Welcome to the High Sierra Backpacker's Magazine, including forums for local and long-distance hikers sharing info about hiking the Sierra between Tahoe and Whitney.
This Magazine covers everything Sierra. Its Forums cover TYT, PCT, & JMT and alt-route hiker input from the Guide. The Tahoe to Whitney Trail Guide explores the trails & the necessary skills, fitness, and gear required to hike from Tahoe to Whitney. This evolving Magazine covers Current Conditions, News, the Arts, Sciences, Physicality, Spirituality, Gear, Environment, History, and Cultures of hiking Tahoe to Whitney.
Purposes: Expand Knowledge, Explore Potential
for Beginners: To get you off the couch, gear you up, get you into Sierra Shape, and onto the High Sierra Trails. Find info. Ask questions, get feedback, generate self-understanding and terrain awareness. Find killer short routes up and down the High Sierra Crest.
for Backpackers: Get you in deeper, longer, and higher. Train for the long trails. Find your next-steps trips. Hit the Long Trails. Hike the TYT and JMT. Find and explore side trails, alternative, and cross-country routes until you hike your skills into Winter compentency. Explore your potential.
for Experts: The information to come from anywhere in the US or world and backpack from Tahoe to Whitney. The Sierra Nevada is the ultimate wonderland for expert backpackers in top shape. But don't get cocky! The Sierra is bigger, stronger, and has been, and will be here much longer than any of us.
Donnell Fire Controversy Begins before Fire's Out
DONNELL FIRE CONTROVERSY BEGINS
This Incident and Forest Management Policy, Generally
Donnell Fire estimated 20 percent contained,
Union Democrat, August 13, 2018.
Kennedy Meadows
"The Donnell Fire had grown to more than 44 square miles as of Monday afternoon and it was estimated to be about a half-mile from Kennedy Meadows Resort & Pack Station..."
Kennedy Meadows
"A key for the continued survival of the historic Kennedy Meadows resort is the fire has so far remained north of Highway 108 on the east edges of the fire, while the resort and pack station are south of the paved road."
Today's Fire Map, the 14th, (Facecrook)
Carson Iceberg Wilderness Backpacking Map
Dardanelles Resort Gone
"The main store-restaurant building at Dardanelles Resort burned to the ground Aug. 5 in the Brightman Flat area."
August 2018 All High Sierra News Index
LATEST HIGH SIERRA TRAIL NEWS
BELOW
LATEST HIGH SIERRA GENERAL NEWS
BELOW
Latest
High Sierra Backpacker's News
Man and Nature
August, 2018
Happenings in the relationship between Man and Nature affecting our hike down life's trail through both worlds. We study both the reality created by humans and the uncreated reality reflected in, and tended by Nature.
The vast majority of our reporting on Nature comes from the American Association of Scientists summarizations of each day's bounty of the peer-reviewed research published by academic institutions and journals around the world.
DONNELL FIRE CLOSES PCT between HWYs 108 & 4-and now-CARSON ICEBERG WILDERNESS
DONNELL FIRE INFORMATION
Updated August 14
Serious SMOKE Hazard Conditions
ALL SMOKE RESOURCES
Latest
DONNELL FIRE
News
August 14
News Article of Interest
Donnell Fire Controversy Begins before Fire's Out
8 am
25% Contained
Today's Fire Map (Facecrook)
"...create a piece of indirect line from Haypress to Kennedy Meadow that would be utilized for a planed firing operation to halt the spread of fire towards several structures and a resort."
2018 Fire News, FERGUSON-CARR-DONNELL-MENDO Fires
Started July 16, Updated the 14th
FIRE NEWS
FERGUSON-CARR-MENDO-DONNELL
-CRANSTON-
FIRES
The Latest
Updated News, Smoke, & Fire Info Below
All Fed Fire Info
Inciweb
All State Fire Info
Calfire
Serious Hazard Conditions
ALL SMOKE RESOURCES
HUGE FIRES
Specific Fed & State Status Reports
86% Contained
Yosemite Valley Opened on the 14th
Yosemite Valley to Open on the 14th, announced August 10.
Yosemite Valley Closed Indefinitely, August 5th.
HIGH SIERRA ROAD NEWS: June Lake Loop Closed. UPDATED: NO RESTRICTIONS
UPDATED AUGUST 11
Caltrans Reports
NO RESTRICTIONS
Original Story
ROAD NEWS
June Lake Loop Closed
Portion of State Route 158 closed due to mudslide,
Sierra Wave, July 31, 2018.
“...closed between Silver Lake and Grant Lake. The official location is 7.3 miles south of the north junction of SR 158 & US Hwy 395. A large mud slide is covering a large portion of the highway. Caltrans crews and CHP are on site directing traffic. The highway will remain closed overnight and the situation will be reassessed in the morning.”
