Kathy, Dennis passed away many years ago, unfortunately. – Jeff

Hi Gary-I am doing some research on the TST and trying to get in touch with Dennis R. Gagnon. Do you know if there is anyway I can contact him? My aunt, Shirley Sargent, wrote a book about Theordore Solomons and I am the current owner of Solomoms homestead in Yosemite (Flying Spur).
Thanks, Kathy Chappell

Your comment about a loop ended up sticking in my head when I found out about the TST and started doing research. I basically did that in 2019 though I didn’t hike from Whitney to Horseshoe Meadow as I have no desire to spend any more time around Whitney Portal than I have to.

http://www.firstchurchofthemasochist.com/search/label/Theodore%20Solomons%20Trail

Ken, is there any way to make the Facebook page publicly accessible, so that people without Facebook accounts can view the page and submit postings?

https://www.facebook.com/groups/TSTHikers/

Did you take that trip this year? I am on an amazing journey with the TST. After my JMT hike in 2015, I really wanted a similar trip with just a bit more solitude. I got out my maps and basically drew the TST without any idea anyone had done so before! In the past couple weeks, I have found all the history of the route and have the old trail guide coming. I plan to do the route in 2018.

in 2016 I tried to do it at a pace similar to my JMT hiking pace which proved to be TOTALLY unrealistic in the Ansel Adams wilderness where, as noted above in this string, trail maintenance has been non-existent for decades. I was in that area this summer figuring out the “least bad options” to get through. It is really a great area and here is where I am at this point in the planning.

My desire is to stay off the JMT completely.

Out the south end of YNP at Isberg Pass
Through Clover Meadow and down to Cassidy Bridge. (I have done this and it is wide open)
Cassidy Bridge – Heitz Meadow – Bear Meadow. I have done this. It is slow but still the best route.
Bear Meadow to Rock Creek – this is an old fire road.
Rock Creek – Arch Rock and the Big Margaret Lake area
This is not strictly necessary but it gets up into a beautiful area and visits one of the only true arches in the Sierras.
The trail from here down to Onion Springs and the road out to VVR is good.
I am a big booster of VVR and want to patronize them when ever possible.
Also, I tried to get from Rock Creek down to Rattlesnake Crossing this summer and NO trail exists. It could be done, but slowly.
From VVR to Rattlesnake Crossing is also a problem. I tried to get to China Camp a few weeks ago from Rattlesnake Bridge and had to abort due to Manzanita.
I think the least bad route is to go from VVR to Mono Meadow, cross Mono Creek there, cross the south fork at the Moro Crossing and then go to Portal Forebay, and then up to Sample Meadow. I did most of this a few weeks ago and found it passable.

From here to Dinkey Lakes should not be a problem, then I think it possible to get to Huntington Lake without too much grief where the trail to Burnt Corral Meadow and the SEKI trail system should be easier. I have heard that the 2015 fires did a great deal of good in clearing the Crown Valley area. Enough people climb Tehipite Dome that this route should be passable. The walk up the middle fork of the Kings has always been an adventure, but seems to be passable. Simpson Meadow is crossable later in the summer and the SEKI web site actually posts info on this crossing. From there to Roads end is a steep climb on a maintained trail.

My route from there will probably be Avalanche Pass, Colby Pass, then over the the JMT at Wallace Creek. I want to exit by climbing Mount Langley and it is quite a bit shorter to go this way than all the way through Mineral King. Having said that, Silver City Mountain Resort is a great place to Resupply. It is down the road from the MK ranger station and they will gladly hold a box for you. They are accessed by going to Atwell Mill. This would be closer to the original route that went over Elizabeth Pass instead of Colby Pass.

Let me know if you did your trip as proposed and how it worked out!

Jeff Cannon
Morro Bay, CA

In reverse and I had a couple ?’s.
Can one easily get to Kaiser Peak from George lake, any route suggestions…
From George your thoughts getting to VVR…
Most all of the trip other wise seems to be pretty straight forward.
Am including a link to caltopo of my proposed trip and the one I did last year https://caltopo.com/m/A1T3

TIA

The road to Huntington Lake/Lakeshore does seem like a long slog, unless there are some backpacker-friendly drivers on the road. Badger Flat campground doesn’t seem to have bear boxes and looks too small to have a campground host who might hold a package for a few days.

Rather than hike the road, it would be more appealing to leave the TST at Upper Twin Lake, head west past George Lake cross-country to the Kaiser Loop trail and take that south to Lakeshore, then return to the TST via the trail to Potter Pass.

Anyway, will have to think about this a little more.

Right.

If you’re using CG/RE as a resupply, I would highly recommend NOT heading northbound, because of the weight of the pack with fresh supplies, plus the long haul out of Kings Canyon proper, up past Granite Lake and then down to the Middle Fork of the Kings– a loss of 5,000 feet, before 12 miles along the river (losing another 1,000), before the climb out of Tehipite Valley (3,500 gain). From that point, it is a long steady climb towards Courtright and Huntington Lake resupply. Just my thoughts. If you do make it out next summer, do post pictures!

