Photo: Pamela Chisum Exploring Emigrant Wilderness Highlights:
Includes:
Trip Number: 08114A Price: $595 Deposit: $100 Capacity: 13 Rating: M/S Leader:
The Trip  Photo: Pamela Chisum Just north of Yosemite, the Emigrant Wilderness contains miles of pine forests, grassy meadows, glacier-carved granite ridges, and hundreds of sparkling mountain lakes. Our seven-day, 34-mile trek will highlight some of these lakes, which are among the most scenic of the High Sierra. Our one layover day will provide ample time to rest up, explore the area or participate in a photography lesson. Most of our hiking will be on established trails; however, we will have a bit of easy cross-county travel to and from Granite Lake on the first and second hiking days. Our route to Lower Emigrant Lake and back is designed to allow participants to enjoy a scenic array of the lakes that make up this beautiful wilderness.
 Photo: Pamela Chisum We will meet the day before the trip begins, and we encourage you to arrive
in the early afternoon. After everyone has arrived at the campground, we will
spend time checking personal equipment, weighing backpacks, distributing food
and equipment, and coordinating tent sharing. Dinner Saturday night will be
provided.  Photo: Pamela Chisum
Getting There We will begin and end our trek from Crabtree Camp, just south of the Dodge Ridge Ski Resort on Highway 108. The leader will help arrange rides from the Bay Area or Reno. Out-of-state participants will find it most convenient to fly into San Francisco, Oakland, San Jose, or Reno (each a good four- to five-hour drive from the trailhead).
All food and group equipment will be provided starting with dinner on the first day, and ending with lunch on the last day. A variety of high-energy, easy-to-prepare meals are planned, including gourmet dinners. This trip can accommodate vegetarians and the gluten-intolerant; however, please inform the leader well in advance of any dietary restrictions. All trip members will share cooking and cleanup duties.
This loop trip of about 34 miles will take six moving days and reach an altitude of 9,000 feet. The trip is rated moderate, the rating of the most difficult days. These days involve short, steep sections of trail. This trip is ideal for experienced backpackers with prior high-altitude experience who want to see what the Emigrant Wilderness has to offer. On average, we will hike about five miles per day on a combination of established trails and cross-country routes, with average elevation gains and losses of about 1,000 ft. Our hardest day will include a gain of 1940 ft. Because of the high elevation and early season, the leaders may modify the trip to avoid late snow and runoff. Although the cross-country portions of our hike are over moderate terrain and are no more than four miles in length, off-trail travel requires patience and a good sense of balance. To enjoy this trip in rugged terrain, we recommend that trip members have previous backpacking experience at high altitude and be in excellent physical condition. The High Sierra is renowned for its
excellent summer weather, but we may experience rain or extreme temperatures
ranging from 80 degrees during
the day to the
20s at the higher elevations at night. Expect to encounter snowfields
on our route, especially on the north faces of the high passes, as well as
possible wet fords of icy, swollen streams.
We will provide all bear canisters or "Gordon Pots" and shared group equipment, including cooking pots, utensils, stoves, fuel, wash tubs, toilet paper, repair kit, iodine for water purification, and a first aid kit. 15-18 pounds of group gear and commissary will be added to each participant's personal pack. Your pack needs to be large enough to carry your personal gear, plus your share of the group food and gear, roughly equivalent to the size of a large grocery bag. The overall pack weight will depend on how light you keep your personal effects. Ideally, total pack weights should be between 35-45 pounds, including all personal gear, group gear and water. Please limit the weight of your personal gear, including pack to 25 pounds or less. We recommend that you wear full leather or waterproof synthetic boots with rubber lug soles and firm ankle support for this trip. For shelter, plan to bring a tent, or alternatively, a tarp-tent. You will also need to bring rain gear that will keep you dry in a downpour, preferably a rain jacket and rain pants. Depending on the daily travel time, free time may be available for fishing or other pursuits. The equipment you bring for these pursuits should be limited. The leader will send detailed equipment recommendations to participants well in advance of the trip.
Maps We request that all participants bring their own maps and compass, both for safety and for a greater appreciation of our surroundings. The following maps cover our route:
Maps may be purchased online at the following web sites: http://www.tomharrisonmaps.com/ Books Schifrin, Ben, Emigrant Wilderness, Wilderness Press. This book provides a good description of the area and trails we will be covering. Conservation The impact of civilization on the Sierra Nevada is the conservation focus of this trip. Logging, roads, small communities spreading into wilderness areas, even the management of lakes affects the wildlife and our experience and appreciation of it. Many of Ansel Adams' photographs can no longer be replicated due to the impact of civilization. The Emigrant Wilderness was designated the “Emigrant Basin Primitive Area” in 1931, marking the beginning of its protected status. The Wilderness Act of l964 -- achieved in large part by the efforts of the Sierra Club -- has placed much of the Sierra Nevada Range under wilderness protection, and the Emigrant Wilderness became a part of the wilderness system in 1975. Unfortunately, controversy continues over how much protection is conferred by wilderness status, and we will discuss the effects of human encroachment during our trip.
See the How to Apply for an Outing section for more details on registering for this trip and details about our Reservation and Cancellation Policy. The payment of a deposit does not confirm you as a member on the trip. Participants must be approved by the trip leader. After signing up for this trip, you will be sent a confirmation packet containing approval materials (Participant Approval Questionnaire, Medical Form, Liability Release Form). Each applicant (including those on the waitlist) must fill out these forms and promptly mail them to the trip leader. The leader will review the approval materials and notify you of your acceptance in a timely manner.
Leader:
Pamela Chisum has been backpacking in California and the Rocky Mountains since she was three years old. After her third trip with the Sierra Club, she concluded that 10 days in the wilderness was not long enough to undo all the stress of city life. She left Los Angeles, moved to the Sierra, got her Master’s and now teaches college-level English. Besides being an avid photographer and professional writer, Pamela is a creative cook. She was recently diagnosed with celiac disease -- meaning she’s allergic to foods containing gluten -- and has come up with a scrumptious set of meals that even non-backpackers beg her to cook frequently. Feel free to e-mail her with questions. General Notes About Sierra Club Trips
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Ken McCain has been backpacking in the Sierra Nevada since 1980. Trips to the many California lakes and rivers marked the beginning of his exploration of the backcountry. A California native, he enjoys backpacking with small or large groups and shares his knowledge of local history and the flora and fauna of the region. Being an amateur astronomer, he takes every opportunity to explore the stellar delights of the cosmos with fellow backpackers. Most of all, he enjoys meeting people who appreciate the outdoors.