the park website for full details.

Some of my trip highlights were:
- Seeing a bear
- Precipice Lake
- Having Moraine Lake to myself
- Using the world's most scenic toilet
- Seeing a "firebow"
- Summiting Mount Whitney
- The giant pancake breakfast at Whitney Portal Store

Total distance: 73.7 miles.
Total elevation gain: 17,080 feet.
Total elevation loss: 15,427 feet.
Highest elevation: 14,505 feet.
Marmot attacks: 0

00:00 Intro and travel to the trailhead
00:48 Day 1: Crescent Meadow to Bearpaw Meadow
04:20 Bear sighting!
04:58 Day 2: Bearpaw Meadow to Big Arroyo Junction
11:41 Day 3: Big Arroyo Junction to Moraine Lake
14:34 Day 4: Moraine Lake to Junction Meadow
16:48 Snake on a rock!
17:18 The most scenic toilet!
20:20 Day 5: Junction Meadow to Guitar Lake
21:36 Firebow!
23:52 Day 6: Guitar Lake to Outpost Camp
25:49 Mount Whitney summit
28:03 Day 7: Outpost Camp to Whitney Portal
30:03 Massive pancake!

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