Photo: Tom Jarapko Scenic Wonders of the Silver Divide, John Muir Wilderness Highlights:
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Trip Number: 08130A Price: $645 Deposit: $100 Capacity: 12 Rating: M Leader:
The Trip  Photo: Tom Jarapko Experienced backpackers and strong novices seeking adventure and freedom will enjoy trekking deep into the heart of the Silver Divide, just south of Yosemite National Park, by trail and cross-country. We'll savor the best of the High Sierra on our 32-mile loop which features soaring granite peaks, conifer forests, clear lakes, rushing streams, and wildflower-speckled meadows. One off-trail pass, at 10,600 feet, highlights our cross-country scramble. Our adventures end early enough on most days with time for photography or to relax, swim, and fish in the clear waters of the distinctive alpine lakes at our evening campsites. The Silver Divide runs east-west from the main Sierra Crest dividing the drainages of Mono and Fish Creeks in the John Muir Wilderness of Sierra National Forest, between Yosemite and Kings Canyon National Parks . It has all of the rugged features of the main crest on a slightly smaller scale, providing perfect terrain for those wishing to expand their backpacking experience off-trail.
Day 1: Our trip will begin at the Vermilion campground at 7,800 feet. You should arrive by 4 p.m. in order to setup tents and briefly review trip expectations and procedures. We will enjoy a barbecue dinner at Vermilion Valley Resort.  Photo: Tom Jarapko Day 2: After breakfast we'll distribute group commissary, hoist our packs, and head up the Goodale Pass trail to Graveyard Lakes at 10,000 feet. We will cover a total of eight miles and climb 2,200 feet. The effort will be rewarded with a secluded camp at Graveyard Lakes. Day 3: We'll start the cross-country portion of our trek by hiking a total of three miles up the drainage from the Graveyard Lakes, cross a 10,600 foot pass, and descend to Peter Pande Lake at 10,000 feet. Day 4: We will have a layover day at Peter Pande Lake. Activities may include swimming, exploring, fishing, and photography. Day 5: Today we'll hike four miles on-trail to Lake of the Lone Indian at 10,300 feet. Day 6: We'll join the John Muir Trail on the north side of Silver Pass, cross the 10,920 ft pass, and descend to Silver Pass Lake at 10,400 ft for a total of three miles. From Silver Pass we will see Mount Ritter, Banner Peak, and Seven Gables. Day 7: Today we will hike six miles on-trail to Quail Meadow at 7,800 feet, nearly all downhill. Day 8: The last day is a two mile hike to the Lake Thomas Edison ferry boat for the six mile ride to the Vermilion Valley Resort then shuttle back to our waiting cars at the Vermilion trailhead where the trip ends. Those who wish can refresh themselves at the Vermilion Valley Resort with a shower and/or meal at the restaurant, or a soak at Mono Hot Springs five miles down the mountain. Getting There Lake Edison is approximately a six-hour drive from San Francisco and three hours from Fresno, California. The leader will send a map and detailed driving directions to registered participants in advance of the trip.
The first trip meal will be dinner on day one and the last meal will be breakfast on the last day. Participants share in all cooking and clean-up duties. All cooking gear, trip food, and bear-safe canisters will be provided. The menu is lightweight, low in bulk, simple to prepare, and offers variety and quantity. Only a few meals contain meat items, and we can easily accommodate vegetarians. Vegetarians and anyone with food allergies must notify the leader well in advance of the trip in order to plan the food prior to the trip.
This trip is rated Moderate (M). You'll need to be physically fit in order to carry a pack holding 40-plus pounds of gear at the start and hike rugged trails at high altitude. The overall distance is about 32 miles, and elevations range from 7,800-11,000 feet. Daily distances range from three to eight miles. The elevation gain on the first day will be 2,200 feet, the maximum elevation gain for the trip-when our loads are the heaviest and the temperatures the hottest, underscoring the need for physical preparation. The leader will not accept anyone not engaged in a regular program of aerobic exercise.
Although we try hard to keep the commissary weight down, each participant's share of the group equipment and food will be about 14 pounds at the start of the trip. The bear-proof canisters that contain the food, cooking pot sets, and other group gear that you will be carrying are approximately the size of a full paper grocery bag. Pack size should be at least 70 liters (4,200 cubic inches) in order to hold personal gear and clothing plus group equipment and food. It's critical to limit your personal gear to maximize your enjoyment of the trip and to assure that you can keep up with the group. Blisters are the number-one medical problem for backpackers, so your boots must be leather, cover your ankles, fit well, and be broken-in. A complete equipment list will be sent to registered participants.
Maps USGS "Graveyard Peak" 7.5-minute map. "Trail map of the Mono Divide High Country" from Tom Harrison Cartography (www.tomharrisonmaps.com ), is an excellent 15-minute map. You can mail order excellent custom maps at reasonable prices from services such as TopoZone (www.topozone.com ). Books
Conservation Our route lies entirely within public lands managed by the U.S. Forest Service. Fortunately, most of the High Sierra is permanently protected as congressionally designated wilderness. However, much of the land surrounding the wilderness does not enjoy such protection and faces threats on several fronts. Air pollution from the Central Valley is weakening trees and other flora. The lakes here are more acidic than in years past. Also, rural development in the foothills and in the forests is encroaching on traditional habitat, increasing pressure on animals and degrading downstream water quality. Logging practices are still extremely disruptive and logging roads leave scars that remain long after the forests recover. Cattle grazing at the edges of wilderness areas pose a direct threat to water quality and fish habitat.
See the How to Apply for an Outing section for more details on registering for this trip and details about our Reservation and Cancellation Policy. The payment of a deposit does not confirm you as a member on the trip. Participants must be approved by the trip leader. After signing up for this trip, you will be sent a confirmation packet containing approval materials (Participant Approval Questionnaire, Medical Form, Liability Release Form). Each applicant (including those on the waitlist) must fill out these forms and promptly mail them to the trip leader. The leader will review the approval materials and notify you of your acceptance in a timely manner.
Leader:
General Notes About Sierra Club Trips
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Tom Jarapko has backpacked and hiked for more than 30 years throughout the western states in the Sierra Nevada, Rocky, Wallowa, Cascade, Olympic, Uinta, and Wasatch Mountains. He’s an avid backpacker and hiker and his interests include bicycling, canoeing, and photography. Tom has solo canoed the Boundary Waters Wilderness in Minnesota and enjoyed fly-in fishing trips in Canada. When Tom is not enjoying the outdoors he works as a management consultant. Feel free to contact him with any questions.
Carol MacFarlane has been hiking, backpacking, and climbing peaks for more than 35 years in New England, the Canadian Rockies, and in all the mountain states of the West. She participated in her first Sierra Club National Outings backpack in 1971, and began leading backpacking trips for National Outings in 2000. Carol is an early-retired educator who loves to spend time walking her dog, improving her Spanish, and volunteering for various organizations. Her participants rave about her backcountry cuisine.