When Andrew Skurka says a trail is tough, it’s tough.
The Sierra High Route (SHR) is a 195-mile trekking route that runs north-south across the heart of the Sierra Nevada Range, through Sequoia-Kings Canyon National Park, John Muir Wilderness, Ansel Adams Wilderness, and Yosemite National Park.
It is a rugged alternate to the John Muir Trail (JMT)– it boasts about 100 miles of cross-country travel, numerous Class III scrambles, and endless miles of boulder hopping. SHR hikers are rewarded with pristine alpine settings, long stretches of solitude, and a sense of true adventure.
I hiked the SHR in early-July 2008 with famed ultra runner Buzz Burrell, who at 56 years young is still going really strong. We were both taken back by the immensity of the High Sierra — its alpine regions are vaster than any other place we’d been in the Lower 48, in both length and girth, which is not necessarily the impression given by the JMT. I would have to imagine that this trip with Buzz will be just the first of several trips on the SHR. We comfortably did the entire route in 8 days and 4 hours, an average about 23 miles a day. …
Skurka’s site links to the best guidebook and Andrew’s personal Mapset & Databook.
I’m going to want GPS coordinates and a SPOT Satellite Messenger device.
Leave a comment if you might be interested in doing this trip summer 2012.
besthike.com 
Rick,
Your post has both caught my interest and inspired me to do some serious homework on this. 2012? Hmmmm………..
DSD
If I may, I would like to point out that Andrew now leads trips on the SHR, although this years trip in September is full.
Yesterday we finished his 7 day Wind River trip; I would like to say Andrew is very professional and does his utmost to both instruct the various techniques of backpacking, and to lead very enjoyable trips.
I signed up for information on 2012, Buzz. … THANKS.
AndrewSkurka.com
A little late, but I love reading your blog and subscribe via Google Reader. I got to meet Andrew in Colorado about 2 months ago now. I plan on doing the SHR in 2012. Ideally, I hope to (along with a friend of mine) start around Tahoe and take the Sierra Crest Route (http://www.sierracrestroute.org/) south while peak bagging for almost a month to get in shape–and then turn around and fly back north via the SHR as fast as possible. Looking forward to a fun trip!
Thanks Ben. I’ll link to the SCT tomorrow !