The 2009 backpacking season officially ended with a Nov 20th trip up the High Sierra Trail.

Overall accomplishment award /Backpacker of the year went to

Seth Hostedler

Seth was encountered By Sherpa Seamus ,a mile above Crabtree Ranger Station on Sept 20th 2009 on the Original John Muir Trail [Abandoned yrs ago by the National Park Service ] one day before his 88th Birthday.Seth was attempting to Summit Mt Whitney for his Birthday.A snowstorm had deprived him of a similar accomplishment the previous year.Seth serves as an inspiration to us all,whenever you rise in the morning and your bones are weary and stiff from a long trek ,put your aches and pains were they belong,under the nearest rock or over the nearest canyon. Thank you Seth,Keep on Packing

Longest trek of the Season in a day

After sleeping in until approx 8.30 am on the Morning of Sept 19th 2009 at Wallace Creek above the Kern Canyon on the High Sierra Trail 2 Cal Poly students Siubhan L Shannon and Jackie decided to push to the Summit of Whitney ,spend 45 mins on top,then on to 'The Pizza Factory ' in Lone Pine CA  A distance of approximately 24 miles and over the Whitney range.A remarkable accomplishment .Future PCT CANDIDATES NO DOUBT 

Youngest Packer  on the High Sierra Trail 2009

 Orla  S  Age 9 embarked on the High Sierra Trail on June 15th 2009 ,Pumped her own water ,put up her own tent !Carried a 3lb volume of the hardback Harry Potter.With her Pet Bear 'Travis' she earned the trail name 'Mountain Goat 'Special Thanks to all the staff at Bearpaw High Sierra Camp for their Kindness to Orla and all High Sierra Trail Packers .