tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-82753530039518378732024-03-05T22:17:51.375-08:00justHikingMy friends say I hike too muchZac Justhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15227278731837652038noreply@blogger.comBlogger26125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8275353003951837873.post-70644719899062743152021-06-20T15:05:00.003-07:002021-06-20T15:12:30.624-07:00Soldier Lake and Mt. Langley<h1 style="height: 0px;">Day 1: </h1><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>I drove from Fresno to Lone Pine the night before and camped up Horseshoe Meadows TH. I met up with my friend Corey (who climbed Mt. Stewart with me last year <a href="https://zacjust.blogspot.com/2019/11/ring-around-kaweahs.html">Ring around Kaweahs 2019</a>) and we started towards New Army Pass. Cottonwood Lakes never disappoints and it was beautiful as usual. We were even lucky enough to see some bighorn sheep, something neither of us had seen before. Once over the pass we made our way down to Lower Soldier Lake to camp for the night. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4OW2OI0J7kNT_MMJ12ceBMG-Enb6KokV1t8sUUrp9OaVC2wBVEDirJbMC1RK1p7JCoynYU5gBUKYvG-csgbL5gsspBwITCM3OcF8MoaTR_HvbLbtYxneOigO6_vQEFv3TgqFcZPzo7K0/s1000/20200725_103818.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="750" data-original-width="1000" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4OW2OI0J7kNT_MMJ12ceBMG-Enb6KokV1t8sUUrp9OaVC2wBVEDirJbMC1RK1p7JCoynYU5gBUKYvG-csgbL5gsspBwITCM3OcF8MoaTR_HvbLbtYxneOigO6_vQEFv3TgqFcZPzo7K0/w640-h480/20200725_103818.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-2WCcvWRLKArV3KixOA3Mquv8xxMazjBuO2ytDNaTQ2UHYQhK0K690ivo9Mz9AuWuxEUdLohhNvz2mCAht2aWB3pQzKCA_2dmijVW4RblJlTg9EUOCmv1zh5OGV4X7iXG5C0t4NMkdi4/s1000/20200725_120419.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; 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text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNcH3NaUVcgWUuTaBY4JtR2UNHiUU58bTEpStF_YvFCVlgvhG_NCRTVTPB-uROQ1hwJN_vQfhmsyjVNOqc_qLAYH_Fz4hQDOlu-kkQmoZGRwXzAAapAn-eyZmqrTRTRRsLSKtIHhoSdRc/s1000/20200725_201131.jpg"><img border="0" data-original-height="750" data-original-width="1000" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNcH3NaUVcgWUuTaBY4JtR2UNHiUU58bTEpStF_YvFCVlgvhG_NCRTVTPB-uROQ1hwJN_vQfhmsyjVNOqc_qLAYH_Fz4hQDOlu-kkQmoZGRwXzAAapAn-eyZmqrTRTRRsLSKtIHhoSdRc/w640-h480/20200725_201131.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /></div><h1 style="text-align: left;">Day 2:</h1><div>Our plan today was to climb Mt. Langley. I had done it a couple times before but for Corey, it was his first time. We headed up to Upper Soldier Lake where I made an error and ended up climbing too far north and we had to navigate more difficult terrain than necessary. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrSQPBslpJhu0D2Vxgp-i7RpR6j8Pr36Ze680uA1JwZT7mTUO1KzVnoOktlYMACyWUfqkjevreb8v_9J13wzKmsE2je2BxKiv2LLU84qCA2s-5qrGXIU9cqf1sw1JQl4iGyL3-jhfOsO8/s1000/20200726_073712.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="750" data-original-width="1000" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrSQPBslpJhu0D2Vxgp-i7RpR6j8Pr36Ze680uA1JwZT7mTUO1KzVnoOktlYMACyWUfqkjevreb8v_9J13wzKmsE2je2BxKiv2LLU84qCA2s-5qrGXIU9cqf1sw1JQl4iGyL3-jhfOsO8/w640-h480/20200726_073712.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdxEUtoGmZ9JQS3f6CaN-BmFkBdzg9uuzH27KJBip6zhFzB6NiVqqEId_qYW20g4Fp_OJaFoHVN3A9mdwoTZlU7_LeBpeqAxP_1ngLZwRJ1Uu03IyQuQjULsY_r5abUZffRxm0vk9TWrg/s1000/20200726_081736.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="750" data-original-width="1000" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdxEUtoGmZ9JQS3f6CaN-BmFkBdzg9uuzH27KJBip6zhFzB6NiVqqEId_qYW20g4Fp_OJaFoHVN3A9mdwoTZlU7_LeBpeqAxP_1ngLZwRJ1Uu03IyQuQjULsY_r5abUZffRxm0vk9TWrg/w640-h480/20200726_081736.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB5Tw-IPTL8AFQEJNwQwYWett5UPn9-tJLygh4AHWJ0CRSh9adWI0B9WzYOJnvNpnxpBxBc1suviRRc9J5LPQ5gJfu604q6x4ju0n09e4GgfioUJRfPIIMWFIP_G094YAslgCOBzEai80/s1000/20200726_084635.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="750" data-original-width="1000" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB5Tw-IPTL8AFQEJNwQwYWett5UPn9-tJLygh4AHWJ0CRSh9adWI0B9WzYOJnvNpnxpBxBc1suviRRc9J5LPQ5gJfu604q6x4ju0n09e4GgfioUJRfPIIMWFIP_G094YAslgCOBzEai80/w640-h480/20200726_084635.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPnl0MLJcHI9KheN-IhIlUKmuoSBmt92vOEL4znT_Ckliwtsdy6_GcGb4j3srWxyk9z32DUpTRc93KT9QZwCs3HMgFKIrP3q1sirSUR9SR7vesfPXkQ8-IrzSpxGK0VSSoDs3UVTwBLag/s1000/20200726_084640.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="750" data-original-width="1000" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPnl0MLJcHI9KheN-IhIlUKmuoSBmt92vOEL4znT_Ckliwtsdy6_GcGb4j3srWxyk9z32DUpTRc93KT9QZwCs3HMgFKIrP3q1sirSUR9SR7vesfPXkQ8-IrzSpxGK0VSSoDs3UVTwBLag/w640-h480/20200726_084640.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>The views from Upper Soldier and the upper drainage were spectacularly stark and barren. This is my favorite type of area in the Sierra and I loved it! Heading north-east towards the wall we made our way up the switchbacks. They are not maintained, but are in remarkably good condition. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCmuTQeCcCXQF3Ay5cHroKddUTCaNN9iyeO5KmApgQ34izBe_2nKKybRvHlpZ2UBNqUaYd9APdgZXNLk9RuMKolKWa190N_yvjFlw5hFYfV6GsLtbQ-0ESnqUFVEsJYhob3CF-g_QifhU/s1000/20200726_084645.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="750" data-original-width="1000" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCmuTQeCcCXQF3Ay5cHroKddUTCaNN9iyeO5KmApgQ34izBe_2nKKybRvHlpZ2UBNqUaYd9APdgZXNLk9RuMKolKWa190N_yvjFlw5hFYfV6GsLtbQ-0ESnqUFVEsJYhob3CF-g_QifhU/w640-h480/20200726_084645.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLvfHxeq8ZE0fVYwnlvbQXc_rRdaMKNxhJC_bmC3s_6lTNqP4p8IqvXRo_E7BLy1NJMEKAbf8FbqIPimmNsCqeNIX6MY6_wkhdyUo4Z4T2YB9I5CRw54rnktDsmoMV_MInPYIyPWhn5E0/s1000/20200726_085153.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="750" data-original-width="1000" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLvfHxeq8ZE0fVYwnlvbQXc_rRdaMKNxhJC_bmC3s_6lTNqP4p8IqvXRo_E7BLy1NJMEKAbf8FbqIPimmNsCqeNIX6MY6_wkhdyUo4Z4T2YB9I5CRw54rnktDsmoMV_MInPYIyPWhn5E0/w640-h480/20200726_085153.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwKGdp2P6EziCJKNPObb7vl_cOFteGI75d-ILFRVKTA4spNbbBWkHwLF-OhapL5zyUHSf9KS17ra8u7phanAjN93UQi4zt1W7ZaLkDZHYN2tV6c1KOc-BRiSqLU3tyKn50BL-QJ5HSE5o/s1000/20200726_091734.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="750" data-original-width="1000" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwKGdp2P6EziCJKNPObb7vl_cOFteGI75d-ILFRVKTA4spNbbBWkHwLF-OhapL5zyUHSf9KS17ra8u7phanAjN93UQi4zt1W7ZaLkDZHYN2tV6c1KOc-BRiSqLU3tyKn50BL-QJ5HSE5o/w640-h480/20200726_091734.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM6x_OxElKPZ3v-BBV4tgRRp5G6T74BEa65x8snWcSrGT2xv342BxLlnjNpGp5uX8JqSiTT3heO1wrko3qYvH0bhVe2gCHZRhqiYbIF_Qo2xGrkYPRbE2mfLVffp1RfgcJGdwiT7j7FLk/s1000/20200726_093133.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="750" data-original-width="1000" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM6x_OxElKPZ3v-BBV4tgRRp5G6T74BEa65x8snWcSrGT2xv342BxLlnjNpGp5uX8JqSiTT3heO1wrko3qYvH0bhVe2gCHZRhqiYbIF_Qo2xGrkYPRbE2mfLVffp1RfgcJGdwiT7j7FLk/w640-h480/20200726_093133.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkxZ8Z5GAxgG9yfMyFO0Dw8ahEIU-BwT5PqP_7OP7S_JArQt-lHhhONJ9JmV3cT2yjzslvf1UbFERMwIkQUMHHPRgKHllI9qsQs1kevkt6YbxSaOXYvSuUdriFQ4QfOm1nhoHEJgv6dnA/s1000/20200726_095445.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="750" data-original-width="1000" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkxZ8Z5GAxgG9yfMyFO0Dw8ahEIU-BwT5PqP_7OP7S_JArQt-lHhhONJ9JmV3cT2yjzslvf1UbFERMwIkQUMHHPRgKHllI9qsQs1kevkt6YbxSaOXYvSuUdriFQ4QfOm1nhoHEJgv6dnA/w640-h480/20200726_095445.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvfJvToerYFwhI4CuB2gjjckp8QWbdOLPUVs2DtSlOjdIRbp-6HC5PqfTEOHbPFv3l4fh4QI06dXtjApid360bs2K725YSMn7ik-DByFGNdj18G_RIETpsAeP5Pr22nG8x466TmOOsvYU/s1000/20200726_104828.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="750" data-original-width="1000" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvfJvToerYFwhI4CuB2gjjckp8QWbdOLPUVs2DtSlOjdIRbp-6HC5PqfTEOHbPFv3l4fh4QI06dXtjApid360bs2K725YSMn7ik-DByFGNdj18G_RIETpsAeP5Pr22nG8x466TmOOsvYU/w640-h480/20200726_104828.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Once we connected to the Mt. Langley trail it was just another hour or so to the summit. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2noxT3MQ0dqpcdj6Nsq0e6DvBE9IJPTY9C2Udy6qG1Ouor9oe72otMshRk_lWNnAtGqYNpH82mFkcdXjWaeBAFc0tY-rKmc6jN80AlpdClxXJ5zC8t13lF1QfU2zBHezSPupV0GLcoRo/s1000/20200726_105425.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="750" data-original-width="1000" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2noxT3MQ0dqpcdj6Nsq0e6DvBE9IJPTY9C2Udy6qG1Ouor9oe72otMshRk_lWNnAtGqYNpH82mFkcdXjWaeBAFc0tY-rKmc6jN80AlpdClxXJ5zC8t13lF1QfU2zBHezSPupV0GLcoRo/w640-h480/20200726_105425.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-jbm5p7zpYhMf2PO_L6R8CLc0-qqaqq6DKxYZRYiBX_x-IGq5WCcx14LvaZcWHT2iBHlTdo5wBNUi56A7J5itOFp20RNUPPp2oUHUOxh5Z_nKXIeHVv6bvb2VhYUlQcBoo2hMTwxDqQk/s1000/20200726_114435.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="750" data-original-width="1000" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-jbm5p7zpYhMf2PO_L6R8CLc0-qqaqq6DKxYZRYiBX_x-IGq5WCcx14LvaZcWHT2iBHlTdo5wBNUi56A7J5itOFp20RNUPPp2oUHUOxh5Z_nKXIeHVv6bvb2VhYUlQcBoo2hMTwxDqQk/w640-h480/20200726_114435.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmgdERE2x0EQN_hMCDFwkyrGw8jjCtAp253SkBNNDV46DYr3Rz7bJtK_xzMqYyPdji-TQ1K8lawvE5y09BU99O3h5wEzQRf9N0tf289Pzo42d5rLRvDdHc-HqsTi9AM2-_3eM35rG7GGo/s1000/20200726_115643.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="750" data-original-width="1000" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmgdERE2x0EQN_hMCDFwkyrGw8jjCtAp253SkBNNDV46DYr3Rz7bJtK_xzMqYyPdji-TQ1K8lawvE5y09BU99O3h5wEzQRf9N0tf289Pzo42d5rLRvDdHc-HqsTi9AM2-_3eM35rG7GGo/w640-h480/20200726_115643.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>At this point Corey and I headed in separate directions: he was heading west on a 8 day trip to Lodgepole but I had to be at work the next morning. I headed down Old Army Pass trail (not as bad as the rangers make it seem) and back to my car. This area of the Sierra is well used, but it's still one of my favorite places to be.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikubGnEGGCZEGKFaH_OyweI2sCI0lVBipU6vtADdzBfmlCAWzZOq5ofnipw1HJa6nCb5KBdsnFbsm3j8uaxqeVnTpygoRtDIXiocNO_lLOcQoKhmRw-iBtittmsewGai_8G_8a1ZDdMOI/s1000/20200726_121538.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="750" data-original-width="1000" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikubGnEGGCZEGKFaH_OyweI2sCI0lVBipU6vtADdzBfmlCAWzZOq5ofnipw1HJa6nCb5KBdsnFbsm3j8uaxqeVnTpygoRtDIXiocNO_lLOcQoKhmRw-iBtittmsewGai_8G_8a1ZDdMOI/w640-h480/20200726_121538.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixRH9nF4LLXLk9v2i1zPtb1RPV8iEC6rrXiUWWoMa3sQpfRAkPHqWy3mlTLzHDweu22LuwqvPfP8xttz58MGN6pQ7G20zRi5hFH_GTqXYnTwV_JYWengc3fGShaL0_SB8-EE5NOREZ-fY/s1000/20200726_124820.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="750" data-original-width="1000" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixRH9nF4LLXLk9v2i1zPtb1RPV8iEC6rrXiUWWoMa3sQpfRAkPHqWy3mlTLzHDweu22LuwqvPfP8xttz58MGN6pQ7G20zRi5hFH_GTqXYnTwV_JYWengc3fGShaL0_SB8-EE5NOREZ-fY/w640-h480/20200726_124820.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJmPtA2enwVRY3h0ikecBh4SIBf7ztzKtTbz8IK7jgpVbpNqsTi_eaYC9F-f_kylFFXHZ6eYbpRhLxnc0WAUKOmqNyP8OlWtB7BEqDuUwKWDSZE-lPgEsG1CwpdUVWkIGhueWD2KiccPk/s1000/20200726_131044.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="750" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJmPtA2enwVRY3h0ikecBh4SIBf7ztzKtTbz8IK7jgpVbpNqsTi_eaYC9F-f_kylFFXHZ6eYbpRhLxnc0WAUKOmqNyP8OlWtB7BEqDuUwKWDSZE-lPgEsG1CwpdUVWkIGhueWD2KiccPk/w480-h640/20200726_131044.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0M-naXd-O2X0XBAxDU-6MavL3YopDifph-qZnmcimQnNMwSnpihgCe0TlZBcYtcfn_7xQcLu3dU_x7MykF54-Av_tbybIN-3Bb-MaHm7FEHlV2cq15RskNAcbffZKmSjP9ajYxr0VWpk/s1000/20200726_133819.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="750" data-original-width="1000" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0M-naXd-O2X0XBAxDU-6MavL3YopDifph-qZnmcimQnNMwSnpihgCe0TlZBcYtcfn_7xQcLu3dU_x7MykF54-Av_tbybIN-3Bb-MaHm7FEHlV2cq15RskNAcbffZKmSjP9ajYxr0VWpk/w640-h480/20200726_133819.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhty2wEXF_w7hwC2a5EPHbmv1Gm6gC_1OIrIhR-AkutWpByfRRTklRjl2KMHssFc1RWv93V8AoZmMnbz34DahrXRWYnonXNAQ7Gde7eGQ0LQ_NM_Yien3M-U2uYcfar5e79pfiGzQvd6sI/s1000/20200726_135800.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="750" data-original-width="1000" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhty2wEXF_w7hwC2a5EPHbmv1Gm6gC_1OIrIhR-AkutWpByfRRTklRjl2KMHssFc1RWv93V8AoZmMnbz34DahrXRWYnonXNAQ7Gde7eGQ0LQ_NM_Yien3M-U2uYcfar5e79pfiGzQvd6sI/w640-h480/20200726_135800.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinkWjCHcy94nvwIiCFaBmKNbfmpF77mXx90RrIwA7eZtr9U4PwtaiyEIS3YVIIgExdAU5CfmMf7hZFuGoGImfJ-LFNgGjEuWn16ZDq5M479MWZQo1fU6Z2iM7Wgw-sdVfOOL-iNfazzSU/s1000/20200726_141058.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="750" data-original-width="1000" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinkWjCHcy94nvwIiCFaBmKNbfmpF77mXx90RrIwA7eZtr9U4PwtaiyEIS3YVIIgExdAU5CfmMf7hZFuGoGImfJ-LFNgGjEuWn16ZDq5M479MWZQo1fU6Z2iM7Wgw-sdVfOOL-iNfazzSU/w640-h480/20200726_141058.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>Zac Justhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15227278731837652038noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8275353003951837873.post-63526908018107554722021-06-20T14:20:00.000-07:002021-06-20T14:20:01.399-07:00Mt. Goddard<h1 style="text-align: left;"> Day 1: Maxon TH - South Fork San Joaquin</h1><div>I spent the night at Maxon TH and got an early start in the morning. The first 11 miles to Fleming Lake were mostly forest walking, and the scenery didn't pick up until I hit treeline and caught my first glimpses of Hell for Sure Pass. <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwFH1BOGYM5hA4QW2KUv8Gk7GlNdE6HedPB63X5Bc0gvX4aL6uMKp_6GtyiNH-rtD1-xL0HESbx1difQtjGitaSAXlvgdBLBtDJny3l4ch4wezy9dp98ipSA3LFXSmyrTGolvQdKtyKpw/s1000/20200904_142245.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="750" data-original-width="1000" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwFH1BOGYM5hA4QW2KUv8Gk7GlNdE6HedPB63X5Bc0gvX4aL6uMKp_6GtyiNH-rtD1-xL0HESbx1difQtjGitaSAXlvgdBLBtDJny3l4ch4wezy9dp98ipSA3LFXSmyrTGolvQdKtyKpw/w640-h480/20200904_142245.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTtK5awSvs6CdW-KNkZN_9QMywYV5ySzIyvDMUcM5VRPEVSsGtCKQ7cN0Mp6AR2v87-54DRO9A9nXOIzjpu4BgrY110LpLqfYNjP20J9IR5Qnb1qX46ufp98nLbYBn6vObMGquCYGNxEU/s1000/20200904_142249.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="750" data-original-width="1000" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTtK5awSvs6CdW-KNkZN_9QMywYV5ySzIyvDMUcM5VRPEVSsGtCKQ7cN0Mp6AR2v87-54DRO9A9nXOIzjpu4BgrY110LpLqfYNjP20J9IR5Qnb1qX46ufp98nLbYBn6vObMGquCYGNxEU/w640-h480/20200904_142249.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2fP_A2YsIAD4yr9NjrmwXswaxOuUTjwbDOd-Mr3YRmXLkfWs-vdPB79h_OlbuHUmMwz_VeXQ9kh6FZBcbfnXQ1qiXkDokumMAtjZWKqJ2dnFCeeuKq31xOZlMSf-WGSnk_t0UHNLgpAI/s1000/20200904_142403.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="750" data-original-width="1000" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2fP_A2YsIAD4yr9NjrmwXswaxOuUTjwbDOd-Mr3YRmXLkfWs-vdPB79h_OlbuHUmMwz_VeXQ9kh6FZBcbfnXQ1qiXkDokumMAtjZWKqJ2dnFCeeuKq31xOZlMSf-WGSnk_t0UHNLgpAI/w640-h480/20200904_142403.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiZcR1WI9yPUlUS8xUE7X-DAEerZ2O7P3LwM59yEjuOgxPZRciP92Cv92wjvKIBjMkGhG40dFbChdnuZzbFu2O_pEzYstZLIApPzuhiTHxbU7BnXUOjH0XQ_TQFI6JIP3POCQ7Zb95rZ0/s1000/20200904_152355.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="750" data-original-width="1000" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiZcR1WI9yPUlUS8xUE7X-DAEerZ2O7P3LwM59yEjuOgxPZRciP92Cv92wjvKIBjMkGhG40dFbChdnuZzbFu2O_pEzYstZLIApPzuhiTHxbU7BnXUOjH0XQ_TQFI6JIP3POCQ7Zb95rZ0/w640-h480/20200904_152355.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1nxn-nExVQIKvcMrBopHfyhVJOoI9gEfGKVLwVuKYZSmjJqCcdSZQcyQ0lF3-K31Pl-5uxF0p35JI6z83si5Iq5Zps4aivp42BzV1HMBsm10N7MbnhwLSHo8i4zr-wz8QXJaN1iKnkT8/s1000/20200904_155943.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="750" data-original-width="1000" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1nxn-nExVQIKvcMrBopHfyhVJOoI9gEfGKVLwVuKYZSmjJqCcdSZQcyQ0lF3-K31Pl-5uxF0p35JI6z83si5Iq5Zps4aivp42BzV1HMBsm10N7MbnhwLSHo8i4zr-wz8QXJaN1iKnkT8/w640-h480/20200904_155943.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWIhSYcKhlRC163GmC4tdNZldQBq2G-qqWfbUmFkl9v0aOIOzlzMQyHHGlSCOtH6Qc6OAPQMCYDU3vAPL9sMBqQ34gatS2GWXlPU6N8faUZVTINtuKGEkDk_2fVZJ9TcLWz2bulOhlT3M/s1000/20200904_171427.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="750" data-original-width="1000" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWIhSYcKhlRC163GmC4tdNZldQBq2G-qqWfbUmFkl9v0aOIOzlzMQyHHGlSCOtH6Qc6OAPQMCYDU3vAPL9sMBqQ34gatS2GWXlPU6N8faUZVTINtuKGEkDk_2fVZJ9TcLWz2bulOhlT3M/w640-h480/20200904_171427.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>A quick stop at Hell for Sure Lake and I was heading up and over. From the lake it was only ~600ft to the pass and it was a quick hop to the top. I didn't think it was that bad. From the pass I saw Mt. Goddard and the mountain that it was! I dropped down the east side of the pass and followed the trail south paralleling the South Fork San Joaquin before I made it down to the river where I camped for the night.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP7A4FrTbO_p_T_Flr_czdl_EWEcYxadKof6tFcBJfTNRHNDzNQJ-E9MLhlOqdpZySHAep4J7EOd62cqrHtG5eeHGF-Toim8ThAjDgZ8REftzkWK16ml7HvJJCbYOMuCuhtWTynxO4IfM/s1000/20200904_172210.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="750" data-original-width="1000" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP7A4FrTbO_p_T_Flr_czdl_EWEcYxadKof6tFcBJfTNRHNDzNQJ-E9MLhlOqdpZySHAep4J7EOd62cqrHtG5eeHGF-Toim8ThAjDgZ8REftzkWK16ml7HvJJCbYOMuCuhtWTynxO4IfM/w640-h480/20200904_172210.