The White Mountains Crest Hike

Camp elevations are high (higher generally than those in the Sierra Nevada) on this trip so it is essential that you get at least one night and preferably three nights sleeping at 9,000′ or higher prior to this trip.

Day 1

We will meet at the Sierra Mountain Center office for the pre-trip meeting. We will have a pack check prior to getting shuttled up to the trailhead near Crooked Creek in the Whites. The shuttle takes nearly three hours with a stop for a short hike at the Schulman Bristlecone Grove. From there an easy walk will bring us to our first camp at 9,700′ in Cottonwood Meadow.

Starting elevation: 10,000 feet

Ending elevation: 9,700 feet

Distance: 3.0 miles with 1,150 feet gain and 875 feet loss

Day 2

This day we walk on informal use trails and ancient Paiute routes as we make our way to an unnamed pass near Mt. Barcroft. Camp this night will be at 11,800 feet, or higher depending on how the group is feeling, with alpine springs for our water source. This is a relatively short day but is important for acclimatization to the high elevation. It does allow time for a walk unencumbered by our large packs to get the outstanding views back to Cottonwood Basin, and to the east out to Fishlake Valley

Starting elevation: 9,700 feet

Ending elevation: 11,800 feet

Distance: 6.0 miles with 2,800 feet gain and 650 feet loss

Day 3

This is a very long day and requires a pre-dawn start as we head into the heart of the range. Ascending animal and Native American trails towards Mt. Barcroft, we may come across a group of desert bighorn sheep as we’re now entering their habitat high above tree line on the open rocky slopes. We briefly intersect the now closed White Mountain road and breathing hard, we ascend to the summit of White Mountain Peak to the last vestiges of civilization at the old research cabin on the summit. We leave the developed world for the remaining days and head north off the peak to a short 3rd class ridge. This is the most difficult section of the hike, but before long we are on the stunning wide open slopes and plateaus of the range. We travel along the ridge crest to a camp (elevation 11,200′) at the headwaters of Cabin and Birch Creeks with their year round springs. We will set camp here for two evenings.

Starting elevation: 11,800 feet

Ending elevation: 11,200 feet

Distance: 10.2 miles with 2,950 feet gain and 4,150 feet loss

Day 4

Today we have options to explore the areas around the Pellisier Flats, as we finish our day camping again at Cabin and Birch Creeks. Our hike begins with a long but gentle uphill through improbable grasslands and wide-open meadows, with lots of running water. This hike up and onto the beautiful Pellisier Flats is one of the many highlights of the trip. The area is entirely above 12,000′ and is alpine tundra, with miniature wildflowers and remarkably flat terrain. As we hike, we have the option to summit Mt Hogue before returning through the flats and down to camp.

Starting elevation: 11,200 feet

Ending elevation: 11,200 feet

Distance round trip to Mt Hogue 6.5 miles with 1,700 feet gain and 1,700 feet loss

Day 5

This is a big day of descent taking us from the high alpine tundra into the low sagebrush deserts of the Great Basin. but starts gradually as we move across the untrailed Chiatovich Flats for the canyons of Indian Creek. Eventually, we start the big drop along a rough trail into Indian Creek. Passing old mines, and other currently active mines, we descend the watershed into Nevada where we cross down and out into the desert.

Starting elevation: 11,800 feet

Ending elevation: 11,200 feet

Distance: 7.0 miles with 450 feet gain and 4,450 feet loss

This trip travels across a pristine and little traveled area. We must do our utmost to minimize our impact on the land and leave no evidence of our presence. This means a higher than normal awareness of our potential impacts and doing what we can to leave no trace of our passage. Your guide will brief you thoroughly on our “Leave no Trace” practices. This is a trip to extreme high elevations. Our itinerary takes this into account but the terrain limits where we can reasonably hope to camp. We’ve done our best to place camps in the lowest spots available but we still will be exposed to the elements of this desert mountain range. It is essential that you have at least one night and preferably three nights immediately prior to the trip at high elevation. Look at this as an investment in your trip and in your health.