The Sierra Nevada Mountains - Main Page timberlinetrails.net
Location:
Continent: North America Country: United States State: California
Continent: North America Country: United States State: California
| California's Sierra Nevada, Spanish for "Snowy Mountain," is a massive block of granite, called a batholith. Heavy snow falls during most winters, and there are many permanent snow patches and several small glaciers. Glaciers were much heavier in the past, evidenced by the extensive erosion in the range, which has created spectacularly sculpted valleys and cirques. |
Fall Colors are a favorite of nearly all people. Here, you will be not only see the colors of fall,
but you will also hear the beautiful music featured at Rhythm On The Rock. The oranges, reds,
greens, and brilliant yellows seen here are a delight to the eyes, and the rhythm of the included
music will inspire your soul. So take a few minutes out of your busy schedule and enjoy the
sights and sounds of fall.
but you will also hear the beautiful music featured at Rhythm On The Rock. The oranges, reds,
greens, and brilliant yellows seen here are a delight to the eyes, and the rhythm of the included
music will inspire your soul. So take a few minutes out of your busy schedule and enjoy the
sights and sounds of fall.
Bodie, California is a western ghost town located high in the mountains and contains more of it's
original unaltered structures than any other western ghost town to be found anywhere. See the
rare photos that were captured in the eerie fog of a freezing cold day high above the valley
floor. Also take time to enjoy more music from Rhythm On The Rock that goes along with the
images and writings that you will see at this location.
original unaltered structures than any other western ghost town to be found anywhere. See the
rare photos that were captured in the eerie fog of a freezing cold day high above the valley
floor. Also take time to enjoy more music from Rhythm On The Rock that goes along with the
images and writings that you will see at this location.
The California Deserts contain some of the driest and hottest places on earth. Yet, they contain
a beauty all their own. See the Eureka Dunes of Death Valley (second largest in the United
States), lonely trains traveling through this desolate environment, Joshua trees that stand as
sentinels of the desert, and the mysterious race track where moving rocks seem to defy gravity.
a beauty all their own. See the Eureka Dunes of Death Valley (second largest in the United
States), lonely trains traveling through this desolate environment, Joshua trees that stand as
sentinels of the desert, and the mysterious race track where moving rocks seem to defy gravity.
Our Photo Galleries
The Sierra Nevada Mountains -
contain some of the most beautiful
landscapes in all the world. The terrain
is so varied that one may start out in
desert conditions and end up with the
sound of crunching ice under foot and
the ring of a distant ice ax in a remote
frozen gully well above timberline.
The Sierra Nevada Mountains extend
400 miles from the shore of Lake
Almanor in the north, to Tehacahapi
Pass south of Bakersfield and varies
from 60 to 80 miles in width. With 13
peaks that exceed 14,000 feet, and
500 peaks that exceed 12,000 feet
there is much alpine territory to
explore.
For the fisherman the Sierras are a
playground of lakes, streams, and
rivers that will delight the most zealous
of anglers. For the hiker and or
backpacker, the mountains have a
system of trails and camps that are
unrivaled anywhere else in the world.
Cross country skiers will find
outstanding snow conditions during
most of the winter, and near perfect
corn snow during the spring months. If you are a climber/mountaineer there are more than enough rock walls, high angle
gullies, ridges, peaks and summits to last a life time.
Keep a camera handy on all your trips, because the lighting conditions and scenes are so beautiful that you will be
constantly reaching for it. Add to this the fantastic California mountain weather, and no wonder folks from all over the
globe travel huge distances just to visit this "Range of Light"
Below are detailed descriptions of just a few of the outdoor activities that you can enjoy in the Sierra Nevada Mountains.
But for a quick photographic overview of the Sierra Nevada, Click Here. This is a quick way to see some of the beauty
that these magnificent mountains have to offer.
HIKING AND BACKPACKING Backpacking Food
As mentioned above, the Sierra Nevada has a trail system second
to none, and opportunities for Hiking and Backpacking abound.