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuvuavCcoLhGVrPAIEYMUXJcCApxLMlr6g_mq50cNySXX7xY475rnxgjk1ORU8V_ltd1jEQG4baOw9RT2zCh1-YTrRS3KVJqScaAHQsyDfIarx6jp4InykSyCTSpPuMY4quNFdeH3yOZk/s1000/20200904_175535.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="750" data-original-width="1000" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuvuavCcoLhGVrPAIEYMUXJcCApxLMlr6g_mq50cNySXX7xY475rnxgjk1ORU8V_ltd1jEQG4baOw9RT2zCh1-YTrRS3KVJqScaAHQsyDfIarx6jp4InykSyCTSpPuMY4quNFdeH3yOZk/w640-h480/20200904_175535.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif8dw2lDf62uHt4-0ZZv4KSl8DGMLcQJaNHdrC5MWdesSLTM0sYNx6iJHYQdPoW0huMEzdi9NrwphlgDlfzqAdziKnPFKmpJXf0UUncXDhMvagD3CcTmA8XID5dTs0qpzpw4KrMRv0z-8/s1000/20200904_190204.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="750" data-original-width="1000" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif8dw2lDf62uHt4-0ZZv4KSl8DGMLcQJaNHdrC5MWdesSLTM0sYNx6iJHYQdPoW0huMEzdi9NrwphlgDlfzqAdziKnPFKmpJXf0UUncXDhMvagD3CcTmA8XID5dTs0qpzpw4KrMRv0z-8/w640-h480/20200904_190204.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><h1 style="text-align: left;">Day 2: San Joaquin - Mt. Goddard - Martha Lake</h1><div>Early the next morning I started heading up the canyon towards Martha Lake. I followed the trail most of the ways until it fizzled out. Once near the head, there were great views back down Goddard Canyon. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4Kc5JUVHNNAUol9buU6nVCQzsEQTqpZV0DKK1JhsYK9r_BLCxmr4mqimgxyyAIFtnFj-qAVzFxoWKKblZKEjvOIoM0QZQCJWG_Sw40wMOzVPVEKY61GamuFjXjW3_tjJJMVAzJTQknSk/s1000/20200905_081057.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="750" data-original-width="1000" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4Kc5JUVHNNAUol9buU6nVCQzsEQTqpZV0DKK1JhsYK9r_BLCxmr4mqimgxyyAIFtnFj-qAVzFxoWKKblZKEjvOIoM0QZQCJWG_Sw40wMOzVPVEKY61GamuFjXjW3_tjJJMVAzJTQknSk/w640-h480/20200905_081057.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMu6dX0n0rWTPKzXPnzgESC7iU6Z1MHirHeXtFeGYiWdpjCIT2WBNoFoEdwke5PFbSUgdFHUnw6TROJAwKM9xbcjTyYWA9UgfRw3Fun_obKCTBEljAHJTQ3OFj4-3VoNwcFS4xMHBBx0k/s1000/20200905_082106.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="750" data-original-width="1000" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMu6dX0n0rWTPKzXPnzgESC7iU6Z1MHirHeXtFeGYiWdpjCIT2WBNoFoEdwke5PFbSUgdFHUnw6TROJAwKM9xbcjTyYWA9UgfRw3Fun_obKCTBEljAHJTQ3OFj4-3VoNwcFS4xMHBBx0k/w640-h480/20200905_082106.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOdtiGbP7BTYmoISwxD0cudmBX2i4SwWZxz0m3oMig-fy8zSA_-IjflFCRk_SjgA6VCnYqnXVi82hi4Lnj9iyq1kmdl-bA5CSYviBUoPUqNpDhITVR9BXZsO1BnaJM9quILYqQoSzmiI8/s1000/20200905_084702.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="750" data-original-width="1000" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOdtiGbP7BTYmoISwxD0cudmBX2i4SwWZxz0m3oMig-fy8zSA_-IjflFCRk_SjgA6VCnYqnXVi82hi4Lnj9iyq1kmdl-bA5CSYviBUoPUqNpDhITVR9BXZsO1BnaJM9quILYqQoSzmiI8/w640-h480/20200905_084702.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>I arrived at Martha Lake at 9:30 and took a quick break before sizing up Mt. Goddard. It is a big knob of a mountain a full 2,500ft above Martha Lake. I started up, heading right up the slot to the south of Goddard. It was a lot of talus and rock hopping, but there were faint use trails in some places. I especially enjoyed the dark metamorphic rock, it reminded me of walking into Mordor! </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIp9NlYZj-DFFcAu9_CDC59rxlwIMIPRD2uZok5sHtQh07c51SDZDYgQTzV0L_z6yE3GJxLBDtZgkU1J39UIIzhXuP8jmhi_QTj9HUZv5b4j2p4R3GW-N__vqT6yXu9HhKWNKlAEjBSWc/s1000/20200905_093416.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="750" data-original-width="1000" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIp9NlYZj-DFFcAu9_CDC59rxlwIMIPRD2uZok5sHtQh07c51SDZDYgQTzV0L_z6yE3GJxLBDtZgkU1J39UIIzhXuP8jmhi_QTj9HUZv5b4j2p4R3GW-N__vqT6yXu9HhKWNKlAEjBSWc/w640-h480/20200905_093416.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja2Jveu_ABjjBeBcvQfLcDVeeifVKOMbhTocKKlDRRjlE3RyKCzTNE8UQVQYEHlNEPplCV6Cn8wPcKD8f3lbLkvWdxYJKZcaFnKhm2q0imx3Ny1aHloZ8GJ28ps1kFUUHr2vWTgZpdiU0/s1000/20200905_102026.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="750" data-original-width="1000" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja2Jveu_ABjjBeBcvQfLcDVeeifVKOMbhTocKKlDRRjlE3RyKCzTNE8UQVQYEHlNEPplCV6Cn8wPcKD8f3lbLkvWdxYJKZcaFnKhm2q0imx3Ny1aHloZ8GJ28ps1kFUUHr2vWTgZpdiU0/w640-h480/20200905_102026.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUBvVOCdn0qvaIYC0S3lbYJrqUJ5ypBLNsQV-wz7F2VxfFZKe_iHavwm8djh51m55yeSBMnDQ_-zW9LA7jamWtRuPmvwNJCO8pKWu5tuIOSt3K7bvFGqYslcyLhVhmxiVg0tmQp-i98-k/s1000/20200905_103134.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="750" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUBvVOCdn0qvaIYC0S3lbYJrqUJ5ypBLNsQV-wz7F2VxfFZKe_iHavwm8djh51m55yeSBMnDQ_-zW9LA7jamWtRuPmvwNJCO8pKWu5tuIOSt3K7bvFGqYslcyLhVhmxiVg0tmQp-i98-k/w480-h640/20200905_103134.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>I took a final break at the lake south of the summit before looking up the switch backs up to the SW shoulder. It was very steep and slippery, one step up, half a step back. At the shoulder it was still another 500ft to the top and the 13,000 elevation was slowing me down. I enjoyed the views and eventually made it to the summit! I noticed a smoke plume to the west, which I later found out to be the start of the Creek Fire. The smoke obscured the views a little, but I enjoyed the summit before heading back down to Martha. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA-q4M8UXo_JEJ73lKNjCYjjDsiQrq1yOKVvsQBJ4PicyiPphbo3u8x0YCkLHEOkLdgDp4PrDqyBbY5qr7hBvXVdoD6c-eN_4CMHsNqW9BPX8WN9EbvyG1Y0KdoVMuwpseBu7m7jVeuAA/s1000/20200905_112149.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="750" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA-q4M8UXo_JEJ73lKNjCYjjDsiQrq1yOKVvsQBJ4PicyiPphbo3u8x0YCkLHEOkLdgDp4PrDqyBbY5qr7hBvXVdoD6c-eN_4CMHsNqW9BPX8WN9EbvyG1Y0KdoVMuwpseBu7m7jVeuAA/w480-h640/20200905_112149.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZkq3TDUBVmoLlOe2V8yb4PLQ3aR_AxcSCO2jT2b6gsJr7qpZp8sble3xD-RN5GSwuCthmnh2_J2kRziuSmziozxXU0rPjM08DG6sR08JnCmXl5vk0Srp45FBXFgc9y-_AP1y-xWIlNt0/s1000/20200905_124527.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="750" data-original-width="1000" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZkq3TDUBVmoLlOe2V8yb4PLQ3aR_AxcSCO2jT2b6gsJr7qpZp8sble3xD-RN5GSwuCthmnh2_J2kRziuSmziozxXU0rPjM08DG6sR08JnCmXl5vk0Srp45FBXFgc9y-_AP1y-xWIlNt0/w640-h480/20200905_124527.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_rzp1LEc8JpFpNjz9kQ3L3CLLBpKRAypfRstmpjj_cT2w_oPdoVgecSvzGXmsCxImpgI5lxEGWTF7D_3uLZ0PFGm__66XtBrNU7OwH1H-t3p6WpISuA4Yoa0p7L5LS5QUhvKqdwEVYns/s1000/20200905_124533.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="750" data-original-width="1000" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_rzp1LEc8JpFpNjz9kQ3L3CLLBpKRAypfRstmpjj_cT2w_oPdoVgecSvzGXmsCxImpgI5lxEGWTF7D_3uLZ0PFGm__66XtBrNU7OwH1H-t3p6WpISuA4Yoa0p7L5LS5QUhvKqdwEVYns/w640-h480/20200905_124533.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; 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text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjImmMaDWYQobZElCareqHU7TyE7FVR7PdI0ScdoFELIs9nVWefGFQEqIe-SqXQezRJhLCMEJSFUs2pmNC8cOrcIhSGJjmzGys6otj6OQ5uxHANIeJ9eKbLkhF6HYi9mvjBvSeDJcPmUK0/s1000/20200905_135122.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="750" data-original-width="1000" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjImmMaDWYQobZElCareqHU7TyE7FVR7PdI0ScdoFELIs9nVWefGFQEqIe-SqXQezRJhLCMEJSFUs2pmNC8cOrcIhSGJjmzGys6otj6OQ5uxHANIeJ9eKbLkhF6HYi9mvjBvSeDJcPmUK0/w640-h480/20200905_135122.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2Pi2STw8GkrWZNsfL7x8foTr_ISJy3HJjkQ-rAQwSZPm0-6RBg7CU8lAJ6Bog8Am2C-au8YgxgGfM2AyVvfeHu4pHXGAAr5REcdcFqJUn8TqjuEV3BkCFDpkz5xmSBsciCx1uW1P-Cps/s1000/20200905_135424.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="750" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2Pi2STw8GkrWZNsfL7x8foTr_ISJy3HJjkQ-rAQwSZPm0-6RBg7CU8lAJ6Bog8Am2C-au8YgxgGfM2AyVvfeHu4pHXGAAr5REcdcFqJUn8TqjuEV3BkCFDpkz5xmSBsciCx1uW1P-Cps/w480-h640/20200905_135424.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmmQaB_NMek8IP1r8Lp6NKJdFjr93CuhGrM0HeOQ4zrYBQAXGMpGTGdsBXq4W6tRlZRMqBlJbNlNpc5mpxHSe9fNRE8-mh6PFQsuFn1Ao-OgkdkFky0xYWCHxUG_EkmixrZ8FRvRi7ngw/s1000/20200905_143201.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="750" data-original-width="1000" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmmQaB_NMek8IP1r8Lp6NKJdFjr93CuhGrM0HeOQ4zrYBQAXGMpGTGdsBXq4W6tRlZRMqBlJbNlNpc5mpxHSe9fNRE8-mh6PFQsuFn1Ao-OgkdkFky0xYWCHxUG_EkmixrZ8FRvRi7ngw/w640-h480/20200905_143201.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLIFyS2XXYCUyMPRtUHBxllr3q0BeQrtZeWTkRFMDRs8Q7F5cTBQ1F61lLAwu-v79buVDlAzGPtrDWVliHrn3UbvEWp0w1yIoT9VCFFV-uPEUmDOJHcX-cY0AvXJp9cioNoLsqJQ1apEw/s1000/20200905_152916.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="750" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLIFyS2XXYCUyMPRtUHBxllr3q0BeQrtZeWTkRFMDRs8Q7F5cTBQ1F61lLAwu-v79buVDlAzGPtrDWVliHrn3UbvEWp0w1yIoT9VCFFV-uPEUmDOJHcX-cY0AvXJp9cioNoLsqJQ1apEw/w480-h640/20200905_152916.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>I got back mid-afternoon and enjoyed some relaxation and lounging around, something I don't normally partake in when backpacking. I was also treated to some cool shots of Mt. Goddard and Martha Lake.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi01ZFJUbzCg-09eTyhQlgHYGo0LcqsooVMIy-UWtfr7XP6YKk3sT8USf-MoCaVBQeNQow8GQJ29BnipMJ_y-PDOXz72I7c4EpBVJU71LYzag6vm3awVvUTIhjPIH_DjwHBHCclBdkA5Lg/s1000/20200905_154358.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="750" data-original-width="1000" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi01ZFJUbzCg-09eTyhQlgHYGo0LcqsooVMIy-UWtfr7XP6YKk3sT8USf-MoCaVBQeNQow8GQJ29BnipMJ_y-PDOXz72I7c4EpBVJU71LYzag6vm3awVvUTIhjPIH_DjwHBHCclBdkA5Lg/w640-h480/20200905_154358.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQI6b_yROoujR8voTqKfzo3jXnHLCFm_xxlg5NPl5cF0uv3ub8qIgiY7IRwx59Eg1WCPFVtZqe2P4VY7c5iPY3QrlsCYVzMbXNJD6T_uUAPQ6Yusz7BO7rMYcb_Ymuzvpat0LSkpTBefY/s1000/20200905_161927.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="750" data-original-width="1000" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQI6b_yROoujR8voTqKfzo3jXnHLCFm_xxlg5NPl5cF0uv3ub8qIgiY7IRwx59Eg1WCPFVtZqe2P4VY7c5iPY3QrlsCYVzMbXNJD6T_uUAPQ6Yusz7BO7rMYcb_Ymuzvpat0LSkpTBefY/w640-h480/20200905_161927.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqHzPkOs5WqPShsG3mpADoVcfIbhvffNLzM-u0jYWXdIQihwu0VgWBDWpRj9M0lYlYgWJfHvM7i8hDKpE1VUv5YMRX3kgnKk6dyN9wULLBZeNVzkl0wr2pXbhUmRhiZvtgHqTiGJZeZLI/s3132/20200905_162232.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1004" data-original-width="3132" height="206" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqHzPkOs5WqPShsG3mpADoVcfIbhvffNLzM-u0jYWXdIQihwu0VgWBDWpRj9M0lYlYgWJfHvM7i8hDKpE1VUv5YMRX3kgnKk6dyN9wULLBZeNVzkl0wr2pXbhUmRhiZvtgHqTiGJZeZLI/w640-h206/20200905_162232.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><h1 style="text-align: left;">Day 3: Martha Lake - Maxon TH</h1><div>I awoke to a beautiful morning with the smell of smoke in the air. I originally planned 4 days for this trip and had thought about exploring Bench Valley or Red Mountain Basin, but the smoke from the Creek fire was getting worse fast. I decided to go back to Hell for Sure Pass and decide what to do from there. After hoofing it back up (this side is worse than the west side) I decided to bail out due to the rapidly deteriorating conditions. I fastpacked down the hill where the conditions got worse every step I took. I met several other groups with the same thoughts and I made it back to the TH around 7pm. A great hike in some awesome terrain!</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3QR_HfSvCBWFu31nbRNkSGUc4dMJNcZebIttP8NvQ-pYsk82nUtIKA1cInZYb6HYEwHqc08ltRz1aUvIhKBfvG-Y26i8DLI8SxnL-SMb0F_OX1KagWjQU0mJiERoceVakwE2wyv0SvBU/s1000/20200906_083901.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="750" data-original-width="1000" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3QR_HfSvCBWFu31nbRNkSGUc4dMJNcZebIttP8NvQ-pYsk82nUtIKA1cInZYb6HYEwHqc08ltRz1aUvIhKBfvG-Y26i8DLI8SxnL-SMb0F_OX1KagWjQU0mJiERoceVakwE2wyv0SvBU/w640-h480/20200906_083901.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikQwto3J1g5dCP9BkRhv124ERfdtGxQoaPW6JRp9yukHiS5NUltO8SMa23nP5PpGKA__vU8V9j8ZxsDroX6RtsQ1ZQ7qCwz4aJptT47Y2YY7od7_sfJd5NU7H3OeamQWPkI6-OynOw2C8/s1000/20200906_085219.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="750" data-original-width="1000" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikQwto3J1g5dCP9BkRhv124ERfdtGxQoaPW6JRp9yukHiS5NUltO8SMa23nP5PpGKA__vU8V9j8ZxsDroX6RtsQ1ZQ7qCwz4aJptT47Y2YY7od7_sfJd5NU7H3OeamQWPkI6-OynOw2C8/w640-h480/20200906_085219.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsFlZeDxeJ5JZz4qZPta16UpXrEADGZKGbCcmCV34_rrLdXuylkrExZQYbJypHxTtP7UfqWmoPqklQMB4rtKeew4Li1hvisO9fQkCDS28K0iBAsDh5GUCnL56SoEI83LkQUedflYnIfjI/s1000/20200906_121834.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="750" data-original-width="1000" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsFlZeDxeJ5JZz4qZPta16UpXrEADGZKGbCcmCV34_rrLdXuylkrExZQYbJypHxTtP7UfqWmoPqklQMB4rtKeew4Li1hvisO9fQkCDS28K0iBAsDh5GUCnL56SoEI83LkQUedflYnIfjI/w640-h480/20200906_121834.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6YG2RaMqJK8Ix7yZMo_0vEsYYD9a7957vHX-r5VE7y1s9xR8NqDsp-b4gEcpUgFcOZ8o_6euJOkZn_7oWReSdeL6k3vKDMYr5PbwFt4zp_Oco2Gsa2XeSpP56Sn8gOSlbr1paq1lTUog/s1000/20200906_111112.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="750" data-original-width="1000" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6YG2RaMqJK8Ix7yZMo_0vEsYYD9a7957vHX-r5VE7y1s9xR8NqDsp-b4gEcpUgFcOZ8o_6euJOkZn_7oWReSdeL6k3vKDMYr5PbwFt4zp_Oco2Gsa2XeSpP56Sn8gOSlbr1paq1lTUog/w640-h480/20200906_111112.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM8xjyCy_AWz4mFotlfP8AYqOeAOdenKvH_jGqH75Yd1MX84SFM3VDy0P8BNMWsFASXqxupdWffcWKdfbxTzpGIvHr3kRh9QsWmm6vC6PP0rIgSde4sVJ7573Gs4Q8rVoC9w52RXbSoDg/s1000/20200906_151933.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="750" data-original-width="1000" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM8xjyCy_AWz4mFotlfP8AYqOeAOdenKvH_jGqH75Yd1MX84SFM3VDy0P8BNMWsFASXqxupdWffcWKdfbxTzpGIvHr3kRh9QsWmm6vC6PP0rIgSde4sVJ7573Gs4Q8rVoC9w52RXbSoDg/w640-h480/20200906_151933.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMLUXDt3BMf8n6LwbS1m42b8_z8q-3b3dwGjbd03DLyuTDwN3KSsnYfaZJi5EXCvVoK7ffmt7UmOXfjP2U6VVF4EvmUBTwfcMpIO6K6hQmR6Rr4l0NST0dvItrYnTFQi5dwfqmNgA9LuY/s1000/20200906_175635.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="750" data-original-width="1000" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMLUXDt3BMf8n6LwbS1m42b8_z8q-3b3dwGjbd03DLyuTDwN3KSsnYfaZJi5EXCvVoK7ffmt7UmOXfjP2U6VVF4EvmUBTwfcMpIO6K6hQmR6Rr4l0NST0dvItrYnTFQi5dwfqmNgA9LuY/w640-h480/20200906_175635.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyOz17sEEt2jd1pLpQyCh_gjxVIK67hKAGRUGCbIUZ_VfU6JQMkye4jNcsdrKLi_DqDvrD3-tnghMorwg88q1HfiEG-ypNf1xFOsrCP2ZWOxhw_4Qw6kj7efIuuhRnUfjUAWt8PKOQr3g/s1000/20200906_180638.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="750" data-original-width="1000" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyOz17sEEt2jd1pLpQyCh_gjxVIK67hKAGRUGCbIUZ_VfU6JQMkye4jNcsdrKLi_DqDvrD3-tnghMorwg88q1HfiEG-ypNf1xFOsrCP2ZWOxhw_4Qw6kj7efIuuhRnUfjUAWt8PKOQr3g/w640-h480/20200906_180638.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /></div>Zac Justhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15227278731837652038noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8275353003951837873.post-73119267695458329232019-11-27T16:55:00.001-08:002019-11-28T10:09:16.787-08:00Ring Around Kaweahs<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiexjXaBFU_G-Yk48LGV1rlvJ3j4PK0Mldwv0VD2f9JkRQvi2FDMFae9zL03Zrut9sLkpRPYyru_pF0KGdSVWKcCx5yRxfnniX3Mah15Ay_WFdbQuKisZ86m8zcXeC4lCM4An6Eii2LB94/s1600/KaweahTrip2019Map.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1208" data-original-width="1600" height="482" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiexjXaBFU_G-Yk48LGV1rlvJ3j4PK0Mldwv0VD2f9JkRQvi2FDMFae9zL03Zrut9sLkpRPYyru_pF0KGdSVWKcCx5yRxfnniX3Mah15Ay_WFdbQuKisZ86m8zcXeC4lCM4An6Eii2LB94/s640/KaweahTrip2019Map.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<h3>
Wednesday, August 28th, 2019<br />Crescent Meadow -> Buck Creek</h3>
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I got to the Crescent Meadow TH at 4:30pm and was on the
trail soon after. It was an easy 10 miles to Buck Creek where I spent my first
night. I used to loath the HST, but after taking it half a dozen times this season,
I’ve come to respect it as a flat, dusty, boring way to get to Elizabeth Pass
or Kaweah Gap relatively quickly.<br />
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<h3>
Thursday, August 29th, 2019<br />Buck Creek -> 9 Lake Basin</h3>
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The plan today was to hike up to Kaweah Gap and meet up with
my friend Corey. We were going to climb Mt. Stewart and stay at 9 Lake Basin before
parting ways. I was on the trail by 6:30 and made it to Hamilton in a little
over 2 hours. I kept on and soon found the Hamilton blowout I’d heard so much
about. I didn’t find it difficult or sketchy at all, but I do have a higher
tolerance for scrambling/off-trail than the rest of the general backpacking
crowd. Precipice lake was straight ahead, and I met up with Corey there. We
iced our feet in the snow for a bit then headed up to Kaweah Gap. The views
from here always impress me and today was no exception. Now to head into new
terrain: 9 Lake Basin! We made our way to the first lake in the basin ate lunch
and stashed some gear before preparing to climb Mt. Stewart. It was an easy
climb up, following the grassy ramp heading up to the left before cutting back
right to the summit. I couldn’t help but keep looking back toward the Kaweahs I
would be making my way to in the next few days. Black Kaweah was especially
threatening. I made my way to the high point on the ridge before realizing that
I had climbed Liliput Glacier instead of the slightly lower Mt. Stewart. I
quickly traversed to the class 3 summit block where Corey joined me. I
especially enjoyed looking down the Big Arroyo and across to the Kaweahs.
