Product Description
The most complete guide to the Sierras available, The High Sierra covers all known routes to approximately 570 peaks, with details on class ratings, elevations, mileages, permit information, safety, and the history of Sierra exploration. 115 photographs. 29 maps. Vinyl-bound.

CUSTOMER REVIEWS (Average Customer Rating: 4.0 based on 15 reviews)

Great guide to the High Sierra

i have loved looking through this book and cant wait to go out and see some of the territory it covers
August 15, 2007

Are you a technical climber or a hiker?

Are you a technical climber going to or dreaming about the High Sierra? If so, this book is for you with plenty of details on mountain ascents. But, peruse another book if you a hiker, wanting to know in advance the sights to see, altitude to gain and miles to cover on the passes and trails of the HIgh Sierra.
May 28, 2007

THE High Sierra Hiking/Climbing Encyclopedia

This massive tome is oriented to those who really want to stray from the beaten path and adventure the Sierra Nevada. The book covers the Sequoia/Kings Canyon region to realms north of Yosemite. Trails, cross-country treks, mountain passes and peaks not found in other guides receive mention here. The comprehensiveness of this makes it a singular achievement that stands out from the many other books on this region. Be forewarned though, because of the sheer scope here, a great deal of information can not be listed for each topic. If you plan to hike an established trail, you would be better served by any number of other guides out there. Secor's text is oriented more for the Sierra veteran, particularly the climber, and mountain peaks seem to get a bit more space here. Nonetheless, there is still plenty here for the non-technical backcountry adventurer. Despite the encyclopedic style of this thing, it's not altogether dry. Sample text: "The only thing 'enchanted' about Enchanted Gorge is its name. This is a difficult cross-country route..."

One clearly needs good topographic maps handy to make use of this book. Even so, the book could stand to have a few more maps. Furthermore, the text descriptions ought do a better job telling one where a particular entry would be located on a map (abbreviated UTM coordinates are sometimes as good as it gets). Nonetheless, this is the only widely-available book that describes so many remote corners of the Sierra. This book is kind of an updated and far expanded version of Steve Roper's classic "Climber's Guide To The High Sierra", whose "Sierra High Route" book is a great source as well.
July 13, 2005

a must have

This is THE guide to mountaineering and peak-bagging in the High Sierra. All others pale in comparison.

Some here seem to bemoan the fact that topos and route information are not included for each of the hundreds of peaks in this book. No one guide could possibly do that, and if you're going to climb a peak, I'd really hope you'd do a little more research than just the write-up from just one book anyway.

This guide is a perfect starting point for any of the thousands of peaks up there and is probably the only place where peaks other than the 14ers and homes of classical technical routes get mentioned.

June 16, 2005

Not For Novices

Secor's Tome really is a wonderful book for experienced hikers with routefinding and rock scrambling skills. I can sit for hours with topo maps and his book, looking up peaks and routes. But be careful if you're a beginner (or experienced only on-trail) when reading the reviews that say this is the "Bible" for the Sierra or "the book to own if you're only going to own one". Beginners could easily get themselves into more than they bargained for.
February 11, 2005

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