Mt Whitney Zone Forums General Discussion Sierras

I've noticed many posts from people who live a considerable distance from Mt Whitney. Some hike that area over and over. Is that area so special that people travel long distances to hike there (rather than some other area - Colorado?) I'm thinking that I am lucky to be living nearby.

RenoFrank, You are lucky! I feel like I've got it good just being a direct flight and a 5 hour drive from the Sierra Eastside. I go to other mountain ranges and they're all different and grand in their own ways. But I return to the Sierras at least once a year. There's something very special and unique about the Sierras.

You're kidding, right? The word would be "unique".

First check out the climate stats on any serious mountain range in the world, compared with summer weather in the Sierra. Or weather any time of year, for that matter. Then consider that the longest roadless stretch on the Appalachian Trail, or anywhere else in the crowded East, is about 30 miles.And that's in the Smokies, where it never feels even that far from the road. The famous Presidential Traverse, in the Whites, is 26, and that passes 3 AMC huts and squirts between the Mt Washington Toll Road and cog railway by only a few feet. On the Continental Divide trail, about 120 miles is the longest roadless stretch. In the Sierra, the PCT runs 209 miles between Tuolumne and Kennedy Meadow, and much longer routes between Tioga Road and Sherman Pass Road are possible without wandering. Add several 14ers, National Parks, etc.

Well, if you may not be fully appreciating what's just down the road from you, try a weekend in July on Long's, or better still, Pike's (hee hee). You'll never wonder again.

I grew up in the S.F. Bay Area and lived there quite a while, but escaped to the Eastern Sierra (Bishop) 37 years ago. I've hiked all over the UK and Europe, and a little in Ecuador, and I think the Sierras are still the best in the category of get-away-from-it-all.

It's wonderful to be able to drive a few miles (15!) and hike three or four days a week in world-class wilderness and not encounter highways, towns and farms.