Stunning. We made our way back down to 9 Lake Basin and set up camp.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIirBMbKsI-OntJMadnXx1P1z0o7HG5OvmiiHv2HjTOBSE2yNiK6eWI_OBL0DxlIdHhx-GaaG_o4XA3IjcQpaH0pWFgC48xnRhiN-8i3fsw1XrJV2ynbA_TkrXOhUxKKMbmE4Am6X06lk/s1600/IMG_0749.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1440" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIirBMbKsI-OntJMadnXx1P1z0o7HG5OvmiiHv2HjTOBSE2yNiK6eWI_OBL0DxlIdHhx-GaaG_o4XA3IjcQpaH0pWFgC48xnRhiN-8i3fsw1XrJV2ynbA_TkrXOhUxKKMbmE4Am6X06lk/s640/IMG_0749.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Valhalla</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN3vcdBtKrcsgRuAQJAAsJbjwSD8JocmEyNnkkkfpdAEdvRfIdUrp0chnp1PBMn52pVbkqlftjzTYGXH4JuK35bY2xrzYjNjqw3LFbJ7jpAtxBvOBV7TbXpDEOExad7azQufkKPMezGF0/s1600/IMG_0758.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1440" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN3vcdBtKrcsgRuAQJAAsJbjwSD8JocmEyNnkkkfpdAEdvRfIdUrp0chnp1PBMn52pVbkqlftjzTYGXH4JuK35bY2xrzYjNjqw3LFbJ7jpAtxBvOBV7TbXpDEOExad7azQufkKPMezGF0/s640/IMG_0758.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaOoXqvydSimWYfXlPgdC9ezqHP6NUx1D9apIy_am5HMSsiF50wVlWW3rTEHPhHdWZuTjyWMSsq4EebnstcDnw7NZPh4QFJQzN2GmKlF6N1danahsdartzsNDpn3tk180SvRnHO37VQBQ/s1600/IMG_0751.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1440" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaOoXqvydSimWYfXlPgdC9ezqHP6NUx1D9apIy_am5HMSsiF50wVlWW3rTEHPhHdWZuTjyWMSsq4EebnstcDnw7NZPh4QFJQzN2GmKlF6N1danahsdartzsNDpn3tk180SvRnHO37VQBQ/s640/IMG_0751.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hamilton Lake</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp3AaQVYK4FijtoPlko122EGYwCkPK3HQO3-aBzuYoaMHlbMm1cvcowVCtPLvjNNeCfsswzQLCjWxzDkio45IrrBuMfHNadhrmg3teNELUSLyMHJBYSJ3l79lWJ2NvIsRw8RcZ_VzRC_o/s1600/IMG_0755-Pano.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="670" data-original-width="1600" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp3AaQVYK4FijtoPlko122EGYwCkPK3HQO3-aBzuYoaMHlbMm1cvcowVCtPLvjNNeCfsswzQLCjWxzDkio45IrrBuMfHNadhrmg3teNELUSLyMHJBYSJ3l79lWJ2NvIsRw8RcZ_VzRC_o/s640/IMG_0755-Pano.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6XiHEmTEaHK_KKTO3YPiotzr4CLHpseH5fN3apnV9UAYm6CIlM66SSL_CWBZOJO7FlZs6b9BXkLoG8GXxo_s3iFFdj0qeV8i5Q_nC0rimY7vJ3_1D7q-qO1o_-cEcpiUj6_KCKdtApwY/s1600/IMG_0762.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1440" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6XiHEmTEaHK_KKTO3YPiotzr4CLHpseH5fN3apnV9UAYm6CIlM66SSL_CWBZOJO7FlZs6b9BXkLoG8GXxo_s3iFFdj0qeV8i5Q_nC0rimY7vJ3_1D7q-qO1o_-cEcpiUj6_KCKdtApwY/s640/IMG_0762.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kaweah Gap and the Big Arroyo<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPU2Svf2p9bedB2vHY7iAzvinW02DpIabcEpEOPV3d6pgRZAmMEuO9tTDZMjWxj5iENFYjfEX2NKySeOoZynTu4pM8wxCyBzLtjMy_ZSN6t0LhYeaqCh_OQ6Qdklq2zzAckcUc0amhZws/s1600/IMG_0771.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1440" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPU2Svf2p9bedB2vHY7iAzvinW02DpIabcEpEOPV3d6pgRZAmMEuO9tTDZMjWxj5iENFYjfEX2NKySeOoZynTu4pM8wxCyBzLtjMy_ZSN6t0LhYeaqCh_OQ6Qdklq2zzAckcUc0amhZws/s640/IMG_0771.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Corey climbing up</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdTOHey-HdOGLhrPU4U7p1iIGjAwJCAQ0eyRc7bjJfUUvWYVLOQTnO9yEpjo1eROFclfXrMVymqcQ2RwFHK9mKJ5VJbe-YwjRIlNDixUtLNQJU_QlZ6zhtZgQXhmritRxF8TLoPS-GB4I/s1600/IMG_0763-Pano.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-size: 12.8px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="372" data-original-width="1600" height="148" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdTOHey-HdOGLhrPU4U7p1iIGjAwJCAQ0eyRc7bjJfUUvWYVLOQTnO9yEpjo1eROFclfXrMVymqcQ2RwFHK9mKJ5VJbe-YwjRIlNDixUtLNQJU_QlZ6zhtZgQXhmritRxF8TLoPS-GB4I/s640/IMG_0763-Pano.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nine Lake Basin and the Big Arroyo</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpMKxHTwHi5fvw94w37CQ4_90bqKK0WhuG1oqCU1aTeaNCOinF2mIz5pBIJf8bRUsbEeBG82PMMHZlyNcSfJuFbhCK3y5KJFd5h6YwzBIjE1A3NB16K0O0jxUnUKynIrjV16XwVNP3T8c/s1600/IMG_0797.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1440" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpMKxHTwHi5fvw94w37CQ4_90bqKK0WhuG1oqCU1aTeaNCOinF2mIz5pBIJf8bRUsbEeBG82PMMHZlyNcSfJuFbhCK3y5KJFd5h6YwzBIjE1A3NB16K0O0jxUnUKynIrjV16XwVNP3T8c/s640/IMG_0797.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Mt. Stewart</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXaQZaJF0MNcsmbAUoWp2RJmSxdDwnjKmcFW0jRuT1XMzwLdeIMoOa7R3UGStTtvE-mTI3cPuXD2H0JFN0nWdWTWtdHE5TulDxF3sP3vmPgAjhyphenhyphen7ln7x5Vl_xxp0k7_WZBfKfHVaCvDXI/s1600/IMG_0790.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1440" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXaQZaJF0MNcsmbAUoWp2RJmSxdDwnjKmcFW0jRuT1XMzwLdeIMoOa7R3UGStTtvE-mTI3cPuXD2H0JFN0nWdWTWtdHE5TulDxF3sP3vmPgAjhyphenhyphen7ln7x5Vl_xxp0k7_WZBfKfHVaCvDXI/s640/IMG_0790.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinxA4znzEO7Lu9azsFKX1bMR2AxiQm6NmfHwwBT5duzz49JeetINpQ5X1feN7m1UzdUwjiiyLR6fQ46CBILSpddVZojWqcw6DCj9iV2HxK3jVuumq9aZvnu40ekqegV4s7FgeUi6_Wy-M/s1600/IMG_0786-Pano.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="540" data-original-width="1600" height="216" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinxA4znzEO7Lu9azsFKX1bMR2AxiQm6NmfHwwBT5duzz49JeetINpQ5X1feN7m1UzdUwjiiyLR6fQ46CBILSpddVZojWqcw6DCj9iV2HxK3jVuumq9aZvnu40ekqegV4s7FgeUi6_Wy-M/s640/IMG_0786-Pano.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">View North</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxUKCgZq77A6f6-JI5okpVVBtWfFiBCn2lh4CEFHsUBMy8951Gt3j4B90IrBKVdURPh5VOWlzA7rQWcCvgEEyXjK_ttiU0QvPuSy7DtATGuvrHy9ob79V0pFjOJuhx7wgbAv63EiHiOdU/s1600/IMG_0781.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1440" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxUKCgZq77A6f6-JI5okpVVBtWfFiBCn2lh4CEFHsUBMy8951Gt3j4B90IrBKVdURPh5VOWlzA7rQWcCvgEEyXjK_ttiU0QvPuSy7DtATGuvrHy9ob79V0pFjOJuhx7wgbAv63EiHiOdU/s640/IMG_0781.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Black Kaweah</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVDhSUAiQ2O3f1Qls2CEpSCVAJwGdy7YLUZHcp-D7PN49OhY4b4-WV6gQ46J31E8OigRIl3O4JBO8OE_IEeUULZL3SdmbQ9VrdbkNuR6n_tcCKUZjT5zoHj8Yx9PykBRLLFFa3M9bxtiI/s1600/IMG_0794.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVDhSUAiQ2O3f1Qls2CEpSCVAJwGdy7YLUZHcp-D7PN49OhY4b4-WV6gQ46J31E8OigRIl3O4JBO8OE_IEeUULZL3SdmbQ9VrdbkNuR6n_tcCKUZjT5zoHj8Yx9PykBRLLFFa3M9bxtiI/s640/IMG_0794.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<o:p></o:p><br />
<h3>
Friday, August 30th, 2019<br />Nine Lake Basin -> Kaweah Basin</h3>
<div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
Today I was headed into Kaweah Basin while Corey was headed
back to the front country. But before parting ways we checked out a legendary
campsite he had heard of near the ‘B’ in Nine Lake Basin on the Triple Divide Peak
quad. We found a couple nice places in the area before parting ways. My plan
was to climb over Pyra-Queen Col and camp in Kaweah Basin tonight. I also
wanted to hit Lawson Peak and Kaweah Queen along the way. To get there I followed
the northern branch of the east creek and then cut south to Lake 11,400+ and
then followed that drainage up to the west side of Lake 11,682. I followed use
trails on and off through the basin. The rock here was much different than
other places. Much darker and more jagged than the polished granites so typical
of the Sierra. It felt very remote, rugged, and unexplored, kind of like hiking
into Mordor! I started the climb up Lawson from Lake 11,682; just head
northeast and aim for the summit. Lots of talus and scree with one loose chute
to climb, but nothing technical. I hit the summit at 1pm, signed the register,
and admired the amazing views for about an hour. I planned to follow the ridge
to Kaweah Queen from Lawson. Halfway there I got into some Class 3 downclimbing
and decided to abandon KQ this time. I side hilled across steep scree before
making it to the base of Pyra-Queen Col. P-Q is very steep and had an ice field
at the top. I was able to kick-step the lower sections, but the very top steep
part was too icy for me. I veered right to a steeper chute full of ice, but at
least it had hand holds on the sides. It was a huge relief to make it to the
pass, not a pass for the faint of heart, especially when it holds snow/ice. The
east side of the pass was much easier, and I descended benches down and took
the long talus-hopping journey down the moraine and into the basin. Someone
else had accomplished the descent before me and decided that this was the
correct way down the vast talus field. I’m glad I found their route and
followed it; I don’t know what I would have done if that duck wasn’t there! 2
hours after P-Q Col I made camp in the shadow of the Kaweah Peaks. The
mosquitos here were the worst of the trip (7/10), and no breeze to blow them
away. I had heard magical things about Kaweah Basin-and it was very pretty-but
I’m not sure why it is regarded as highly as it is. Maybe I’m missing
something…<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYCdmMlrr2Sg0mdX_ODgxdJ-LLnJ0PlqPEPkhLGMK7EL4r47NgZPJE6T03PYA8NxSENB10w-Da3VyUXKxX4XFMpnt0qCo5TxF24Ds3ilS4ydjC_tYoCcNvy273hYkKRcbieFPlPg4Xbtg/s1600/IMG_0807-HDR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1440" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYCdmMlrr2Sg0mdX_ODgxdJ-LLnJ0PlqPEPkhLGMK7EL4r47NgZPJE6T03PYA8NxSENB10w-Da3VyUXKxX4XFMpnt0qCo5TxF24Ds3ilS4ydjC_tYoCcNvy273hYkKRcbieFPlPg4Xbtg/s640/IMG_0807-HDR.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Waking up</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="479" data-original-width="1600" height="190" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFDi1-fnY0DbuQRqpPaqsD6yUhVPGtCSj613bnAOJdbR0A0MSZCCvh2grrwd7PW7xzUtB11FcZ5vI3H9xGyFTHvITnBhKBHLldtYKujMB75X0nvMTBdXpStZH7SviEJigUBWrOcrO-g9c/s640/IMG_0813-Pano.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="640" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lake 11,682</td></tr>
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</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4EwdvN2NjhDh180slQ3RsnkHApc3ekpKas3KA43mWoFOdP9lQeA36KGDYSUBWekmfbN6cenzKtpCDF11gwVZgnDtcAhCQ9qKzTQlrCd0BqnhSLDQAp6zBQ4FofIC2AhHS4ucLp20l05k/s1600/IMG_0814-Pano.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="371" data-original-width="1600" height="148" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4EwdvN2NjhDh180slQ3RsnkHApc3ekpKas3KA43mWoFOdP9lQeA36KGDYSUBWekmfbN6cenzKtpCDF11gwVZgnDtcAhCQ9qKzTQlrCd0BqnhSLDQAp6zBQ4FofIC2AhHS4ucLp20l05k/s640/IMG_0814-Pano.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lawson Peak</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbsI02OH_dn7Ia2d7xDro4eTrkJcaaNwHyTxrM6OqzV09L6xR-i61uC0QfU79QewzO45WUFgYR-NIxiDlCmXHMWdg11AozvlNQhoTfveKR69Y9A8riUwb5MCjgWBd7UWcw_vSAWiooReM/s1600/IMG_0820.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1440" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbsI02OH_dn7Ia2d7xDro4eTrkJcaaNwHyTxrM6OqzV09L6xR-i61uC0QfU79QewzO45WUFgYR-NIxiDlCmXHMWdg11AozvlNQhoTfveKR69Y9A8riUwb5MCjgWBd7UWcw_vSAWiooReM/s640/IMG_0820.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Summit Register</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO8LS4mSusP6oTNnIL1MW9_YnpKXSt5quBoUdR3Tjhx-jnXBmeohyphenhyphenx5nkZICDmTk77sX9UXGtBrlZMHfTNaHTFvvRTdys0y9zWF-tzQNr-53UHEM7YYIbnY-119b4mwk2gmv08t67rUyY/s1600/IMG_0821.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1440" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO8LS4mSusP6oTNnIL1MW9_YnpKXSt5quBoUdR3Tjhx-jnXBmeohyphenhyphenx5nkZICDmTk77sX9UXGtBrlZMHfTNaHTFvvRTdys0y9zWF-tzQNr-53UHEM7YYIbnY-119b4mwk2gmv08t67rUyY/s640/IMG_0821.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking back (west) at Lawson</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx1rK06Rzorj21FKvh_5O_d_EWmriqYuno9DEntKYpdnICPtu_kVWuj_OxGHLBA2qCUkIirb4B28-fHGkKickygQ_cL9mofXgtjeKa3ivY4NuKKoJULYCaJTOrLh0J8jue94xZ3hXO-C8/s1600/IMG_0825-Pano.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="642" data-original-width="1600" height="256" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx1rK06Rzorj21FKvh_5O_d_EWmriqYuno9DEntKYpdnICPtu_kVWuj_OxGHLBA2qCUkIirb4B28-fHGkKickygQ_cL9mofXgtjeKa3ivY4NuKKoJULYCaJTOrLh0J8jue94xZ3hXO-C8/s640/IMG_0825-Pano.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kaweah Basin</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLAFHPdPA43LcLlRroZ6o_CJ6kGih5VjVY91X2Zsj3_xO872Xo2UwE9gUkq2dYKPlV5ACZxam0QreEVc1tkSp-lqh3DGICMTwEr5D3E8rjqa_YO5SQpIxAnhsjCqRD1rX1LZndt19W964/s1600/IMG_0826.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1440" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLAFHPdPA43LcLlRroZ6o_CJ6kGih5VjVY91X2Zsj3_xO872Xo2UwE9gUkq2dYKPlV5ACZxam0QreEVc1tkSp-lqh3DGICMTwEr5D3E8rjqa_YO5SQpIxAnhsjCqRD1rX1LZndt19W964/s640/IMG_0826.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At least the trail was marked!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht5wyRTQ0Tk9H_67LLhxdwr5TSYVPh5qVoKDjeE6lkNY-Jgl__p_U7gJGHVu-8TSKTIV_MArvgBzlLoey_nH92Yee1n0-meMYN5RR6i0wMHOqcWiZZjELioUkFweNoC17mH896JhUt_Ok/s1600/IMG_0843.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1440" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht5wyRTQ0Tk9H_67LLhxdwr5TSYVPh5qVoKDjeE6lkNY-Jgl__p_U7gJGHVu-8TSKTIV_MArvgBzlLoey_nH92Yee1n0-meMYN5RR6i0wMHOqcWiZZjELioUkFweNoC17mH896JhUt_Ok/s640/IMG_0843.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mt. Williamson and company</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<h3>
Saturday, August 30th, 2019<br />Kaweah Basin -> Chagoopa Plateau</h3>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
I got up this morning with the intent to capture some of the
sunrise in the basin. I ran around to some of the places I scouted when coming
down the last night. Kaweah Pass was ahead of me this morning. It looked steep,
and after P-Q Col I was expecting more steep, loose talus. I contoured
southwest around the lake below the pass and cut across to the low point below
the pass. The rock was loose, but much more stable than yesterdays. I hit a
steep chute and favored the hand- and footholds it offered over looser scree.
Once at the pass I looked to the east ridge and saw peaks 3964m and 4049m. It
was an easy trek over to bag 2 more peaks (this puts the total to 4 for those
counting). I scree-skied down the gulley east of Peak 4049 down to a small
pond. I lounged a bit, did some laundry, and went for a dip in the pond. I
contoured around the base of Mt. Kaweah and made camp in the forest at the mountain’s
feet. Tomorrow was going to be a lot of climbing.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtYEMyxVCeTMtbDx7BmCI7CGtANjaJQ9VPVcONda6uH7qwqGUXVY4r7R9M7sKU0kIAHh61nQwRAWuH6Oxw8s-YXU-0CaXHQ-bI1E7m1YXMhc4l99OcEaHBBYE25MahGwklEzzwwny3bYA/s1600/KaweahBasinPano.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="781" data-original-width="1600" height="312" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtYEMyxVCeTMtbDx7BmCI7CGtANjaJQ9VPVcONda6uH7qwqGUXVY4r7R9M7sKU0kIAHh61nQwRAWuH6Oxw8s-YXU-0CaXHQ-bI1E7m1YXMhc4l99OcEaHBBYE25MahGwklEzzwwny3bYA/s640/KaweahBasinPano.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sunrise in Kaweah Basin</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWVeBZULeDbp2g9WAuf5R4brNOIIBzbH-87IECuvMbZRLVmRVmOGK4vd044rodfhewt3vHfdT2lS05kKyCxi9FxatMklBO5aUzbs84yEK3VCwWNr0yAbDyTq7d7xAgPWQP5ZORNyi4Qp8/s1600/IMG_0890-HDR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1440" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWVeBZULeDbp2g9WAuf5R4brNOIIBzbH-87IECuvMbZRLVmRVmOGK4vd044rodfhewt3vHfdT2lS05kKyCxi9FxatMklBO5aUzbs84yEK3VCwWNr0yAbDyTq7d7xAgPWQP5ZORNyi4Qp8/s640/IMG_0890-HDR.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My campsite</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPeaBs3hVnRctzqPH_d1_Iz5zMVsSW3-vvMarQyzUUbwqHy_sTmrjuo7uVYS2OO9Lsw3wxlgWQoNhu98zHg1Lwao485gzEmgkPXhta_glOGmq2CINCxDM-vSeMdSJh2dfne1-rIDdqOlU/s1600/IMG_0892-HDR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1440" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPeaBs3hVnRctzqPH_d1_Iz5zMVsSW3-vvMarQyzUUbwqHy_sTmrjuo7uVYS2OO9Lsw3wxlgWQoNhu98zHg1Lwao485gzEmgkPXhta_glOGmq2CINCxDM-vSeMdSJh2dfne1-rIDdqOlU/s640/IMG_0892-HDR.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0SCrtAsqOKEtAtG_uKfGBw1lnlaw3lhlhjxBUGPfNvL4thauiEDF_mO2bA0zqV96WGUTY_e25yH2_7YWbz_ILbRApuV59fBaa0YhYj2lBLPB-x1Hjhh6bstH_LhsPSZ3TIQjuTCyWldI/s1600/IMG_0898.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1440" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0SCrtAsqOKEtAtG_uKfGBw1lnlaw3lhlhjxBUGPfNvL4thauiEDF_mO2bA0zqV96WGUTY_e25yH2_7YWbz_ILbRApuV59fBaa0YhYj2lBLPB-x1Hjhh6bstH_LhsPSZ3TIQjuTCyWldI/s640/IMG_0898.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kaweah Pass</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVjzCPEfpZEeBcOs5QuWKlqkStH-bez6ncjA70EerGmVBYYKJZazi1F4Rp-ZHq0ch4CdrxeykUij272OVrSARGuBOrkV40iQXE_CCoKOSnZ56tLK2A-4ODAG696mMwyiY1-fgHH4auRwo/s1600/IMG_0907.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1440" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVjzCPEfpZEeBcOs5QuWKlqkStH-bez6ncjA70EerGmVBYYKJZazi1F4Rp-ZHq0ch4CdrxeykUij272OVrSARGuBOrkV40iQXE_CCoKOSnZ56tLK2A-4ODAG696mMwyiY1-fgHH4auRwo/s640/IMG_0907.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">North Face of Mt. Kaweah</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ4HjNWPyRn21GrZHtS-idNWO01x0jdVVnNXAZQ5mbaNr8-Q_L5o6_U0_OMlranaePkHBxT4lD4Hj1fbPCx-DWeuShztP4N3nyAVI_dI8zQMhYNkOx3lVp2_nDs7T7JZd2jzKQv0Vd-Cc/s1600/IMG_0910.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1440" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ4HjNWPyRn21GrZHtS-idNWO01x0jdVVnNXAZQ5mbaNr8-Q_L5o6_U0_OMlranaePkHBxT4lD4Hj1fbPCx-DWeuShztP4N3nyAVI_dI8zQMhYNkOx3lVp2_nDs7T7JZd2jzKQv0Vd-Cc/s640/IMG_0910.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Peak 4049</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeGixABQr_tKbnw2vI00BvcZUfOu7QHQeinYpcc_RaJmxIqsHXbEtr3z0Ka9-6c33zOcEq8ppp6G6VXb4HVBBtXZRZ1fnsgTY0xBiKy4Kf0Bl-rs1nmgYS8iLOdmBU9GJnsiYcRXK1dDA/s1600/IMG_0920-Pano.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="383" data-original-width="1600" height="152" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeGixABQr_tKbnw2vI00BvcZUfOu7QHQeinYpcc_RaJmxIqsHXbEtr3z0Ka9-6c33zOcEq8ppp6G6VXb4HVBBtXZRZ1fnsgTY0xBiKy4Kf0Bl-rs1nmgYS8iLOdmBU9GJnsiYcRXK1dDA/s640/IMG_0920-Pano.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Red Spur</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<h3>
Sunday, September 1st, 2019<br />Chagoopa Plateau -> Spring Lake</h3>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Sunday morning, I was hiking by 7:30 and started making my
way up the long slog up the south side of Mt. Kaweah. The views back towards
Mineral King were very nice. I got to the peak at 10 and took in the views. Mt.
Whitney, Sawtooth, the Palisades, and many other notable peaks were visible.
After a snack I started back down the slope and aimed for the High Sierra
Trail. Secor states that the dry pond around 10,600ft is where most people
start the climb from the HST, and what do you know, that’s exactly where I
caught the trail coming down! First time I had seen a trail since Kaweah Gap 3
days earlier. Once on the HST I made great time down to the Big Arroyo and back
up to Little 5 Lakes. I had never been on this side of MK and had a little time
to take in the views; Mineral King is always so impressive to me. I could look
across the Big Arroyo and see the Kaweah Peaks Ridge I had just ascended and
descended today. It was getting late, so I jammed up Black Rock Pass and
descended the west side. I looked up from the trail and saw an amazing sight: 3
lakes in a row cascading down into Cliff Creek. The lighting was perfect to
grab a shot, one of my favorites from the trip. At the point the trail crossed
a small creek I cut across Cliff Creek to Spring Lake. Spring Lake was a
wonderful lake with plenty of fish, I should have brought my pole.<o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0VG0CwLGSmrpBTYXmBhZ3EYvCnEmxQS4CBNkDyMabSdibQDdW-hwUxhuyIY-2EAocpDnILa0XV_tLOAIYU7E8fux71yANED-y2OUUZJbPEzvIDnI8CKzjKORBg65dhgLH0W8zZ9_gloo/s1600/IMG_0938-Pano.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="683" data-original-width="1600" height="272" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0VG0CwLGSmrpBTYXmBhZ3EYvCnEmxQS4CBNkDyMabSdibQDdW-hwUxhuyIY-2EAocpDnILa0XV_tLOAIYU7E8fux71yANED-y2OUUZJbPEzvIDnI8CKzjKORBg65dhgLH0W8zZ9_gloo/s640/IMG_0938-Pano.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mineral King</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOmbI8eUILYJiQ_BOSQwLVPGT-4GTumARnsStzyaqCWjpSrfMm8bp2tgX2JjyhyphenhyphenG6cOm546_UIeuYLBnfCMAp1Efzvgg2WJHFRoB1fvanULGPLy9Ti3RAhYOoQlwNCYQfap41Uhpw-O2o/s1600/IMG_0943.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1440" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOmbI8eUILYJiQ_BOSQwLVPGT-4GTumARnsStzyaqCWjpSrfMm8bp2tgX2JjyhyphenhyphenG6cOm546_UIeuYLBnfCMAp1Efzvgg2WJHFRoB1fvanULGPLy9Ti3RAhYOoQlwNCYQfap41Uhpw-O2o/s640/IMG_0943.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">South slope of Mt. Kaweah </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4J8_KpI-pPs9SFgajaTBRDAuLvTJSkAg7GTc7_0Wb1d8DsTsAYfT0Tz8zgZDY74BETVhwPnBaXlQj32j8tHE6Ky9X2XMcvvE7rUKnNzvXpF5qB2ZdbmsPCwnp67eZAbHVWFtf5blPLDY/s1600/IMG_1018.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1440" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4J8_KpI-pPs9SFgajaTBRDAuLvTJSkAg7GTc7_0Wb1d8DsTsAYfT0Tz8zgZDY74BETVhwPnBaXlQj32j8tHE6Ky9X2XMcvvE7rUKnNzvXpF5qB2ZdbmsPCwnp67eZAbHVWFtf5blPLDY/s640/IMG_1018.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dry pond and the High Sierra Trail</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgurfKu9vtg1FWmy-158KjlWRDC75i88kp81KIiDqtJ6ialItj1tc4Mh0ES8fcy-j9xElxfHbefWsFJJp6SND7Hyetf-G-kB0tMX9B_66WE4muhI0MY7Pw2pc2dQlWqS5bTcHjkUQhZtYg/s1600/IMG_1022-Pano.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="573" data-original-width="1600" height="228" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgurfKu9vtg1FWmy-158KjlWRDC75i88kp81KIiDqtJ6ialItj1tc4Mh0ES8fcy-j9xElxfHbefWsFJJp6SND7Hyetf-G-kB0tMX9B_66WE4muhI0MY7Pw2pc2dQlWqS5bTcHjkUQhZtYg/s640/IMG_1022-Pano.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Little 5 Lakes</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRijDv9GV3Do3DnB92Z_DmsTfQ-E-UCcp_yelu5LoHKQrKpuuYyAUbQgHyr6_NhLJ8SfugURcFcURpj_GyNT7vtxsvBTKSm2S5Dox-uY47o277MpmPXBfuaChdglDolOoclUZEse0BEAk/s1600/IMG_1023-Pano.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="773" data-original-width="1600" height="308" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRijDv9GV3Do3DnB92Z_DmsTfQ-E-UCcp_yelu5LoHKQrKpuuYyAUbQgHyr6_NhLJ8SfugURcFcURpj_GyNT7vtxsvBTKSm2S5Dox-uY47o277MpmPXBfuaChdglDolOoclUZEse0BEAk/s640/IMG_1023-Pano.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking back towards the Kaweah Range</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidGBqnmFCqxmr2XpKP4UjAbz1JsKbkRbajXMpANTl1udii2etN1WAzGdC5Flz9WMdCzK9Emr2iOmxKU4Ngv1-3xDRprIBjaIjz2NvxmJCNHd_M911lQCS4rtbUI_zfs0SZEUVarSZqbwU/s1600/IMG_1056-HDR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1440" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidGBqnmFCqxmr2XpKP4UjAbz1JsKbkRbajXMpANTl1udii2etN1WAzGdC5Flz9WMdCzK9Emr2iOmxKU4Ngv1-3xDRprIBjaIjz2NvxmJCNHd_M911lQCS4rtbUI_zfs0SZEUVarSZqbwU/s640/IMG_1056-HDR.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Columbine, Cyclamen, and Spring Lakes</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1r7v2Vpu7LuC2g-So5cbmOfzp-tJ4QthBhx-_SRSYTOzlnWULFWjDvStRmHZ-GrbcjGtrV-3ffxN8JrfcHNsAcfudVsHzkQsu7Q-hb1sWsgWwnFHdF-juQBIGQGIa-g5oyebZkMXe_h0/s1600/IMG_1061.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1440" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1r7v2Vpu7LuC2g-So5cbmOfzp-tJ4QthBhx-_SRSYTOzlnWULFWjDvStRmHZ-GrbcjGtrV-3ffxN8JrfcHNsAcfudVsHzkQsu7Q-hb1sWsgWwnFHdF-juQBIGQGIa-g5oyebZkMXe_h0/s640/IMG_1061.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Spring Lake</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<br /></div>
<h3>
Monday, September 2nd, 2019<br />Spring Lake -> Mineral King Valley</h3>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Monday morning started with a bang! I woke up at 4:45 to
some sprinkling. I quickly set up my tarp and hunkered down. The rain really
picked up at 5:45 and lightning too: 17 seconds between flash and crash. At
5:56 it was 4 seconds between flash and crash, less than a mile away. And then
it stopped. By 6:15 I could see the sky and a faint rainbow to the east. I
headed up to Glacier Pass and found traces of the old trail to the top. I had
read that the north side had a section of class 3 climbing but I found nothing
too terribly sketchy. Plenty of hand- and footholds and it looked like a
section to the east that could be used to bypass the harder parts. From Glacier
Pass I descended to Monarch Lakes. I was supposed to meet my friend Alison
today to get a ride out. She was going to be camping at Columbine last night,
so I kept an eye out for her. An hour and a half after Monarch Lakes I was at
the trailhead. I passed a dozen other hikers coming out, and when I looked
behind me, I saw the droves coming out of the backcountry after Labor Day. I
had a little time to reflect while waiting for my ride, and decided that this
was a pretty good trip, and there’s plenty more to explore and more peaks to
climb (I’m talking to you Eisen and Lippincott!)<o:p></o:p><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9YFujjxFvYLxFqpuJmki6kicd7W3c4s5RhNs_EazEGZJ8gl2OjplwZssB-pru4Lzo2Qa-XJEhbFd7GIqHVNEPcKUxvT8yx675Ya50UAArFIxsAbh99DdVyLBF0COoEag3R5PaSQhZ81M/s1600/IMG_1078-HDR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1440" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9YFujjxFvYLxFqpuJmki6kicd7W3c4s5RhNs_EazEGZJ8gl2OjplwZssB-pru4Lzo2Qa-XJEhbFd7GIqHVNEPcKUxvT8yx675Ya50UAArFIxsAbh99DdVyLBF0COoEag3R5PaSQhZ81M/s640/IMG_1078-HDR.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A Rainbow!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpUVCho76JTk0me7TLmBObZqYFCzGAeus0B2-LqPqrYi7OGo8Ly97MW7zF6rkYpmYGtJNDZ1UAYdmzK99ohWLAO5FuckNh_jsKiHH_y5ZnezFpk4fmCzfpkEg9TaqZZoPAt7E43YXNCxo/s1600/IMG_1079.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1440" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpUVCho76JTk0me7TLmBObZqYFCzGAeus0B2-LqPqrYi7OGo8Ly97MW7zF6rkYpmYGtJNDZ1UAYdmzK99ohWLAO5FuckNh_jsKiHH_y5ZnezFpk4fmCzfpkEg9TaqZZoPAt7E43YXNCxo/s640/IMG_1079.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">North side of Glacier Pass</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_aQKVjgpELg3-VP1btsCpAzpG6LPTWpoumSFLtFI1_eK7vHNLEFazaGdCc0S1iyuu2Q85Xh7lTwHiTl8hrZqa97DD4J-Rs7vufGE_igHgUXtahPnmmvWzcfr7Y_kk2RPa1Jg-OuPiUy4/s1600/IMG_1094-HDR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1440" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_aQKVjgpELg3-VP1btsCpAzpG6LPTWpoumSFLtFI1_eK7vHNLEFazaGdCc0S1iyuu2Q85Xh7lTwHiTl8hrZqa97DD4J-Rs7vufGE_igHgUXtahPnmmvWzcfr7Y_kk2RPa1Jg-OuPiUy4/s640/IMG_1094-HDR.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mineral King Valley</td></tr>
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Zac Justhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15227278731837652038noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8275353003951837873.post-87798360782931733762018-12-16T11:44:00.000-08:002018-12-16T11:49:07.379-08:00Woodchuck Country 11/10-11/12/18<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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School and midterms were getting us down, so Amber, Jacina (aka The Great And Wonderful Slug <a href="https://www.instagram.com/cinadailey/" target="_blank">@cinadailey</a>), Rachel (aka Queen of the Hedgehogs <a href="https://www.instagram.com/zurcherrachel/" target="_blank">@zurcherrachel</a>) and I needed to get out. It was Veterans Day and we wanted to go on one last backpacking trip before it snowed. After considering Mt. Whitney, Rae Lakes, and a few other places we decided a shorter trip to Woodchuck Lake was the best option given the freezing conditions. We thought we knew what we were getting into...</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsHb_gCfsLLjphiR0jBYmdCD_wHtYn5WdOyVrDhsVCwFQ6xR7ChyphenhyphenTihbXrR-BNxiYdrNcgZe-gfVrWBzmjdBeCyvoVS1_bJ1CMZi65EWHYw3AbV_bh2EEzP1Phy4Egt0ZKRI1oF-qJyYc/s1600/map.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1208" data-original-width="1600" height="482" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsHb_gCfsLLjphiR0jBYmdCD_wHtYn5WdOyVrDhsVCwFQ6xR7ChyphenhyphenTihbXrR-BNxiYdrNcgZe-gfVrWBzmjdBeCyvoVS1_bJ1CMZi65EWHYw3AbV_bh2EEzP1Phy4Egt0ZKRI1oF-qJyYc/s640/map.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<h3>
Saturday 11/10/18</h3>
