[pct-l] Off the beaten path...."ONCE BITTEN FOREVER HOOKED"

Fri Apr 10 09:01:36 CDT 2009

Reinhold,

I most definitely have to agree with you about the beauty of our "Range of 
Light."

Though I have not been to all the mountain ranges in the world, and I know 
that each holds its own awesome flavor, The High Sierra is second only to 
the Alps of Switzerland and Austria and only because of their huge elevation 
differences there. What I love is to be able to venture into a mountain 
chain and, virtually, get lost in all its convolutions of valleys and 
ridges, where everywhere you turn is a new sight, a new valley with its 
jagged-peak sentries, and when you stand atop one of those, there is so much 
"air" below your feet that the elevation difference between the valley and 
where you are takes your breathe away! Just like when you stand on top of 
Whitney and look everywhere but East and all the mountains just roll out 
from your feet as far as you can see. The Sierra is not a single chain of 
peaks winding North like the Divide. If you go into Sequoia-Kings without a 
map and plan on exploring for a while, you may not come out (bring extra 
food and lots of film!)

Mtnned
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Reinhold Metzger" <reinholdmetzger at cox.net>
To: <pct-l at backcountry.net>; "Stephen" <reddirt2 at earthlink.net>
Sent: Friday, April 10, 2009 1:24 AM
Subject: [pct-l] Off the beaten path...."ONCE BITTEN FOREVER HOOKED"

> Yes,
> There is so much to see, so many peaks to bag, one could spend a lifetime 
> exploring the Sierra
> and never see it all...that's why I never made it to Canada...I always get 
> stuck in the Sierra.
>
> The Sierra is like a beautiful woman...."ONCE BITTEN, FOREVER HOOKED".
>
> Boy, did I ever get bitten good....she got me about 40 years ago and I 
> still keep coming back
> for more.
> Yes, maybe it's best for the thrus to just keep on moving down the trail, 
> for "once bitten,
> forever hooked", and they will never make it to Canada.
>
> JMT Reinhold
> The Sierra addict
> -----------------------------------
>
> Stephen wrote:
>
> Ha !!!
> And here has always been my dilema expressed quite indirectly by the last
> few responses...
> The Sierra is in your face awsome.  But the problem for thru hikers is it 
> is
> long.  Side trips while a nice thought will probably not be many if any.
> Plan a resupply at Independence and you'll get a nice fairy easy hike over
> the Eastern crest.  Mt Gould right off Keasarge pass is a nice easy climb
> and has a decent view and wouldn't take too much time, about an hour or 45
> min up.  The summit blocks are really fun class three.  Split Mt is very
> close to and just sout east of Mather Pass, takes approx 2 hours to
> hike/scramble up from the big lake just off the JMT/PCT.  Figure half a 
> day.
> This peaks is 14,003' about and has a very good view and the area, Upper
> Basin, is one of the premier areas of the Sierra with easy cross country.
> Farther along north, also just off the trail south of Muir Pass is Black
> Giant.  Both Split and Black are walk up climbs (class 1).  You go over 
> some
> easy cross country to get to Black Giant Pass and then on up to the 
> summit.
> Though not extememly high, Black Giant rates quite high on the oh my god
> view scale.  That one is about a couple hours from trail to summit 
> probably
> at the most.  There are also a couple peaks right off Muir Pass like Mt
> Solomons.
> There's so much to see and do, esspecially if into climbing, photography, 
> or
> fishing that one may never make it to Canada. Better to just ramble on 
> thru
> and stick to the trail.  I've met many thru-hikers who say something like,
> "wow, wish we could stay and look around more, but got to be gettin on up
> the trail."
> -----------------------------------------
>
> Gary wrote:
> There is so much..................
> -----------------------------------------
>
> Reinhold wrote:
> /
> Giggles,
> // While in the Sierra, on the JMT-PCT section, you should of course 
> consider
> // bagging Mt. Whitney,
> // 14,494 and Mt. Langley, 14,027 just south of Whitney and west of Rock
> // Creek.
> // The Sixty Lake Basin just east of Rae Lakes is well worth seeing.
> // And Banner, 12,936 and Ritter, 13143 and the Minarets towering over 
> Garnet
> // & Thousand Island
> // Lakes are some of the most sparkling jewels of the Sierra and are
> // definitely worth exploring.
> // You should also consider camping at Rae, Garnet, and Thousand Island
> // Lakes, for they are truly
> // some of the most beautiful lakes in the Sierra.
> // Enjoy your hike and savor the Sierra....truly one of the most beautiful 
> &
> // spectacular mountain
> // range in the world.
> //
> // JMT Reinhold
> // ---------------------------------
>
> // Shutterbug wrote:
>
> // Bag the highest peaks in the three ranges in SoCal- the three saints
> // Section B
> // San Jacinto 10486ft----- 6 or so miles off the PCT - easiest and most
> // maintained from Saddle Junction ---- even hike over the the Palm 
> Springs
> // Tram
> // Section C
> // San Gorgonio 11585ft ----- dirt road walk to Fish Creek TH and then 
> summit
> // on maintained trail from there.  Highest in SoCal 8 miles from fish 
> creek
> // Section D
> // San Antonio (Mt Baldy) 10064ft- before Acorn Trail to Wrightwood take 
> the
> // Devils Back Bone Trail - over Pine and Dawson Mountains and up Mt 
> Baldy.
> // Some up and down saddles between peaks and very steep.  In some spots 
> some
> // severe drop offs of 1000 ft while walking on the spinte  Trail is not
> // maintained anymore but is fairly well marked when not snow covered. 
> About
> // 6 miles and 5000 ft gain from PCT and by far my favorite way to the 
> top.
>
> //// All three of these
> ----------------------------
>
> // giggles wrote:
>
> //////// I have this fantasy that I'll have so much energy and time this 
> summer
> // that I can take my time on the hike.  I'd like to see some areas on the
> // wider pct corridor.  What are some favorite spots within a day hike or
> // overnighter off of the pct?
> //
> //Thanks,
> //giggles
> /
> /
> /
>
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