The term High Sierra applies to the alpine region above the main
forest (8,000 ft +). The photo to the right is a perfect example of
this. Peaks, lake basins, beautiful rock structures such as Temple
Craig shown in the background of the right hand image were
carved by glaciation during years past. Notice the green tint of
Third Lake visible in the left hand portion of the photo. This
coloration is due to the fact that it is fed by Glaciers up above.
The grinding of hard rock produces a green silt that gives the
water it's color. Here you see hikers/backpackers negotiating the
North Fork of Big Pine Creek trail. For more about this particular
trail, check out this link: North Fork of Big Pine Creek.
The High Sierra as described above, extends about
150 miles from north of Yosemite to Cottonwood
Pass and spreads on both sides of the crest, with an
average width of about 20 miles. Between the peaks
there are extensive highlands that are relatively flat
and open. This is the land of the hiker and packer,
accessible only in summer by most, and by only the
hardiest of individuals during the winter. To the
right, you are looking down into Sequoia National
Park from a vantage point known as Trail Crest
situated well above 13,000 feet in elevation.
The shores of the lakes below are accessible only
to hikers, backpackers, and pack trains. The large
flat expanse below is a perfect example of the
extensive highlands described above.
Another incredibly popular trail in the Sierra is the Mount Whitney Trail. A piece of it is seen in the right hand image
above. But this is only a very small part of the overall trail. Down below the path is graced with beautiful lakes, stone
walkways over meandering steams, and delightful
camping areas for overnight stays. For many folks,
a hike to the top of Mt Whitney is on their lifetime
list of things to do. Having ascended the peak six
times, I would have to say that it is a tremendous
experience and one that I would highly recommend.
The following links will take you on a journey
to the summit of Mt Whitney.
Base Camp Getting Started Trailhead Trail Guide
High Camp Trail Crest Summit Aerial View
Beautiful Yosemite
National Park is
also part of the
Sierra Nevada Range. I found Yosemite to contain some of the finest hiking in all the
range. To the left you see a view of spectacular Vernal Falls that treats visitors, who take
the time out, to hike the wonderful Mist Trail. To the left of the falls (shown to the
left) is a very cool stone staircase that ascends to the top of the falls. For the more
adventurous, there is the cable ladder on the back side of
half dome. It allows the non-climber to access the
summit of half dome (seen in the right hand image)
where the views are nothing short of inspiring. Early
on in my marriage, my wife and I hiked nearly every
trail out of the valley floor and found the experience
of hiking Yosemite very rewarding.
On the far south end of the
Sierra Nevada is the
Cottonwood Lakes Trail.
This trail offers a very high
start at 10,000 feet, and
provides a gentle rise to the
beautiful Cottonwood Lakes
basin. I found this
trail to be extremely
enjoyable. It also
provides opportunities for
the fisherman to test his or
her skills. For more about this trail check out the following link: Mt Langley Cottonwood Trail The next trail that you may
want to plan on hiking some day is the Shadow Lake Trail. This fantastically beautiful path criss crosses the Ansel Adams
Wilderness. John Muir found this section of the Sierra to be his all time favorite. And it is of little wonder. The trail skits
some of the most beautiful lakes, waterfalls, and meadows
anywhere to be found in the range. The Ansel Adams
Wilderness is graced with heavy snows during the fall, winter,
and spring and this assures a provision of plenty of snow to feed
pristine glaciated slopes that will latter in season be used to bring
waterfalls, lakes, and streams to full capacity. The wildflowers
(in season) and greenery found on the lower sections of the trail
will delight your senses. Shown to the right, you see backpakers
skirting picturesque Ediza Lake with the jagged Minarets in the
background. Check out the following links if you are interested
in visiting this area:
Base Camp Getting Started Trailhead
Shadow Lake Trail The Climb Summit Aerial View
Sequoia National Park also provides the back country traveler with
multitudes of opportunities for hiking and backpacking. The scene to
the left is what you will see if you hike the gentle Giant Forest Trail.
This trail is so accessible and mild that you will want to take your
little ones with you. If you look carefully in the lower left hand area
of the image you will be able to see a day hiker. If you have not seen
the Giant Sequoias you are in for an incredible treat. The shear scale
of these trees (the largest on earth) is nothing short of awe inspiring
and there is a whole forest of them available on this special little
trail. Just get a map from the ranger as you enter the park, and
drive to Giant Forest. The trail begins right out of the parking lot area.