We headed up Friday evening and spent the night in a campsite near Wishon Reservoir. Saturday morning we were up early and started the climb to Woodchuck Lake. 2 miles in we saw ice on the trail and a major creek completely frozen. It was at this time that we started to question what we were doing at 9000 ft elevation in November! Climbing up through the trees we stopped for lunch near a snow survey meadow, following the sun to keep warm. We pushed on for the last bit and were rewarded with great views of Woodchuck Lake! We ran to the sandy beach and I pulled out my fishing pole before everyone had a chance to take their packs off. First cast I pulled out a 16" Brook Trout and had some dinner! The girls went to find a campsite and in 15 minutes I had caught 3 more fish for dinner, the largest being a 18" brookie. We set up camp fast-since the sun set early this late in the year-and enjoyed time around a campfire, something I normally don't do. We cooked fish with lemon we had brought just for this occasion. We knew it was going to be cold that night when we went down to collect water and the lake had started freezing over already. We made some hot water bottles and cracked open the hand warmers I brought in anticipation to try and stay warm for the long night ahead.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2R6KpPrG2WVF5miSxp4cTpjcezaDA_uiDHpPtOZAVwZ7AdyUeC3ExAM-jcVnn47yUFtDK-WdU2RzdZ3PVaySTZyWNw7L9eT0henxzHePEEM_pvq2PL3tPxp7q7OsrHbAPcbOAldiRK-M/s1600/IMG_0446-Pano.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="505" data-original-width="1600" height="202" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2R6KpPrG2WVF5miSxp4cTpjcezaDA_uiDHpPtOZAVwZ7AdyUeC3ExAM-jcVnn47yUFtDK-WdU2RzdZ3PVaySTZyWNw7L9eT0henxzHePEEM_pvq2PL3tPxp7q7OsrHbAPcbOAldiRK-M/s640/IMG_0446-Pano.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Woodchuck Lake</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg1kVgZGloHhIYGFy4dGXXD-X9F34NiqXch3ZiJqgJ-cdVp3nw7CiDVpV8Zah5ikmB4FCKrY9gFCZOLVc48bqdBNJJ7UHMiiJqVzalYK4qJFOrwgWKgxyK0_kwyttDTOb56mIboEpOHFY/s1600/IMG_0399.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg1kVgZGloHhIYGFy4dGXXD-X9F34NiqXch3ZiJqgJ-cdVp3nw7CiDVpV8Zah5ikmB4FCKrY9gFCZOLVc48bqdBNJJ7UHMiiJqVzalYK4qJFOrwgWKgxyK0_kwyttDTOb56mIboEpOHFY/s640/IMG_0399.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Meet my friend Bob!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Poor Bob </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dinner! </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ice forming on Woodchuck Lake</td></tr>
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<h3>
Sunday 11/11/18</h3>
Sunday morning was cold! My thermometer said 22 when I got up, but it was near my sleeping bag and I'm sure it got colder. All our bottles were frozen and it took a bit to get our stoves going. Today's plan was to go check out Crown Lake. After eating breakfast we gathered some snacks and water and headed out. We followed the lake shore south until we met the trail going to Crown Lake. We followed it for a bit before I decided to take us on a shortcut and cut straight there. The ridge above Crown offered great views of Mt. Goddard and the Kings drainage, including Tehipite Dome. Crown Lake was peaceful, with no other visitors except for a Bald Eagle that welcomed we weary travelers. There were tons of fish at the outlet, the only problem was it was under an inch of ice. I caught and released a dozen rainbows and brookies on the northeast side but nothing bigger than the fish at Woodchuck so no bother keeping them. We lounged around for a couple hours before catching the trail back up to Crown Pass. From the pass we climbed up to the ridge east of Woodchuck before descending to the lake. I caught 3 more fish for dinner tonight. This night we decided to try fish stew. After cleaning and slicing them we boiled them in Creole seasoning and lemon. I added it to my ramen and it made for a zesty meal! More campfire chat and hot water bottles before we turned in for the night.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtDMwfKD_J_BpgS4otrHIH_sZKDsmonIr7y6oLQ-_XmcNNHeYg15Ym4H6D6IWxQbVZnnZZ_qOKvYBmNjw3CoqED_nk0SUKOjpwuS2k6Rc_yTCRUCRH8gXY4CQLraP-7UZaPVMfH6H7PWE/s1600/IMG_0411.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1600" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtDMwfKD_J_BpgS4otrHIH_sZKDsmonIr7y6oLQ-_XmcNNHeYg15Ym4H6D6IWxQbVZnnZZ_qOKvYBmNjw3CoqED_nk0SUKOjpwuS2k6Rc_yTCRUCRH8gXY4CQLraP-7UZaPVMfH6H7PWE/s640/IMG_0411.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Looking east to Crown Lake</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq2TqTYKgmqds4amRsfrqd8OCq5mNUFkh8GY2zEIPwvxuXgCyideIcQjeH0-hr57gPWW2k6KebStkkfVZGIw9-8vsIPM3zYxKZhTWxopF70TsDxjuYJR0wipXxu_idoXnzAT3CNMl6S-A/s1600/36c276ab780247c386ff29c28b5fb6cd.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="864" data-original-width="1152" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq2TqTYKgmqds4amRsfrqd8OCq5mNUFkh8GY2zEIPwvxuXgCyideIcQjeH0-hr57gPWW2k6KebStkkfVZGIw9-8vsIPM3zYxKZhTWxopF70TsDxjuYJR0wipXxu_idoXnzAT3CNMl6S-A/s640/36c276ab780247c386ff29c28b5fb6cd.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We cute!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7X8kmBxHbu4wH9w4VnIxVpO2RtUwSETwXe_x6jUHIW-W-E4E0JGt9eKS-nmRQ94UgB-Mw_qXbkgeCVwqVR9VGcvhg9ZGntaC90VZHDvtY_JtnTNWP3uIaevSg-xWc5LPArnmfU0xuyfc/s1600/IMG_0414-HDR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7X8kmBxHbu4wH9w4VnIxVpO2RtUwSETwXe_x6jUHIW-W-E4E0JGt9eKS-nmRQ94UgB-Mw_qXbkgeCVwqVR9VGcvhg9ZGntaC90VZHDvtY_JtnTNWP3uIaevSg-xWc5LPArnmfU0xuyfc/s640/IMG_0414-HDR.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mt. Goddard (left) over Crown Lake</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhkT3yftAY6Oh3eDSPLchD7JCqWjOzGglfN-Hqvkqw3HYQzQdL9NusjblFXoLX583nj5bWIi8xCrqPofhTzAFbGNfSgYnDfvFOCYNMeZPpVmgcsCh6AYEaV8DGZ9pxkw-D7SOgJTvkbOw/s1600/drymeadow.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhkT3yftAY6Oh3eDSPLchD7JCqWjOzGglfN-Hqvkqw3HYQzQdL9NusjblFXoLX583nj5bWIi8xCrqPofhTzAFbGNfSgYnDfvFOCYNMeZPpVmgcsCh6AYEaV8DGZ9pxkw-D7SOgJTvkbOw/s640/drymeadow.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dry meadow west of Crown Lake</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbvsVAEdXM4Qwlp5c2UFEJiIFw9WQ1Rwbc8c3bMwzt8Z2xRH6jsrOOKpzPp2A-X9zL4le9Mj4uYzNGZZzScJn2HcneemQHXNIFg3QaaI2t4xohrPDsJeeRrzfzozeezqedxg-YMFZEq1E/s1600/85c97c98270a47919805b79e44454355.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="864" data-original-width="1152" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbvsVAEdXM4Qwlp5c2UFEJiIFw9WQ1Rwbc8c3bMwzt8Z2xRH6jsrOOKpzPp2A-X9zL4le9Mj4uYzNGZZzScJn2HcneemQHXNIFg3QaaI2t4xohrPDsJeeRrzfzozeezqedxg-YMFZEq1E/s640/85c97c98270a47919805b79e44454355.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">FRIENDS!!!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1pZIe_Hjpj9VAvnKQLPrEH7CROclf0K57ZDPZsDhmjv1GMGlQeIkYC4Ok7GR6oy3lb8I9XBFIGw3zbdmTS86JX9xDQ9t_OWglB5-o_6lyVXvWGmxiaazX7lI_JIQMDBH1j02s9hb9Tcs/s1600/IMG_0434-HDR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1pZIe_Hjpj9VAvnKQLPrEH7CROclf0K57ZDPZsDhmjv1GMGlQeIkYC4Ok7GR6oy3lb8I9XBFIGw3zbdmTS86JX9xDQ9t_OWglB5-o_6lyVXvWGmxiaazX7lI_JIQMDBH1j02s9hb9Tcs/s640/IMG_0434-HDR.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Crown Lake and the Kings River drainage</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0xBaGk6B64yxr1M_Q3IPxbVEjyDTVBgK-IHV2vsj-x6Go1SpEgnCpIGmOm028j6miAqxXFzGVfEgTDhzyuBmFk4f80JVE3Bkop7h5HADpXLVtpYb2pJsEOKWsDReNc_8nSz4gUFBJsD0/s1600/CrownLakeOverlook.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0xBaGk6B64yxr1M_Q3IPxbVEjyDTVBgK-IHV2vsj-x6Go1SpEgnCpIGmOm028j6miAqxXFzGVfEgTDhzyuBmFk4f80JVE3Bkop7h5HADpXLVtpYb2pJsEOKWsDReNc_8nSz4gUFBJsD0/s640/CrownLakeOverlook.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Crown Lake through the trees</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTLtJn-q7DuRhMyQJjK0mTXohwyRMILx8LUgZhMjkTCcREaRICc7lNY6oFqtLJuzwsHkFyLrfTLC5JhLGslod07HzNJozDJv5ThUmhNE80aOCsw4yJ6Evq_3qttrpkJp8XTCwbk8gf1_k/s1600/JacinaOverlook2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="810" data-original-width="1080" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTLtJn-q7DuRhMyQJjK0mTXohwyRMILx8LUgZhMjkTCcREaRICc7lNY6oFqtLJuzwsHkFyLrfTLC5JhLGslod07HzNJozDJv5ThUmhNE80aOCsw4yJ6Evq_3qttrpkJp8XTCwbk8gf1_k/s640/JacinaOverlook2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cina looking towards Goddard</td></tr>
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<h3>
Monday 11/12/18</h3>
By Monday morning we were getting used to the cold. A quick breakfast and we were ready to head out. Hiking down was much easier than the 3100 ft of climbing to get here, but it didn't warm us up as much as we needed. But despite this we still dreamed of ice cream and were already making plans to go to Ampersand when we got back to Fresno. It seems like food is always on the mind when backpacking and this trip was no exception. We sang songs of vegetables and cheeseburgers...<br />
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The scenery got more and more familiar as we approached the car with its heater and seat warmers. Finally! After days of cold feet a chance to defrost as we made out way down the hill to get some ice cream.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmQMExkmw0CMmYrPNtj6-8SakSMn1FUIJtamRpcZj5iddsbZhAKoB-43la-fBMrTSCW5u_WzmxVkxllX5cDcSoNcnXrV2o_w34MQ304nWzkQ0EoWNBwie2WGsDgcr_Loi-dHOVAaTn9Vk/s1600/9fd88955b5db4b8fb2ed44506500c406.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="864" data-original-width="1152" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmQMExkmw0CMmYrPNtj6-8SakSMn1FUIJtamRpcZj5iddsbZhAKoB-43la-fBMrTSCW5u_WzmxVkxllX5cDcSoNcnXrV2o_w34MQ304nWzkQ0EoWNBwie2WGsDgcr_Loi-dHOVAaTn9Vk/s640/9fd88955b5db4b8fb2ed44506500c406.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">(floating) head home</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Oh sisters lets go down<br />
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6OK3KxlDEzyTkqY5fHUHQT4O-638E0b4_DUBMETAfjqrRsnzFdxjXQUmQqetKLn7Hup36LiVp2dD5wpPw0Rwva2ms3mH-EFdbqSGQcRcbsEpOc29NDqbiYePxoSjVTKJrAedvivwLzgo/s1600/IMG_0451.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6OK3KxlDEzyTkqY5fHUHQT4O-638E0b4_DUBMETAfjqrRsnzFdxjXQUmQqetKLn7Hup36LiVp2dD5wpPw0Rwva2ms3mH-EFdbqSGQcRcbsEpOc29NDqbiYePxoSjVTKJrAedvivwLzgo/s640/IMG_0451.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption">Down to the river to pray</td></tr>
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Backpacking in November is an interesting thing. The days are short, the nights cold and long, and the scenery somewhat muted. But we didn't see a single other person the whole weekend (which was probably good considering how loud and goofy us four college students were) and it was nice to cut back the miles and enjoy fishing, cooking, and campfires. This trip was full of shivering and freezing temperatures, but doing it with friends warmed us in ways that hot chocolate never could.<br />
<br />Zac Justhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15227278731837652038noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8275353003951837873.post-46342204161101600172018-11-27T09:16:00.001-08:002018-12-05T22:37:02.782-08:00John Muir Trail 2018 Part 2This is part 2 of my 2018 JMT hike. <a href="https://zacjust.blogspot.com/2018/11/jmt-2018-part1.html" target="_blank">Click here for Part 1</a><br />
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<h3>
Wednesday August 15th, 2018</h3>
<h3>
Leconte Ranger Station - Park Boundary<br />24.9 miles</h3>
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Day 5: The highest mileage day. I'm using mileage calculated in Caltopo for my titles, but my paper map put me at 26.8 miles, so I like to believe that one! I climbed up to Muir Pass through some beautiful lakes. The pass had a dozen people on top, something I had come to expect on this trip. I had already done 8 miles before 11am, more than some people at the top were planning on even doing that day. It really puts it into perspective.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Helen Lake</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Black Divide</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Muir Pass</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Muir Hut</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Evolution Basin</td></tr>
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I also started to notice all the mules in the area, I must have passed 30+ head that day alone. After climbing up to Muir Pass I got to drop down through Evolution Basin and Evolution Valley.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mules heading up Muir Pass</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Evolution Basin</td></tr>
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I was now in the San Joaquin River Drainage. I stopped at the Evolution Ranger Station and had a talk with the rangers there before heading downhill again. I planned on camping on the South Fork SJ River but when I got there I felt like pushing on. I looked at the map and saw that I could hit the park boundary and would have hiked over a marathon which spurred me on. When I saw the boundary sign it was an emotional moment. I had just hiked all the way across Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks! My adrenaline was rushing but it was getting dark and I had to make camp. Probably my favorite day of the hike.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrSBdCtoX1SpNLNqxoVgeACBldprxjp2qT46v_tz6Fg8cSrK9A0_J-uQ1KbF4gKpXRaK6vpkRyXNpZHPAX22-M6CfNfpG3U7fbU_uojbgZN1gVd_jlihnjdt5XMXmb8G-kzjrEIApnBiU/s1600/IMG_0305.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrSBdCtoX1SpNLNqxoVgeACBldprxjp2qT46v_tz6Fg8cSrK9A0_J-uQ1KbF4gKpXRaK6vpkRyXNpZHPAX22-M6CfNfpG3U7fbU_uojbgZN1gVd_jlihnjdt5XMXmb8G-kzjrEIApnBiU/s640/IMG_0305.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
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<h3>
Thursday August 16th, 2018<br />Park Boundary - Quail Meadows<br />22.3 miles</h3>
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Day 6: I started today at 8000ft and had to climb 3000ft to Selden Pass. I started especially early to beat the heat. As I climbed I could see Florence Lake and civilization a few miles away, but I had miles to make! Selden Pass was pretty and I liked the starkness of the granite sparsely populated with conifers.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqOaxJvsqc8M1xp2vJfNL0RIgCB0gt7T_DGNrIcU_OuvkWA4kuCzOLiXbIiT95SlLOeYb0wF2eixx2HKNXzFd67mnuOsi0iWEEjlzKlYaQ1d3jOc162A8BHPigK48D7z7jvJvLRyVifkw/s1600/IMG_0307-Pano.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="465" data-original-width="1600" height="186" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqOaxJvsqc8M1xp2vJfNL0RIgCB0gt7T_DGNrIcU_OuvkWA4kuCzOLiXbIiT95SlLOeYb0wF2eixx2HKNXzFd67mnuOsi0iWEEjlzKlYaQ1d3jOc162A8BHPigK48D7z7jvJvLRyVifkw/s640/IMG_0307-Pano.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Selden Pass</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Marie Lake</td></tr>
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I gradually descended Bear Creek before starting the afternoon climb back up over Bear Ridge. Bear Ridge was the most emotionally exhausting and frustrating part of the hike. My feet were so tired from the previous days' miles and I was mentally done with the ups and downs. I pushed forward to truly conquer the mountain and prove that I was tougher. On top of the ridge the geology was interesting. Lots of volcanics were evident and made for a fun walk. I almost forgot how bad the 1000ft climb up was. Almost. As I started to descend I once again remembered that I was in fact crossing a ridge and I had 2100ft to descend before camp. 1/3 of the way down I was starting to grumble. Halfway I was really getting ticked off. 2/3 I was irate! I hated this mountain! I hated this trail! I hated that I climbed 1000ft just to go down 2100ft! I was tired. I was mad. And I was done! Luckily I passed through an aspen grove (my favorite tree) that calmed me down before I entered camp at dusk.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO29YzqIb-gtuyMcYHYWPeP6BwhGKUP51NiP6VBO7su41OT0yQqdWxSBtDb9DGWUmmcwRxFWCcb3Ygkwl81Ca7KCd1EavVqRqozMGLMjvLyyMicgbf3XHwVaWhCCfzpShAV_ENjMzRCTU/s1600/IMG_0316.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO29YzqIb-gtuyMcYHYWPeP6BwhGKUP51NiP6VBO7su41OT0yQqdWxSBtDb9DGWUmmcwRxFWCcb3Ygkwl81Ca7KCd1EavVqRqozMGLMjvLyyMicgbf3XHwVaWhCCfzpShAV_ENjMzRCTU/s640/IMG_0316.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Aspen grove</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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If yesterday was the best day of hiking then today was definitely the worst.<br />
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<h3>
Friday August 17th, 2018<br />Quail Meadows - Duck Creek<br />17.14 miles</h3>
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Day 7: Today I decided to take it easier (only 17 miles ha!) and give my feet some time to recuperate. Silver Pass came up early in the morning.<br />
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Things were getting easier each day as I dropped my food weight and grew stronger. I dropped down into Tully Hole and started to notice the different hues in the mountains characteristic of metamorphic and volcanic rocks, not plutonic granitoids. This excited me and I kicked myself for not bringing some geologic maps. I made it a point to slow my normally quick pace as I passed Virginia and Purple Lakes to give my feet a break.<br />
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I stopped at Purple, did some laundry and took a dip. I dried off in the sun and relaxed. It felt very uncomfortable for me not to be hiking. I just couldn't let that be so I hike a few more miles and camped below Duck Lake.<br />
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<h3>
Saturday August 18th, 2018<br />Duck Creek - Red's Meadow<br />11.3 miles</h3>
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Day 8: Today started out easy. No passes to climb until after Red's Meadow, gradually downhill through easy terrain. I got to Red Cones before 11 and looked over Red's Meadow and saw something I hadn't seen thus far: smoke. As hikers passed I asked how the smoke was further north and they all said the same thing: it only gets worse.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Smoky Mammoth</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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I had to decide what to do at that point; I didn't really want to walk through Yosemite if the only views I got were grey horizons, which was likely. At Red's Meadow I made the decision to cut my trip short on account of smoke. Not ideal, but better than the alternative. I called my parents and let them know I was safe and my plans going forward.<br />
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At this point I also learned that the shuttle back to Lone Pine doesn't run on the weekends. Go figure. I hopped on the Mammoth Lakes Shuttle with a newlywed couple SOBO who were taking a day off to spend the night in Mammoth in a motel. It was real culture shock getting back to reality after 8 days in the backcountry. I made a sign and stood by the Shell trying to get a ride out of town, at least to the 395 where I could better hitch back to Lone Pine. After 40 minutes a local going to Bishop gave me a ride. When we got to Bishop he asked me where my car was and I told him it was at Cottonwood. He had nothing else to do and took me all the way. What luck! I filled up his tank in Lone Pine and thanked him profusely once I got to my car. If returning to civilization in Mammoth was a shock, here I was in an air conditioned car driving 70 mph down the 395. 24 hours earlier I was sleeping on the ground in the backcountry, makes you think. I showered at the Love's in Tehachapi and had dinner at the Denny's there <i>(you can't beat $4 all you can eat pancakes)</i>. A few more hours and I was back home with a few days left to recuperate before the fall semester started.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilDaG_IZXtrFtwkGJDCEWg7J7ssRtSG_NVXGQVGLzA1hDKcs1L1TMuVnS2HQVhmOM1z1ofzEqBRM53nTtpmCf3Y7xplb6EY8EUrV9B_1B5jR_Sq_fahVpo1OYo8vaKxTdLRIg2OU9cyU8/s1600/IMG_0338-Pano.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="996" data-original-width="1600" height="398" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilDaG_IZXtrFtwkGJDCEWg7J7ssRtSG_NVXGQVGLzA1hDKcs1L1TMuVnS2HQVhmOM1z1ofzEqBRM53nTtpmCf3Y7xplb6EY8EUrV9B_1B5jR_Sq_fahVpo1OYo8vaKxTdLRIg2OU9cyU8/s640/IMG_0338-Pano.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
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<br />Zac Justhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15227278731837652038noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8275353003951837873.post-38980793445128636792018-11-27T08:57:00.001-08:002018-11-27T09:17:13.955-08:00John Muir Trail 2018 Part 1"Oh you like hiking? Have you ever done the John Muir Trail?"<br />
"The John Muir Trail is like the hardest trail in California!"<br />
"My friend from college did the JMT in 20 days but it takes some people 30 days"<br />
"I'm totally gonna do the JMT some day."<br />
"Don't bother doing it, it's like a highway. And good luck getting a permit."<br />
"You have to do it! You aren't a real backpacker until you've done it!"<br />
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Just a few things I have been told about the John Muir Trail<br />
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For me the JMT wasn't a bucket list item. It wasn't the hardest trail I've ever done. It wasn't even something I really wanted to do. But I did it and I'm glad I did.<br />
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<h3>
Saturday August 11th, 2018<br />Cottonwood TH - Crabtree Meadows<br />19.2 miles</h3>
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Day 1: I started in a familiar place since I was just here a few weeks earlier on a <a href="https://zacjust.blogspot.com/2018/11/new-army-pass-langley.html" target="_blank">short overnighter to Mt. Langley</a> I wasn't planning on any resupplies for the duration of my trip, so I had 10 days of food weighing down my maxed out Z-pack. It was hard climbing up to Cottonwood pass because of the extra weight, but I managed. I ate lunch at Rock Creek while it rained for ~45 minutes. I planned to make Crabtree by tonight and I sure did.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYUwh55Vdgo_zBdHInZSaop5nmC2S9qXIOM1INEF0U4AzKkkVLbtSkHGD1vdYTVff2fXNB6UTI4lhMx_SkQnuyHrbALJmfQTOiXwrBnakoSoYrhiaD8WwsTaCa8UtDm0hnJgoF2ulb1Yo/s1600/IMG_0182.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYUwh55Vdgo_zBdHInZSaop5nmC2S9qXIOM1INEF0U4AzKkkVLbtSkHGD1vdYTVff2fXNB6UTI4lhMx_SkQnuyHrbALJmfQTOiXwrBnakoSoYrhiaD8WwsTaCa8UtDm0hnJgoF2ulb1Yo/s640/IMG_0182.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Crabtree Meadows and Whitney Divide </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Crabtree Meadows</td></tr>
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<h3>
Sunday August 12th, 2018<br />Crabtree Meadows - Bubbs Creek<br />20.4 miles</h3>
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Day 2: Up early I continued north and hit the brunt of southbound (SOBO) JMTers. I decided before even starting the hike I would skip Whitney. I did it a couple years ago on the HST and I didn't have the time; I needed to finish my hike before school started again. The views west were great all the way across Bighorn Plateau and as I approached Forester Pass.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEk0-J4nFvIEpoTzGuDW5sV7ob1a9XHoFABft5Q225H6l_O7sZczsuzGRk3jZ6kGvKRhR8sWw8sgi0saMyCSDH6Up-uy11HHmoRUR-zBC1U4C_KlXVL0Bf-fG04r7Po6baPV_WPD9bJLY/s1600/IMG_0188.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEk0-J4nFvIEpoTzGuDW5sV7ob1a9XHoFABft5Q225H6l_O7sZczsuzGRk3jZ6kGvKRhR8sWw8sgi0saMyCSDH6Up-uy11HHmoRUR-zBC1U4C_KlXVL0Bf-fG04r7Po6baPV_WPD9bJLY/s640/IMG_0188.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking back on the Kaweahs</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Great Western Divide from Bighorn Plateau</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Great Western Divide</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCRG4ykqQitLP32E1NT4tXIhxD1Oe2DriVwrFcm9utIU7jkdhGxsmw6WOfBdtazU7MdGFj0oIiyEQytoDDzDwJUbIWls_x7i9DkYrGT3-nXA9EGNmCM2KZOcFn73n01UnowLoYp_O6DQw/s1600/IMG_0199.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCRG4ykqQitLP32E1NT4tXIhxD1Oe2DriVwrFcm9utIU7jkdhGxsmw6WOfBdtazU7MdGFj0oIiyEQytoDDzDwJUbIWls_x7i9DkYrGT3-nXA9EGNmCM2KZOcFn73n01UnowLoYp_O6DQw/s640/IMG_0199.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tyndall Creek Drainage</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbhiPKBYkFZ8eV25QpNTQQWXDRfrWt4zIyFh-5V3UGEj6Qgo2znHQ0vMNP3j-vDlEvkzN-nuzZAbb52y5cm34NkNjOWSVCdQTh_R9L__DKd6_eevnQ90AjIBg5xI3UGC_hyphenhyphencp9OEK8Y_A/s1600/IMG_0200.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbhiPKBYkFZ8eV25QpNTQQWXDRfrWt4zIyFh-5V3UGEj6Qgo2znHQ0vMNP3j-vDlEvkzN-nuzZAbb52y5cm34NkNjOWSVCdQTh_R9L__DKd6_eevnQ90AjIBg5xI3UGC_hyphenhyphencp9OEK8Y_A/s640/IMG_0200.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Forester Pass</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbLULAxRJAkzd77CPV2G5um2jLWkJOteotFDtBO5nRvwh9qyWh-UWRRxqAsHcrOVR0lf7j4tciMaDk249OxlaJ4wv2GeiQHlRpytsCtIpAyi_uGaBEGkGsJenPY7ZJywEqqbPrNU_iUuM/s1600/IMG_0203.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbLULAxRJAkzd77CPV2G5um2jLWkJOteotFDtBO5nRvwh9qyWh-UWRRxqAsHcrOVR0lf7j4tciMaDk249OxlaJ4wv2GeiQHlRpytsCtIpAyi_uGaBEGkGsJenPY7ZJywEqqbPrNU_iUuM/s640/IMG_0203.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Approaching Forester Pass</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
It was hard work carrying a heavy pack (<30lbs!) at this high elevation. On the south side of Forester Pass I was stuck in hail for half an hour before starting the highest pass on the JMT. Then came the decent through some really nice lakes as I descended the Bubbs drainage.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSwBGEt_wSBULn0Z8F1XwryEsxvWovCIx139av9p771i4yaVQUcjjh-EHHmUJDp6JyhLDeGxqu79oiSS-6LC4Uucz8GuVZSuREYWLY9zVCJnCm5VN9cJytyE5SQV1uRUXazCIe3F0VFyo/s1600/IMG_0206-Pano.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="530" data-original-width="1600" height="210" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSwBGEt_wSBULn0Z8F1XwryEsxvWovCIx139av9p771i4yaVQUcjjh-EHHmUJDp6JyhLDeGxqu79oiSS-6LC4Uucz8GuVZSuREYWLY9zVCJnCm5VN9cJytyE5SQV1uRUXazCIe3F0VFyo/s640/IMG_0206-Pano.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">North views from Forester</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDUQW2PdQg17BP7vK7Ecmrqp8wDE_YTPkbMcPZ9rAAAjopW93qSoyvJ_GM9q6oKEm08Zq_zAo7TLHjhcdXRAWksbReBtPL1XX22AW6qYHnmAYSzi3Vc7pEd0ugAiSKBaA9CO2t1Zsi9lc/s1600/IMG_0209.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDUQW2PdQg17BP7vK7Ecmrqp8wDE_YTPkbMcPZ9rAAAjopW93qSoyvJ_GM9q6oKEm08Zq_zAo7TLHjhcdXRAWksbReBtPL1XX22AW6qYHnmAYSzi3Vc7pEd0ugAiSKBaA9CO2t1Zsi9lc/s640/IMG_0209.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">North view from Forester</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNquxgtNNJTlxHRQ6riu7SYYdX3O-VRhIexzPEehP8w4M-0Aq0YcwICep9CrJeUrY_pL7iLh2mahC41KjZc8saQGdMKUGLK7kCQY4Mkv4UBYKVsjEnGIzesnO5nsceVOBXYdHzD9PQ9C8/s1600/IMG_0210.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNquxgtNNJTlxHRQ6riu7SYYdX3O-VRhIexzPEehP8w4M-0Aq0YcwICep9CrJeUrY_pL7iLh2mahC41KjZc8saQGdMKUGLK7kCQY4Mkv4UBYKVsjEnGIzesnO5nsceVOBXYdHzD9PQ9C8/s640/IMG_0210.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bubbs Creek Drainage</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdNr9HOwa16GD3KNgBGPKbJVzLuby1DCBYrRjV9ODMDJgw13epfrmQPO1CWiQ96j8Gptvtkx3xmJR9LEofr9k1j4APHv2O46EQr1nERRi__52SrxYAgNmZONhBHeazI9Qhyc-9Rxq6ENo/s1600/IMG_0211.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdNr9HOwa16GD3KNgBGPKbJVzLuby1DCBYrRjV9ODMDJgw13epfrmQPO1CWiQ96j8Gptvtkx3xmJR9LEofr9k1j4APHv2O46EQr1nERRi__52SrxYAgNmZONhBHeazI9Qhyc-9Rxq6ENo/s640/IMG_0211.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Glacial moraines </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSFeHIKkI-2TgTmv89rnwEdGSmyGQEHFtRt9ju0Z69X3ebrk4iwJav8-x9ItieWMWF3Cw4IfotB54m8AUp2Hx13aPNWE4LskC60pM2oDZKIkQlQ3IrCdcvvTPGzyLoc-I1ZUTg2Kk09gk/s1600/IMG_0212-Pano.jpg" imageanchor="1"><br /><img border="0" data-original-height="841" data-original-width="1600" height="336" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSFeHIKkI-2TgTmv89rnwEdGSmyGQEHFtRt9ju0Z69X3ebrk4iwJav8-x9ItieWMWF3Cw4IfotB54m8AUp2Hx13aPNWE4LskC60pM2oDZKIkQlQ3IrCdcvvTPGzyLoc-I1ZUTg2Kk09gk/s640/IMG_0212-Pano.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8Ws5WiFYV9cjRGOoU1Fxbk-mP5y34E531x5xr8Wircc-dzeirxS4hyphenhyphenYMuZtaESFKSpNRtIAJCsB5jP1fnGnUOVz-9eKroyR9Ru1FnjYL8xb1R6xoI-2dwh0xtsyOJrANG1CJtaZw1oZQ/s1600/IMG_0214.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8Ws5WiFYV9cjRGOoU1Fxbk-mP5y34E531x5xr8Wircc-dzeirxS4hyphenhyphenYMuZtaESFKSpNRtIAJCsB5jP1fnGnUOVz-9eKroyR9Ru1FnjYL8xb1R6xoI-2dwh0xtsyOJrANG1CJtaZw1oZQ/s640/IMG_0214.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bubbs Creek</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU2ws0GhldwPBB23VyrcB9mx7gRxVR9G4TRgMGKJujePy7lnKbRk5gHQqXyifyCk6bcvk7tZP0opSDzdRSTZOe_27Eadr6PXmzhgwXMqh9val_LcuFjjGIpOOwHz6t-li9x3wy6wmtM6s/s1600/IMG_0215.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU2ws0GhldwPBB23VyrcB9mx7gRxVR9G4TRgMGKJujePy7lnKbRk5gHQqXyifyCk6bcvk7tZP0opSDzdRSTZOe_27Eadr6PXmzhgwXMqh9val_LcuFjjGIpOOwHz6t-li9x3wy6wmtM6s/s640/IMG_0215.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bubbs Creek</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
The downhill at the end of the day was not the nicest thing, and I began to notice a theme that would define my hike: steep uphills and the never-ending descent! I camped near Upper Vidette Meadow, once again in familiar territory.<br />
<br />
<h3>
Monday August 13th, 2018<br />Bubbs Creek - Lake Marjorie<br />21.3 miles</h3>
<br />