I’m currently writing the latest edition of the TST guidebook and have scouted out the resupply points along the way. Here are my two cents’ worth: If you’re heading southbound, the first place to resupply would be General Store/PO at Huntington Lake. You’d have to hike, shuttle, or catch a ride down 168 just south of Potter Pass. If you hike it, you’re looking at 12 miles rt on asphalt. Once resupplied, you next copy is a long one (unless your try MTR), but it would be Road’s End. You can resupply at Cedar Grove RS; however, there is one caveat: The rangers prefer if you physically take your resupply box to CG rather than mailing it. I was told that this way they can put a face with the box. From CG you can resupply at Mineral King RS. Rangers here said that you COULD drive the hairpin road in, or just mail it ahead. The one issue that will be persistent throughout the resupply process is fuel. You can’t mail fuel ahead, so it’s either packing enough, OR purchasing more along the way.

Good luck!

Peter

I’m considering doing part or all of the TST this summer. That raises a lot of questions, but my first issue is resupply. Based on what folks have said above and other information, I’ve come up with the following possible resupply locations:

-Vermillion Valley Resort
-Muir Trail Ranch (a bit of a detour, but doable)
-Courtright Reservoir (don’t really see anything here but campsites; I don’t know how easy it would be to hitch a ride out to the Shaver Lake post office and back; maybe the PG&E people would hold a bucket of food at the dam if you dropped it off personally, or maybe you could cache a bear canister somewhere near the reservoir?)
-Roads End (someone told me you could send resupply to the ranger station at Cedar Grove, but from the SEKI website it looks like the park expects you to send resupply to the post office in Grant Grove down the road)
-Bearpaw Meadow (maybe you’d have to hike in to Lodgepole, although I don’t know if there’s anyplace at Lodgepole that would accept and hold a resupply package)
-Mineral King (don’t know if there’s any possible resupply spot there or you’d have to hitch out to Three Rivers or Lodgepole)

I’m familiar with VVR and MTR, but if anyone had any insights about other resupply possibilities on the west side of the Sierras, I’d be grateful hear your thoughts. Thanks-

It is shown on the Starr Map of the JMT (copyright owned by the Sierra Club who has given permission to use it for non-commercial, research-viewing purposes).

My name is Peter Francev, and I am currently in the final stages of finishing my “revision” of the Buscombe/Gagnon guides to the TST. A lot has changed since both editions came out. I have segment-hiked each section several times (Yose-Huntington Lake; HL-Cedar Grive; CG-Mineral King; MK-Horseshoe Mdw). If I can be of any assistance, please do not hesitate to post a question. I will respond as soon as I can.

Cheers,

Peter

Gary B., thanks for stopping by to post! It’s an honor! Would it be possible to pick your brain? I’d love to hear more about your experience “way back when.”

As for rattlesnakes, that area does stand out in my mind as having a lot of them.

Any way you do the trail (no. bo. or so. bo.), climbing out of Tehipite is a bit on the ugly side. Just a lot of climbing and very hot as I recall going up to Crown Valley.

The trail No Bo. from Tehipite is going to be in really bad shape. I don’t think it’s seen maintenance since the 70’s. The Crown Valley area which is fairly accessible from Wishon and Courtright should be in much better shape trail wise I would think, but I haven’t been in that area for some years.

There used to be horse packers that took people from Roads End on the S Fork up over Granite Pass down into Simpson Meadow for fishing. I don’t know if that’s still happening, but of the two ways in/out of Tehipite on the TST, I imagine that the route over Granite Pass will be in better shape.

The trail from Bear Paw Meadow up over Timber Gap in Mineral King is in excellent shape as of 5 years ago (the last time I went through there). There once was a bridge at Middle Fork Kaweah River, but that’s long gone (40 years?), so it’ll be a wade there. With the drought, it may be no more than knee deep.

Fascinating stuff!

HJ

I did take a look at the ability to switch layers on your map and the open cycle was interesting but for a stubborn topo guy like myself, I feel more comfortable with the real deal in my hand I guess. But to each his own. Between your maps and mine I think we have the concept covered.

I think following the route closely, as we have discussed and discovered, is very doable except for two areas. Those two areas are the San Joaquin crossing and the area from Wishon to Tehipite Valley and then from Tehipite to Simpson Meadow. Frankly, I’m not too concerned with the San Joaquin leg to Rattlesnake Lake. I am more than curious about the Tehipite Valley to Simpson Meadow leg. With potential missing bridges, water flow timing, RATTLESNAKES everywhere, i would be heart broke to get that far and then have to turn around and climb out of Tehipite and go back to Wishon.