SIERRA NEVADA MOUNTAIN CLIMBING OPPORTUNITIES Mountain Safety
Mountain Climbing in the Sierra Nevada Mountains is like none other in the world. The shear scale, the fine granite rock,
the magnificent lighting, along with varied terrain and mild weather (in comparison to other mountain ranges on earth),
make the Sierra Nevada a mecca for mountaineers and climbers. After climbing in the Sierra Nevada for years, I can say
with confidence that these mountains have something to offer climbers of all ages and abilities. From easy scrambles to
heart stopping sheer walls of smooth granite and vertical ice. No climber will come away disappointed. Yosemite offers the
rock gymnast climbing opportunities that are the envy of the world. If you are in to more remote and mixed climbing that
offers glacier travel, snow and ice climbing, and rock walls to boot, try the most alpine region in all the Sierra Nevada, the
Palisade Crest.
One of the most spectacular summits in all the Sierra Nevada is Starlight Peak. Stephen F.
Porcella and Cameron M. Burns in their book "Climbing California's Fourteeners"
describe the peak this way: "The summit is a single rock monolith standing over 30 feet
high and tapering to a point only 2 feet wide. Upon reaching this diminutive point, the
climber's senses are besieged by vertigo as well as euphoria. The ridge below, much like
one's stomach, seems to drop out from beneath. More than 1,000 feet below to the east
lies the magnificent Palisade Glacier. To the west lies the incredible expanse of Dusy and
Palisade Basins. The view, like the exposure, is nothing less than exhilarating." To the
right, you see a climber standing on this very small piece of real estate known as the
Starlight Peak Summit. For more about this climb, please visit some of the below links:
Base Camp Getting Started Trailhead Along the Trail
High Camp The Climb Summit Aerial Photo
The Sierra Nevada offers so much for the mountaineer/climber, it would be impossible
for us to describe even a small fraction of all the opportunities for the above types of
adventure. So we will just give a you
a tour through what I believe to
be some of the finest alpine terrain
in all the range. To the right, you
see climbers ascending one of the
many steep snow fields in the
northern area of the Palisades.
During the spring months, snow
and ice conditions are excellent,
and offer the mountaineer quick
access to glaciated areas above
12,000 feet. In the upper left
corner of the image you can see
one of several beautiful meadows
that lie along the North Fork of
Big Pine Creek. (Sam Mack
Meadow). A great destination for
hikers and backpackers alike and a
great place to camp or hang out.
Below is an aerial view of the upper
half of the Palisade Glacier with
some of the key climbing challenges. The "Doors of
Perception" offer
a tremendous
open book
climbing
challenge for the
more advanced
mountaineer.
Above you see a climber perched
atop a small pinnacle outcropping
near the summit of Mt Humphreys.
Humphreys is another fine alpine
peak with no easy route to the top.
To the right you see an enlargement
of the above aerial view. Climbers are
working their way up the U-Notch
couloir. This chute along with the
excellent V-Notch just to the southeast
of this location are examples of alpine
ice and snow chutes in the Sierra.
They offer the Sierra ice climber ways
to test their skills. If you are
interested in climbing in this area, check
out some of the below links. They will
take you to the summit of one of the
most coveted peaks in all the Sierra.
The North Palisade:
Base Camp Getting Started Trailhead
The Approach High Camp The Climb
Summit Aerial Photo
To the left is an aerial
photograph taken from
a very cool ultra light
airplane. If you are
interested in equipment
such as this, you can
check out the
particulars at the
following link:
Aerial Photography
My climbing
partner Mike just
acquired this
specialized aircraft,
and we hope to bring
you a whole lot more
photos from above
so that you will be able
to get a far greater
understanding of the
Sierra Nevada
Mountains. To the left
you can clearly see the
advantage of having
these types of images.
By being able to
identify features from
both the ground and
the air you will be able
to get your bearings far
easier than if you only
had ground images to
examine.
