Serious question, who else ditched the High Sierra Trail for the Kern River loop near Lodgepole?

Kim Mitchell · 2026-10-07T03:20:03.048696+00:00

I spent 3 years planning the High Sierra Trail out of Sequoia and finally did the 60 mile Kern River route from Lodgepole two weeks ago instead. A ranger at the Mineral King station told me the river crossings were running low this season, and honestly the fishing and quiet camps beat anything I saw on the main highway trail. The 9 mile climb out of Rattlesnake Creek nearly broke me though. Anyone got a better 5 day loop in that same area before I go back next July?

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Serious question, who else ditched the High Sierra Trail for the Kern River loop near Lodgepole? | Backpacking Routes - Guest Forum