Kings Canyon High Basin extreme backpack

Posted by Adventure Muffin on Jul 19, 2016
Page Views: 229

Dates: Aug 24, 2016 through Sep 6, 2016
Location: California, United States
City or Place: Yosemite Forks
Skill Level: Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced
Categories: Hiking, Mountaineering
Partner Status: Want Partners

Kings Canyon High Basin extreme backpack

The Kings Canyon High Basin Route wraps 144 miles around the upper watershed of California’s Kings River in the High Sierra. It is encompassed entirely within Kings Canyon National Park, which was established in 1940 and which is jointly administered by the National Park Service as Sequoia-Kings Canyon National Park (SEKI). Elevations range from 6,000-12,400 feet but more typically hover in the 9,000-12,000 range. Bring your leg muscles — it averages 725 vertical feet of change per mile.

The Kings Canyon High Basin Route (KCHBR) is exactly that — a route. Created by adventure hiker Andrew Skurka, two-thirds of its distance (82 miles!) consists of committing off-trail travel and long-abandoned trails that were once used by miners, herders, and early High Sierra explorers; its remaining one-third merely accesses or links up these more standout and engaging segments. It is not officially recognized by the National Park Service and it has no dedicated on-the-ground signage or blazing. The route was stitched together over two summers in Sequoia-Kings.

Given ample time, unwavering desire, expert backcountry skills, and excellent fitness, the KCHBR is best experienced as a continuous thru-hike. From end to end, it remains immersed in some of the finest High Sierra wilderness and showcases off-the-charts aesthetics.

Route is found at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r-BRw4FV8Zs&feature=youtu.be



Another good video on this is

https://youtu.be/1OAJv8L_yCI

Itinerary for extreme backpackers

· Up at 5:00 am, hiking at first light

· Breakfast after 4-5 miles

· Snack break after 4-5 miles

· Lunch after 4-5 miles

· Snack break after another 4-5 miles,

· Camp around 7:00 pm

· Repeat for 10 days.

If this type of rugged, off trail backpack appeals to you AND you have ample ultralight backpacking experience, you are welcome to join this small cadre of like minded badasses.

Date(s) August 24 – Sept 6th

DIFFICULTY RATING: Badass

TOTAL MILES: 144 miles 82 of which are off trail,

ESTIMATED HIKING TIME: 120 hours

ELEVATION GAIN: 80,000 ft.

APPROXIMATE RETURN TIME: Monday, September 5th

WEATHER FORECAST: sunny

DOGS: no

PERMITS: at Trailhead

$50 refundable deposit, cost is $20 donation plus split of gas, transportation-estimate $300-$500

Note-this is a carbon neutral outing, to offset carbon, plan on $20/person



WHAT YOU’LL NEED:

36 lb. ultra-light backpack including food for 10-12 days

Poles

Experience with long distance, multiday backpacking trip hiking a min of 20 miles/day

Application to this trips require backpacking resume and references.

More details at http://www.meetup.com/Portland-Vancouver-Sierra-Club-Outings-Events/events/232272796/

Non Technical. Contact me at ecojoy at gmail if you're interested.
David