Well, that's just a very small example of some of the climbing/mountaineering opportunities in the Sierra Nevada
Mountains. There are countless peaks, basins, ridges, aretes and rock walls for climbers of all abilities to test their skills.
But before you begin any type of climbing activity please get proper training. See our Introduction to climbing, for more
information.
We also have a general Safety writeup, along with Backpacking Food, and a section on Climbing Knots. This area is still
under construction and we hope to offer a whole lot more information for you in the future. As time permits we will add
more details involving climbing in the Sierra Nevada. Having climbed for over 30 years off and on, it will take a lifetime to
get the thousands of slides, digital images, and stories together. So we will never run out of material for future presentations.
WATER IN THE SIERRA
One of the most important resources for any outdoor activity is water. With all the lakes,
steams, and rivers, the Sierra hiker, backpacker, climber, and or fisherman is rarely
without a source. But in this day and age, it is not quite as simple as just dipping your
water bottle in a lake or stream. When I first started hiking and climbing in the Sierra's,
I did just that, dipped my water bottle into a lake or stream and drank form it. But today
with the threat of all sorts of bacteria, water borne viruses, and other such undesirables,
it is now necessary to either boil, filter or chemically treat your water. Boiling is the surest
way to treat the water, but it is also the most resource hungry and time consuming of all
methods. To the right you see hikers at Mt Whitney's Trail Camp located at 12,000 feet
filtering water in order to resupply their water bottles. For heavily traveled trails (such as
the Mt Whitney Trail or the Bishop Pass Trail) filtering is more important than ever. Also
if possible try to get to an area where the water is flowing and not stagnate. Higher less
traveled areas of the Sierra are safer than lower sections where lots of human activity
(along with stock travel) pollute the water below.
WEATHER - TEMPERATURES / PRECIPITATION / SNOWFALL
Sierra Temperatures are generally warm in summer with a maximum ranging from 80-100 degrees F. and a minimum of 15-
37 degrees at higher elevations. In the winter, maximums are typically 55-70 during the high point of the day, and between
0 to -32 degrees F. in the night. In general, temperatures decrease 3-5 degrees for every 1000 feet of elevation gain.
In the Sierra Nevada, 95 percent of the precipitation falls between October and May,
with more than half falling in January through March. But there is a great discrepancy
in the amount of rainfall between the western slopes and the eastern slopes. The
west receives 75 inches while the eastern slopes receive only 20 inches on average.
Because of the dry conditions on the eastern side of the Sierra, I have run across
backpackers and climbers who make it a habit to go into the back country and not
carry any rain protection (such as a tent and rain fly for overnight camping). But even
though 70 percent of all days during the months of July and August are sunny, there
is still that 30 percent that receive some sort of rainfall. I remember meeting one back
country traveler in the morning after a previous night of heavy rainfall while climbing
Mt Williamson. He told me that he never carried night time rain gear for years, but
this time he got caught. He said it was an exercise in torture having to endure
unusually cold night time summer temperatures while being soaked to the bone. He
said that he talked himself into surviving five minutes at a time until morning. We
always bring rain gear for the night no matter what time of year, and the above story
should encourage us all to do so in the future.
Snowfall is one of the most wonderful features of the Sierra. Being the second snowiest mountain range on the continent,
(only exceeded by the Pacific Northwest Cascades) brings with it plenty of snow pack during the winter months. It is
difficult to put a number on how much snow falls in the Sierra, however, because it can vary greatly. For instance at
Tamarack, Alpine county only 13 feet of snow fell in 1880-1881 and 73.5 feet fell in the winter of 1906-1907.
FISHING IN THE SIERRA NEVADA
There is no end to lakes, streams, and rivers for
the Sierra fisherman to enjoy. Though not a
fisherman myself, I have certainly come across
many an angler while exploring the back country
waterways in the Sierra. I have to say there are far
more fisherman out there than climbers.
After many a conversation with anglers, they tell me
that I am missing out on one of the best activities
that the Sierra Nevada has to offer. I hear the fishing
is fantastic in these mountains. And I must confess
that I do get a bit envious around dinner time when I
think of how they must be enjoying their fresh catch
while I chock down my freeze dried chilly mack
dinner. Some of the guys that have
joined me on some of my Sierra adventures are
fisherman and they tell me that
they are going to give me some
pointers on the art of fishing.
