Hiking/climbing in the Sierra Nevada Mt. Range.

jonnybax

Hey there,

After watching Bear Grylls "do" the Sierra Nevada, I've had a sudden urge to follow suit.

The distance from N-S is approx. 400m according to Wikipedia, so would doing this in 28/30 days be realistic?

I'm new, completely new, to any kind of mountaineering with the only experience taking place in sixth class (I'm 19 in June), so it doesn't really count. I am however, a very adventurous person, as are my cousin's who I'm going to ask to come with.

My question is, how would one prepere for such a journey? From my brief reading of the mountain range, it isn't very challenging and the weather etc isn't too bad, so I'm guessing it can be quite pleasant to do. I'd prefer if it wasn't though, and would like to do some climbing as well as hiking (obv would need to do some training or something).

Has anyone done anything similar, and is it realistic to think I could prepare to to this this summer or winter (more hazardous?).

Please give me as much information as possible!

Thanks,
jonnybax.

Evil Phil

Do lots of hiking, do lots of camping out too. You could do the Wicklow Way over a long weekend to see if you do have a taste for it. http://www.PatFalvey.com do expedition training courses, perhaps look into that too.

cavedave

Bear Grylls stuck in the mountains with nothing but a camera crew? A camera crewthat mysteriously manages to make it through all the really dangerous rope bridges, lakes and canyon climbs he "risks his life" doing? That show is a mockery of a travesty of a sham.
But anyway if you are going to university join the mountaineering club you will meet people who are willing to go off round mountains with you which is one of the main things you need. If not i would still recommend some sort of climbing club. What area are you in?

Hypnotoad

cavedave wrote:

Bear Grylls stuck in the mountains with nothing but a camera crew? A camera crewthat mysteriously manages to make it through all the really dangerous rope bridges, lakes and canyon climbs he "risks his life" doing? That show is a mockery of a travesty of a sham.
But anyway if you are going to university join the mountaineering club you will meet people who are willing to go off round mountains with you which is one of the main things you need. If not i would still recommend some sort of climbing club. What area are you in?

They have a lot of equipment to use,he doesn't.

Well I saw this thread and wondered if you're gonna go through with this?Sounds pretty cool.

albertw

jonnybax wrote:

I'm new, completely new, to any kind of mountaineering with the only experience taking place in sixth class (I'm 19 in June), so it doesn't really count. I am however, a very adventurous person, as are my cousin's who I'm going to ask to come with.

My question is, how would one prepere for such a journey? From my brief reading of the mountain range, it isn't very challenging and the weather etc isn't too bad, so I'm guessing it can be quite pleasant to do. I'd prefer if it wasn't though, and would like to do some climbing as well as hiking (obv would need to do some training or something).

Has anyone done anything similar, and is it realistic to think I could prepare to to this this summer or winter (more hazardous?).

Get lots of experience hiking and camping in all weathers. Planning to hike/camp through that range without a lot of experience is pushing it. Even with camping and hiking experience here, you will be unfamiliar with the terrain, wildlife etc. Think about doing a mountain skills course here just to get your navigation up to scratch. Before you set out on your own in the sierras see if there is a course on backcountry camping that you can do.

I've only had one short visit to the sierras and stayed in a hostel near yosemite as a base for hiking around the well trodden trails. I've taken some day hikes in the Diablo range which is closer to the bay area and easier to get to. You probably want to ask about your trip on some of the Californian message boards but heres what little I picked up.

Weather: Hot to freezing. I was in Yosemite in early September and it was roasting during the day. At night the temperature plummeted to just a few degrees above zero. Any later and you will be hiking and camping in snow. If you do it in the summer you can expect the daytime temperatures to be approaching 40 I'd imagine. Spring/autumn would probably be your best bet.

Camping: You need a permit to backcountry camp in yosemite. This is to restrict numbers and to check that you know how to store food away from bears, do you have the right equipment etc.

Wildlife: Bears. The rangers will tell you plenty of stories and show you videos of bears wandering through the car park smelling food and prying the car door off with the greatest of ease to get whats inside. Most campsites around Yosemite have bear proof lockers where you must (its illegal not to) put your food in overnight. For backcountry camping you will need to look after your own food. Plantwise poison ivy was the worst I came across.

Thinking more towards the sierras get in touch with some message boards in California and ask them. Camping is very popular in Yosemite valley as is back country camping. I'd suggest staying at main campsite like that initially and get some experience from other people about how best to move into the wilderness. The yosemite national parks service website will have some good information to get you started.

I think you'll enjoy the adventure much more (not to mention being safer!) by starting somewhere like Yosemite valley and then exploring rather than a BearG type adventure!

weather etc isn't too bad, so I'm guessing it can be quite pleasant to do. I'd prefer if it wasn't though

Try doing the wicklow way in January :-)

Have Fun