Day 3: I had done the Rae Lakes Loop 2 times prior to this so I knew what this morning would contain. The trek up to Glen was as expected and the views were magnificent as always. I dropped down to Rae and pushed through, barely stopping for a picture. It felt sacrilegious to rush through but I had to make the miles!<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKCc5T_0DdDd_apboXd4NOEhK5ClyeQtA59hfKThV3_COOzc1pPbt0h7vMXr5krXbuH4fsy4uBj_5Dc-i-KmxazW5m82nAXpvctOdtOxP6j_cnWZ_jENXPDWM0MXzQBPmzNk18X2NSTYI/s1600/IMG_0219-Pano.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="772" data-original-width="1600" height="308" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKCc5T_0DdDd_apboXd4NOEhK5ClyeQtA59hfKThV3_COOzc1pPbt0h7vMXr5krXbuH4fsy4uBj_5Dc-i-KmxazW5m82nAXpvctOdtOxP6j_cnWZ_jENXPDWM0MXzQBPmzNk18X2NSTYI/s640/IMG_0219-Pano.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rae Lakes from Glen Pass</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiK2FmZgTrHagK8T-MYEofSEhB_RhpI8QBw6n9GP_Ch9LS0gp5rrM0u2OqhnTYRtgGk32S8kyFMipRkcd_DNUPjEgCh9GmWkDaeFLdPiOr4E0BjeqeeroZ_xO4e9gaiR6b1Zc3bbtB0l0/s1600/IMG_0221.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiK2FmZgTrHagK8T-MYEofSEhB_RhpI8QBw6n9GP_Ch9LS0gp5rrM0u2OqhnTYRtgGk32S8kyFMipRkcd_DNUPjEgCh9GmWkDaeFLdPiOr4E0BjeqeeroZ_xO4e9gaiR6b1Zc3bbtB0l0/s640/IMG_0221.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Finn Dome</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMnNj7KS548MVnIxf1b6ugVgcv1oTd4xzVUQJGWetpBlt_Boe2u2hC0DvYHJQoWheTZG20pr_1cYfwcCqWimhB-HqHQYYGHWckltxPTZhHESBBL7NsoxtUVLh5VfjzoslVAs43OWcpOzI/s1600/IMG_0224.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMnNj7KS548MVnIxf1b6ugVgcv1oTd4xzVUQJGWetpBlt_Boe2u2hC0DvYHJQoWheTZG20pr_1cYfwcCqWimhB-HqHQYYGHWckltxPTZhHESBBL7NsoxtUVLh5VfjzoslVAs43OWcpOzI/s640/IMG_0224.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Woods Crossing</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
Woods Creek bridge marked the beginning into brand new territory. Up until now about 2/3 of my miles I'd done before; from now on it would all be new. I climbed up Woods Creek and made dinner at the Sawmill Pass Junction, but I didn't stop there. I continued to Pinchot Pass where I was treated to some spectacular evening lighting. I made it to Lake Marjorie before dark, but barely.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZiui2GzH8M5bK1taxijhlgeCU6NE40Kb3ENHM7EZNNVsWkbddjjFtC-l8FO_Q_a53EYOaR9UVK3LIdApOgWAFfWf8Ze5hpzaif-h-pcOcsfBuX0-xxLfN2o1tM0eCK34zvtKp0SpS7aY/s1600/IMG_0229-Pano.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="575" data-original-width="1600" height="228" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZiui2GzH8M5bK1taxijhlgeCU6NE40Kb3ENHM7EZNNVsWkbddjjFtC-l8FO_Q_a53EYOaR9UVK3LIdApOgWAFfWf8Ze5hpzaif-h-pcOcsfBuX0-xxLfN2o1tM0eCK34zvtKp0SpS7aY/s640/IMG_0229-Pano.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mt Wynne</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghyphenhyphenycbk6m6CaAnR4kIUsZxcyoKY-stBf6X6BJ9MHI6ohxVRz-Y0pM2LywOViUItSvH1g8pSV76Q8Lq1Gpr_jQsmc4dGHTJBcZaPq7qZIVZ05ouSyxuTi1lTrk3yCHr02SZeNaDDnSOoBQ/s1600/IMG_0234-Pano.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="573" data-original-width="1600" height="228" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghyphenhyphenycbk6m6CaAnR4kIUsZxcyoKY-stBf6X6BJ9MHI6ohxVRz-Y0pM2LywOViUItSvH1g8pSV76Q8Lq1Gpr_jQsmc4dGHTJBcZaPq7qZIVZ05ouSyxuTi1lTrk3yCHr02SZeNaDDnSOoBQ/s640/IMG_0234-Pano.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mt Wynne</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8W7g1NBaDQYss89BXzqtvmG31PTU5NSeeAtgKtHs_6V5ZDRv5HiKQizOFNOqdLl5L3yfMjSiUdlcjJluopzXr9_G9ULcVMQIZk5MgSB2yXfmStK6dMmsQKlUexuoe44lUCSs0avL5u_M/s1600/IMG_0238.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1008" data-original-width="1600" height="402" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8W7g1NBaDQYss89BXzqtvmG31PTU5NSeeAtgKtHs_6V5ZDRv5HiKQizOFNOqdLl5L3yfMjSiUdlcjJluopzXr9_G9ULcVMQIZk5MgSB2yXfmStK6dMmsQKlUexuoe44lUCSs0avL5u_M/s640/IMG_0238.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking South from Pinchot Pass</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgR1YTmaF6mMnLekKcPJpvf2GNGCFH0SrFLHIOh5VnqdZstPhKLDKMqufz8024VWsVZuDxQGX1GMwJYkfLxOxzB0XA5RxiKQkluJ7f1zSqfHaHlWOWHd-QvXhxqxafL529V0wwWrdJX2s/s1600/IMG_0246.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgR1YTmaF6mMnLekKcPJpvf2GNGCFH0SrFLHIOh5VnqdZstPhKLDKMqufz8024VWsVZuDxQGX1GMwJYkfLxOxzB0XA5RxiKQkluJ7f1zSqfHaHlWOWHd-QvXhxqxafL529V0wwWrdJX2s/s640/IMG_0246.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking South from Pinchot Pass</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtuAGj__CrQuy7gI245VrN183sFuYLR7ynX1ZkuM7hWzlvWMAZUyq6BWcBwt0dn4sEgiwfCQDSxxp3wVtXTIno1f-WxpQy59EPv70GiyuT7jugxcDsSRLSZjE6zJ6bzM-uE6Mk-fgXGE4/s1600/IMG_0249.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtuAGj__CrQuy7gI245VrN183sFuYLR7ynX1ZkuM7hWzlvWMAZUyq6BWcBwt0dn4sEgiwfCQDSxxp3wVtXTIno1f-WxpQy59EPv70GiyuT7jugxcDsSRLSZjE6zJ6bzM-uE6Mk-fgXGE4/s640/IMG_0249.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking south from Pinchot Pass</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj34EO_-CSm6FqyFiawn7qLnoAioy37-mPsz0xNOpY-TutDBvzQBAoWn1l5WoukG6gSVDgp-fXA_0_wV7aRWqktEe0LaZMVpjy9OsIW9GVkeGs3d3ALp7i3H7dnOEJs_qX5464bjabfEi0/s1600/IMG_0251.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj34EO_-CSm6FqyFiawn7qLnoAioy37-mPsz0xNOpY-TutDBvzQBAoWn1l5WoukG6gSVDgp-fXA_0_wV7aRWqktEe0LaZMVpjy9OsIW9GVkeGs3d3ALp7i3H7dnOEJs_qX5464bjabfEi0/s640/IMG_0251.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pika!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyWSEHpAOSWXCgrta0O2JryzYXP4_RW1Ii3hJGiO0ZEBGczWfR3XvZp-yHa7vJm2vE1XsuYMK_bzyQeb0X-2kocDOQrEol9FiXfSGkcrdUJfVYGnvQh4-JprAVSgrmSkhw5yLCZycSIQo/s1600/IMG_0252.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyWSEHpAOSWXCgrta0O2JryzYXP4_RW1Ii3hJGiO0ZEBGczWfR3XvZp-yHa7vJm2vE1XsuYMK_bzyQeb0X-2kocDOQrEol9FiXfSGkcrdUJfVYGnvQh4-JprAVSgrmSkhw5yLCZycSIQo/s640/IMG_0252.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Marjorie Lake</td></tr>
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<h3>
Tuesday August 14th, 2018<br />Lake Marjorie - LeConte Ranger Station<br />21.9 miles</h3>
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Day 4: Last night was the coldest by far and I got little sleep. At the Bench Lake Ranger Station junction I picked up a letter for the LeConte ranger with the intention of delivering it that day. The terrain in Upper Basin was wide open before terminating at Mather Pass. Up. Up. Up. Lunch at the pass before descending beneath the Palisades and down the Golden Staircase.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipasMwVfYr3EDYrOB10QFOMKQT29OrB4zacMIQMJqoXNG4k5UjMQFEbuMdsZvDLCjH5uIUBZCmccO1FjZoPrbcU3V919M8ypoAQj5OyTwpv-lpjssW4O_DLlZUhyphenhyphenIE0HsNS2427CSj_Zc/s1600/IMG_0256.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipasMwVfYr3EDYrOB10QFOMKQT29OrB4zacMIQMJqoXNG4k5UjMQFEbuMdsZvDLCjH5uIUBZCmccO1FjZoPrbcU3V919M8ypoAQj5OyTwpv-lpjssW4O_DLlZUhyphenhyphenIE0HsNS2427CSj_Zc/s640/IMG_0256.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mather Pass</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQRe7FSLTNtlGbqPzNReqYyUBr0oXqCTpM7pqYR5ddLw0M26XXUgFRGPTpt1O5TqJfCUQWMaqs0LR5kyv6S77j2slI1ZMQAwM8NbOH7azbBCp81W96-iw8VWiy_vD1QCsrhrNZgnzt7bs/s1600/IMG_0259-Pano.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="557" data-original-width="1600" height="222" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQRe7FSLTNtlGbqPzNReqYyUBr0oXqCTpM7pqYR5ddLw0M26XXUgFRGPTpt1O5TqJfCUQWMaqs0LR5kyv6S77j2slI1ZMQAwM8NbOH7azbBCp81W96-iw8VWiy_vD1QCsrhrNZgnzt7bs/s640/IMG_0259-Pano.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Upper Basin</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjku6iDE_L-zIm8tdzk5NtSuQZfnjCVqdVIJKiIR9Ow9hOy7gsNRFiW2sqns8hd3OAJgp_pC-TPnZakSeNzay_PVSFy5iCXcnkBa7-qzM_69mTxyoraZ6SdgaAbJUQeV1WMBdTxF3TsFak/s1600/IMG_0260.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjku6iDE_L-zIm8tdzk5NtSuQZfnjCVqdVIJKiIR9Ow9hOy7gsNRFiW2sqns8hd3OAJgp_pC-TPnZakSeNzay_PVSFy5iCXcnkBa7-qzM_69mTxyoraZ6SdgaAbJUQeV1WMBdTxF3TsFak/s640/IMG_0260.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Palisades</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq7DpRTz-AugXeJuJSPWe8cQTaVJY-5X-PQDxTM6kA_rpohYRJrNGRAsAJNgNQnIRFOs1GGANVGYbqBXxWUEvmJbgmivfzUS074ZS2BAg9J6JvFhAtI7eFnQQz254HxCLG1X9Kp8km6_A/s1600/IMG_0261.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq7DpRTz-AugXeJuJSPWe8cQTaVJY-5X-PQDxTM6kA_rpohYRJrNGRAsAJNgNQnIRFOs1GGANVGYbqBXxWUEvmJbgmivfzUS074ZS2BAg9J6JvFhAtI7eFnQQz254HxCLG1X9Kp8km6_A/s640/IMG_0261.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-T1AKBVYsMxtGy7qYQD2bfnqxOqkCYzwnkRYJ48W9kEEARsCEXrPSyfS6fYiVTqDjLkzgtLdKtowMF-EbE4vgg9OOKB1lRDHWU2hnoXYIfaqS5uuTrkn-dpTe5MqyUCnkyl4Yn4hOqVM/s1600/IMG_0263.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-T1AKBVYsMxtGy7qYQD2bfnqxOqkCYzwnkRYJ48W9kEEARsCEXrPSyfS6fYiVTqDjLkzgtLdKtowMF-EbE4vgg9OOKB1lRDHWU2hnoXYIfaqS5uuTrkn-dpTe5MqyUCnkyl4Yn4hOqVM/s640/IMG_0263.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Walking beneath the Palisades</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBmsmgxT7INuWdNY3Cw7ic1rwqCuMxQVjYwvQRibnjOEzmy4EehvHxymPMwaAAmsvbGB8nJT1XqbcKkDTVDAm4fEa6dTJXL5uZqIFRxjQ6btbse4sZrCdvRqE1WCtTn8WZdqriIppe8nM/s1600/IMG_0270.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBmsmgxT7INuWdNY3Cw7ic1rwqCuMxQVjYwvQRibnjOEzmy4EehvHxymPMwaAAmsvbGB8nJT1XqbcKkDTVDAm4fEa6dTJXL5uZqIFRxjQ6btbse4sZrCdvRqE1WCtTn8WZdqriIppe8nM/s640/IMG_0270.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Palisade Creek</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhxR4FdlycYwpzVJVt1Sd72GCr7ZvHhh-6tGQf2u5OV4v5VJb8uHrRPh9nNUAbPwP2SmniQcc5p4srannDGuB6YzQBACUWZVJWilWq8le0YyC3GNVczM-iKqT7zLmZFac19Gv1DZoGSF4/s1600/IMG_0271.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhxR4FdlycYwpzVJVt1Sd72GCr7ZvHhh-6tGQf2u5OV4v5VJb8uHrRPh9nNUAbPwP2SmniQcc5p4srannDGuB6YzQBACUWZVJWilWq8le0YyC3GNVczM-iKqT7zLmZFac19Gv1DZoGSF4/s640/IMG_0271.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Golden Staircase</td></tr>
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I had high expectations for LeConte Canyon but found it just like Bubbs Drainage. Kinda impressive at parts, but I was done with the miles of downhill through the forest. I made it to the LeConte RS but the ranger was out on patrol in Ionian Basin. I dropped off the letter and made camp nearby.<br />
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<a href="https://zacjust.blogspot.com/2018/11/jmt-2018-part2.html" target="_blank">PART 2</a><br />
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<br />Zac Justhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15227278731837652038noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8275353003951837873.post-18655557264727744712018-11-25T14:48:00.001-08:002018-12-16T10:24:59.454-08:00Kaiser PeakThis hike was a new one for me but had been on my radar for a while. I normally don't venture up the 168 since SEKI is home to me, but my friend Rachel (aka Queen of the Hedgehogs <a href="https://www.instagram.com/zurcherrachel/" target="_blank">@zurcherrachel</a>) knows that area really well and together with Aaron we decided to climb Kaiser Peak. It was an early season trip in February, but the weak winter meant that it was doable. <i>Note: Winter of 2017/2018 had a later snowpack with the majority of it coming after this hike during a 'miracle March'</i><br />
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We started near Huntington Lake by the mule pack station. Immediately the trail climbed up and we saw quick views of College Rock as we got closer. We took a break at College Rock having climbed 1800ft with 1000ft to go. Patches of snow around us and on the trail started appearing and we hit full coverage at 9800ft when we got onto Kaiser Ridge. The snow was dense and stomped down enough that there was no worry of sliding or post-holing and we continued the difficult trek to the peak. The trail wasn't that defined, but we figured that going up meant going in the right direction!<br />
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<span style="text-align: start;">Once at the peak the views did not disappoint. It's nice seeing the contrasting white, green, and grey across the mountains. And being the middle of winter there wasn't really any pollution or smoke from wildfires.</span></div>
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Heading down was easier than going up, although I did notice the snow getting softer, especially towards the end. Once we hit solid ground it was a quick stroll back to the car and down the hill. A great hike, especially for the middle of winter!<br />
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<br />Zac Justhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15227278731837652038noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8275353003951837873.post-25804559735801334942018-11-24T16:47:00.000-08:002018-11-24T17:29:46.087-08:00George Lake Day HikeOne of the great things about being a young college student is the spontaneity my lifestyle affords me. Saturday evening at 6:30 I decided I wanted to go somewhere and do something. I quick grabbed some food, my daypack and my sleeping bag and drove up the 168 to Kaiser Pass. I slept at the pass and enjoyed being out of Fresno for a bit. Sunday morning was the time change so I got an extra hour of sleep even though I was up by 6. I parked at the Twin Lakes Trailhead by Badger Flat and started hiking up. I'd never done this trail, in fact the only trail I've done on the 168 corridor is Kaiser Peak earlier this year. It was a steady climb up to Potter Pass, at which point I ditched the trail and climbed the summit to the west.<br />
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Dropping down through the trees I ran into this really nice pond. And I've been getting (a tiny bit) better at taking photos and learning how to do some HDR.<br />
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Further down the hill was Lower Twin Lake and I rejoined the trail. Upper Twin soon followed and I barely stopped to take a picture as I kept on to George Lake.<br />
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A quick snack at George and I was heading back. The only thing that slowed me down was the geology on the trail. Giant beds of almost pure calcite excited the geologist in me. There was also lots of deformation in the meta-sedimentary rocks that would have been heated as the granites were intruded. I grabbed a few nice samples and carried them back to my car before driving back into Fresno and getting ready for school Monday.<br />
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<br />Zac Justhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15227278731837652038noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8275353003951837873.post-50337818081690355562018-11-24T16:16:00.000-08:002018-11-24T17:38:35.193-08:00New Army Pass-Langley 7/26-7/27/18In preparation for my JMT hike this year I decided to head to Lone Pine and take a warm up hike in the Cottonwood Lakes area since I would be coming through here in a few weeks. My friend Ranger Corey was also completing the High Sierra Trail as part of his patrol and needed a ride back to Sequoia so it worked out great. I drove up Wednesday evening after work from Sequoia NP and slept in my car outside the visitors center.<br />
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<h3>
Thursday 7/26</h3>
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Thursday morning I got my permit for New Army Pass and headed up to the trailhead. I had to make a small detour due to some car trouble, but eventually I crept my way up to the TH. It sprinkled on me a bit as I started out but I made good time to South Fork, Long, and High Lakes. It was still plenty light as I passed the lakes so I decided to camp at the pass. New Army Pass was much easier than I expected but just as beautiful. Dry camping is something I'm getting more used to. It really opens up the possibilities for places with no mosquitoes and no people (which can also mean less bear activity).<br />
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<h3>
Friday 7/27</h3>
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Friday morning I packed up and started the climb to Langley. The trail was easy to follow with just enough scrambling to make it interesting. The summit offered great views of Whitney and the surrounding area. I was able to radio Corey and coordinate our exits so we would meet at Whitney Portal around the same time.<br />
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Heading down I decided to exit via Old Army Pass despite the warnings that the trail was washed out. I found it to be in good condition and had no problems with it. Cottonwood lakes were really nice. I can see why this area is so popular.<br />
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After getting back to the trailhead I dropped down to Lone Pine and then drove up to Whitney Portal, picked up Corey and started the long drive back to Sequoia so both of us could go to work the next morning. A great trip in some country I don't often get to travel because of my West side proximity.<br />
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<br />Zac Justhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15227278731837652038noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8275353003951837873.post-54775443030912570312018-07-13T11:41:00.002-07:002018-07-13T11:41:29.417-07:00Deadman Canyon Loop: June 27-29, 2018<br />
I've been wanting to explore east of the Tablelands for a while now, hitting Pterodactyl Pass and Horn Col. After that my itinerary was pretty open and I wasn't sure exactly where I was going to go...<br />
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<h3>
6/27: Wolverton TH to Tablelands</h3>
I started at 5 pm after work hiking out of Wolverton and made my way up the familiar trail to Pear Lake. Passing Pear I headed up to the Tablelands to spend the night. I decided to camp on a small ridge overlooking some smallish lakes with very few mosquitoes.<br />
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<h3>
6/28: Tablelands to Comanche Meadow</h3>
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My plans for today were very loose. I started the day heading to Pterodactyl Pass and ended up cutting across Buck Canyon too far south; I should have headed farther north and followed the ridge of Pterodactyl Pass.<br />
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Crossing the ridge I descended and ascended to Lonely Lake, following grassy ramps and minor talus hopping. Lonely Lake was that, lonely.<br />
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With only marmots and mosquitoes to keep me company I had lunch at the lakes inlet by a small beach. Horn Col is listed as Class 1 but if you head straight up the steep slabs I would say its closer to class 2. If you are unsure about the steep slabs then bypassing them to the north would be an easy option. One of my potential routes involved going to Copper Mine Pass, Lion Lakes Pass, Tamarack and out via HST. From Horn Col I could see that Copper Mine Pass still had snow on it and the mine itself would be covered. I decided to head down Deadman Canyon and go out via Sugarloaf and Twin Lakes. Descending Horn Col was easy, but finding the Elizabeth Pass trail had me zig-zagging across the head of Deadman until I gave up and followed the creek down. I finally found the trail and made my descent down the canyon. The wildflowers were out in full force and spectacular. I love walking through Deadman and all the great canyon views.<br />
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Once I got to Roaring River I decided to make the next day easier and go as far as I could today. Sugarloaf looked doable and an hour and a half later I arrived. The mosquitoes were horrible so I kept going. Comanche Meadow had worse mosquitoes so I kept going. The trail past Comanche had no reasonable campsites so I headed 1/4 mile above the trail and slept on a slope. The slope didn't keep me awake, I was pooped from the 24 mile day.<br />
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<h3>
6/29: Comanche Meadows to Lodgepole TH</h3>
The high mileage from the previous day left my feet blistered and tired so it was slow going. But I still had time to go to one of my favorite lakes: Ranger Lake.<br />
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Heading up to Silliman Pass I met a ranger friend of mine and we talked a bit on the pass and descended together to Twin Lakes. She had to do her ranger duties at the lake so we departed and a little over 2 hours later I was back at Lodgepole and civilization. I really liked the higher parts of this loop and the mix of on and off-trail. Sugarloaf was beautiful in its own way but I don't think I'll be going back unless really necessary; too much sand and mosquitoes.<br />
<br />Zac Justhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15227278731837652038noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8275353003951837873.post-34507330918797914282017-10-28T21:17:00.000-07:002019-02-15T10:02:03.617-08:00Pinnacles NP 10/27-28<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="text-align: center;">I've never been to Pinnacles National Park despite living 2.5 hours away so I decided to head over and spend some time exploring. I got to the park around noon on Friday and checked in to my site. I drove to Bear Gulch and visited the caves. The upper caves were a bit tight and I had to crawl in quite a few spaces. Exiting the caves I stopped at the reservoir and did something I never do when hiking: stopped. I took a nap, read a little of The Lord of the Rings and generally lounged around for a couple hours. I returned via the rim trail. I wasn't sure what my campsite would be like but as luck would have it I was surrounded by trees and shrubs amidst an otherwise desert. No generator in the campground made a quiet evening.</span><br />
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Saturday morning I parked again at Bear Gulch and headed up the recommended High Peaks Trail. I was in the shadow of the hills in the early morning but noticed the temperature change halfway up the climb. Reaching the ridge I got much better views of the pinnacles than I did yesterday. I continued on and climbed up the switchbacks in the increasing heat. I was amazed to see a bathroom at the top, but did nothing to investigate further. I scrambled to the top of a formation there and got some pretty awesome views of the park.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiswb7VeYDOm-CFkPOO-9dZYH2CzecXvzL3OIDcSAqM5Sr3B9hgR9bGKA4Y4Du42m6XFJVX2uzYNOhfaOzJD2332rAUaRfRC7TmdE0fLHutqD4wZ9BZiMhKfco0iZUsslnvCdaj29DA6rA/s1600/PinnaclesSelfiePano.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="525" data-original-width="1600" height="208" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiswb7VeYDOm-CFkPOO-9dZYH2CzecXvzL3OIDcSAqM5Sr3B9hgR9bGKA4Y4Du42m6XFJVX2uzYNOhfaOzJD2332rAUaRfRC7TmdE0fLHutqD4wZ9BZiMhKfco0iZUsslnvCdaj29DA6rA/s640/PinnaclesSelfiePano.png" width="640" /></a><br />
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From there I continued on the some of the most impressive trail building I've seen. Several sections of steps blasted out of the rock going near vertical in some places. Cliffs encroached over the trail and I was glad the handrails were there.<br />
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I kept my eyes open for condors but didn't see any despite the rangers saying they were fairly common. Even though there were no birds, the rocks were abundant. I made my way back down the Condor Gulch trail and was glad I started so early as I passed dozens of hikers making their way up the hot brushy canyon.<br />
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Having never been to this park I'm glad I decided to go. It's a small enough park to easily hit the hotspots in a day and see 90% of it in a weekend trip. I think next time I'll do the Chalone Peak Trail; I caught glimpses of the lookout from the High Peaks Trail and would like to investigate.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8275353003951837873.post-40483748355555616472017-09-12T17:15:00.000-07:002017-09-12T17:15:16.590-07:00Deadman - Cloud Canyon Trip: 8/14-16/17This trip came to being very suddenly, the day I got my permit. I knew I wanted to go to Deadman Canyon and Cloud Canyon, but how was another question. It was only when I actually got my permit that I roughly lined out the itinerary for Ranger Sierra. I decided on this loop: Wolverton --> Pear Lake --> Big Bird Lake via Tablelands --> Deadman Canyon --> Roaring River --> Cloud Canyon --> Copper Mine Pass --> Horn Col --> Moose --> Wolverton via Alta Peak. But as we all know, plans are just that, plans. I decided to cut out Moose Lake and go out the HST from Elizabeth when I was at the pass, more on that later.<br />
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<a href="https://flic.kr/p/Y4C1Js"><img alt="36796954990_434e86b276_b.jpg" height="380" src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4389/36796954990_434e86b276_b.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
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Map can be found <a href="https://caltopo.com/m/VS06">HERE</a><br />
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<h3>
<br />Day 1: Wolverton - Pear Lake</h3>
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I got my permit Sunday afternoon and started Monday after work. The great thing about working in Sequoia is that I can start hiking 30 minutes after work! I made it to Pear before 8 and grabbed one of the sites high on the southwest side of the lake overlooking the basin.<br />
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<h3>
Day 2: Pear Lake - Big Bird Lake</h3>
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Tuesday morning I headed up to the Tablelands as I did the weekend before. I should note that these pictures are actually from the weekend before, I covered the same terrain and didn't feel it necessary to take more pictures. Plus I wanted to save my battery. I took the use trail east up and over the hill right past the "Matterhorn". Continuing up the drainage I soon found myself overlooking Moose Lake. I headed NE over the "sky bridge" between Table Meadows and Moose Lake drainage before aiming for the Kings-Kaweah Divide. It was along this route that I found my first Sierra balloon!!! I had lunch at a great little lake right on the divide with awesome views to the east. Heading down to the lakes above Big Bird was straight forward, although getting down to Big Bird itself was not. A couple times I had to backtrack as I got cliffed out but eventually made it to the outlet. I didn't see any immediate campsites on the water, but found a fantastic spot overlooking Deadman Canyon. The sun set early inside those steep canyon walls and I welcomed sleep as I awaited the next day.<br />
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<a href="https://flic.kr/p/Y4x8ij"><img alt="36796001520_227fcf1c50_k.jpg" height="480" src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4427/36796001520_227fcf1c50_k.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
<a href="https://flic.kr/p/Y4x8ij">Tokopah Valley</a> by <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/125382541@N07/">Zachary Just</a>, on Flickr<br />
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<a href="https://flic.kr/p/Ys7qTc"><img alt="37051462281_292b5c9696_k.jpg" height="480" src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4408/37051462281_292b5c9696_k.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
<a href="https://flic.kr/p/Ys7qTc">Aster Lake</a> by <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/125382541@N07/">Zachary Just</a>, on Flickr<br />
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<a href="https://flic.kr/p/Ys7rYi"><img alt="37051465941_7b646c7930_k.jpg" height="480" src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4426/37051465941_7b646c7930_k.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
<a href="https://flic.kr/p/Ys7rYi">Pear Lake</a> by <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/125382541@N07/">Zachary Just</a>, on Flickr<br />
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<a href="https://flic.kr/p/XqJTnz"><img alt="36379585663_c623d334dd_k.jpg" height="480" src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4418/36379585663_c623d334dd_k.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
<a href="https://flic.kr/p/XqJTnz">Looking down on Pear Lake</a> by <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/125382541@N07/">Zachary Just</a>, on Flickr<br />
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<a href="https://flic.kr/p/YnSBDN"><img alt="37003500956_9f288d9ba9_k.jpg" height="480" src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4396/37003500956_9f288d9ba9_k.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
<a href="https://flic.kr/p/YnSBDN">Meadow above Pear Lake</a> by <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/125382541@N07/">Zachary Just</a>, on Flickr<br />
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<a href="https://flic.kr/p/YnSAQ3"><img alt="37003498186_79b2919716_k.jpg" height="480" src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4338/37003498186_79b2919716_k.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
