Hiking and climbing Steve Roper's Sierra High Route has always been a secret desire of mine. In 2002, I became familiar with the section between Dusy Basin and Cirque Pass, primarily for the purpose of climbing Mounts' Sill and Jepson. Then in 2007, in company with my wife and two Aussie climbing mates, completed the section from North Glacier Pass to Minaret Lake. However, on that attempt, we chickened out on crossing Whitebark Pass; instead moving back to the JMT along Garnet Lake and then to Lake Ediza via the Shadow Lake Trail.

Last year, in July 2014, I found a suitable hiking partner who was crazy enough to join me on further attempts of High Route sections. The big question: Could we do it as septuagenarians [me at 75 and Bob Williams at 74]. We started safe and easy by climbing into the Second Recess with the goal of reaching Italy Lake and beyond. In the event we were rained off, bailing out over Mono Pass in a thunderstorm.

This year, 2015, we made a more serious attempt at doing sections of the High Route ... and succeeded. It was an absolute joy to be away from the JMT crowds during July and August ... and away from mule-trains ... and away from the horse-manure camps with their fat and lazy clients. And so it became evident why Steve Roper had been driven to discover a cross country route that closely paralleled the JMT, but too difficult and hazardous for the average hiker or mules and horses.

During breaks between our High Route sections, we used Vermilion Valley Resort [VVR] for resupply and rest days. Since 2002, on my first JMT thru-hike, I've been a constant visitor to VVR, enjoying the restaurant meals, hot showers and camaraderie of fellow thru-hikers. This year was no exception: Bob and I were there on two occasions, hiking in from the Mono Recesses and later over Goodale Pass during our annual JMT thru-hike. Jim [the Owner] and his staff were excellent hosts for our two extended stays at VVR.

Our first 2015 High Route section was between Lake Italy and the McGee Pass Trail. This took a total of eleven days that included a rest day at VVR. Then later, during October, between Thousand Island Lake and Minaret Lake, cut short at Iceberg Lake by rain and snow. We found a Class 3-4 route up the northern side of Whitebark Pass, but suspect it was too far west of the recommended route. Then made a silly mistake from Nydiver Lakes to Lake Ediza [direct down the bluffs]. I should have known better ... I'd climbed Banner and Ritter from the obvious trail in past years!

On reaching Iceberg Lake, we decided to camp there and do a day hike up to Cecile Lake the following morning, return to Iceberg, pack-up and head out to Agnew Meadows to beat the threatening weather. In the event, come morning the rain arrived, with snow settling on the peaks above, so by 8 am we were down the hill to Agnew in constant heavy rain. Sadly the end of our summer season in the High Sierra.

©2015 Peter Tremayne, Reno NV