Buck creek is the second campsite opportunity along the High Sierra Trail. Here, the terrain is a bit more open than what is found at 9-mile creek. There are a few places to pitch a tent and a bear box to help protect food. Bears and marmots are active in this area. There is a bridge across the creek - no need to worry about a crossing here.

Bearpaw High Sierra Camp is the last outpost of civilization along the High Sierra Trail. Here, people who want to pay a lot of money can live the life of backcountry luxury with tent cabins, a camp chef providing fresh and hot meals, and running water. But although these things aren't for us rugged backpackers, there are some opportunities here... More. A backpacker's camp offers plenty of space to camp and several bear boxes. There are pit toilets for backpackers (flush toilets are for paying guests) and a water pump for easy water access (as of 2009, the water from this pump still needed to be treated).

When approaching Bearpaw Meadow the signs can be a bit confusing. Once you gain the saddle after the climb out of Buck Creek, the first junction leads to the backpacker camp to the right, and the High Sierra Camp straight ahead. If you are not camping here and just passing through on the HST, stay straight. As you approach the High Sierra Camp a backpacker's pit toilet is the first
'building' on the right. The water pump is straight ahead.

At the High Sierra Camp, the main building has a wonderful front porch from which you can view the Great Western Divide. It is also the first time you realize the reality of the huge climb you have in front of you! If you're lucky, you may hear some music coming from the ranger's cabin or take in the smell of fresh brownies from the kitchen.Less

After leaving the High Sierra Camp the trail winds gradually downwards, passing through a colorful assortment of wildflowers. It's a bit discouraging to lose this elevation while staring at the big climb ahead, but the scenery has now opened up and towering rocks and deep canyons are a nice distraction from those thoughts.

At this wayp... Moreoint the trail crosses a bridge across Lone Pine Creek. The bridge sits high above the water which is rushing through a rocky gorge. There is NO easy water access from this crossing!

When on the bridge, stop and look below the bridge on the downstream side. Below you lies the mangled remains of a previous bridge - luckily the new one is much more solid! This crossing also marks the end of any descending trail for a while - and the start of the climb.Less

After about a mile of dry hiking from the bridge, this water crossing of Hamilton Creek provides a perfect opportunity for a water refill and a foot soak. The trail crosses this creek at the top of a waterfall and the view is spectacular.

This is a backpacker's dream destination. Campsites abound at this lake, complete with bear boxes, and even an open-air pit toilet. It is often used as a basecamp for the trail crews working on the rugged trail above, so make sure to stop and say thanks if you see them.

Hamilton Lake is a perfect place for a swim and fish, with a beach-li... Moreke area to lull you into a long rest if only passing through. Across the lake you can watch the cascade of water falling from the higher lakes, surrounded by the giant mountains like Valhalla.

If you started off the day at 9-Mile Creek or Buck Creek, you've climbed about 2000 feet already. Although it isn't a long distance, many people choose to camp at Hamilton since the next campsite opportunity requires a long ascent. From here, it is approximately a 2500 foot climb to Kaweah Gap so if you are continuing on, this is a great place for a long rest to recharge the batteries.Less

Here is the famous High Sierra Trail tunnel. Blasted out of solid granite, this tunnel was built after attempts to build a bridge across the gorge failed (pesky avalanches). You will still see the cables and concrete footings for the attempted bridges, but now the trail is cut out of the solid granite.

The trail is wide and spaciou... Mores along here, but people with a fear of heights may feel their heart rate increase a bit (if it's not already pounding from the climb). This can be a tricky section in the early season - snow and ice lingers in this shadowy canyon and you may have to negotiate some of it. See the 'tunnelandgorge' photo below to see the chute, trail, and tunnel clear of snow.

You'll probably see trail crews along this stretch - the trail is under constant maintenance due to the regular rockfall damage that occurs throughout here.Less

While this entire segment scores high on the 'wow' charts, the best view is found here. Made famous by Ansel Adams' "Frozen Lake and Cliffs", Precipice Lake is one of the jewels of the Sierra. You'll love to fill your water bottles in its pristene, cold water. Snow lingers here well into August and you may hear the 'whump' of pieces falling off th... Moree snow field and into the lake. On the far side of the lake, a sheer granite wall is painted in patterns of green, black, and grey provided by the glacier melt, plants, and rock. As the sun moves across the sky throughout the day, the colors in the lake change from greens and turquoises to blues and greys, golds and coppers at sunset, finally fading to a midnight blue and solid black.

Surrounded by a boulder field, Precipice is not an easy or particularly hospitable place to camp, but it has been done. There are few to none places to pitch a tent, but bivying is possible.Less

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