<a href="https://flic.kr/p/YnSAQ3">Lower Tablelands</a> by <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/125382541@N07/">Zachary Just</a>, on Flickr<br />
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<a href="https://flic.kr/p/Ys6qD6"><img alt="37051266351_ec3c232ee6_k.jpg" height="251" src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4351/37051266351_ec3c232ee6_k.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
<a href="https://flic.kr/p/Ys6qD6">MoosePano1</a> by <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/125382541@N07/">Zachary Just</a>, on Flickr<br />
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<a href="https://flic.kr/p/XoHsq5"><img alt="36356673604_ac29051706_k.jpg" height="480" src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4337/36356673604_ac29051706_k.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
<a href="https://flic.kr/p/XoHsq5">Tarn in Tablelands</a> by <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/125382541@N07/">Zachary Just</a>, on Flickr<br />
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<a href="https://flic.kr/p/Ys7iZn"><img alt="37051439091_fa893383c1_k.jpg" height="480" src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4414/37051439091_fa893383c1_k.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
<a href="https://flic.kr/p/Ys7iZn">Upper Buck Creek</a> by <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/125382541@N07/">Zachary Just</a>, on Flickr<br />
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<a href="https://flic.kr/p/Ys7idH"><img alt="37051436501_6c11f08c5d_k.jpg" height="480" src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4340/37051436501_6c11f08c5d_k.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
<a href="https://flic.kr/p/Ys7idH">"Frog" Lake and Table Meadows</a> by <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/125382541@N07/">Zachary Just</a>, on Flickr<br />
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<a href="https://flic.kr/p/YptPXW"><img alt="37021687792_5c80db6bb3_k.jpg" height="170" src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4416/37021687792_5c80db6bb3_k.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
<a href="https://flic.kr/p/YptPXW">TablelandsPano1</a> by <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/125382541@N07/">Zachary Just</a>, on Flickr<br />
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<a href="https://flic.kr/p/Y4wdDS"><img alt="36795824420_a8e5bb2585_k.jpg" height="225" src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4364/36795824420_a8e5bb2585_k.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
<a href="https://flic.kr/p/Y4wdDS">TablelandsDividePano</a> by <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/125382541@N07/">Zachary Just</a>, on Flickr<br />
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<a href="https://flic.kr/p/Y4wJzo"><img alt="36795925080_f945476a25_k.jpg" height="264" src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4387/36795925080_f945476a25_k.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
<a href="https://flic.kr/p/Y4wJzo">BigBirdPano</a> by <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/125382541@N07/">Zachary Just</a>, on Flickr<br />
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<a href="https://flic.kr/p/Ys6Qpx"><img alt="37051346301_dfd51fe991_k.jpg" height="195" src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4427/37051346301_dfd51fe991_k.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
<a href="https://flic.kr/p/Ys6Qpx">BigBirdPano2</a> by <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/125382541@N07/">Zachary Just</a>, on Flickr<br />
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<a href="https://flic.kr/p/YpupVA"><img alt="37021802032_3023265236_k.jpg" height="480" src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4389/37021802032_3023265236_k.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
<a href="https://flic.kr/p/YpupVA">Southern GWD</a> by <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/125382541@N07/">Zachary Just</a>, on Flickr<br />
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<a href="https://flic.kr/p/XqJKEF"><img alt="36379559743_6605ed1864_k.jpg" height="480" src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4424/36379559743_6605ed1864_k.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
<a href="https://flic.kr/p/XqJKEF">Deadman Canyon</a> by <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/125382541@N07/">Zachary Just</a>, on Flickr<br />
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<a href="https://flic.kr/p/XomcU9"><img alt="36352527420_38879b7400_k.jpg" height="480" src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4406/36352527420_38879b7400_k.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
<a href="https://flic.kr/p/XomcU9">My first Sierra Balloon</a> by <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/125382541@N07/">Zachary Just</a>, on Flickr<br />
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<a href="https://flic.kr/p/Xomceb"><img alt="36352525160_adaa2e2930_k.jpg" height="480" src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4354/36352525160_adaa2e2930_k.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
<a href="https://flic.kr/p/Xomceb">View from Kings-Kaweah Divide</a> by <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/125382541@N07/">Zachary Just</a>, on Flickr<br />
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<a href="https://flic.kr/p/XombuA"><img alt="36352522690_5f5b738f82_k.jpg" height="480" src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4390/36352522690_5f5b738f82_k.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
<a href="https://flic.kr/p/XombuA">GWD from K-K Divide</a> by <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/125382541@N07/">Zachary Just</a>, on Flickr<br />
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<a href="https://flic.kr/p/WHDgih"><img alt="35914512414_e157a0b522_k.jpg" height="480" src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4331/35914512414_e157a0b522_k.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
<a href="https://flic.kr/p/WHDgih">Lake on Kings-Kaweah Divide</a> by <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/125382541@N07/">Zachary Just</a>, on Flickr<br />
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<a href="https://flic.kr/p/XomaV9"><img alt="36352520750_446bec2f89_k.jpg" height="480" src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4359/36352520750_446bec2f89_k.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
<a href="https://flic.kr/p/XomaV9">Lakes above Big Bird Lake</a> by <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/125382541@N07/">Zachary Just</a>, on Flickr<br />
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<a href="https://flic.kr/p/XomaiY"><img alt="36352518710_8065465434_k.jpg" height="480" src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4384/36352518710_8065465434_k.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
<a href="https://flic.kr/p/XomaiY">Lakes above Big Bird Lake</a> by <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/125382541@N07/">Zachary Just</a>, on Flickr<br />
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<a href="https://flic.kr/p/WHDf3m"><img alt="35914508184_11fd6a010b_k.jpg" height="480" src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4384/35914508184_11fd6a010b_k.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
<a href="https://flic.kr/p/WHDf3m">Big Bird Lake</a> by <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/125382541@N07/">Zachary Just</a>, on Flickr<br />
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<h3>
Day 3: Big Bird Lake - Cloud Canyon</h3>
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Wednesday morning I found my way down the slabs towards the trail following the creek from BB lake. I crossed upstream of it's confluence with Deadman Canyon creek because of all the underbrush. It was at this time that I made a banana out of my trekking pole. A quick bend and I had it straightened out, but it no longer collapses, making setting up my tarp a little more challenging. But I perservered and soon regained the trail and all that comes with it. On the north side of Ranger Meadow I met the Roaring River Ranger (Cindy? Kathy?) and a couple of cowboys out doing trail brushing/logging. And once at Roaring River I met another park employee doing invasive species studies. Heading up Cloud Canyon I met 5 trail workers and 1 civilian, bringing the total up to 9 NPS employees and 1 non. Cloud Canyon certainly lived up to its name that day as it continually looked like rain up until about 7 when it cleared up. I wanted to camp at the "Grand Palace Hotel" (the junction between Cloud Canyon and Colby Pass trail) but the mosquitos were a 5+ so I took off up Cloud Canyon. The off-trail travel here was easy, and I soon found a flat spot at the upper end of the canyon with a nice breeze and few mosquitos. Again I watched the shadows grow long and went to bed early in the darkness of the canyon.<br />
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<a href="https://flic.kr/p/WHDeF9"><img alt="35914506954_0972603fab_k.jpg" height="480" src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4432/35914506954_0972603fab_k.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
<a href="https://flic.kr/p/WHDeF9">Deadman Canyon</a> by <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/125382541@N07/">Zachary Just</a>, on Flickr<br />
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<a href="https://flic.kr/p/WHDdP9"><img alt="35914504054_3dea93cc69_k.jpg" height="480" src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4442/35914504054_3dea93cc69_k.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
<a href="https://flic.kr/p/WHDdP9">Deadman Canyon</a> by <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/125382541@N07/">Zachary Just</a>, on Flickr<br />
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<a href="https://flic.kr/p/XZn2tc"><img alt="36748764805_c7b8080591_k.jpg" height="480" src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4409/36748764805_c7b8080591_k.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
<a href="https://flic.kr/p/XZn2tc">Deadman Canyon</a> by <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/125382541@N07/">Zachary Just</a>, on Flickr<br />
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<a href="https://flic.kr/p/XZn1YK"><img alt="36748763155_172ded2bf7_k.jpg" height="480" src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4333/36748763155_172ded2bf7_k.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
<a href="https://flic.kr/p/XZn1YK">Bent my trekking pole</a> by <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/125382541@N07/">Zachary Just</a>, on Flickr<br />
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<a href="https://flic.kr/p/Xom6yJ"><img alt="36352506110_d949716728_k.jpg" height="480" src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4427/36352506110_d949716728_k.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
<a href="https://flic.kr/p/Xom6yJ">Up Deadman Canyon</a> by <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/125382541@N07/">Zachary Just</a>, on Flickr<br />
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<a href="https://flic.kr/p/XVdy3w"><img alt="36701845666_0c065e73a8_k.jpg" height="480" src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4423/36701845666_0c065e73a8_k.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
<a href="https://flic.kr/p/XVdy3w">Up Deadman Canyon</a> by <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/125382541@N07/">Zachary Just</a>, on Flickr<br />
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<a href="https://flic.kr/p/XVdx35"><img alt="36701842276_4c9d3cb657_k.jpg" height="480" src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4431/36701842276_4c9d3cb657_k.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
<a href="https://flic.kr/p/XVdx35">Deadman Canyon</a> by <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/125382541@N07/">Zachary Just</a>, on Flickr<br />
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<a href="https://flic.kr/p/XVdwtE"><img alt="36701840396_1aa7dacc8e_k.jpg" height="480" src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4385/36701840396_1aa7dacc8e_k.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
<a href="https://flic.kr/p/XVdwtE">Ranger Meadow</a> by <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/125382541@N07/">Zachary Just</a>, on Flickr<br />
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<a href="https://flic.kr/p/Xom4BC"><img alt="36352499550_2b960c18d6_k.jpg" height="480" src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4424/36352499550_2b960c18d6_k.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
<a href="https://flic.kr/p/Xom4BC">Wild Currants</a> by <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/125382541@N07/">Zachary Just</a>, on Flickr<br />
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<a href="https://flic.kr/p/XM41xP"><img alt="36609451741_09c9bc5031_k.jpg" height="480" src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4431/36609451741_09c9bc5031_k.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
<a href="https://flic.kr/p/XM41xP">Deadman Canyon</a> by <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/125382541@N07/">Zachary Just</a>, on Flickr<br />
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<a href="https://flic.kr/p/WKSgYX"><img alt="35939684163_376ad24299_k.jpg" height="480" src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4335/35939684163_376ad24299_k.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
<a href="https://flic.kr/p/WKSgYX">Grave marker</a> by <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/125382541@N07/">Zachary Just</a>, on Flickr<br />
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<a href="https://flic.kr/p/XM3Ybz"><img alt="36609443781_bfe025202f_k.jpg" height="480" src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4367/36609443781_bfe025202f_k.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
<a href="https://flic.kr/p/XM3Ybz">Cloud Canyon</a> by <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/125382541@N07/">Zachary Just</a>, on Flickr<br />
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<a href="https://flic.kr/p/XM3WCz"><img alt="36609438561_fc00fb0340_k.jpg" height="480" src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4404/36609438561_fc00fb0340_k.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
<a href="https://flic.kr/p/XM3WCz">Cloud Canyon</a> by <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/125382541@N07/">Zachary Just</a>, on Flickr<br />
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<a href="https://flic.kr/p/XVdrDj"><img alt="36701824136_fda643ade9_k.jpg" height="480" src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4420/36701824136_fda643ade9_k.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
<a href="https://flic.kr/p/XVdrDj">Upper Cloud Canyon</a> by <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/125382541@N07/">Zachary Just</a>, on Flickr<br />
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<a href="https://flic.kr/p/XVdqHb"><img alt="36701820996_ca8a6be2c3_k.jpg" height="480" src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4374/36701820996_ca8a6be2c3_k.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
<a href="https://flic.kr/p/XVdqHb">Upper Cloud Canyon</a> by <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/125382541@N07/">Zachary Just</a>, on Flickr<br />
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<a href="https://flic.kr/p/WHD6nq"><img alt="35914479014_78528ac31a_k.jpg" height="480" src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4339/35914479014_78528ac31a_k.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
<a href="https://flic.kr/p/WHD6nq">Upper Cloud Canyon</a> by <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/125382541@N07/">Zachary Just</a>, on Flickr<br />
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<a href="https://flic.kr/p/XJnk8N"><img alt="36579076792_00d516a164_k.jpg" height="480" src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4437/36579076792_00d516a164_k.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
<a href="https://flic.kr/p/XJnk8N">Lion Pass</a> by <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/125382541@N07/">Zachary Just</a>, on Flickr<br />
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<h3>
Day 4: Cloud Canyon - Buck Creek</h3>
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Thursday was another day of x-country: over Copper Mine and Horn Col to Lonely Lake. I briefly read OldRanger's description in an older post but neglected to confirm that the pass was on my Tom Harrison map, which it wasn't. I found some switchbacks in a Foxtail grove as expected, but they trickled out and I decided to head straight up. I was confused which notch was the true pass and ended up crossing North of peak 12345. The east side was class 2-3 up to the top. I'd say 3 just because it was so soft it required some handholds. The west side was solid 3-4 soft, unstable talus chute with the last 30 feet having some sketchy exposure. I had to lower my pack and position myself above a snowpatch just in case. <span style="text-decoration: underline;">Not recommended</span>. The snow on the west side made traversing to Elizabeth slower than anticipated and slightly frustrating. I ended up looking at the trail sign for 1 1/2 hours as it beckoned me closer. But I finally made it to the pass and enjoyed lunch there. It was here that I decided to deviate from my planned course. I could see it raining over Moose Lake and the clouds did not look good. The weather reports a hiker I met got on his InReach said that storms were likely at higher elevations. I decided to head down Elizabeth and go out the HST. Although I tried to avoid the rain it did end up raining on me between the Tamarack junction and Bearpaw. Met the ranger at Bearpaw and talked for a bit. I mentioned that I was planning on camping at Buck Creek and he gave me a tip on an old trail workers' camp. It was pretty nice to have some logs to sit on.<br />
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<a href="https://flic.kr/p/XVdHpY"><img alt="36701877186_b15344b2a1_k.jpg" height="480" src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4376/36701877186_b15344b2a1_k.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
<a href="https://flic.kr/p/XVdHpY">Upper Cloud Canyon</a> by <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/125382541@N07/">Zachary Just</a>, on Flickr<br />
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<a href="https://flic.kr/p/XVdJ1h"><img alt="36701879176_d7ad93b944_k.jpg" height="480" src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4345/36701879176_d7ad93b944_k.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
<a href="https://flic.kr/p/XVdJ1h">GWD</a> by <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/125382541@N07/">Zachary Just</a>, on Flickr<br />
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<a href="https://flic.kr/p/XomiXG"><img alt="36352547810_9a104bd92e_k.jpg" height="480" src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4410/36352547810_9a104bd92e_k.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
<a href="https://flic.kr/p/XomiXG">GWD</a> by <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/125382541@N07/">Zachary Just</a>, on Flickr<br />
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<a href="https://flic.kr/p/WKSwPt"><img alt="35939734073_5937603f0b_k.jpg" height="480" src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4412/35939734073_5937603f0b_k.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
<a href="https://flic.kr/p/WKSwPt">Cloud-Deadman Divide</a> by <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/125382541@N07/">Zachary Just</a>, on Flickr<br />
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<a href="https://flic.kr/p/XomjmC"><img alt="36352549140_aa0755ba6e_k.jpg" height="480" src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4415/36352549140_aa0755ba6e_k.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
<a href="https://flic.kr/p/XomjmC">Deadman Canyon</a> by <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/125382541@N07/">Zachary Just</a>, on Flickr<br />
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<a href="https://flic.kr/p/WKSxBa"><img alt="35939736723_a66754f701_k.jpg" height="480" src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4364/35939736723_a66754f701_k.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
<a href="https://flic.kr/p/WKSxBa">Moose Lake/Horn Col</a> by <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/125382541@N07/">Zachary Just</a>, on Flickr<br />
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<a href="https://flic.kr/p/XZndyD"><img alt="36748802125_a3cb57c660_k.jpg" height="480" src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4385/36748802125_a3cb57c660_k.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
<a href="https://flic.kr/p/XZndyD">GWD</a> by <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/125382541@N07/">Zachary Just</a>, on Flickr<br />
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<a href="https://flic.kr/p/XZne1v"><img alt="36748803625_410352a682_k.jpg" height="480" src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4415/36748803625_410352a682_k.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
<a href="https://flic.kr/p/XZne1v">Me on Deadman/Cloud Divide</a> by <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/125382541@N07/">Zachary Just</a>, on Flickr<br />
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<a href="https://flic.kr/p/WHDmDN"><img alt="35914530424_640b4c309d_k.jpg" height="480" src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4340/35914530424_640b4c309d_k.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
<a href="https://flic.kr/p/WHDmDN">Me on Deadman/Cloud Divide</a> by <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/125382541@N07/">Zachary Just</a>, on Flickr<br />
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<a href="https://flic.kr/p/WHDn2S"><img alt="35914531704_50fdfc4c7d_k.jpg" height="480" src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4419/35914531704_50fdfc4c7d_k.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
<a href="https://flic.kr/p/WHDn2S">Deadman Canyon Headwall</a> by <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/125382541@N07/">Zachary Just</a>, on Flickr<br />
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<a href="https://flic.kr/p/XM4gVH"><img alt="36609503471_c1ff1a292b_k.jpg" height="480" src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4426/36609503471_c1ff1a292b_k.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
<a href="https://flic.kr/p/XM4gVH">Down Deadman Canyon</a> by <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/125382541@N07/">Zachary Just</a>, on Flickr<br />
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<a href="https://flic.kr/p/XJniYU"><img alt="36579072912_712f826d7e_k.jpg" height="480" src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4383/36579072912_712f826d7e_k.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
<a href="https://flic.kr/p/XJniYU">View from Elizabeth</a> by <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/125382541@N07/">Zachary Just</a>, on Flickr<br />
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<a href="https://flic.kr/p/XVdFy3"><img alt="36701870926_f474f31416_k.jpg" height="480" src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4366/36701870926_f474f31416_k.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
<a href="https://flic.kr/p/XVdFy3">Elizabeth Pass</a> by <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/125382541@N07/">Zachary Just</a>, on Flickr<br />
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<a href="https://flic.kr/p/XVdEyY"><img alt="36701867616_cfc3cbc55b_k.jpg" height="480" src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4343/36701867616_cfc3cbc55b_k.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
<a href="https://flic.kr/p/XVdEyY">Tamarack Lake Drainage</a> by <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/125382541@N07/">Zachary Just</a>, on Flickr<br />
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<h3>
Day 5: Buck Creek - Crescent Meadow</h3>
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My last day was an easy walk back to Crescent Meadow, boring and dull. I made it back by 1 and took the shuttle back to my truck at Wolverton. A slice of pizza and a burger were welcome sights at the Lodgepole market before taking a shower and a nap. A great trip through some awesome terrain.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8275353003951837873.post-54732534048263769332017-06-22T19:57:00.001-07:002019-03-09T13:55:10.524-08:00Weaver-Jennie Lakes: June 13-14, 2017<h2>
Jennie Lakes Wilderness</h2>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghFTfeTXpcGYCNSzz_Lmw6gpF5DzpVZE6NIXGIFSpanxx2sjNoBWlz11KW1gPIYFy_EXZqXAoMcAFpvxzIcxz5HxzHf0Ucn3mLiSFATPzlFKQQfRktxIg3hs37vpXrAGRFhkXjYRiSn_0/s1600/ShellMtnReflection.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghFTfeTXpcGYCNSzz_Lmw6gpF5DzpVZE6NIXGIFSpanxx2sjNoBWlz11KW1gPIYFy_EXZqXAoMcAFpvxzIcxz5HxzHf0Ucn3mLiSFATPzlFKQQfRktxIg3hs37vpXrAGRFhkXjYRiSn_0/s640/ShellMtnReflection.png" width="640" /></a></div>
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My first overnighter of the 2017 season was an easy one in the Jennie Lakes Wilderness. I drove from Lodgepole Tuesday morning and started hiking a little after 10 AM. The trail from Fox Meadows to the Weaver junction had a bit of snow on it but the trail was easy to follow. From the junction with Weaver to the junction with the Stony Creek trail there was very little snow, but from there on there was no trail. I headed up to the pass and got a good look on the other side. 4 feet of snow and drifts up to 8 feet greeted me.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSARpFdtncbv989d2KQKTdI5sqgODnGDSbhWp5N3p3E_bMytfgW5ydXNxprSP-eerIPSfgg8UDhagWLUktS6-AyJH1ZUw5r_-H7G4nIBjNYrlWNPfSGu5CMWY_LL-AxzIm0VrHlwzC5j4/s1600/DSCF5154.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSARpFdtncbv989d2KQKTdI5sqgODnGDSbhWp5N3p3E_bMytfgW5ydXNxprSP-eerIPSfgg8UDhagWLUktS6-AyJH1ZUw5r_-H7G4nIBjNYrlWNPfSGu5CMWY_LL-AxzIm0VrHlwzC5j4/s640/DSCF5154.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv_KW2tEM7MqR5g6yJx4CKjWo7N44JBXUWfbe6youEnokriJErOW-_ah6rmSC_c4cJjMlPJSSlRuxjkiked4XftRCabf0hfEp4ZTSgF572xhstDrxJr8stByHlW4NdHswjetUV39kyf3g/s1600/DSCF5149.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv_KW2tEM7MqR5g6yJx4CKjWo7N44JBXUWfbe6youEnokriJErOW-_ah6rmSC_c4cJjMlPJSSlRuxjkiked4XftRCabf0hfEp4ZTSgF572xhstDrxJr8stByHlW4NdHswjetUV39kyf3g/s640/DSCF5149.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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After going 100 yards down I decided to turn around at the sight of snow bridges and numerous creeks; Weaver Lake would have to do. Getting to Weaver took only a couple more hours and I was soon setting up camp and getting ready for the night. <br />
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I headed out the next morning and made the obligatory lunch stop at Hume Lake for a burger and milkshake before heading home. A short trip, but a great way to start the season.<br />
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<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8275353003951837873.post-803209259186829982017-01-22T13:34:00.003-08:002017-01-23T22:54:00.899-08:00Buena Vista in the Snow 12/31/16We took advantage of this year's snow storms and made a trip up to Grant Grove to enjoy the bounty. The roads were clear all the way up, so chains weren't necessary, but we took them anyway. I don't normally walk through the big trees at GG in summer due to the crowds, but winter is another thing; I think the trees are so much more beautiful in winter with the ground and foliage covered in snow. After the walk we stopped at Grant Grove Village and bought some ice cream, it's never too cold for ice cream. :) After a short break we drove over to Buena Vista Peak and did a little more technical hiking. This is the second time we've climbed Buena Vista in winter, and I think it's the best time. We didn't have any snow shoes or skis, but others had broken the trail and we were able to follow it pretty easily. Once we got to the base of the peak we got off the trail and climbed straight up the mountain for "fun." The views up top were pretty cool, and we were able to enjoy them before the clouds rolled in, especially the views of my favorite mountain: Mt. Silliman. Dinner at Bear Mountain Pizza in Squaw Valley was a great way to finish the year out.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hiking in the snow</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Starting the climb</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We have to go up that?</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking north towards Monarch Divide</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Monarch Divide</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking towards Shell Mountain</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Shell Mtn. and Mt. Silliman</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Back on the trail</td></tr>
