Here is a photo from Williamson looking at your potential high route. For reference, that's Trojan Peak directly behind me and Mt Barnard is behind it. Looks doable but rather loose. Probably just as much if not more effort as backtracking to Shepherd pass and linking up with the JMT, but it would set you up nicely for Russell and the Mountaineers Route.davidsmetzler wrote: ↑Thu Jun 23, 2022 12:07 pm Hi all--Thinking of going in (solo) to the Sierra via Shepherd Pass, climbing Williamson, then taking the JMT around to Whitney and exiting via Whitney Portal. Maybe doing Tyndall and/or Russell if time and energy allows. Questions:
(1) Is there a more direct Class 2+ way from Williamson Bowl to Whitney? It seems dubious but not impossible from the topo. I'm fine on 3rd class terrain but I do not want to do it with a full (backpacking) pack.
(1a) Even if there is such an off-trail route, would it be a lot more work than using the JMT, especially with a full pack? I suspect so but I'm still tempted by the idea of a high route.
(2) How hard would it be to get from Whitney Portal back to the Shepherd Pass TH? I see that there is a shuttle along US 395 but it would be nice to get a bit more beta.
(3) Am I crazy for thinking that I could get one of the short-notice permits for this trip, given that I want to do it at the end of July?
Thanks for any info!
I don't know much about how you would get back to the TH. A shuttle or uber would be ideal. It's really hot and dry down in the valley and not something I would recommend walking through in the middle of the day. Permits shouldn't be to much of an issue for 1 person at Shepherds Pass, especially if you go midweek.
Cool idea for a linkup. Good luck if you go!
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