July 25, 2012 – Florence Lake to Above Muir Ranch

Title: July 25, 2012 – Florence Lake to Above Muir Ranch

Trail head: Florence Lake

Hike Info:

Trail: Florence Lake to JMT

Destination: San Joaquin River

Distance: 6.7 miles

Travel Time: 5:48

Moving Time: 3:34

Elevation Rise: 1,447'

Maximum Elevation: 7,909

 Description:
Once again went to bed late on the eve of going on a trip. This time got to bed after 11. I got up at 5:30; Andrea was already up. Sherri got woken up at 6. Had breakfast and loaded the car and started driving at 7:40. Our first stop is the ranger station at Huntington since the station at Prather did not open for another 20 minutes. We got our wilderness permit and on to Edison Lake to pick up our food from our JMT trip. We got up there around 10:30 and then headed off to Florence Lake, arriving after 11:30.



We have left the Garcia bear canister at home—not on purpose. So we need to pack all our food into a Bear Vault and its half height brother. We are mostly successful in getting everything in. But things like the first aid kit and garbage will need to be hung for a night or two. We buy our ferry ticket from Dan and also ask him about routes around Hell-for-Sure Pass. He suggests for us to go up through Evolution Valley and go up to Wanda Lake. Then go over to Davis Lakes and onward to Martha Lake. This is the same route as my family took around 1972. We talk about it—Andrea is excited by this option; Gary is interested; and Sherri is game.



At 12:30 we boarded the ferry and we are all set for our adventure. After a 20 minute ride on the Sierra Queen, we hop out and get into some shade. Sherri needs to take some medicine, so we stop and take a bit of Gorp.



We really started hiking around 1:30. It is hot and wearing on us. The trail is dusty and exposed. We start off with a 300' climb. By the time the top of the climb comes, there is little in the way of jocularity—but we still have a good attitude. We just want to get the task done.



We stop for lunch—vegetable sticks, bagel and pepperoni. A little bit of mold on the pepperoni's. So we will need to figure out a way to get rid of some of the sticks, or convince Sherri this will be a healthy addition to our meals. Andrea rests while Sherri and Gary take off.



Because we are flattening out and get into Double Meadow and then onto Blayney Meadows. Sherri makes some pretty good time. When we cross Sallie Keys Creek, we decide to stop and rest, and wait for Andrea. After 45-60 minutes, I go off to find our missing girl. The trails in this section criss-cross the jeep road to John Muir Ranch. So she is not sure she has past us or not. I find her and we are all re-united. We sort of knew that Andrea was behind us since she was sending messages with other backpackers. She even managed to send one with an off-duty forest service ranger.



It is cooler now—almost 5. So we hike with renewed vigor—but the heat has taken its toll. We pass by the John Muir Ranch and hit the John Muir Trail cutoff. After about a mile the San Joaquin River, comes back to the trail and there are several campsites. We find one which is out of the way. As promised to the girls, this site has a measure of solitude, sandy area to lie in,, two trees to put a gal between and a doe to watch over us. Yes, a doe was just over a ridge from the campsite. The river is down from us, but close enough for our group sized filter. The tent gets pitched at 6:30.



Sherri makes dinner while we set up—tastes good and filling. It gets dark shortly afterwards. We hang our non-food stuff and then talk for a while. Andrea has a neat app which allows her to point at the night sky and the constellations shows up—not on the sky, but on her phone. I read a bit more of my Chase (j Smeaton Chase, Yosemite Trails). Then look at the stars and fall a sleep.



Trail Lesson: With a good attitude and some aptitude, there is a lot you can have forgotten and still enjoy. (Partial list: Bear Cannister, Toothpaste, Spork, Measuring Cup)