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<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8275353003951837873.post-19010245243964148322016-12-22T15:50:00.000-08:002019-02-15T09:31:57.245-08:00Hiking 101: BackpackingThis article is a continuation of <a href="http://zacjust.blogspot.com/2016/12/hiking-101-day-hikes.html">Hiking 101: Day Hikes</a><br />
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For me backpacking was the natural progression from day hiking. As my day hikes got longer and more technical I couldn't fit all the places I wanted to go in one day, so I had to start backpacking. Since I already day hiked quite a bit, I had a lot of what I needed. The rest I bought in stages at REI, Craigslist, and Ebay so I could keep my costs low while still remaining lightweight.<br />
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When I first looked into backpacking I was overwhelmed by suggestions I had seen about $500 tents, $400 sleeping bags, and other expensive gear that was "essential." I couldn't pay that much for a hobby, so I had to start on Craigslist. I was able to find a set of gear including a Kelty Tioga backpack, 0 degree sleeping bag, 1-person tent, MSR Whisperlite stove, and a few other items. From there I was able to slowly upgrade my gear as I saw fit. This is the order I would recommend buying your gear in and what to look for when buying.<br />
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<h3>
The Big 3</h3>
Often referred to as the Big 3, your sleeping system, backpack, and shelter are the three most important and usually heaviest items you'll need to buy.<br />
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<h2>
Backpack</h2>
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When I bought the majority of my gear it came with a huge 85L Kelty Tioga external frame pack that's design has remained relatively unchanged since its introduction in the 70s. It's big enough to fit all my gear, even when I first got started and it wasn't very compact. Older external frame packs are easy to find, and often much cheaper than new packs. They're easily adjustable and can carry heavy loads with much more stability than internal frames. But who really wants to carry more weight? After a few seasons I upgraded to the Z-Packs Arc Haul and I highly recommend it if you're going the UL route. The important thing when buying a pack is to find one that fits you and is comfortable not when empty, but when it's at full weight. Keeping it under 3 lbs is ideal, but as long as it isn't over 5 you should be fine.<br />
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<h4>
Sleeping System</h4>
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Sleeping Pad</h2>
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When sleeping out on the cold hard ground it's important to have a warm sleeping bag and a comfy sleeping pad. The pad isn't just to make you comfortable, it helps keep you warm and insulates from the ground. An inflatable pad is often most comfortable and offers good insulation and packability, but they're expensive; they sometimes can cost upwards of $200. They also can pop in harsh conditions and tend to be noisy when sleeping on them. The best choice for beginning backpackers are often foam pads. Foam pads are light, cheap and work pretty well. They usually aren't as comfortable as inflatable pads, but are much more durable; it's pretty much impossible to destroy a foam pad. Foam pads also aren't as compact and are usually strapped to the outside of the pack. But if you're fine with the cumbersome size, they're the cheapest option, often costing only $10. I use a Thermarest Z-Lite Sol for it's folding size and low cost. I would like to upgrade to an inflatable pad sometime, but the cost is a major deterrent to me.<br />
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Sleeping Bag</h2>
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A sleeping bag is one of those investments that you'll have to make early on. When buying, remember that you'll never regret getting a better bag, even at a higher price. There are two main fill types, down and synthetic. Synthetic is usually cheaper, but heavier than down and not as compact. They also don't tend to last as long as a good down bag will. But synthetic bags are unique in that they keep their insulation properties even when wet. Down fails at that, although newer dri-down systems have a waterproof coating to help this. Down is classified by its fill, or how much volume an ounce of down occupies. 900 fill is the highest quality and very expensive, but can be worth it if you're looking for the most efficient bag you can get. For your first couple trips you may be happy with a cheaper synthetic from Big5, Cabela's or Sportsman's Warehouse, but soon the weight and size will convince you of the need for a better bag.<br />
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Stoves</h3>
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Camping and backpacking conjure up images of sleeping under the stars and cooking over a fire. Sleeping under the stars is still recommended, but cooking on a fire has been replaced with the hiss of a stove. Fire is unsustainable and not approved in many locations, so we have to go with the next best thing. There are 3 basic stove fuels, liquid white gas, butane/propane gas mixes, and alcohol/other fuel types.<br />
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White Gas</h2>
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White gas is the oldest style stove but remain a classic today. They're heavier overall, but much more efficient in cold weather where gas stoves flounder and sputter. They also use white gas or similar fuels in a refillable bottle, not those half-full gas canisters that tend to accumulate in your closet at home. White gas stoves are dependable, great for simmering or real cooking, and boiling large amounts of water for groups or melting snow.<br />
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Butane/Propane</h2>
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Butane/propane blends are the most popular stoves for their ease of use, low price, low weight, and packability. They light easily and offer quick boiling times, especially when used with a heat exchanger pot system like the MSR Windburner or JetBoil systems. As hinted at earlier, gas stoves are problematic when it comes to the fuel canisters. When you only use half or three-quarters of the canisters the rest seem to sit around and collect. And when going on longer or thru-hikes the question of canister disposal comes into play. They also don't simmer as well as white gas stoves do.<br />
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Other Fuels</h2>
There are many other fuel sources that can be used including alcohol, esbit, wood, and others. These tend to be more popular with SUL and endurance hikers. Alcohol stoves can be lighter than gas stoves and offer the fuel advantages of white gas, especially on long distance hikes where fuel sourcing can be tricky. Each of these have their specific advantages but won't be discussed in depth here.<br />
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How to Choose</h2>
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When I first got in to backpacking, I had an MSR Whisperlite but it was too bulky and heavy for the kind of hiking I wanted to do. Big5 had a great stove/mess kit combo for $50 that fit my needs perfectly. I'm currently looking more at alcohol stoves for their lightweight and small size as I'm pursuing lighter and faster hiking. Do the research and find what works for you. There's no wrong way to backpack, so HYOH.</div>
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Bear Canisters</h3>
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Whenever traveling in the Sierra or any other areas where bears are a frequent problem, it's best to carry a bear canister. In addition to being a good idea, it's also mandatory in high usage areas like Rae Lakes and Whitney Portal. Unlike other gear, the bear can is a relatively easy piece to buy as there are few options to choose from. There are essentially 4 main choices when it comes to bear-proof food storage: Garcia Backpackers' Cache, BearVault, Bearikade, and the Ursack. Calipidder has an amazing article outlining the <a href="http://calipidder.com/wp/2009/05/bear-canisters-the-pros-and-cons-of-different-designs/">pros and cons of different designs</a>, and I doubt I can do her any justice. I will say that my first can was a borrowed Garcia before I upgraded to the BearVault BV-500. I really like the see through sides and tool-less lid. I'm starting to look at the Ursack for it's lightweight and compactability, especially on weekend trips. Don't worry about buying right away or if you aren't planning on backpacking that often, the National Parks and Forest Service often rent these canisters at the trailhead for a small fee. Plus, you can also rent canisters online for lower prices than buying.</div>
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Clothing</h3>
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The clothes I take backpacking are dependent on the conditions, trip and location, but mostly consist of my dayhiking gear plus extras if I need them. You can find that list <a href="http://zacjust.blogspot.com/2016/12/hiking-101-day-hikes.html">HERE</a>. If I'm just going on an overnighter or for the weekend, I'll check the weather and plan accordingly. Most places I can get to in a day in the Sierra don't get that cold, so I rarely pack more than a light jacket. Along with an underarmour shirt and rain shell I can stand temperatures down to freezing. If it's any colder I'll be in my sleeping bag. Same goes with rain gear, if the forecast looks good, I won't bother with full rain pants or jacket, a shell or plastic poncho is good enough for me. I've hiked in the rain before and it wasn't cold enough for me to want anything else, but YMMV. My sleeping clothes also change trip to trip depending on how I feel when packing. Sometimes I'll take long underwear so I can wear it under my pants if it's really cold; other times I like fleece sweats because they're softer and roomier, even though they're heavier. I wear an underarmour long-sleeve shirt to bed, and it's one of my favorite hiking items. I also wear a beanie and a buff/handkerchief when it gets cold. This isn't a hard set list, and I often leave items at home if I know it's going to be warm or take extras if it's going to be colder, it's my basic wardrobe and what I start out with when packing.<br />
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HYOH</h3>
This gear is what I like to use, but is no means what you have to. At this point in my backpacking career I'm willing to sacrifice luxury for low weight and price, but this may change in the future. In the short time that I've been doing this I've changed my gear selection on every single hike, and learned something each time. Don't let the fear of wrong gear selection keep you from going out and hiking. I know people that have gone out with nothing more than a water bottle, space blanket, and some fishing line, catching fish and finding wild edibles to eat. The main thing is to be confident in your gear and have a good time.<br />
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<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8275353003951837873.post-74230915554564960142016-12-21T17:24:00.000-08:002018-12-07T11:55:20.853-08:00Hiking 101: Day HikesI decided to write this series after a friend of mine expressed interest in becoming more serious about hiking and backpacking. I gave him some help, but soonafter realized how handy it would be if there was a place where all the ideas I've learned over the years could accumulate and help others too. I'll be going over several topics including day hiking, backpacking and what do once you're on the trail. I hope you find them helpful and I appreciate comments and suggestions<br />
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Before I started backpacking, I day hiked. Growing up I had always gone on shorter hikes to places like Weaver Lake, Big Baldy, and others in SEKI and the surrounding areas. My first real strenuous day hike was the summer before my senior year of high school to Alta Peak and Pear Lake, and I was immediately hooked. The following year I went on a dozen hikes with half of them over 12 miles, no piece of cake. As I got more adventurous my hikes became longer, off-trail, and generally more extreme, sometimes approaching and topping 20 miles. But you don't have to be that crazy to go hiking. In fact, you probably already have most of these items, but if you do feel like becoming more serious, this is the stuff I would make sure to get.<br />
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Footwear</h4>
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I have covered my opinions on shoes vs. boots on my other blog post <a href="http://zacjust.blogspot.com/2016/09/my-thoughts-on-footwear.html">My Thoughts on Footwear</a>, so I'll try to keep it brief here. I started out by just wearing regular Nike athletic shoes, and they worked out fine for years. Athletic shoes fit well, are lightweight,broken in, and you (most likely) already have them. Some long distance hikers still hike in Nikes, New Balances or other cheap shoe.<br />
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Socks</h4>
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In addition to breathable shoes, good quality socks are a must for blister prevention. They help to reduce sweaty feet, which can lead to blisters, in addition to providing cushioning and arch support. Cotton socks are not an option, as cotton holds moisture like none other. Anything synthetic works, but merino wool is the best, and Darn-tough socks are highly ranked by many backpacking blogs. </div>
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<br />Basic Hiking Clothes</h4>
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For years I wore athletic shorts and a dri-fit shirt when hiking and I see lots of people still doing it. I currently wear an OD green dri-fit shirt I got on sale at Dick's and really like its breathability. I used to wear Army surplus camo pants, because I could get them for $20 at the surplus store. They are heavy duty and don't wear out easily, but they are not the lightest pants out there. While browsing REI I noticed a pair of convertible hiking pants on clearance, and in my size no less! Given this fortuitous event, I upgraded. Hats are also important, especially at 10,000 feet, where there's much less atmosphere to protect from UV rays. I used to use a $10 flat brim hat from Walmart, but upgraded to a nicer hat when I got the chance. I wouldn't recommend a baseball cap unless sunscreen is used, as they don't protect the back of your neck (speaking from an experience I wore for a few days after). I also like to take a light jacket/sweatshirt when hiking, in case it gets cold or windy while hiking. "Cotton kills" as the saying goes, so synthetic is a must to keep you warm when you're wet or sweaty.</div>
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<br />Rain/Wind Layer</h4>
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In the Sierra in summer, there's often no reason to worry about rain or wind, especially when day hiking. If there is rain forecasted it's easy to postpone the trip or hike somewhere not affected by the weather system. That's not to say that I haven't done my fair share of hiking in the rain. At the time I was wearing a thin nylon shell I wore, but after 5 minutes of hiking in the rain I decided that sweating in a jacket was worse than getting soaked in the rain. Since then I've looked at other options including Gore-tex, but the price dissuaded me. After reading a forum thread on <a href="http://whiteblaze.com/">WhiteBlaze</a> I found FroggToggs. WhiteBlaze is the Appalachian Trail's forum and so I trusted it in regards to raingear, since it rains quite a bit on the AT. A set of FroggToggs are available at Big5 for ~$25, a pretty good deal for breathable waterproof gear. Panchos are another option, as they allow for lots of airflow while still maintaining a highly waterproof surface. While rain isn't that common in summer Sierra conditions, wind can be at higher elevations and mountain peaks/passes. I mostly take my FroggToggs for the added layer of insulation in these conditions, more so than for rain protection.<br />
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Base Layer</h4>
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Whenever I start a hike early in the morning, I wear a long-sleeve polyester skin tight shirt under my normal hiking shirt. It adds that extra layer of insulation that really helps keep you warm. Plus the polyester wicks away sweat and keeps me dry. When on an overnighter or when it's really cold, I'll take long underwear, but very rarely on a summer day hike. Again, cotton is highly discouraged, especially for a base layer. It gets drenched in sweat and chills you very quickly, and doesn't dry out at all. Wool would be ideal as it wicks well and has anti-microbial properties to prevent stink.</div>
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<br />Hydration/Purification</h4>
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Water and hydration are very important when hiking, and getting clean water while hiking is equally important. When first starting hiking, carry a couple liters of water and don't worry about filling up on the trail, But as you go on longer and longer hikes, carrying increasingly more water isn't a viable solution. Sooner or later you're going to have to get a water purifier. I had used a camelbak for years because I could drink on the go and not have to worry about water bottles. I had an adapter that plugged into my Katadyn water filter so I could pump fresh water into the bladder without having to take it out of my backpack. After a couple years of hiking, my pump's filter was getting clogged, so I was looking to replace it. $50 for a new filter!!! So I started looking for other options. After reading up on Sawyer Mini I decided that for the price ($20) I couldn't go wrong. I ditched the pump, camelbak and decided to just bring two 1L SmartWater bottles. The Sawyer screws on the top and allows me to filter as I go, and save quite a bit of weight. I know lots of people who use the steripen, as prices have come down and they offer fast, easy purification. They use a UV light to kill bacteria, protozoa, and even viruses. The problem is that they take 4 AA batteries and don't work very well in colder weather, but the ease of use may make up for that. </div>
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First Aid Kit/Ten Essentials</h4>
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My day hike first aid kit is basic, but sufficient. It also contains many of the <a href="https://www.rei.com/learn/expert-advice/ten-essentials.html">Ten Essentials</a>. I have it all in a bag that I can take with me whether I go day hiking or on a week long backpacking trip. It contains a few band-aids of different sizes, cotton wads, some duct tape, superglue, and some pills including Tylenol, Advil, and aspirin. I also keep a space blanket, Swiss army knife, mosquito headnet, a lighter and some parachord. I always try to keep some chapstick and sunscreen with me as well.<br />
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Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8275353003951837873.post-992607158170043742016-11-28T17:32:00.000-08:002019-03-09T15:01:01.549-08:00Owens Peak<div class="tr_bq">
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11/25/2016</h3>
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In honor of REI's #OptOutside campaign my friend Jake and I decided to take some time off and climb Owens Peak. From <a href="http://www.summitpost.org/owens-peak/154143">SummitPost</a>: </div>
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This mountain stands as the most dominant peak in the Southern Sierra area right outside the towns of Ridgecrest and Inyokern. The hike up to the summit is short but intense, gaining around 2850 feet in around 2 miles. The views from the top are impressive. Telescope peak can be seen to the east, Mt Whitney, Langley and Olancha to the north, Lake Isabella to the west, and desert views all around you. The route up is mostly a hike, but does involve scrambling on some class 2 granite slabs and one short boulder hop before that.<br />
There are also many good rock climbing routes on the ridge just east of the peak. There are climbs on both the north and south sides - some are known to be chossy, but some are of rather good quality as well.<br />
If you're lucky, you'll be at the top when the birds play in the wind. They'll drift around until they catch a gust and then go whizzing right past the summit - sometimes close to your head!! I know a few people, including myself, who have seen this.</blockquote>
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We got to Indian Wells Canyon Canyon Road around 9:30, and it took us another half hour to get from the main road to the trailhead. We started the hike at 10: 15 and almost immediately realized this was going to be a tough one. We took our first break 1/3 of the way in after climbing 1000 ft.<br />
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After this, the trail would deteriorate and become more climbing/rock hopping, also known as more fun. We made a wrong turn around 7k feet and had a little bushwacking to do, but eventually got back on track and continued the climb. The trail turned into boulder fields and made for some fun scrambling.<br />
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We reached the top at 1:15, almost 3 hours to the minute from starting. The summit was well worth all the effort as we saw Olancha Peak to the north and Walker Pass/ Hwy 178 and Lake Isabella to the south. A little leftover Thanksgiving ham and a Cliff bar made for good lunch at the top.<br />
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We headed back down at 1:45 and found the going much easier, but not without its difficulties. After descending the talus and getting back onto a real trail, we found ourselves back onto the flats.<br />
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We took a side trail and paid a visit to the Native American pictographs. From there it was only a couple more minutes back to the truck and some good food. It was only around 6 miles round trip but we were beat after climbing and descending 3k feet. I would highly recommend Owens Peak for anyone wanting a strenuous training hike with some good rock scrambling and great views.<br />
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Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8275353003951837873.post-82267238157961366292016-09-08T13:00:00.003-07:002016-12-22T15:01:22.853-08:00My Thoughts on FootwearAs a backpacker, I'm always on the lookout for gear that is lighter, more durable and makes travel more efficient. Footwear can make your feet feel like hamburger after 3 miles or refreshed after a weeklong expedition. Like many other backpackers, I've made the switch from hiking boots to UL trail runners, and I'll never look back. Most of this information is first hand knowledge, but a lot of the background was found on the forum HighSierraTopix on <a href="http://www.highsierratopix.com/community/viewtopic.php?f=15&t=9473&p=70974&hilit=footwear#p70974">this thread</a>. <br />
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<h2>
Why is the boot in decline?</h2>
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</h2>
Don't all backpackers have to wear boots to protect their feet from the elements and cushion the weight of a heavy pack? Every book I've found on backpacking agrees and recommends heavy-duty leather hiking boots with heavy soles that can be replaced when they wear out. I believe these books are out of date as new technologies have helped contribute to the demise of the hiking boot.<br />
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First, as lighter and stronger fabrics are introduced into backpacking equipment the packweight has progressively gotten lighter. This coupled with the ultralight (UL) movement and thru-hikers has led to incredible light packweights. I don't consider myself an ULer by any stretch, but I was able to lower my base weight to <20 lbs for my week on the High Sierra Trail, something not easily done 25 years ago. Because of the decline in weight, not as much foot support is needed.<br />
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Secondly, the success of these shoes can also be attributed to the PCT thru-hikers. These people hike 2,659 miles straight from Mexico to Canada. They are the people who use and abuse their gear, and can tell you what works and what doesn't. When the overwhelming majority of them use trail runners, it presents a strong argument for shoes.<br />
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Finally, my personal reason for the switch to shoes, moisture control. My old boots were waterproof and great at it. But they were also great at keeping moisture in, whether it be sweat or water. This moisture led to blisters and general discomfort. You can get breathable non-waterproof boots, but I just see this as a step before going all the way to shoes. My current shoes aren't waterproof, but instead have a lightweight mesh upper that allows excellent ventilation. I have repeatedly completely soaked my shoes only to have them dry ten minutes later. I don't have to carefully step from rock to rock on creek crossings, but can wade on through not worrying about water coming over the sides of my boot.<br />
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<h2>
But aren't shoes...?</h2>
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As much as I love my shoes, they do have their problems. In general they don't last as long as boots even though they cost about as much, so plan on buying them more often. They also don't offer the sole support that boots do- although this is less true as trail runners gain in popularity. Consider adding an insole if your pack is over 25 lbs or you have weak arches. I find that while I don't get blisters like I used to, my feet do hurt more after a long hike, especially if it's off trail or on especially uneven terrain. Some argue that shoes offer little in the way of ankle support, and I agree. They don't. But often times support just treats the symptoms and not the cause. If you have weak ankles it would be better to strengthen them instead of relying on boots to catch you if you trip.<br />
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</h2>
<h2>
HYOH</h2>
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You may love your boots and say you've never gotten wet or had a blister, and that's great! All I can say is that boots didn't work for me. And that's the great thing about backpacking, there's many different ways to do it. I'm not a fan of pumping water, while others can't stand the squeezing and multiple bottles on a Sawyer filter. If it works for you and you like it, then don't worry about changing your style. I'm just saying this worked for me and I want to share it with anyone else having the same issues and offer a solution. In the end it comes down to whatever you're comfortable with, so go out and "Hike Your Own Hike".<br />
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<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8275353003951837873.post-44039948581710072322016-09-08T10:37:00.000-07:002016-09-08T10:38:13.234-07:00Silliman Crest Overnighter<h2 style="text-align: left;">
Day One: Lodgepole-Twin Lakes 6.2 miles</h2>
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This trip all began with me getting a summer job at Ash Mountain in Sequoia National Park. My maintenance position meant that I would be working the busy weekends and get Wednesday/Thursday off. I visited the wilderness permit office Monday afternoon and they agreed to hold a permit for me at Lodgepole for the next day. Tuesday after work I drove straight there, picked up my permit for Twin Lakes, and parked my truck at the backpackers' overnight parking. Getting a late start at 5:30 worried me a bit, but I was confident that between the late sunset and my headlight I would make it to Twin Lakes that night. The 3000+ feet of elevation gain proved to be more than I anticipated, as I sluggishly made it to the lake by headlight around 9:30. A quick dinner and off to bed I went, anticipating a cold night by the amount of snow on the ground.<br />
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<h2>
Day 2: Twin Lakes-Marvin Pass 13.81 miles </h2>
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Waking up Wednesday morning I saw the temperature only 40 degrees, not near as cold as I had anticipated for a trip so high and early.
