Customer Reviews

The Sierra High Route: Traversing Timberline Country

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

This book outlines a magnificent experience following an off-trail, higher version of the Muir Trail through the High Sierra. We have followed most of Roper's route over several years: sometimes we thought we were lost or overwhelmed, but it always turned out fine, and usually excellent. He treads a fine line between complete instructions that would allow no mistakes, and an experience that gives the hiker their own opportunity for route-finding, discovery, and growth. This is one of our favorite books, and we keep an intact copy plus another one torn apart for each journey and sometimes given away to people met along the way who need it. We still travel the trail some of the time, but genuinely value this alternative farther away from the crowds.

My girlfriend and I recently took some of Ropers advice on a Mt. Conness Loop 5 day hike in Yosemite. It was an increadible trip. Roper gives just enough hints to get you there but few enough to make it still feel like exploring. Be advised however when he referes a section of your hike as 'adventurous' or 'exciting' he means it. We pushed ourselves to the physical and mental limit on this trip.

My girlfriend and I now refer to this book as 'Stevie' after spending a month thru-hiking the SHR with it this fall. I'm not sure that Mr Roper would approve of having his name taken in vain, but we sure took a liking to his style and found that his words of wisdom quickly became our loyal companion.

Like others before us (and it broke my heart to do it) we cut out the actual guide section of the book to keep weight down, and I highlighted all route-finding information to make it stand out from the amazingly informative and, at times, highly entertaining, descriptive detail. Used in conjunction with Andrew Skurka's excellent accompanying map set (available via web) we had very few route-finding problems, although we were blessed with exceptionally good weather and zero snow cover. It appears that the guidebook maybe too good, as we found that use trails had become pretty well established over large portions of the route, possibly to the dismay of Roper and cross-country purists.

If you are planning to thru-hike the SHR, you need this book. It is not an easy trek (much more rugged than the JMT) and there is no other hard-copy guide. The book's also worth buying if you are craving a shorter High Sierra trip, as some great options are described for incorporating sections of the route into loops with access points on both sides of the range.

The author's advice is priceless for safe cross-country travel through some of the world's most spectacular mountainous scenery. May Stevie become your friend too - but tread lightly so that it remains as rewarding a challenge for future Sierra lovers as it was for us.

I made good use of this book to plan a wonderful cross-country trip in the Sierra. Roper was kind of vague at times, but I never got lost.

The route he described was breath-taking. I intend to use this book to plan next summer's trip.

This book is the ideal companion for everyone who likes walking off-trail on uneven terrain with a heavy pack. We used it last summer to hike a section of "the high route" (from devils postpile to tuolumne meadows) and it was so marvelous, we are going back this summer for another section. Roper gives exactly the amount of indications needed for a successful trip, although some experience in off-trail mountain-hiking is required. The high route is not trivial, even if no technical climbing is involved. The only thing: for most people it doesn't matter to have a single connected route. It would be nice to have other (shorter) routes in the same style, which are not necessarily connected. Maybe in another book? I don't know of anything comparable.

the descriptions of the route are great, but they're mixed in with a semi-narrative about the landscape, flora and fauna. not very easy to pick out the relevant bits when you're route-finding.

the addition of the maps in the back are meant as a convenience, and while i realize that this is a ROUTE and not a TRAIL, it would be more convenient if the maps had a general indication of the route path described. at the very least, it should label by name, all the lakes, peaks and passes described.

the book is also a bit heavy for a long haul, so i found myself tearing out the what i no longer needed wtih each resupply.

i give steve roper total props for exploring, discovering and sharing this route... and expecially for going back and updating it a few years on.

Backpacker Magazine Editor, Steve Howe did this route in 2006 and made daily podcasts which can be downloaded free on iTunes. i found his route descriptions and waypoints to be a perfect complement to this book.

my attempt to do the route in it's entirety got cut short with a shoulder injury only 5 days in. though i was able to finish up by detouring for another three weeks on the john muir trail, the SHR definitely requires 4 limbs. i'd recommend attempting it later in the season (August/September) to avoid the snow fields at high altitude on the north facing passes (i dislocated my shoulder when i lost my footing on a steep snow-covered face). i'd also recommend using a PLB or Spot Satellite Messenger with GPS Tracking even if you're not traveling solo. i didn't see another person for the first 8 days of this trip, and only then it was because i was on the heavily trafficked JMT.

A FANTASTIC book about an awesome wilderness area! This is a must do hiking trail for me. I bought my brother this same book and I'm already planning our hike.

My brother and I picked up the original version of this book, back when it was published as a small, grey Sierra Club tote book. I did sections with my brother and friends over the years, and then went solo on two of the most challenging sections. Over a ten year period I explored all sections of this 195 mile route. I've traveled some sections several times. Roper has written a wonderful guide book. He gives good advice on what routes to take, and what precautions to watch out for. Read it before you travel, then take it along and read it as you travel through the country. It's like having a mountain guide and a naturalist at your side.

However, be aware that this route is meant for the experienced wilderness traveler. This journey goes far beyond backpacking on well maintained trails. It includes scrambling up and over mountain passes, stream wading, and route finding over rough terrain. We always bring our ice axes, walking sticks, altimeter watches, compasses and a great set of maps. (I still can't get myself to carry a GPS...spoils our route finding fun.)

Summer weather on the route is often very pleasant. We've also had our share of rain, wind, snow and spectacular lightning storms. As a result, we tend to overpack, to be ready for any kind of weather.

Ropers revised edition of the High Route is definitely an improvement over the original Sierra Club tote book. The route descriptions are more clear and easy to follow. The original book worked well enough for us though. This is definitely a great book for the savvy wilderness traveler.

PS: I recently went back and completed the first part of the high route, after a 20+ year hiatus from this section. I was delighted to find it almost as pristine as it was back in the 1980's. In some places, there is a faint trace of a trail, but overall the terrain is still well preserved and litter free. I took along my original USGS 15 minute series maps, along with a couple of Andrew Skurka's 7.5 minute maps. Andrew did a great job of putting together a complete map set of the route, though I still prefer my original 15 minute series maps. Roper talks about how the 15 minute maps give you all the detail you need to navigate cross country, plus a great overview of surrounding mountains and other features. If you can find the 15 minute series maps, I highly recommend them. If you can't, Andrew's map set is probably your best bet.

I really enjoyed this book and found it very useful in planning and doing this hike. The trail descriptions are sometimes vague and the maps are a bit lacking but that made for more of an adventure while out there. I would recommend creating your own maps from TOPO or some other software. The author describes the hike as a backpacking trip above timberline through the Sierras. Not being a climber I would say this is about 95% accurate while the other 5% was on the edge of mountaineering or climbing.

Great book. Great hike. Beautiful prose and accurate descriptions with just enough ambiguity ti make it interesting.