I was thinking, like you were, about a closely matched route that follows the spirit of the the TST but sees some much better country! For instance, the green tunnel out of Wishon to Tehipite sounds like a yawn fest to me.

How does this sound for a treat (and I will map it this weekend and post here so we can tweak it). Using Roleigh’s and the guy from Sierra Mapper (Adam I think?) idea of a southern Yosemite exit to avoid Donahue, I have a plan that will see some fantastic country and is continuous (save for one slight hiccup that I will cover later). These routes will let you see a lot of seldom visited Southern Yosemite, some middle Sierra, some of TST’s actual footsteps, some outstanding high sierra and above treeline, and so many passes your head will spin.

And for what its worth. If I do this, you, or anyone else…you me and Roleigh get dibs on naming this route (whichever becomes popular)!!!

I borrowed some of this from Roleigh BTW>

Leg 1

Option 1/Leg 1 (the possibilities here are endless pretty much for getting out of Yosemite)
Glacier Point
Illilouette Creek
Merced Pass
Fernandez Pass
Post Peak Pass
Isberg Pass
Granite Creek Crossing
Bugg Meadow
Hemlock Crossing
Corral Meadow
Granite Stairway
Reds Meadow/Soda Springs

Option 2/Leg 1
Rafferty Creek / Lyell Canyon Trailhead
Tuolumne Pass
Vogelsang Pass
Bernice Lake Jct.
Foerster Creek Crossing
Isberg Pass
Sadler Lake
Bugg Meadow
Earthquake Meadow
Cargyle Meadow
Granite Stairway
Reds Meadow etc.

Option 3/Leg 1
Rafferty Creek / Lyell Canyon Trailhead
Tuolumne Pass
Vogelsang Pass
Merced Lake High Sierra Camp
Red Peak Pass
Merced Pass
Fernandez Pass
Post Peak Pass
Isberg Pass
Hemlock Crossing Footbridge
Cargyle Meadow
Granite Stairway
Reds Meadow etc.

Leg 2

Option 1/Leg 2
Reds Meadow
PCT
Virginia Lake
Goodale Pass
VVR (resupply)
Mono Meadow
Mono Crossing
Portuguese Flat
Sample Meadow
Potters Pass
Badger Flat
Back of Dinkey Lakes
Courtright Reservoir (resupply)

Option 2/Leg 2
Reds Meadow
PCT
Virginia Lake
Goodale Pass
VVR (resupply)
Warm Creek Trail
China Camp
Rattlesnake Crossing
Sample Meadow
Potters Pass
Badger Flat
Back of Dinkey Lakes
Courtright Reservoir (resupply)

Option 3/Leg 2 (i don’t personally like this one. Too much JMT for my liking and we are trying to get away from that here).
Reds Meadow
PCT
Virginia Lake
Goodale Pass or Silver Pass
VVR or continue on PCT/JMT
Exit JMT/PCT
Simpson Meadow
Granite Pass
Roads End (Resupply)

Leg 3

Option 1/Leg 3
Courtright Reservoir
Hell For Sure Pass
Evolution Valley
JMT/PCT
Simpson Meadow
Granite Pass
Roads End (Resupply)

Option 2/Leg 3 (This option has some issues and variables due to bridge outages/trails missing in Tehipite Valley and blow downs outside Wishon)
Courtright Reservoir
Crown Pass
Tehipite Valley
Simpson Meadow
Granite Pass
Roads Ends (resupply)

Leg 4

The possibilities here are endless.
I would advocate sticking to the TST from here out
Avalanche Pass
Elizabeth Pass or Colby Pass for more adventure
Then to Mineral King or if Via Colby work your way to Cottonwood.
Another exit strategy to get Forrester and Keersage is to exit Onion Valley

Thoughts?

Epic? HELL YES it is.

There’s a couple of things that we could do with the TST. One option is to try to follow the route as closely as outlined in the book. This might prove problematic for reasons several people have pointed out, but if there is enough interest and enthusiasm, maybe we can organize some volunteer trail crews to get clean up the rough spots.

I might be available to do some scouting this year. I won’t have time to attempt the entire thing, but scouting — quite possible. Let’s keep in touch.

I’m also hearing about major blow downs and downright dangerous conditions leading from Wishon/Rancheria to Tehipite. There is also some rattlesnake country bush whacking to do in Tehipite traveling to Simpson Meadow.

As far as marijuana grows, I can also speak intelligently to and from practical experience that these areas on the TST are not to be much of a concern. They are usually at lower elevations and always near (several miles or so) from a major road. More importantly, the amount of grows have severely declined over the past few years due them being hit VERY hard for multiple years in a row. Most have moved their operations from public lands to the valley floor on farmland (posing as medicinal operations). I’m not saying there aren’t out there…but its not like it used to be. As a caveat to my own words here, several summers ago while on the JMT, near the red cones/craters in Mammoth, right on the creek bed several hundred yards off trail and up stream on a small creek there was a grow operation there. But then again that’s in close proximity to Mammoth and easy in and out.