Today's plan was to hike over Silliman Pass, something I had been looking forward to for a long time, but had never done, and descend to Ranger Lake to spend the night. Heading out of camp around 8 I caught the trail to the pass, which required minor route finding through the snow, and made it to the pass in only an hour. I spent a bit of time up there, taking pictures, chasing marmots, and admiring my personal favorite mountain, Silliman.
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On the east side of the pass I found the trail required careful hiking because of several factors: the amount of small snow patches, streams running across the trail, and switchbacks. The combination of snow patches and switchbacks made the going frustrating in more than a few places, but nevertheless I made better time than anticipated. As I went down I got great views of Ranger Lake and the pointed prow of Silliman behind me.<br />
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By the time I made it to Ranger Lake it was time for a snack break, not to make camp. At this point I decided that instead of camping here and heading back out the next day I would press on. My eventual plan was to hike to Marvin Pass TH and hitchhike back to my truck the next day. Leaving Ranger, I hiked past Lost Lake and into Seville. I had been to Seville several years ago on a dayhike, and knew that the hike out was no cake walk. Pushing up and out of Seville I found myself at the Marvin Pass TH to end the hike. I eventually got a ride back to Big Meadows where I hiked down to Stony Creek Campground and spent my second night. I was able to beg a ride back to my car the next morning and even had time to visit Moro Rock and the big trees. Not exactly what I had in mind, but a great weekend nonetheless.</div>
Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8275353003951837873.post-74115611492371570412016-09-07T19:30:00.002-07:002016-09-16T17:19:29.926-07:00High Sierra Trail Aug. 14-19, 2016This was only my second summer backpacking and this was the big trip of the summer. Last year I did the <a href="http://zacjust.blogspot.com/2015/12/rae-lakes-loop-w-sidetrips-august-3-9.html">Rae Lakes Loop with a couple sidetrips</a> and it helped me to get into the swing of backpacking. This year I was able to do several weekend trips solo to get me even more comfortable with my abilities. I wasn't able to convince any of my friends or family to go with me for a week, so I had to go solo. In order to ease the mind of my mother I decided to do a popular and well-traveled trail: the High Sierra Trail. Around 70 miles long, this trail winds from the Giant Forest to the peak of Mt. Whitney, the tallest mountain in the lower 48. I only had 6 days to do it between my last day of work and the start of school. It was also the longest I could go if I wanted a ride back home, since Friday the 19th was the only day it worked for my grandfather to pick me up in Lone Pine. Due to all these time constraints I had to go a little faster than I would have liked, but I had fun nonetheless.<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Day 1: Giant Forest-Mehrten Creek 5.33 miles</span></div>
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I had laid out all my gear Saturday night in preparation for my Sunday departure. After Sunday church I quickly changed, ate a quick lunch and got a ride from my friend, Noah, up to the Giant Forest. About 1 1/2 hours into the ride I realized I forgot my trekking poles. I hoped Lodgepole market would have some I could buy as there was no way I was hiking 70 miles without them. Unfortunately Lodgepole didn't have any, so we waited at the Lodgepole trailhead for about 20 minutes before I was able to buy some from a kindly hiker. After this slight detour we were back on our way. We parked at the Giant Forest Museum, I grabbed my pack, said goodbye to my ride and hopped aboard the shuttle to Crescent Meadow and the trail ahead. It was 3:00 by the time I finally got on the trail and I started on my way. I saw a bear almost immediately as is typical in the Giant Forest area. After hiking a couple hours I realized I wasn't going to make it to Bearpaw as I planned, so I camped at Mehrten Meadow the first night.<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Day 2: Mehrten Creek-Hamilton Lake 8.74 miles</span></div>
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The sun came over the Great Western Divide early on day 2 and coaxed me out of my sleeping bag. I made great time and got to Bearpaw before 11 and stopped to have lunch with some guys doing the same trip in 10 days. We talked for a bit and then decided we'd meet again at Hamilton Lake. I started out and admired the views leading up to Hamilton and Kaweah Gap. Crossing the bridge at Lone Pine Creek I admired the older washed out bridge that had fallen below and was never retrieved. One more push up to Hamilton and camp for the night. A couple hours later my trail buddies showed up and we had dinner together. After dinner everyone turned on their photographer side and tried to capture the beauty; I was content in capturing their attempts.<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Day 3: Hamilton-Moraine Lake 12.62 miles</span></div>
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I got up especially early (for me) today in order to get up to Kaweah Gap before it got too hot. I was hiking just after 6:30 and made it to precipice a little before 9. While enjoying the views my campmates from last night showed up and we had a good break. It was only half an hour to the top of the Gap where I marveled at the glacier carved Big Arroyo. I slowly dropped down the canyon admiring the way the creek meandered to and fro. After lunch at the patrol station I had a lot more climbing to do. This was hot and dry and the only benefit were the views to the west of the Mineral King region. Making it to the top offered amazing views of Mt. Kaweah, a peak that's been on my list for a while. I wouldn't be able to bag it this time, but maybe next year... Dropping down into Moraine Lake was a welcome relief, as was taking a dip in it after a long hot day. The water was perfect, and the breeze outside made me stay in for a good while. This lake even had a sandy beach! For a second I forgot I was in the Sierra.</div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Day 4: Moraine Lake-Junction Meadow 13.81 miles</span></div>
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This morning was lots of downhill. I dropped 2,600 ft that morning and it pained me every step because I knew I would have to gain it all back in the next couple days. As I got further and further down it got hotter and hotter. It also got sandier until I felt like Lawrence of Arabia hiking through the desert. I thought this was the <i>High</i> Sierra Trail, not the Kern desert death march. A quick lunch at the Kern Hot Springs and I was back on the trail. It was at this point that I noticed I hadn't seen anyone the whole day. It wasn't until I made camp that I would see another hiker this day. I finally made it to Junction Meadow and tried to get the high ground as the mosquitoes came in. I made some more friends and ended the day with a community fire.<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Day 5: Junction Meadow-Guitar Lake 10.78 miles</span></div>
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This morning started out with a climb to make up all the elevation I lost earlier. Nearly 3k ft as I made my way closer to Mt. Whitney. As bad as 3,000 feet sounds I didn't find it that difficult. I guess either my pack was getting lighter or I just got a good night's sleep. I didn't need a sign to tell me I hit the JMT, it was self explanatory. I saw 20+ people in 5 minutes at the junction whereas I didn't see anyone the day before; this was going to take some getting used to. The descent into Crabtree Meadow was dry and dusty, so a break by the creek was well appreciated. I ate a late lunch there and decided to take my time going up to Guitar Lake. There was plenty of daylight and no use tiring myself out before tomorrow's climb. Upon arriving at Guitar I finally figured out why this trail was so popular as the granite and meadows combined into a picturesque setting. After talking to the couple camping next to me we decided to get up the next "morning" at 2am and start the climb. I camped behind a boulder anticipating the wind and put all my clothes on for a cold night. Between the full moon shining in my eyes and the freezing conditions I didn't get much sleep.<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Day 6: Guitar Lake-Whitney Portal 14.54 miles</span></div>
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I had set my alarm for 2, but we were all up by 1:30 because of the wind and cold. We geared up for the last 5 miles and 3k ft to Whitney. We dropped our packs at Trail Crest and continued up, making it to the top for sunrise. There wasn't much room up there, and I spent my time in a crack boiling water and drinking cider to stay warm. The sunrise was beautiful and the views from Whitney were better than I had imagined. If I hadn't been so cold I might have stayed a while. I had 10 miles to go and it wasn't getting any shorter sitting there. You might think that all downhill is easy, that I should have been flying down the mountain. It was painful as every step pounded my knees and feet. I didn't have any blisters so far, but I was making up for it in those last few miles. This trail seemed eternal, especially as I turned the corner and saw the portal. Just seeing the end doesn't mean you're close. It was another hour before I finally saw the end of the trail. I waited half an hour before my ride showed up. A quick shower and change of clothes was welcome relief from the grime of the trail. We ate dinner in Tehachapi and I was home before 10. A week full of highs and lows-literally and figuratively-but it was ultimately a great time.<br />
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Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8275353003951837873.post-30228837503046586042016-09-07T09:46:00.002-07:002016-12-13T22:48:52.595-08:00Rae Lakes in 2 DaysAt the time of this hike I was working at Sequoia Nat'l Park for the summer. As a result of working the weekends I got Wednesday/Thursday off to go hiking. I did the <a href="https://zacjust.blogspot.com/2015/12/rae-lakes-loop-w-sidetrips-august-3-9.html">Rae Lakes Loop last summer</a> in 6 days so I knew what I was getting into when I wanted to do it in only 2. Since I was only going for 2 days/1 night I tried to go as light as I could. This meant no stove, no bear can, no tent, and foregoing many other luxuries. With a smaller rucksack my base weight was less than 10 lbs, not very impressive to true ULers, but pretty good for me. All in with water and food I was right around 13 lbs for a weekend of fun.<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Day 1: Wednesday-Road's End to Rae Lakes</span><br />
I got up at 4am and out the door by 5 so as to make it to the Road's End permit station by 7am. After getting my permit for Woods Creek I started today's 20+ miles. A light pack made the hiking fast as I passed Mist Falls and climbed through Paradise Valley.
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I ate lunch at Upper Paradise and continued up the Woods Creek drainage with views of Castle Domes and the upper canyon.This part of the trail was hot and long and I was glad when I made it to Woods Crossing. I took a long nap here and waited for it to cool down some before making the climb up to Rae.<br />
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I was greeted by Fin Dome as I neared the Lakes. After 20 miles of hiking I was ready for camp. </div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Day 2: Thursday-Rae Lakes-Road's End</span><br />
I knew this day was going to be tough; I had to tackle Glen Pass then descend 7k feet back to Road's End. I was on the trail by 8 and made it to the top of Glen a little after 10. I got stuck talking to a couple who agreed to take my picture and didn't leave the pass for another hour.<br />
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Coming down I saw one of the bluest lakes I've ever seen.<br />
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As I followed Bubbs Creek there were awesome views of the Brewer group.<br />
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The next 10 miles were boring views of the forest until I got to the switchbacks above Cedar Grove.<br />
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<script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script>Another hour and I was back at the trailhead, ready for some food. As with all hikes out of Cedar Grove, I got a burger at the Hume Lake snack shop before heading back to the real world. My feet were hurting for the next couple days, and I don't think I'll be doing 40+ miles in a weekend any time soon, but I'm glad I did it anyway.</div>
Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8275353003951837873.post-78546268832848315042016-04-27T12:13:00.000-07:002016-07-23T18:01:34.699-07:00Mist Falls: April 23, 2016<h3 style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b style="font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', serif;">7.6 Miles +800ft</b></h3>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">This was the hike to begin my 2016 hiking season, a warm-up hike if you will. This also happened to be the opening weekend of Hwy 180 down to Cedar Grove and Road's End. We got to the park entrance a little after 8 and made it down to the trailhead by 9. I was carrying my pack with ~30 lbs for training, while the others were just carrying day packs. The 2 mile slog down the DG highway wasn't bad at all; it was cool enough to make it bearable, and the 3/4 of an inch of rain the day before packed all the sand down. 40 minutes later we found ourselves at the convergence of Bubbs and the Kings River. Contrary to my trip to Rae Lakes last summer, we turned north up the Kings, halfway to our destination. another 20 minutes and we started gradually climbing up the canyon, overlooking the mighty river. Turning up a switchback we got a great look at the Sphinx and the snow covered North side. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">After a short picture break we kept on to the falls. The last time I'd been here was August when flows were much lower. We could tell why it was called Mist Falls, and quickly found a spot in the sun to eat lunch. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">After a quick lunch we headed back to the truck, and started to see more and more hikers. Coming up we had only seen 2-3 other hikers, but now coming down we saw 20+. I guess quite a few others had the same idea as we did. Making it back to the truck at 1:15 really surprised me. We now had the whole afternoon free. There was no one against Hume Lake milkshakes on the way back, so off we went. A milkshake was the best way to end the first real hike of the season.</span></div>
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Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8275353003951837873.post-1424056300036668392016-01-22T00:02:00.000-08:002016-01-24T22:34:36.309-08:00Overlaying Historic Maps in Google Earth<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Ever since I was little, I spent my summers up in the Sequoia Nat'l Forest running around the old fireroads and visiting all the touristy spots like Hume Lake, Buck Rock and Stony Creek. After seeing a coffee table book called <i>They Felled the Redwoods,</i> by Hank Johnston, I caught a glimpse of the history of logging of the Giant Sequoia and I was hooked! I looked up the book at the local library and was able to find it at my own Fresno State University. I spent a solid two hours reading through and marveling at their ingenuity, engineering skills and all the archival photos. I highly recommend the read to anyone interested in Sequoia history, logging history, and the like. Johnston also includes maps of the day with the old logging roads and historic sites all nicely labeled. When I saw these maps I immediately wondered if I could compare these maps to current ones, that way I could find the historic places and visit them -maybe even finding old relics. I scanned these maps and opened them up on my computer. The first step I had to do digitally was to remove the white background from these scans. A simple Google search and I found an online background remover that didn't need me to enter my email, create an account or buy a subscription.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Before removing background</td></tr>
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I saved these new images as PNG image files and then set to overlay them on Google Earth. If you don't have Google Earth by now, what are you doing reading this? Google Earth is one of my favorite tools for mapping the backcountry and visualizing the terrain before going there, something not always easy to do with topo maps. In GE the first thing I did was to bring up the general area of the photo I was going to overlay on the map. I then went to the top toolbar, clicked New, then went down to Overlay Image.<br />
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After selecting the image to overlay I just had to adjust the ratios until it lined up. This took some finagling until I got it just right, by keeping the center center while adjusting the edges as needed. After getting it where I like I saved it as a KML file. <br />
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From there I was able to adjust the transparency of the image as I liked. I also was able to transfer the points on the overlay and save them as GPX points, which I could open in CalTopo or transfer to my GPS to use when out on the trail. Now that these old maps are overlaid onto new maps, I can also note how the fireroads used today stem from those original ones over 100 years ago. In the future I may change the black color of the map to white or yellow in order to see better against the green of the forest. I'm sure I could do this using a free photo editor of some sort with very little prior knowledge.<br />
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EDIT: While thinking about changing the color I decided to just do it. All I did was go to <a href="http://www.online-image-editor.com/">Online Image Editor</a> and invert the color before removing the transparency and voila! a white map that is now easier to read against the green background.<br />
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How about that!?!</div>
Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8275353003951837873.post-45201625650510538442015-12-22T09:14:00.000-08:002015-12-22T09:14:34.432-08:00Half Dome 5/3/15Because of another year of California drought, the cables on Half Dome were put up three weeks early. I took advantage of this and went Sunday, the second day they were up. It was my first time climbing it so I was excited to finally see the infamous cables. I have done the Vernal-Nevada Falls trail half a dozen times with church groups and school outings, but never made it any further. This was the year's debut/conditioning hike so it was going to be interesting regardless.<br />
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Me and my buddy pulled into Fresno at 4:30 to pick up the third member of our posse, then a quick drive up to the park. We made great time and stopped at tunnel view for the obligatory tourist pictures by 6:30. The sun was just cresting Half Dome so pictures weren't great, but the view was good enough to put in perspective exactly what we were trying to do. We drove down to parking and had to walk to Happy Isles, finally getting to the trailhead at 7:15. 8:00 got us to the top of Vernal Falls and by 9:15 we were standing on top of Nevada. <br />
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A short snack break at the top then a short jog to new territory. The trail continued up, merging with the JMT, and paralleling the Merced River and Liberty Cap. We refilled our water bladders at the junction to Little Yosemite Valley knowing it was the last chance we had before we returned here 9 miles later.<br />
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Thus began the slog up, through sand and sparse tree cover reminding me of the trail to Mist Falls. Where's all the scenery? I wasn't expecting this to be a death march through 25% tree cover with no breeze. The most exciting thing we saw were two deer right on the trail, they were in the same place coming back through. The views of the backside of Half Dome and the sub-dome were sparse but pushed me on.<br />
After two and a half more hours of much needed conditioning we crested the top of the ridge and saw Half Dome's profile across from us in all its glory. <br />
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The views of the valley were clear and much different than those at the bottom. Snow Creek Falls was running across the way and we marveled at the Snow Creek Trail ascending with countless switchbacks up the near vertical granite walls. It was at this time I noticed that I had left my camera on for the last 3 hours, draining nearly all the battery. To make matters worse, I also found that I left my spare batteries back in the truck, great... We turned up to the switchbacks on the granite subdome. These were not as steep nor treacherous as the earlier ones on the Mist trail, but they were still difficult. Steps turned to slabs which in turn led us to the top of the subdome, looking over the infamous cables.<br />
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We took another break at the base, loading up on electrolytes and praying we wouldn't cramp up. We donned our gloves and got ready to head up, until a large group started just ahead of us. They had makeshift harnesses out of webbing and dual clips to ensure a long and slow ascent. We waited until they were at lease halfway up before playing catch-up. Researching the cables online I heard horror stories of them being backed up with people, but there were no problems to be had.<br />
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As the slope decreased along with the distance between us and the group ahead, we made the choice to forgo the cables and get past the traffic. It was only a matter of time until our legs and arms would be done, so a quick jog up to the summit saved us the pain of cramping on the cables. Instead I cramped on top, so much for power gel gummies and Gatorade.<br />
The views on top were magical, we could see the whole valley from here!<br />
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And the obligatory mother-torturing, fake-falling pose<br />
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A group with ropes and shoes strapped to their packs passed by us. I asked if they climbed the face, they laughed and told me they were just climbing the other side of the dome. We spent the next hour eating lunch at the top watching people like ants bustle around Curry Village. It was finally time to go back down the cables. This was much more frightening than going up, but much faster.<br />
Back down the granite steps of the subdome and onto the trail. I was worried about running out of water, but we made it okay and were dead tired with still a ways to go. The 2,000 feet dropped thus far was only half of it, we had another 2,000 to drop down those steps on the Mist Trail. Another hour and we were back at the top of Nevada, looking down at all those knee pounding steps. We almost decided to take the JMT back to save ourselves, but the extra mile and a half deterred us. I could feel hot spots on my feet but decided that getting back to the truck had a higher priority than my feet did at this point. I'll skip the next hour and a half of steps, but I will say they were brutal. Finally, Happy Isles! But we still had .75 miles back to the truck. We ended up leaving around 6:30, made a pit stop in Oakhurst and then back to Fresno.<br />
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I can now say that I've climbed Half Dome, one of the most iconic rock formations in the world. To be honest, it wasn't as great as I was expecting. Sure the views were great, but that's about all it was. The trail was horribly hot and dry with no great scenery except at the very end, and that was not the best I've seen. I would actually say that Glacier Point has better views of everything. When you're on top of Half Dome you are missing one of the best parts of the valley because you're standing on it! I may be crazy in saying all this, but I feel that the "greatest day hike of the Sierra" was slightly disappointing.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8275353003951837873.post-89059583655074033952015-12-20T22:22:00.001-08:002015-12-20T22:23:26.513-08:00Tour of Tokopah and the Tablelands 9/5/15On September 5th I took a day trip up to Wolverton; I climbed Alta Peak then traversed through the Tablelands and back via the Lakes' Trail. The smoke report from the Rough Fire forecasted no problems in the Lodgepole area; they were right, as I only smelt a faint whiff once or twice. But the smoke driving up the 180 was like driving through the valley fog. I started on the trail at 6 sharp and made it to the top of Alta in an embarrassing 3.5 hours. A 20 minute break at the top then I started east along the ridge, dropping down to an unnamed pond and climbing back up to overlook Moose Lake. I spent some time here, walking up and down, admiring the sea of granite and the dozens of small lakes and tarns. I decided to head north, not quite sure how far or where, but north. I passed the typical granite slabs and made my way through a series of ponds. I kept north and finally made it to the overlook over Table Meadows and Lake 10,559. Turning back I passed many more lakes before paralleling the Kaweah and following a drainage/use trail west. After looking down on another meadow one ridge northeast of Pear Lake, I climbed the pass and took another break by the Matterhorn. I dropped down to Pear and after filling up with water started back to the parking lot at 3. A quick jog later and I was at the parking lot at 5, not too shabby! Ice cream at Stony Creek was a welcomed relief before heading back down the hill.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View from Panther Gap</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kaweahs through the smoke</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Alta Peak: Dead ahead</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Almost there!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Made it! Overlooking Pear Lake</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tons of these frogs on the way to Moose Lake overlook</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Moose Lake Overlook, still very smoky</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking North into the Tablelands</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Typical granite walking through the Tablelands</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View North</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cool stone wall</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gotta love granite!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Small unnamed lakes in the sea of granite</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of the largest lakes</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rock was just 'spit' out</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Overlooking Table Meadows from the South</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking across to lake 10,559 (not seen) and headwaters of Marble Fork</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Weather station above Pear Lake</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Unnamed lake above Pear</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">These actually had fish in them</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cool meadow around the corner from Pear</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Overlooking Pear Lake from the North</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking down Tokopah Valley</td></tr>
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A truly magical place, I'll for sure come back here again and stay a little longer.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0