Highway 395 is one of America’s most scenic drives. This view looking up at Mt. Whitney (center top) is one of the reasons why. I’ll be ending my thousand mile trek here. From the top I will hike down several thousand steep feet to Whitney Portal. Peggy plans on being with me for this section of the trail. The hills in the foreground are the Alabama Hills, the backdrop for many of Hollywood’s early Westerns.
The first 100-mile backpack trek I ever led was from Squaw Valley to Auburn in 1974. Considering I had 60 people age 11-70 with me and that I had minimal backpacking experience, it was an insane adventure. Our last 50 miles had involved hiking in and out of river canyons with temperatures soaring over 100 degrees F (37.8 C). As steep as the canyons had been, my learning curve was much steeper! I was lucky the participants didn’t kill me. Fortunately, most of them were eager to go again and I went on to lead long distance adventure treks up and down the Sierras and in Alaska for the next 30 years. I limited the participants to a number that was compatible with my sanity and the environment, stayed at higher/cooler elevations, and required that anyone under 16 be accompanied by an adult guardian.
The second half of my thousand mile backpack trip this summer starts at Donner Summit on old Highway 40, some 12 miles away from Squaw Valley. I once had access to a winter cabin in the area and it wasn’t unusual to have 20 or more feet of snow on the ground. The cabin was warm and cozy. The Donner Party of 1847 wasn’t nearly as fortunate. Caught by bad weather, they were forced to camp out for the winter at Donner Lake, seven miles down the road from the summit. By the time they were rescued, half of the group had perished and the remainder had been forced to turn to cannibalism to survive. I’ll make sure that there is plenty of food in my pack.
My journey from here on will all be in the Sierra Nevada Mountains. I will pass through a number of wilderness areas plus Yosemite National Park. My last 180 miles will be spent in what is known as the High Sierra, following the John Muir Trail. Here are some ‘eye candy’ photos to introduce you to the beauty of the route.
This photo is from the Granite Chief Wilderness. Squaw Valley, site of the 1960 Winter Olympics, is on the other side of the mountain. The field of yellow flowers is mule ears.
Looking south from Granite Chief, the mountains in the distance are part of Desolation Wilderness, that runs along the west side of Lake Tahoe.
The area is filled with flowers. These are monkey flowers.
And this is a Washington Lily.
Another view of the Desolation Wilderness.
Those who follow my post know I have a weakness for reflection shots. I took this ‘face’ at 4 Q Lakes in the Desolation Wilderness. It’s off the PCT but I may go there for old times’ sake.
I also took this old tree blaze in Desolation Wilderness.
Moving south of Carson Pass, where Kit Carson once ate his dog and his horse, this is part of the Mokelumne Wilderness. The small mountain is known as the Nipple.
One of my favorite hikes on the PCT is between Sonora Pass and Tuolumne Meadows. This is Nancy Pape who may join me for a portion of this year’s journey. As I recall, 1977 was the first year that Nancy trekked with me.
This is a view of Tuolumne River Falls in Yosemite National Park just before Tuolumne Meadows and the beginning of the John Muir Trail.
Some of you have asked if 4.9 ounce Bone will be going on the trek. He was squawking loudly about the possibility of being left behind. I finally conceded, but I told him that it would be a bare-bone journey.
John Muir called the Sierras that he loved to wander through ‘the Range of Light.’
I thought I would add a black and white photo to provide a different perspective on the mountains I will be hiking through. During heavy snow years, which this one isn’t, the passes can be covered with snow and the stream filled with fast flowing water, adding another element of danger to the trip.
This is a view of some of my trekkers making their way over a snow filled pass, carefully. Slipping could have led to a fall of several hundred feet.
In this photo, Peggy makes her way across a fast flowing stream. Water is powerful. It is easy to be swept off your feet. Two through-hikers drowned last year in the southern Sierras.
The incredible beauty of the High Sierra makes the journey worthwhile, however. Always.
Alpenglow lights up a peak.
The view coming down from the John Muir Pass and hiking into Le Conte Canyon. I sprained my ankle once following Peggy as she ‘ran’ down the mountain and ended up hiking 80 miles on it.
Eventually my journey this summer will come to an end as I reach Mt. Whitney. Peggy is pointing out where it is.
This is my 16-year-old nephew Jay Dallen on top of Mt. Whitney. Jay joined me for the last portion of a hike I did from Lake Tahoe to Whitney to celebrate my 60th birthday in 2003. Jay is hoping to join me again this year.
