[pct-l] Exploring the Highest Sierra

[Bighummel@aol.com (Bighummel@aol.com)]

I just finished reading a fantastic book that should be of interest to any of 
you that share my fascination and love for the High Sierra.  It is called 
"Exploring the Highest Sierra" by James G. Moore.  Moore is a geologist with 
the U.S. Geological Society that has spent a good portion of his life 
studying the Kings Canyon - Sequoia National Park areas.  

He has created a phenomenal account of the early exploration, history, mining 
and geology of the area.  He traces the earliest explorers; Fremont, Carson, 
Brewer, Whitney, Muir, etc., and explains the naming of many of the features 
that we now take for granted without thought of the origins.  He traces the 
development of more and more accurate maps of the region and gives a great 
discussion of the old barometric and surveying tools used to make 
surprisingly good early estimates of the altitude and location of the primary 
peaks and features, including Whitney.  

Mt. Whitney was mistakenly mis-located by one of the early map makers and 
this erroneous location was perpetuated for some time until the false Mt. 
Whitney (Mt. Langley) was climbed and it was realized that "that peak over 
there looks a little bit higher than this one"!

Mining attempts and mineral exploration in the shadow of the California gold 
rush is described and some of the early mines detailed.  

He then undertakes an in-depth description of the geologic history of the 
area in a discussion that should be mostly comprehendible and fascinating for 
the geologic interested and is the best overall geologic history of the 
Sierra that this retired geologist has found.

Road and trail geologic descriptions are provided.  

Numerous maps, photos and detailed descriptions make this a great reference 
that I will value as one of my favorite books, ever.  I urge you to enjoy 
this with me.

I am in no way connected to the author, publisher, printer or distributors of 
this book.

Sincerely,

Greg "Strider" Hummel


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