The High Sierra Trail - Surviving COVID on the HST

Thru hike of the beautiful High Sierra Trail in July 2022.
Andrea and I and our friends, Jeff and Debbie, hiked the HST in July of 2022. On the second day Andrea and I started to feel cold symptoms, by the 4th day we were feeling rather lousy when a well-prepared, friendly hiker offered us a COVD test - we were positive. Watch this video to see how we coped with COVID in the backcountry.
00:00 Arriving in Sequoia National Park
00:28 Day 1 - Crabtree Meadow to Buck Creek
06:39 Day 2 - Buck Creek to Hamilton Lake
13:42 Day 3 - Hamilton Lake to Moraine Lake
21:00 Day 4 - Moraine Lake to Kern Hot Springs
25:04 Day 5 - Kern Hot Springs Rest Day
25:26 Day 6 - Kern Hot Springs to Junction Meadow
28:44 Day 7 - Junction Meadow to Guitar Lake
32:29 Day 8 - Guitar Lake to Whitney Portal
36:37 Hike Stats

[@AllBraunZeroBrains]

What a great trail, I’d love to give it a try 🤔

[@chili1593]

Gorgeous scenery.

[@RickandAndreaGetOutside]

Thanks!

[@jillyelston6145]

You two very lovely people should be very proud that you hiked and finished this trail feeling so poorly, well done! This is exactly the sort of video I love to watch, stunningly beautiful scenery, brilliant photography and just the occasional talk to camera, I loved every minute of it! Looking forward to seeing more hiking trails from you both, thank you so much!

[@RickandAndreaGetOutside]

Thanks so much for your kind words Jilly! Andrea and I really appreciate it! Do you do much backpacking? Have you done the HST?

[@jillyelston6145]

@@RickandAndreaGetOutside I wish! I live in the UK and after an accident on my motorbike I'm disabled. I just love to watch folk hiking the JMT in particular, because I will never see it myself, your wonderful video and others bring the beauty of the trail right to me, so thank you again!

[@richbrindley8944]

Wonderful Trek, sorry about the Covid.

[@RickandAndreaGetOutside]

Thanks Rich, it definitely was an extra challenge that we didn't plan on. But still great to be out there on the trail!

[@YongsungKim]

I am so glad and impressed that you guys finished this with COVID. The quality of the video is outstanding.

[@RickandAndreaGetOutside]

Thank you!

[@ralphjones6165]

Great photography. There is also a really good campsite after crossing Buck Creek and climbing uphill a little bit. Nice and private with no neighboring spots. I came down with whatever Asian flu was in fashion on a week long hike once at the point of no return. Hot weather, but I soldiered on and it seemed to burn itself out by the next day. Glad not to have become a burden on my partners.

[@RickandAndreaGetOutside]

Thanks! I will keep that campsite after Buck Creek in mind, probably great view from there. Getting sick on the trail is not fun, glad you go through that too.

[@MarmaladeOutdoors]

Man what an epic and gorgeous hike. Definitely have to do this one for sure. Such a bummer you both got sick. Had to make it so much more difficult. Thanks for taking the time to film and edit this great trail. I really enjoyed watching this!

[@RickandAndreaGetOutside]

Thanks so much Mike! Definitely was a challenge to hike this trail while feeling lousy.

[@HuckOutdoors]

This brought some good memories back of my time on the HST. Never knew buck had so many sites!

[@RickandAndreaGetOutside]

Thanks Huck!

[@HuckOutdoors]

@@RickandAndreaGetOutside which campsite was your favorite on the trail?

[@RickandAndreaGetOutside]

Good question. It's a toss up between Kern Hot Springs and Hamilton Lake. The hot springs was a lot of fun however it's hard to beat the beauty of Hamilton Lake.

[@caseyrk]

Great to see you both back on the trail. Loved the video, beautiful scenery. Sorry about the Covid but otherwise seemed like a very enjoyable trip.

[@RickandAndreaGetOutside]

Thanks Bob! It was a great trip despite the challenge of not feeling well, but it is always a pleasure to be in the Sierras!

[@youngheart1065]

Fantastic trip!!! I’ll be dropping Mike “Marmalade” Lawrence off at the Trailhead tomorrow! East bound. We stayed at Whitney Portal one day ago, and left his car there.

[@RickandAndreaGetOutside]

Thanks Larry! Mike told me you were helping him get to the trail head for his HST hike! That's very kind of you to help him with that!

[@wolfeadventures]

Great video as always! Stunning landscapes. Some really nice lakes back there.

[@RickandAndreaGetOutside]

Thanks Brad!

[@Mark_Jacobson81]

Amazing scenery guys, I’m sure finding out you had Covid was a big shock being half way through a mountainous trail and all but it seems like you rose to the occasion and make the most of it. Glad you’re both ok and the hike was amazing in the end despite the setback.

[@RickandAndreaGetOutside]

Thanks Mark!

[@wellseasonedhiker]

Terrible you both had Covid but wow, you cranked it out anyway. Thanks for pulling together the beautiful video!

[@RickandAndreaGetOutside]

Thanks! It was tough but still great to be out in the mountains despite not feeling well.

[@Heretic10001]

Looked like a really nice trip except for the Covid part. Great job to both of you for managing your way through that situation and completing the route. The video was super enjoyable, thanks for sharing it.

[@RickandAndreaGetOutside]

Thanks Dave - despite Covid it was a great trip.

[@Heretic10001]

@@RickandAndreaGetOutside What is your next adventure? We need to get you up here for something in the Olympics sometime. Did you get a chance to check out the video I made of the trip there a couple weeks ago? It was pretty spectacular, although I was feeling pretty bad for a lot of it. Not Covid though. Something I ate wasn’t agreeing with me. Beautiful hike though.

[@RickandAndreaGetOutside]

@@Heretic10001 I don't think I saw that video? Did you send me a link? We would love to backpack the Olympics someday! We are camping with Mike this weekend, doing a couple of day hikes in the eastern Sierras.

[@hikeapeak]

Fantastic video. Really enjoyed it. And it was also informative. Bummer on the covid, but you guys made the best of the situation. Great meeting you today. Sorry that I gave you my wrong KZbin address. I got confused with my InReach. Looking forward to viewing your other videos. Regards, alann

[@RickandAndreaGetOutside]

Thanks Alann! Really enjoyed meeting you too!

[@inthedirt3224]

What a beautiful area. Seems like July is a good time to hike it...except occasional thunderstorm. Good thing you felt better after a rest day. I think once you're in the middle of that hike there's no good exit point right? I want to hike that trail "someday"!

[@RickandAndreaGetOutside]

It's a beautiful trail for sure. July or August is great for this hike. August might have a few less mosquitos, although they were not bad for us. Yes, from the hot springs there isn't a nearby exit point any closer than Crescent Meadow or the Portal. Horseshoe Meadows was an option, lower in altitude than Trail Crest, however it is a little farther and our car was at the portal.

[@adlhikes3159]

Thx 4 the tour. Luv the Sierra esp PCT. What month & year was this hike? And does the western terminus location of the HST have a name?

[@RickandAndreaGetOutside]

Thanks! We did this hike in July of last year, western terminus is Crescent Meadow.