Welcome to the forum for local and long-distance backpackers along the Sierra Crest between Lake Tahoe and Mount Whitney. Forums cover Sierra trails and
general
backpacking topics. Your trail or topic contributions will be interlinked to, and enrich the related trail guide.
for Beginners: To get you off the couch, gear you up, get you into Sierra Shape and on the trail. Ask questions. Find killer short routes up and down the High Sierra Crest to get you started.
for Intermediates: To get you in deeper, longer, and higher. Find your next-step trip here. Post your stories, pictures, and videos of your favorite trips to widen the perspective and enrich the trail guide.
for Experts: All the information you need to come from anywhere in the US or the world and backpack from Tahoe to Whitney.
Backpacking: Cold Water Survival Reference, Yukon Man
Backpacking Survival: Cold Water and self rescue from frozen lakes. Resources and References. Great information link to Yukon Man's cold water survival page. Check out the first video on Yukon Man's Cold Water Survival page. Also links to TahoetoWhitney frozen lake escape account.
Yukon Man's Cold Water rescue and survival videos and information
Spring Snow Survival Issues in the High Sierras: Weak Ice, Soft Snow, and Spring Runoff
High Sierra Winter temperatures have been rising for quite a few years now. During mid-Winter this has created a softer, wetter environment. This softer snow has made Winter travel more difficult, and the wetter snow makes for wetter backpackers, which makes it more difficult to retain warmth.
Rather than experiencing snow so cold that it is "dry," recent high Winter temperatures have made for soggy, and even wet experiences. Wet snow is much more dangerous than dry snow for Winter Backpackers.
Oceans Emptied as Populations Soar
Fishing fleet working 17 times harder than in 1880s to make same catch, University of York, April 10, 2010
As the fish stocks, as well as water resources, energy, and arable land have been consumed, our population has soared.
This indicates that the trail we are on, the trail of unlimited growth in people, enhanced by the unlimited growth of consumption, is reaching its natural limits, which brings the philosophical basis of our growth into question.
Environment Research from Purdue: Too hot to backpack?
This research from Purdue explores the outer limits of the reach of global warming. This is a bit refreshing, as the scientists studying short and long term global weather changes have consistently misjudged the nature of the problem, while simultanously underestimating the problem itself.
BAD WATER: Who did it?
High Sierra Backpacker's Water Information:
This article explores who is polluting the water in the Sierras with nasty microbes.
Coliform bacteria in Sierra Nevada wilderness lakes and streams: what is the impact of backpackers, pack animals, and cattle? Derlet RW, Carlson JR. (Wilderness Environ Med. 2006 Spring;17(1):15-20.)
Risk factors for coliform bacteria in backcountry lakes and streams in the Sierra Nevada mountains: a 5-year study.
High Sierra Backpacker's Water Information:
Risk factors for coliform bacteria in backcountry lakes and streams in the Sierra Nevada mountains: a 5-year study. Derlet RW, Ger KA, Richards JR, Carlson JR. (Wilderness Environ Med. 2008 Summer;19(2):82-90.)
Backpacking in Yosemite and Kings Canyon National Parks and neighboring wilderness areas: how safe is the water to drink?
High Sierra Backpacker's Water Information:
Backpacking in Yosemite and Kings Canyon National Parks and neighboring wilderness areas: how safe is the water to drink? Derlet RW. (J Travel Med. 2008 Jul-Aug;15(4):209-15.)
Reducing the impact of summer cattle grazing on water quality in the Sierra Nevada Mountains of California: a proposal.
High Sierra Backpacker's Water Information:
Abstract:
Reducing the impact of summer cattle grazing on water quality in the Sierra Nevada Mountains of California: a proposal, Derlet RW, Goldman CR, Connor MJ. (J Water Health. 2010 Jun;8(2):326-33. Epub 2009 Nov 9.)
Surface water quality along the Central John Muir Trail in the Sierra Nevada Mountains: coliforms and algae.
High Sierra Backpacker's Water Information:
Information on water quality for John Muir Trail backpackers
Abstract
Surface water quality along the Central John Muir Trail in the Sierra Nevada Mountains: coliforms and algae, Ursem C, Evans CS, Ger KA, Richards JR, Derlet RW. (High Alt Med Biol. 2009 Winter;10(4):349-55.)
Backpacker Environmental News: Livestock waste found to foul Sierra waters
High Sierra Backpacker's Water Information:
For all of us who have backpacked long and hard to reach a beautiful lake, and found it surrounded by cow-pies, and the water a greenish, foul smelling gunk, this article based on research by Dr. Derlet at UC Davis, is no surprise.
