Teen Backpacking in California's High Emigrant Wilderness

The Trip

This moderately paced co-ed trip is for teens aged 13-17 in good physical condition who enjoy camping, hiking, and being outdoors. (Please read the Itinerary and Trip Difficulty sections to see if you can perform well and enjoy this trip. Our average walking speed will be 1.5-2.0 miles per hour.) This is a backpacking trip where we will hike all but one day, moving from campsite to campsite, carrying on our backs everything we need to thrive in the wilderness. And we mean WILDERNESS! No showers. No toilets. No cell service. No electricity. Just us!

The Emigrant Wilderness provides many great lakes for swimming, streams, and lakes for fishing (California fishing license not required for those under 16), and peaks for “bagging” for those so inclined. We will emphasize Leave No Trace hiking and camping, share the responsibility of preparing meals, develop some wilderness travel skills, and have plenty of time for just having fun.

Our trip doesn't exceed 10,800 feet elevation, but we will enjoy spectacular and classic mountain panoramas. From our far northern promontory amid the last high ridges of the High Sierra, we see the shining topography of Yosemite's north boundary country spread at our feet, from Tower Peak to Matterhorn Mountain. Although our peaks and passes may lack the craggy awe of the southern Sierra, they do not fail of interest, beauty, solitude, or grandeur.

The more northerly days of our journey, through the Emigrant Wilderness of Sonora Pass, cross a lunar wonderland of ash, pumice, and obsidian. Proceeding south into Yosemite National Park, the terrain changes to a colorful volcanic overlay that has been glacier-scoured, leaving mirror slabs of polished granite. Both rocks have their attractions. Volcanic soils yield superior wildflowers while granite makes for comfy camping and easy cross-country slab walking.

Sierra Club leaders and assistants of youth-oriented outings are subject to additional leadership requirements. These requirements include undergoing criminal background checks and participating in child abuse recognition and prevention training. The most important aspect of any National Sierra Club outing is the health and safety of each participant.

We graciously travel through the land where the Sierra Me-Wok lived for 10,000 years. They would spend the summer and early autumn hunting in the high country and trading with the Piute tribe of the Great Basin from the eastern side of the Sierra Nevada. During the gold rush in 1848, settlers pushed out the indigenous populations to make room for mining activities.

The itinerary described here should be taken as a general plan; the actual route and schedule may well be different. How far we get each day and where we camp depends on the weather, how we feel, and other factors outside of our control. Flexibility is important.

Day 1: We will meet in the late afternoon at a campground near Kennedy Meadows Resort, off Route 108. We will have time to acclimate, get to know one another, weigh packs, distribute group gear, and discuss trip procedures, before setting up camp and having our first group meal together. Several invited parents who volunteer to help shuttle the group to the trailhead will be among us for the evening. 

Day 2: We rise early, eat a quick breakfast, pack our gear, and head for the trailhead parking lot at Sonora Pass by 9:00 a.m. Then it is goodbye cars and pavement, hello backpacking. Our route is straight south of Sonora Pass (9,643 ft) on the PCT (Pacific Crest Trail), a short five to six miles to Latopie Lake. The trail winds through an open “moonscape” of pumice summits. Our first night of camping at ~6,000 feet elevation will help us acclimate. However, this first day of climbing to Sonora Pass may feel difficult to most coming from sea level. (5-6 miles, +1,725 ft / -990 ft)

Day 3: We continue south on the PCT past the Leavitt Lake and Kennedy Canyon junctions and then along a high traverse to “Big Sam Peak” (10,800 ft), before dropping into camp at High Emigrant Lake (9,700 ft). This is our most difficult day. (~10 miles, +2,140 ft / -2,820 ft) 

Day 4: Into the wild -- the cross-country, that is. After making our way down to Emigrant Pass (9,650 ft), we leave the trail and traverse numerous smooth, granite slabs, crossing the headwaters and a tributary of the West Fork West Walker River on our descent to Grizzly Lake. Staying high and continuing off-trail where wildflowers abound, we watch for wildlife as we descend to our layover camp at Bonnie Lake (9,390 ft). (Depending on the route, 5-7 miles)

Day 5: Layover! A pack-less day to explore the many sub-alpine lakes, including Bonnie, Harriet, Cora, Helen, Ruth, and Stella lakes, affectionately dubbed the “Lady Lakes.” Forsyth Peak (11,177 ft) is right next door and a temptingly easy walk-up.

Day 6: Two passes today -- Dorothy Lake (9,520 ft) and Bond (9,730 ft) -- and both are back on the trail. We cross into Yosemite National Park at Dorothy Lake Pass on the PCT. Then we head north back into the Emigrant Wilderness at Bond Pass on the Tahoe Yosemite Trail before heading for camp near Emigrant Meadow Lake. (~6.5 miles, +1,060 feet / -1,060 feet)

Day 7: We go over Brown Bear Pass (9,750 ft), renowned for its contorted whitebark pines and a stellar view of the Emigrant Lakes Basin, before dropping into Summit Creek and camping near Relief Reservoir. (~8 miles +956 ft / -3,057 ft)

Day 8: Our hike out will take us along the middle fork of the Stanislaus River to Kennedy Meadows Resort. (~4.5 miles, +800 ft / -1,800 ft)

Getting There

We will meet at a predetermined campground near Kennedy Meadows Resort, Sonora Pass Road, California Route 108 at 3:00 p.m. The leaders plan to camp in the area and teens (and parents) are welcome to camp with us (more information on this option will be provided via email before the trip). Pinecrest Campground accepts reservations while other area campgrounds are available on a first-come, first-served basis only.