As I become a bit more
knowledgeable in this area, I will
certainly share it with you.
To the right is the fishing
regulation notice at the
Cottonwood Lakes Trailhead. It
leads up to the 7 lakes that make
up the upper meadow basin
below Mt Langley. I also hear
that the Shadow Lake Trail which
goes to Thousand Islands Lake
district has outstanding fishing
opportunities. I have a couple of friends that go up there year after year to go fishing in
this section of the Sierra Nevada. They never come back disappointed.
OTHER ACTIVITIES:
Hiking, Mountaineering, and Fishing are not the only things to do in the Sierra. There are other areas of interest that Sierra
travelers can enjoy. The little towns along highway 395 that skirts along the massive eastern escarpment have much to
offer. They are part of the history of the Sierra Nevada, and no story on the Sierra Nevada is complete without considering
the activities that go on at the foothills of these world famous mountains. Below is just a small example of some of the
things that go on at the base of these magnificent mountians. We hope to add much more in the future.
contain some of the most beautiful
landscapes in all the world. The terrain
is so varied that one may start out in
desert conditions and end up with the
sound of crunching ice under foot and
the ring of a distant ice ax in a remote
frozen gully well above timberline.
The Sierra Nevada Mountains extend
400 miles from the shore of Lake
Almanor in the north, to Tehacahapi
Pass south of Bakersfield and varies
from 60 to 80 miles in width. With 13
peaks that exceed 14,000 feet, and
500 peaks that exceed 12,000 feet
there is much alpine territory to
explore.
For the fisherman the Sierras are a
playground of lakes, streams, and
rivers that will delight the most zealous
of anglers. For the hiker and or
backpacker, the mountains have a
system of trails and camps that are
unrivaled anywhere else in the world.
Cross country skiers will find
outstanding snow conditions during
most of the winter, and near perfect
corn snow during the spring months. If you are a climber/mountaineer there are more than enough rock walls, high angle
gullies, ridges, peaks and summits to last a life time.
Keep a camera handy on all your trips, because the lighting conditions and scenes are so beautiful that you will be
constantly reaching for it. Add to this the fantastic California mountain weather, and no wonder folks from all over the
globe travel huge distances just to visit this "Range of Light"
Below are detailed descriptions of just a few of the outdoor activities that you can enjoy in the Sierra Nevada Mountains.
But for a quick photographic overview of the Sierra Nevada, Click Here. This is a quick way to see some of the beauty
that these magnificent mountains have to offer.
HIKING AND BACKPACKING Backpacking Food
As mentioned above, the Sierra Nevada has a trail system second
to none, and opportunities for Hiking and Backpacking abound.
The term High Sierra applies to the alpine region above the main
forest (8,000 ft +). The photo to the right is a perfect example of
this. Peaks, lake basins, beautiful rock structures such as Temple
Craig shown in the background of the right hand image were
carved by glaciation during years past. Notice the green tint of
Third Lake visible in the left hand portion of the photo. This
coloration is due to the fact that it is fed by Glaciers up above.
The grinding of hard rock produces a green silt that gives the
water it's color. Here you see hikers/backpackers negotiating the
North Fork of Big Pine Creek trail. For more about this particular
trail, check out this link: North Fork of Big Pine Creek.
The High Sierra as described above, extends about
150 miles from north of Yosemite to Cottonwood
Pass and spreads on both sides of the crest, with an
average width of about 20 miles. Between the peaks
there are extensive highlands that are relatively flat
and open. This is the land of the hiker and packer,
accessible only in summer by most, and by only the
hardiest of individuals during the winter. To the
right, you are looking down into Sequoia National
Park from a vantage point known as Trail Crest
situated well above 13,000 feet in elevation.
The shores of the lakes below are accessible only
to hikers, backpackers, and pack trains. The large
flat expanse below is a perfect example of the
extensive highlands described above.
