May 22, 2013 - Upper Paradise Valley

Title: May 22, 2013 - Upper Paradise Valley

Trail head: Road's End, Cedar Grove

Hike Info:

Trail: Mist Falls/Paradise Valley

Destination: Middle Paradise Valley

Actual Destination: Upper Paradise Valley

Distance: 10.58 miles

Travel Time: 7:24 (1.43 mph)

Moving Time: 6:32  (1.62 mph)

Elevation Rise: 2,688'

Maximum Elevation: 6,990'

Description:

Got up 5:15, got ready and left the house by 6:20. Needed to stop for gas at Costco. Then it is on our way to Cedar Grove and Roads End,  we are a bit surprised because we get to Roads End about 8:30.  John, Cathey, and the rest of the Mid-Week Meetup gang came in about 10 minutes after we arrive-we thought because of our late start, they would already be there. By 9 we are on the trail. Sherri and I did a self-registration for our wilderness permit for Paradise Valley.

The Sphinx

Right from the get go we had some excitement. A cinnamon colored black bear crossed our path about 100 yard up the trail.  We all gawk and look at him., taking pictures, of course. A great way to start a hike.

The first two miles are flat, and usually pretty boring. We are the only ones with backpacks on, the rest are out for a hike. But the conversations are good. I am walking with John, Lee, Rose and Leslie. Once we hit the Bailey Bridge over the South Fork of the Kings River, we start a mild uphill. One of the new people falls down-she has lost strength her knee. Sherri provides an ace bandage, which helps. John and I walk with her to Mist Falls.

Chief Uggms, perhaps my favorite rock in the Sierras

Above the falls we have lunch. Then it is time to part ways with our meetup group. Always enjoyable to walk with them. Now for the hard climbing. Sherri is wearing as much weight as she will when walking the JMT. She takes the 900' climb up to Paradise Valley better than she ever has. While it helps that it is cool, more of explanation is that she and I are in good physical shape and have lost weight.

Entering Paradise Valley

We stop at Lower Paradise Camp and have a Clif bar.  While it is a border line decision about stopping and having a nap or continuing on, we decide to go on. The middle camp is only a mile more. Once again the question is posed, stay or go on. We both are doing good, so we go on to the Upper Paradise Valley camp. That is another 2.2 miles. It takes us less than an hour. Here we both decide to stop for the night. We both feel like we traveled fr enough.

We grab camp #3. Nice, clean and flat. The tent is set up-wind is picking up and even in the sun, it is a bit cool. Dinner is beans and tortilla. Good enough . We take a short walk, then talk for awhile while shivering, now that the sun has gone down. Pretty cold. So at 8, it is off to bed to read and write. Both are out like a burnt out light by 9.

Other Related Trips:

• May 16, 2009 - To Lower Paradise Valley
• May 17, 2009 - Lower to Upper Paradise Valley
• May 18, 2009 - Return Trip