I’ll conclude my preview with this photo looking down from Mt. Whitney.
Peggy and I are out this week backpacking the 40 mile Rogue River Trail. It is both an opportunity to check out our gear and continue our conditioning program. It is also a test to see what kind of sense of humor my 75-year-old body has. Wish me luck! (grin) I’ll respond to comments and check in on your blogs when we return.
FRIDAY’S POST: What factors in your youth led you to choose the path you have chosen to follow in your adult life? I explore some of mine as part of my MisAdventure series.
Wandering through Time and Place 
Just stunning. I am in awe of your trekking and the wilderness you have recorded in the photos. Just awesome.
Echoing Gerard, we are just hoping to be able to drive through the Rockies later this summer.
So cool that you are on you and Peggy are ‘working the plan.’ Wishing you and that ole body of yours the best and highest outcomes.
Cool Stuff
Awesome.
I envy what all you’ll see and all your stamina, Curt.
[No need to reply].
Curt: Good luck, enjoy and keep the pictures coming. I envy you. Keeps reminding me of the good old days of American lung Assoc. trekking. I remember my first trek well especially some teenagers who were hiking in thongs. They didn’t last very long.
Bob Roehrs
Gorgeous photos! The best of luck with conditioning this weekend 🙂
Very nice, indeed. If I may add with the utmost respect: Go take a hike😉!
A hearty old trekker named Curt
Had the skills to return home unhurt.
As he stretched and he slogged
over mountain and bog
there was no need to send out alerts!
Laughing, Linda. And it will make it into the blog and the book. 🙂 Of course, there was the steep hill I tried to tumble down this last week because one of my walking sticks collapsed. As usual, my luck held and I avoided rolling down the hill another 50-feet into the river. My arm was not happy that I used it for a brake, however. I’ll include the story in tomorrow’s post. 🙂 –Curt
You’ll be hitting a lot of spots familiar to me. I poked around Donner Summit during my days of wandering El Dorado and surrounding counties. We also enjoyed traveling up 395. Spent a night at the Lone Pine Campground. Pity the road up closer to the summit was closed. (Though I have to admit to being relieved because of my fear of heights.)
Oh the fun you’ll have! and I’ll enjoy it sitting here at the computer. 😀
Waiting to hear how the conditioning hike went up (or was that down) the Rogue Trail? Have to say it… you and Peggy are pretty amazing and an inspiration to us all.
Thanks, Gunta. I started my whole backpacking life up in the Donner area and just a bit west of there down around the Black Buttes area. I am very fond of it. As for 395, one of the world’s great drives!
Fear of heights? The Rogue River Trail may not be for you, Gunta. It likes to hang out on narrow paths above the river with sheer drop offs. 🙂 It is beautiful, however. And you can drive into places like the Rogue River Ranch. I should start posting tomorrow.
And thanks. We’ll see what kind of a sense of humor my body has. But it made it through the first test. It griped. 🙂 –Curt
I feel your pain. This seems to have been a pretty tough winter on my body. It’s been griping quite a bit as I try to get back into some sort of shape. Being our age certainly isn’t for sissies! 😀
“Being our age certainly isn’t for sissies!” 🙂 The challenge is always separating serious complaints from whines. My body likes to whine a lot, and only shuts up when it realizes it isn’t working. (grin) “Damn! He really is going to climb up this mountain!” –Curt
Great pictures Curt. I wonder how you manage to hike so many miles if you are forever stopping to take pictures!
It can be a challenge, Andrew. 🙂 My new pack system, that has my camera on my hip belt makes it even easier to stop! I probably stopped 250 times on this last trip. Some of the results should be up tomorrow. Thanks. –Curt
Wow! Beautiful photos, breathtaking landscapes! Well done Curt and thanks for sharing all these photos with us
My pleasure. If I ever make it back to Greece, I’ll be checking in with you guys. 🙂 –Curt
Beautiful shots (although I do have a weakness for mountains). I hope your bones, as well as the bare bone, have a chance to see it all again.
What a spectacular adventure you are going to have! Yikes to the cannibalism story. Yes lots of food in your pack seems like a great idea. 🙂
The Donner Party story is almost a legend, Sue. I used to start a bike trek I led out of Donner State Park. My menu for the evening always included “Mystery Meat Stew.” 🙂
And with our conditioning trip this past week, the adventure has begun! –Curt
ah, John Muir trail… ❤ nice memories, too! 🙂
Yes, I am looking forward to doing it again! Have you been on the JMT, Melanie?