Another incredibly popular trail in the Sierra is the Mount Whitney Trail. A piece of it is seen in the right hand image
above. But this is only a very small part of the overall trail. Down below the path is graced with beautiful lakes, stone
walkways over meandering steams, and delightful
camping areas for overnight stays. For many folks,
a hike to the top of Mt Whitney is on their lifetime
list of things to do. Having ascended the peak six
times, I would have to say that it is a tremendous
experience and one that I would highly recommend.
The following links will take you on a journey
to the summit of Mt Whitney.
Base Camp Getting Started Trailhead Trail Guide
High Camp Trail Crest Summit Aerial View
Beautiful Yosemite
National Park is
also part of the
Sierra Nevada Range. I found Yosemite to contain some of the finest hiking in all the
range. To the left you see a view of spectacular Vernal Falls that treats visitors, who take
the time out, to hike the wonderful Mist Trail. To the left of the falls (shown to the
left) is a very cool stone staircase that ascends to the top of the falls. For the more
adventurous, there is the cable ladder on the back side of
half dome. It allows the non-climber to access the
summit of half dome (seen in the right hand image)
where the views are nothing short of inspiring. Early
on in my marriage, my wife and I hiked nearly every
trail out of the valley floor and found the experience
of hiking Yosemite very rewarding.
On the far south end of the
Sierra Nevada is the
Cottonwood Lakes Trail.
This trail offers a very high
start at 10,000 feet, and
provides a gentle rise to the
beautiful Cottonwood Lakes
basin. I found this
trail to be extremely
enjoyable. It also
provides opportunities for
the fisherman to test his or
her skills. For more about this trail check out the following link: Mt Langley Cottonwood Trail The next trail that you may
want to plan on hiking some day is the Shadow Lake Trail. This fantastically beautiful path criss crosses the Ansel Adams
Wilderness. John Muir found this section of the Sierra to be his all time favorite. And it is of little wonder. The trail skits
some of the most beautiful lakes, waterfalls, and meadows
anywhere to be found in the range. The Ansel Adams
Wilderness is graced with heavy snows during the fall, winter,
and spring and this assures a provision of plenty of snow to feed
pristine glaciated slopes that will latter in season be used to bring
waterfalls, lakes, and streams to full capacity. The wildflowers
(in season) and greenery found on the lower sections of the trail
will delight your senses. Shown to the right, you see backpakers
skirting picturesque Ediza Lake with the jagged Minarets in the
background. Check out the following links if you are interested
in visiting this area:
Base Camp Getting Started Trailhead
Shadow Lake Trail The Climb Summit Aerial View
Sequoia National Park also provides the back country traveler with
multitudes of opportunities for hiking and backpacking. The scene to
the left is what you will see if you hike the gentle Giant Forest Trail.
This trail is so accessible and mild that you will want to take your
little ones with you. If you look carefully in the lower left hand area
of the image you will be able to see a day hiker. If you have not seen
the Giant Sequoias you are in for an incredible treat. The shear scale
of these trees (the largest on earth) is nothing short of awe inspiring
and there is a whole forest of them available on this special little
trail. Just get a map from the ranger as you enter the park, and
drive to Giant Forest. The trail begins right out of the parking lot area.
SIERRA NEVADA MOUNTAIN CLIMBING OPPORTUNITIES Mountain Safety
Mountain Climbing in the Sierra Nevada Mountains is like none other in the world. The shear scale, the fine granite rock,
the magnificent lighting, along with varied terrain and mild weather (in comparison to other mountain ranges on earth),
make the Sierra Nevada a mecca for mountaineers and climbers. After climbing in the Sierra Nevada for years, I can say
with confidence that these mountains have something to offer climbers of all ages and abilities. From easy scrambles to
heart stopping sheer walls of smooth granite and vertical ice. No climber will come away disappointed. Yosemite offers the
rock gymnast climbing opportunities that are the envy of the world. If you are in to more remote and mixed climbing that
offers glacier travel, snow and ice climbing, and rock walls to boot, try the most alpine region in all the Sierra Nevada, the
Palisade Crest.
One of the most spectacular summits in all the Sierra Nevada is Starlight Peak. Stephen F.
