Running is a means of terrestrial locomotion allowing humans and other animals to move swiftly on foot. Mountain Running is a discipline of long-distance running that takes place in mountain topography. Mountain Running can be defined by two philosophies: 1) the appreciation of the joy and benefits of moving rapidly on foot through natural mountain landscapes, and/or 2) the athletic pursuit of the fastest possible speed on foot over a given mountain route, given considerations of risk and safety.
Fastpacking, is a cross between Backpacking and Mountain Running. The defining characteristics of Fastpacking are: 1) Rapid, long-distance mountain travel, on foot, over multiple days, involving camps or bivouacs, and 2) Refined equipment choices and practiced skill sets that allow for both rapid movement and self-sufficiency in a remote mountain setting. Fastpackers share alpinists’ “light and fast” attitude for moving in the mountains. Fastpackers use gear selection, ingenuity, and a streamlined approach as primary tools for maximizing speed and minimizing overall effort, without overly compromising safety or comfort.
Fastpacking, also called Ultralight Backpacking, is a cross between Backpacking and Mountain Running. The defining characteristics of Fastpacking are: 1) Rapid, long-distance mountain travel, on foot, over multiple days, involving camps or bivouacs, and 2) Refined equipment choices and practiced skill sets that allow for both rapid movement and self-sufficiency in a remote mountain setting. Fastpackers share alpinists' "light and fast" attitude for moving in the mountains. Fastpackers use gear selection, ingenuity, and a streamlined approach as primary tools for maximizing speed and minimizing overall effort, without overly compromising safety or comfort.Eastern Sierra Mountain Running Guide
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High Sierra Runs
(Runs organized by proximity to nearest town)
Lee Vining
- Parker Pass Loop (10 mi, 2,000 ft gain, moderate)
- Tuolumne Vogelsang Loop (28 mi, 5,857 ft gain, difficult)
- Young Lakes Loop (12 mi, 2,141 ft gain, difficult)
- Agnew Meadows and 1,000 Island Loop (12 mi, 3,620 ft gain, difficult)
- Agnew to Silver Lake (21 mi, 3,660 ft gain, difficult)
- Agnew Meadows to Tuolumne Meadows (26 mi, 4,540 ft gain, difficult)
- Antelope Loop (7.6 mi, 760 ft gain, moderate)
- Deer Mtn Loop (5 mi, 400 ft gain, moderate)
- Mammoth to McGee Creek (22 mi, 5,720 ft gain, difficult)
- Mammoth Rock Run (5.2 mi, 580 ft gain, moderate)
- Rock Creek to Crowley via Hilton Lakes (10.5 mi, 750 ft gain, moderate)
- Rock Creek to Pine Creek Via Muir Trail (51 mi, 10,170 ft gain, very difficult)
- Bishop Creek Pineline Rds & Edison Loop (15.5 mi, 3,160 ft. gain, difficult *you can modify the run to suit your training)
- Bishop Pass (10 mi, 2,180 ft gain, difficult)
- Black Canyon (15 mi, 3,180 ft gain, difficult) *this is an out-and-back so you can shorten or lenghten the run
- Druid Stone Grunt (3 mi, 1640 ft gain, difficult)
- Evolution 100K (55 mi, 9,800 ft gain, very difficult)
- North Lake to Pine Creek aka The Sky Marathon (26 mi, 3,805 ft gain, difficult)
- Paiute Pass - 10 miles roundtrip 1800' Up (10 mi, 1,800 ft gain, moderate)
- Tyee Lakes and Table Mt (5.8 mi, 2,890 ft gain, moderate)
- Big Pine to Fourth Lake (12 mi, 3,200 ft gain, difficult)
- Horseshoe Meadow Loop (20 mi, 3,900 ft gain, difficult)
Bishop Area Runs
- Tungsten Peak 10K (7 mi, 1,500 ft gain, difficult)
- Tungsten Hills Half-Marathon (13 mi, 1,400 ft gain, difficult)
- Pleasant Valley Loop (7.8 mi, 800ft gain, moderate)
- Fish Slough Half-Marathon Loop (12.89mi, 400ft gain, moderate)
- Tungsten Hills 10-mile Loop (10.1mi, 1,200ft gain, moderate)
- Bishop Canal (various distances, easy to moderate)
- East Bishop Trails (various distances, easy to moderate)
- Coyote Ridge (20 mi, 6,500 ft gain, difficult)
- Lower Rock Creek (16 mi, 2,500 ft gain, difficult)
- McMurray Meadows Loop (12 mi, 1,800 ft gain, moderate)
- Round Valley 6 Mile Loop (6 mi, 200 ft gain, easy)
- Round Valley 9 Mile Loop (9.2 mi, 250 ft gain, moderate)
Mammoth Area Runs
- Green Church Loop (9.5 mi, 300 ft gain, moderate)
- Shady Rest Hill Climb (7.8 mi, 725 ft gain, moderate)
- Duck Pass (7 mi, 1,700ft gain, moderate)
