Mt. Whitney Backpacking
Hiking/Trekking in California with Southern Yosemite Mountain Guides, Inc.
Highlights
- Expert guides with years of experience leading hikers off-trail
- Route takes you along the Golden Trout Wilderness, the Pacific Crest Trail and follows the John Muir Trail.
- Gourmet backcountry cooking
- Plentiful fly-fishing opportunities in lakes and streams near camping sites
- Climb Mt. Whitney from backside, located in Sequoia National Park
Full Description
This trip is the perfect solution for people who want to climb Whitney but have a few extra days and enjoy a well-rounded backpacking trip.
The route takes in the Golden Trout Wilderness, the Pacific Crest Trail and follows the John Muir Trail. We'll be basecamping our ascent from the backside of Mount Whitney above Guitar Lake with the through-hikers, rather than the overcrowded 4-day route up the frontside. Fly fisherman are advised to bring a rod as the native Golden Trout are plentiful in the lakes and streams we'll be camping by.
Accommodations: One night double occupancy in Lone Pine, Ca. Five nights are spent in tents. Tent space is budgeted at two people per tent.
Grade: Strenuous: on- and off-trail backpacking on uneven terrain with steep grades. These trips are similar in character to those in the difficult category, but are longer in duration. This significantly compounds both the physical and mental challenges of the trip. Because these types of trips have a required mileage to complete each day, the level of commitment is high. These trips spend significant time at higher elevations. For the SHR specifically, participants should be comfortable rock scrambling with a backpack up to class 3. We travel between 6 and 11 miles daily and rarely drop below 9,000 feet.
Equipment: SYMG can supply all needed personal and group camping equipment (backpacks, sleeping bags, ground pads, tents) if requested on the registration form. There is no additional cost for this service.
Meals: All meals are provided while in the backcountry. We take pride in providing excellent meals even in remote surroundings.
Preparation: Hike, hike and hike some more. The Sierra High Route is a committing trip where you have minimum mileage each day. Endurance is the key to your enjoyment. Participants should have experience on long backpacks such as the John Muir Trail, Trans Sierra Trail or on other significant undertakings. You should be aerobically and cardiovascularly fit, and should train by working out, carrying weight (up to 40 lbs), and hiking stadium bleachers up & down. Examples of getting prepared include: Hiking on and off-trail immediately prior to the trip; participating in longer backpacks along the JMT, TST or along other high country trails. Reading “The Guide to the Sierra High Route” by Steve Roper may also be helpful.
Group Size: 3-6 clients, 2 guides.
Includes:
Lodging on night 1, all meals provided from breakfast on day 2-lunch on day 7, all gear needed, wilderness permit, guides.
Excludes:
Personal gear, tips for guides (10-20% of trip fee), transportation, optional single supplement for lodging on arrival day.
Day by Day Itinerary
Day 1
Day 2
Day 3
Day 4
Day 5
Day 6
Day 7
About The Operator:
Southern Yosemite Mountain Guides, Inc.
Headquarters:
Bass Lake, California
Established:
January 1991
Voted by National Geographic Advenutre Magazine in 2007-2009 "Best Outfitter Earth" and the "Best Adventure Travel Company," Southern Yosemite Mountain Guides has shown thousands of people the beauty of the mountains and wild places in Yosemite National Park, the Ansel Adams and John Muir Wilderness, Sequoia & Kings Canyon Nat'l Parks, and the Eastern Sierra region. SYMG is a leader in the active travel and mountain guiding world, providing carefully planned and operated trips and programs in the most spectacular Wilderness areas ofCalifornia. Programs and courses include hiking, backpacking, rock climbing, and fly fishing; and haven't changed much over the years.
There's a reason for this. The style of trip offered, the locations and times of the year in which the trips or courses run, the types of meals chosen, itineraries, and your guides; all contribute to the quality of your experience. Our trips are highlighted in the following pages. Visit Our Trips for daily itineraries, gear lists, and reviews. Visit Reservations for availability and registration. Or, call our office and talk with us. We look forward to speaking with you, and meeting you soon.
Southern Yosemite Mountain Guides, Inc operates under special use permits in Sierra National Forest, Inyo National Forest, Stanislaus National Forest, Yosemite National Park, and Sequoia/Kings Canyon National Parks and is a bonded and licensed fly fishing guide service with the CA Department of Fish and Game. All SYMG rock courses are instructed by certified PCGI instructors and AMGA trained guides. SYMG is also a proud member of Trout Unlimited, the Worldwide Outfitters and Guides Association, and the Sierra Club.