Porcella and Cameron M. Burns in their book "Climbing California's Fourteeners"
describe the peak this way: "The summit is a single rock monolith standing over 30 feet
high and tapering to a point only 2 feet wide. Upon reaching this diminutive point, the
climber's senses are besieged by vertigo as well as euphoria. The ridge below, much like
one's stomach, seems to drop out from beneath. More than 1,000 feet below to the east
lies the magnificent Palisade Glacier. To the west lies the incredible expanse of Dusy and
Palisade Basins. The view, like the exposure, is nothing less than exhilarating." To the
right, you see a climber standing on this very small piece of real estate known as the
Starlight Peak Summit. For more about this climb, please visit some of the below links:
Base Camp Getting Started Trailhead Along the Trail
High Camp The Climb Summit Aerial Photo
The Sierra Nevada offers so much for the mountaineer/climber, it would be impossible
for us to describe even a small fraction of all the opportunities for the above types of
adventure. So we will just give a you
a tour through what I believe to
be some of the finest alpine terrain
in all the range. To the right, you
see climbers ascending one of the
many steep snow fields in the
northern area of the Palisades.
During the spring months, snow
and ice conditions are excellent,
and offer the mountaineer quick
access to glaciated areas above
12,000 feet. In the upper left
corner of the image you can see
one of several beautiful meadows
that lie along the North Fork of
Big Pine Creek. (Sam Mack
Meadow). A great destination for
hikers and backpackers alike and a
great place to camp or hang out.
Below is an aerial view of the upper
half of the Palisade Glacier with
some of the key climbing challenges. The "Doors of
Perception" offer
a tremendous
open book
climbing
challenge for the
more advanced
mountaineer.
Above you see a climber perched
atop a small pinnacle outcropping
near the summit of Mt Humphreys.
Humphreys is another fine alpine
peak with no easy route to the top.
To the right you see an enlargement
of the above aerial view. Climbers are
working their way up the U-Notch
couloir. This chute along with the
excellent V-Notch just to the southeast
of this location are examples of alpine
ice and snow chutes in the Sierra.
They offer the Sierra ice climber ways
to test their skills. If you are
interested in climbing in this area, check
out some of the below links. They will
take you to the summit of one of the
most coveted peaks in all the Sierra.
The North Palisade:
Base Camp Getting Started Trailhead
The Approach High Camp The Climb
Summit Aerial Photo
To the left is an aerial
photograph taken from
a very cool ultra light
airplane. If you are
interested in equipment
such as this, you can
check out the
particulars at the
following link:
Aerial Photography
My climbing
partner Mike just
acquired this
specialized aircraft,
and we hope to bring
you a whole lot more
photos from above
so that you will be able
to get a far greater
understanding of the
Sierra Nevada
Mountains. To the left
you can clearly see the
advantage of having
these types of images.
By being able to
identify features from
both the ground and
the air you will be able
to get your bearings far
easier than if you only
had ground images to
examine.
Well, that's just a very small example of some of the climbing/mountaineering opportunities in the Sierra Nevada
Mountains. There are countless peaks, basins, ridges, aretes and rock walls for climbers of all abilities to test their skills.
But before you begin any type of climbing activity please get proper training. See our Introduction to climbing, for more
information.
We also have a general Safety writeup, along with Backpacking Food, and a section on Climbing Knots. This area is still
under construction and we hope to offer a whole lot more information for you in the future. As time permits we will add
more details involving climbing in the Sierra Nevada. Having climbed for over 30 years off and on, it will take a lifetime to
get the thousands of slides, digital images, and stories together. So we will never run out of material for future presentations.
WATER IN THE SIERRA
One of the most important resources for any outdoor activity is water. With all the lakes,
steams, and rivers, the Sierra hiker, backpacker, climber, and or fisherman is rarely
without a source. But in this day and age, it is not quite as simple as just dipping your
water bottle in a lake or stream. When I first started hiking and climbing in the Sierra's,
I did just that, dipped my water bottle into a lake or stream and drank form it. But today
with the threat of all sorts of bacteria, water borne viruses, and other such undesirables,
it is now necessary to either boil, filter or chemically treat your water. Boiling is the surest
way to treat the water, but it is also the most resource hungry and time consuming of all
methods. To the right you see hikers at Mt Whitney's Trail Camp located at 12,000 feet
filtering water in order to resupply their water bottles. For heavily traveled trails (such as
the Mt Whitney Trail or the Bishop Pass Trail) filtering is more important than ever. Also
if possible try to get to an area where the water is flowing and not stagnate. Higher less
traveled areas of the Sierra are safer than lower sections where lots of human activity
(along with stock travel) pollute the water below.
