Aid 105 High Adventure Team Trek San Diego-Imperial Council Boy Scouts of America Page Intentionally Left Blank Contents INTRODUCTION ..................................................................................................................................................................................... 1 BACKGROUND ............................................................................................................................................................................................ 2 HIGH ADVENTURE AWARDS .......................................................................................................................................................................... 3 General Requirements ...................................................................................................................................................................... 3 High Sierra Backpack Indicator Segments ...................................................................................................................................... 5 High Sierra Trek Award ..................................................................................................................................................................... 6 Pacific Crest Trail Backpacking .......................................................................................................................................................... 6 Pacific Crest Trail 15-Mile Footprint ............................................................................................................................................... 7 Sierra North ...................................................................................................................................................................................... 7 Sierra South ....................................................................................................................................................................................... 8 14,495 Club - Mt. Whitney Climb ...................................................................................................................................................... 8 High Sierra Trail ............................................................................................................................................................................... 9 Giant Forest to Mineral King ........................................................................................................................................................................... 9 Mineral King to Mt. Whitney .......................................................................................................................................................................... 9 John Muir Trail Award ................................................................................................................................................................... 10 Other Related High Adventure Awards ........................................................................................................................................ 10 WILDERNESS PERMIT AND RESERVATION REQUIREMENTS ............................................................................................................................. 11 Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest ................................................................................................................................................. 11 Inyo National Forest ........................................................................................................................................................................ 11 Inyo National Forest – Mt. Whitney Zone ....................................................................................................................................... 12 Sequoia National Forest .................................................................................................................................................................. 12 Sequoia-Kings Canyon National Park .............................................................................................................................................. 13 Yosemite National Park ................................................................................................................................................................... 13 California Campfire Permits .......................................................................................................................................................... 13 TREK PLANNING AND PREPARATION ............................................................................................................................................................. 14 WEATHER & WINTER ACTIVITIES ................................................................................................................................................................. 15 WATER ................................................................................................................................................................................................... 16 WILDERNESS PHILOSOPHY & COURTESY........................................................................................................................................................ 17 FOOD PROTECTION ................................................................................................................................................................................... 18 HIGH SIERRA TREK SELECTION ................................................................................................................................................................... 18 REFERENCES ............................................................................................................................................................................................ 19 TRAIL GUIDE INFORMATION ........................................................................................................................................................................ 21 Twin Lakes to Tuolumne Meadows .................................................................................................................................................................. 22 Yosemite Valley to Red's Meadow .................................................................................................................................................................. 23 Red's Meadow to Rock Creek ........................................................................................................................................................................... 26 Rock Creek to North Lake ................................................................................................................................................................................. 28 North Lake to South Lake ................................................................................................................................................................................. 30 South Lake to Onion Valley .............................................................................................................................................................................. 32 Onion Valley to Whitney Portal ........................................................................................................................................................................ 34 Cottonwood Lakes to Whitney Portal .............................................................................................................................................................. 36 Crescent Meadow to Whitney Portal ............................................................................................................................................................... 38 APPENDIX A: WILDERNESS TRAIL NAMES AND QUOTAS FOR INYO NATIONAL FOREST ............................................................................................ 40 Trek Aid 105 Scouting High Sierra Treks ©2017 High Adventure Team San Diego-Imperial Council BSA Page Intentionally Left Blank Trek Aid 105 Scouting High Sierra Treks ©2017 High Adventure Team San Diego-Imperial Council BSA Trek Aid 105 Scouting INTRODUCTION High Sierra Treks Trek Aid No. 105, Scouting High Sierra Treks, was developed to provide specific information to enjoy outdoor Scouting Activities in the High Sierra Mountains, extending from Twin Lakes to the north, Cottonwood Lakes to the south, and Yosemite and Sequoia National Parks to the west. Information is provided on award requirements, trail locations and distances, camping opportunities, general preparations, and overall training and background data. A list of references is also provided that may add to the enjoyment and safety of the outdoor experience. Trek Aid No. 105 is a publication of the High Adventure Team of the San Diego- Imperial Council, Boy Scouts of America (BSA). Comments, corrections and suggestions are welcome. Write or email: Chairman, High Adventure Team San Diego-Imperial Council Boy Scouts of America 1207 Upas Street San Diego, CA 92103 Website: http://highadventure.sdicbsa.org/index.html Email: [email protected] Trek Aid 105 Scouting High Sierra Treks 1 | Page Sierra Nevada Background The Sierra Nevada Mountains of California consist of a single, large tilted block Mountains