If you are flying, the most convenient airports to fly into are Reno, Sacramento, San Francisco, San Jose, and Oakland. Plan on a five-hour drive from San Francisco, a four-hour drive from Sacramento, or a three-hour drive from Reno. It is important to have your ride to and from the trailhead arranged well before the start date. A departure email will be sent out before the trip with detailed driving directions for parents or legal guardians.

Please do not make travel arrangements until the leader has confirmed you as a trip member. We also recommend that you do not plan to fly on the last day of the trip, as we cannot guarantee completing the trip at a specific time.

Accommodations and Food

The first trip meal is dinner on our first night. The last meal will be lunch on the final day. The Sierra Club will provide all meals and snacks. Vegetarians are welcome provided we know in advance. Cooking and clean-up duties will be shared by all members of the group on a rotating basis. All our food will be carried in Sierra Club-provided bear-proof canisters. Please do not bring any extra food, such as snacks, as it will not fit in the stuffed-to-capacity canisters.

Trip Difficulty

This trip is rated a 3 out of 5 (Moderate) and is designed specifically for teens. You must have the ability to carry your gear plus 14-16 pounds of group gear. While prior backpacking experience is not a prerequisite for the trip, proper equipment, a positive attitude, and adequate conditioning are essential for your enjoyment and the success of the group effort. We may have to cross snowfields that linger far into the summer and there will be stream crossings. We will backpack a total of 42 miles for the trip, including 5 miles of cross-country travel plus optional day hikes on our layover day. Daily mileage will range from five to ten miles. Most days we will be hiking for 5-6 hours on the trail including breaks. Our campsites will be between 8,400 feet and 10,400 feet. The highest point on the trip will be 10,870 feet, where we first enter the wilderness two and a half miles past Sonora Pass.

Participants must be in good physical condition. Hiking, running, and cycling are good training activities. Adding a fully loaded backpack to your training hikes will help to build muscles specific to backpacking. An overnight backpack trip before our trip would be part of good preparation and give you a chance to test out your gear. Leader approval is required. Please complete and return the approval and other forms within 30 days of signing up for the trip. A parent or guardian must sign the liability waiver and medical release forms. The leader will arrange a telephone call to discuss the trip with each participant before approval. The leader is happy to discuss the trip and answer any questions parents may have before signing up or during the approval process.

The High Sierra is well known for its excellent summer weather; however, extended storms can occur at any time of the year. Afternoon thunderstorms, with sudden cloudbursts of wind, rain, hail, and even snow, are not uncommon. Be prepared for extremes: high temperatures during the day can exceed 80 degrees and fall into the low 30s at night.

Equipment and Clothing

The Sierra Club will provide food and group equipment, including stoves, pots, bear-proof canisters, cooking utensils, fuel, etc. Keep your gear at or below 20 pounds so that, with the addition of 14-16 pounds of group equipment and food, your total pack weight will be 35 pounds or less at the start of the trip. You are responsible to provide and carry your own camping gear, clothing, toilet paper, trowel, etc.

Your pack must have room for group equipment, as well as your gear. Adequate packs are at least 60 liters capacity. Each participant's group load will be one food canister, plus additional non-food items such as a stove, fuel bottle, tarp, rope, pot set, or water filter. This is roughly equal to the size of a full paper grocery sack. Tent sharing, to save weight, is encouraged and will be facilitated by the leader ahead of time. Packs will be weighed at the trailhead.

Major equipment such as sleeping bags, packs, and tents can often be rented. The leader is happy to provide advice on suitable gear. We will give each participant a new Sierra Club whistle (bring your lanyard) and a small bottle of hand sanitizer. The leader will send a list of required and optional equipment after you sign up for the trip.

If you use a phone for taking pictures, be aware that phones have limited battery life. To extend the battery life, the device should be fully charged before trip departure and placed in airplane mode. It is recommended the phone not be used for other activities such as listening to music or reading unless you have a backup battery. We will be out of cell phone range during the trip; however, the leader carries a satellite device for emergencies.

References

Maps: 

It is recommended, but not required, that participants carry one of the following:

Books: 

To provide additional information on the Emigrant Wilderness area before the trip:

Conservation

The Sierra Club is an environmental organization. Part of the Sierra Club's mission is “to explore, enjoy, and protect the wild places of the earth.” While a dedicated professional staff provides aid and support, much of the work of the Club is carried out by volunteers at the grassroots level. One of the goals of the outings program is to educate and motivate trip members to be active participants in advocating for the environment.

In 1931, the Forest Service designated the Emigrant Basin Primitive Area to protect this unique landscape. The Wilderness Act of 1964 established the National Wilderness Preservation System “to secure for the American people of present and future generations the benefits of an enduring source of wilderness.” On January 4, 1975, the Emigrant Wilderness became part of that system.

Wilderness stewardship means managing the effects of human activities on wilderness values, such as naturalness and solitude. Certain uses are allowed by the Wilderness Act, among them recreation and grazing. All such activities, however, must be carried out in a way that does not degrade wilderness values. We will discuss and practice Leave No Trace principles during our trip so that we do not cause any unnecessary negative impact in the Emigrant Wilderness or Yosemite National Park during our trip.

You will have the opportunity to share your thoughts and impressions of wilderness and what you can do to be a good steward of our natural heritage -- not just while backpacking, but throughout the year. Be prepared also to share your thoughts about what type of environment and planet you will be inheriting. What will it be like when you are 30? How will we power our cars, heat our homes, thrive in a more crowded world, etc?

Sierra Club National Outings is an equal opportunity provider and when applicable will operate under permits obtained from U.S. federal land agencies. Sierra Club Outings operates this activity under a U.S. Forest Service special use permit in the Stanislaus National Forest.