WEATHER - TEMPERATURES / PRECIPITATION / SNOWFALL
Sierra Temperatures are generally warm in summer with a maximum ranging from 80-100 degrees F. and a minimum of 15-
37 degrees at higher elevations. In the winter, maximums are typically 55-70 during the high point of the day, and between
0 to -32 degrees F. in the night. In general, temperatures decrease 3-5 degrees for every 1000 feet of elevation gain.
In the Sierra Nevada, 95 percent of the precipitation falls between October and May,
with more than half falling in January through March. But there is a great discrepancy
in the amount of rainfall between the western slopes and the eastern slopes. The
west receives 75 inches while the eastern slopes receive only 20 inches on average.
Because of the dry conditions on the eastern side of the Sierra, I have run across
backpackers and climbers who make it a habit to go into the back country and not
carry any rain protection (such as a tent and rain fly for overnight camping). But even
though 70 percent of all days during the months of July and August are sunny, there
is still that 30 percent that receive some sort of rainfall. I remember meeting one back
country traveler in the morning after a previous night of heavy rainfall while climbing
Mt Williamson. He told me that he never carried night time rain gear for years, but
this time he got caught. He said it was an exercise in torture having to endure
unusually cold night time summer temperatures while being soaked to the bone. He
said that he talked himself into surviving five minutes at a time until morning. We
always bring rain gear for the night no matter what time of year, and the above story
should encourage us all to do so in the future.
Snowfall is one of the most wonderful features of the Sierra. Being the second snowiest mountain range on the continent,
(only exceeded by the Pacific Northwest Cascades) brings with it plenty of snow pack during the winter months. It is
difficult to put a number on how much snow falls in the Sierra, however, because it can vary greatly. For instance at
Tamarack, Alpine county only 13 feet of snow fell in 1880-1881 and 73.5 feet fell in the winter of 1906-1907.
FISHING IN THE SIERRA NEVADA
There is no end to lakes, streams, and rivers for
the Sierra fisherman to enjoy. Though not a
fisherman myself, I have certainly come across
many an angler while exploring the back country
waterways in the Sierra. I have to say there are far
more fisherman out there than climbers.
After many a conversation with anglers, they tell me
that I am missing out on one of the best activities
that the Sierra Nevada has to offer. I hear the fishing
is fantastic in these mountains. And I must confess
that I do get a bit envious around dinner time when I
think of how they must be enjoying their fresh catch
while I chock down my freeze dried chilly mack
dinner. Some of the guys that have
joined me on some of my Sierra adventures are
fisherman and they tell me that
they are going to give me some
pointers on the art of fishing.
As I become a bit more
knowledgeable in this area, I will
certainly share it with you.
To the right is the fishing
regulation notice at the
Cottonwood Lakes Trailhead. It
leads up to the 7 lakes that make
up the upper meadow basin
below Mt Langley. I also hear
that the Shadow Lake Trail which
goes to Thousand Islands Lake
district has outstanding fishing
opportunities. I have a couple of friends that go up there year after year to go fishing in
this section of the Sierra Nevada. They never come back disappointed.
OTHER ACTIVITIES:
Hiking, Mountaineering, and Fishing are not the only things to do in the Sierra. There are other areas of interest that Sierra
travelers can enjoy. The little towns along highway 395 that skirts along the massive eastern escarpment have much to
offer. They are part of the history of the Sierra Nevada, and no story on the Sierra Nevada is complete without considering
the activities that go on at the foothills of these world famous mountains. Below is just a small example of some of the
things that go on at the base of these magnificent mountians. We hope to add much more in the future.
Isaiah 55:12
You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and hills will burst into song before you, and
all the trees of the field will clap their hands.