Lastly, I have traced on a true topo (very crudely) most of the trip. I will be finishing is soon. I have some more work to do tomorrow. I don’t have it in me tonight to read anymore or find the route.

Aside from the San Joaquin crossing area for scouting, I am strongly considering as sections (due to vacation being a premium) Glacier Point to Clover Meadows, Florence Lake to the JMT to Simpson Meadow and then up and over Granite Pass to Roads End (to scout the Tehipite river valley section), the section from Roads End up over Avalanche Pass etc to the east side/Whitney Portal. Since the Courtright section is in my backyard (so to speak) I can probably long weekend it from Sample Meadow to Courtright and smell the roses. I anticipate this summer I can knock out 2-3 sections.

I’m game for company as there are a few sections I WILL NOT do solo (the descent to Tehipite comes to mind) due to the remoteness and sketchy trails I’d be scouting. For now, I am content to plot, route, and research since I am laying flat on my back with a herniated L4-L5.

Thanks btw for taking up the interest in this. This “middle” sierra area is near and dear to my heart since I grew up here. So many places to explore and so little life to do it!

Remember this is a crude trace route I drew free hand point by point as I read the guidebook. Profile data etc is not going to be accurate. Please feel free to point out any omissions, errors, etc.

http://caltopo.com/map?id=0E2G

That I am aware of, there is no sign of marijuana grows in this area. Most of the grows that I was informed about happened further down in the foothill areas closer to the towns. However there is plentiful evidence of heavy use by bears in this area so even though the Sierra allows for counterbalance, I’d recommend sticking with a bear canister.

One other thing to consider if you decide to scout it is that once the Sierra Scenic byway is open, a strong hiker could scout the worst section in a day trip. Though considering the loss/gain and conditions, I’d recommend it as an overnight.

Glad you asked, it’s one of my favorite parts of the Sierra that I saw this season. Had the snow not come when it did, I was planning a trip from its junction with Rattlesnake lake trail to Heitz Meadow. Sadly I also had a paid partner crew slated to do basic maintenance on that section but they were the first paid crew that I’ve ever had show up that met none of my expectations for a pro-crew and ultimately they turned down the assignment because they didn’t want to walk down there.

The trail up from the bridge has not seen maintenance for at least 40 years and in places, is hard to find. I have an iPhone app called “forest maps” that has all the 7.5 topos for the forest that made it a lot easier. One of the hardest parts to find is the switchback that leaves the bottom. After that it’s steep but fairly easy to follow as it climbs up the rim though there is a fair amount of blowdown and vegetation encroaching in the corridor. The other thing to watch out for in the first 400 feet of elevation gain is poison oak.

Once it’s on top of the rim, it becomes a little more difficult to follow but with decent route finding skills and a good map you should be able to follow it. In most places it’s a faintly cupped track but in a few places it’s fairly indistinct. The junction with Rattlesnake lake trail is marked by this sign (I can email the picture)

From there, I was able to see the CRHT, however I was there to find another trail so I didn’t follow it.

I do know that this past season Wilderness logged out all along rock creek to the old guard station at Heitz Meadow so from there it should be easier going. I’d recommend doing this one in spring or fall if snow doesn’t keep you out of the high country because this stretch gets pretty warm in the height of summer and most of the water sources run dry. It’s a beautiful area that receives extremely low use and has some fairly outstanding wilderness qualities. If the timing works out, Cassidy is a great campsite with some amazing swimming right there.

Further back along the route, I can also highly recommend Chittenden Lake as a campsite. It’s a mile off the route but receives the lowest use of the lakes in the area from what I saw and from campsites east of it, you’ll be looking over the entire valley. I was also able to get 4G service from just above Fernandez pass, probably because it’s line of sight with Mammoth Mountain.

The trails are a mess — that seems to be the consensus, Jack. I know Roleigh has expressed interest in an exploratory TST hike in 2016. That might work with my schedule.

Another person in the JMT group on FB has talked about doing sections of the TST this summer (which I might be able to do). I’m going to try to keep in touch and see if we can collect some better data on trail conditions, etc.

This route hasn’t gotten much traffic because most people don’t want to walk that region. I wonder too about pot farms. We hear a lot about growing operations in the Sierra. This must cross that zone?

Someone experienced should go explore and report back. 🙂

I’ve had this book since the 1990s – it’s definitely a route for the dedicated Sierra rat..

The question is… do too few people go there! I’ve heard that some of the trails are not maintained and difficult to follow or require a lot of bush-whacking.

It would definitely be a plus to give people an alternative to the JMT, but if it’s too hard to follow, that would dissuade a lot of people.