Caltrans
Trail Guide
USGS TOPO Hiking Map
Donohue to Island Passes, including trails to June Lake
Trail Guide & Schematic Map
High Sierra Backpacking: Twin Lakes-Benson Lake Loop, July 14 to July 21, 2018 Trip Report
Trip Report
Bensen Lake Loop
July 14 – 21, 2018
Time & Distance
Eight Nights
Around 54 miles
Trail Guide
Bensen Lake Loop Regional Map of North Yosemite Backcountry
WEATHER for High Sierra Backpackers: REPORTS, FORECASTS, PREDICTIONS, SNOW, ROADS, CONDITIONS
HIGH SIERRA WEATHER RESOURCES
First
Key Quick Reference
Current Visible Satellite View of the Whole Sierra Nevada Range .jpg)
Above:
Current National Weather Service 3 KM VISIBLE
Sierra Nevada Mountains.
Visible Northern California & the Sierra
FIRES OF 2018
2018: The New Normal Emerges in California, July Hottest Month EVER
ECO-CRASH NEWS
The New Normal Emerging in California
July 2018 Warmest Month in California History; Unprecedented Early-Season Wildfire Activity Continues,
Weather West, August 9, 2018.
MAIN POINTS
Early July Heatwave
"July 2018 was an extraordinary weather month across most of California. Early in the month, a searing heatwave brought all-time record heat to some locations in Southern California."
High Temp July
"...extreme heat receded somewhat during the rest of the month, temperatures never cooled back to anywhere near average, and the past 3-4 weeks have been punctuated by heatwaves that have broken countless daily temperature records."
Nighttime Highs
"...a number of more “subtle” temperature records have fallen this July, with all-time record warm overnight temperatures occurring across a majority of the state and “consecutive 100+ degree day” records falling through parts of the Central Valley. Death Valley apparently recorded the warmest single month officially recorded anywhere on Earth."
How the Devils Straws is Really “Working:” Political Arrogance, Corruption, Lying, and Cheating
WATER SCAM
Draining California Dry
How the Devils Straws-(Corporate Politics)-Really “Works”
Water Policy
California Focus: Colossal arrogance in the 'water fix' tunnels,
Hanford Sentinel, August 7, 2018.
MAIN POINTS
Structural, Institutionalized Corruption
"...there is no part of government in this state more arrogant than the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California."
Bribed Politicians Bribe Other Politicians
"After substantial lobbying by Brown, the MWD’s governing board without a public vote this summer committed millions of its customers to pay a large share of the project’s costs."
Funding Private Profits
"...added water charges for millions of customers are pretty much assured."
Free Money
"Agricultural water districts in the San Joaquin Valley that stand to benefit most were reluctant to make similar commitments."
HEALTH & FITNESS: Salt is not Bad for You
HEALTH & FITNESS
Salt is Not Bad for You
Pass the salt: Study finds average consumption safe for heart health,
McMaster University, August 9, 2018.
MAIN POINTS
NO SALT RISK
"New research shows that for the vast majority of individuals, sodium consumption does not increase health risks except for those who eat more than five grams a day, the equivalent of 2.5 teaspoons of salt."
NO SALT RISK
"Any health risk of sodium intake is virtually eliminated if people improve their diet quality by adding fruits, vegetables, dairy foods, potatoes, and other potassium rich foods."
Big Study
"...followed 94,000 people, aged 35 to 70, for an average of eight years in communities from 18 countries around the world and found there an associated risk of cardiovascular disease and strokes only where the average intake is greater than five grams of sodium a day."
Only China
"China is the only country in their study where 80 per cent of communities have a sodium intake of more than five grams a day."
CLIMATE WARMING NEWS: Heat Dangers Rising, Will Drive Thousands to ER
CLIMATE CRASH NEWS
Heat Dangers Rising, Many Will Suffer
New study predicts warming climate will drive thousands to ER for heat illness,
AGU Blog, August 7, 2018
MAIN POINTS
Expensive Dangers Ahead
"...a new study predicts that in the coming decades the United States’ heat problem will grow more dangerous and expensive."
Today's Emission Trajectory
"...suggests a warming climate will drive thousands more people into emergency rooms across the country and could cost tens of millions more dollars in treatment by 2050."
Reduced Emission Trajectory
"...U.S. emergency rooms could see 28,000 more hyperthermia visits annually by 2050, which could cost roughly as much as $52 million. Extended to 2090, the annual number of visits for hyperthermia could increase by up to 65,000, costing up to $118 million."
Chart
Health Threats of Warming Temps
"This table lists the various causes and ways in which climate change affects human health." Chart credit: U.S. Global Change Research Program.
PG&E Spends $1 Million+ on Bribes to Brown, Dims, & California officials to Evade Wildfire Laws
UPDATED STORY, August 1
How our Law & Environment are Really Managed
Open Bribery Finally Hinted at by Press, below
ORIGINAL STORY, July 26
How Politics Really Works
Jerry Brown: Corporate Whore of PGE
UPDATED STORY
How our Laws & Environment are Really Managed
Open Bribery
Finally Hinted at, But Still Left Unstated by Press
PG&E spends more than $1 million to lobby California officials on wildfire laws,
Sac Bee, August 1, 2018.
Evil Energy Empire
"PG&E spent $1.7 million on lobbying over three months this year as the utility pressured California officials to reduce its legal liability for wildfire property damages."
Empire of Bribes
Emigrant Wilderness Backpacking: Crabtree to Gem Lake, Deer Lake, and More
Backpacking Emigrant Wilderness
A fantastic 4 day Backpacking Trip into the Emigrant Wilderness from trailhead East of Pinecrest Lake near Highway 108.
Peter describes food resources there and back, roads, fishing, trail culture and terrain descriptions that make this a fantastic description of a fantastic backpacking trip.
Backpacking Trail into Emigrant Wilderness through Crabtree Trailhead
Thanks to Peter and Jason for sharing this!
Maps
Emigrant Wilderness NF PDF
All Tahoe to Whitney MAPS
INDEX
Emigrant Wilderness Backpacking Maps
PCT & TYT
Trailhead
Emigrant Wilderness Trailheads NF PDF
2018, Hot Times in SoCal: Record Warm Waters off Southern California
Hot Times in SoCal
Record Warm Waters off Southern California,
NASA Earth Observatory, August 8, 2018.
New Records in Water and Sky
"California has seen a range of natural extremes this summer, from heat waves to wildfires. The state can now add to the list record-warm ocean temperatures. On August 1, 2018, researchers from the Scripps Institution of Oceanography observed water temperatures of 25.9 degrees Celsius (78.6 degrees Fahrenheit) along the coast at La Jolla, exceeding the previous record of 25.8°C (78.4°F) set in 1931."
Scripps Pier Records Highest Ocean Temperature in its 102-year History
BIRD NEWS: New Normal of Death & Decline in Mojave
BIRD NEWS
New Normal of Death & Decline in Mojave
Mojave Desert birds crashed over the last century due to climate change,
University of California - Berkeley, August 7, 2018.
Desert Bird Populations Crashed-Crashing
"Bird communities in the Mojave Desert straddling the California/Nevada border have collapsed over the past 100 years, most likely because of lower rainfall due to climate change..."
43% of Mojave Site-Species Lost
"30 percent, or 39 of the 135 bird species that were there 100 years ago, are less common and less widespread today. The 61 sites surveyed lost, on average, 43 percent of the species that were there a century ago."
Losing Desert Ecosystems (and everywhere else, too)
"California deserts have already experienced quite a bit of drying and warming because of climate change, and this might be enough to push birds over the edge. It seems like we are losing part of the desert ecosystem."
2018 Tree Mortality Mitigation: Feds To Remove Millions Of Dead-Dying Trees From California’s Forests
FOREST NEWS
Tree Mortality Mitigation
BLM has a Plan
Feds Want To Remove Millions Of Dead And Dying Trees From California’s Forests,
Capital Public Radio, July 9, 2018.
"The federal Bureau of Land Management wants to remove dead and dying trees from 35 California counties, from Siskiyou to Santa Barbara."
"...this would include prescribed fires and “mastication” work, which is grinding up vegetation and making it less of a hazard."
"The agency estimates trees on between 2,500 and 20,000 acres of land could be cut down, burned, hauled away or chipped."
"BLM says there are 127 million dead and dying trees in California forests. Agencies working through California's Tree Mortality Task Force have removed 1.2 million since February 2015."
“The scope of the problem seems to be expanding.”
"...the plan is to pay particular attention to forest land near power lines, roads, private property and trails used for recreation."
2018: Green Water Widespread Across United States & Whole Northern Hemisphere
WATER SAFETY
Vast Summer 2012 Blue Green Algal Outbreaks across Northern Hemisphere
Three Reports: Western US, Northern Europe, Great Lakes and Florida
Green Water Widespread Across Western United States This Summer
Hot Weather, Land Abuses Fueling Algal Blooms in Western Waters,
Water Deeply, July 30, 2018.
"This summer has witnessed an explosion of algae problems in Western water bodies."
"Blooms are even popping up in unlikely places, such as high-elevation mountain lakes."
"No one knows precisely how often blooms occur because there is no monitoring of the problem on a national scale."
Environmental Working Group
"...EWG decided to gather their own data by recording how often algal blooms were mentioned in the news media...their resulting report, released in May, they documented 169 blooms in 2017 – up from 51 the year before."
Smoky Sunrise at Smedberg Lake
Smokey Sunrise at Smedberg Lake
North Yosemite Backcountry
From
Ted Morton's
Trip Report
July 14 – 21, 2018
Bensen Lake Loop
Day Five
The Ferguson Fire was picking up destructive force at this time
