July 14, 2013 - Bubbs Creek

Title: July 14, 2013 - Bubbs Creek

Hike Info:

Trail: John Muir Trail

Starting location:  Rae Lakes

Destination:  Upper part of trail to Forester Pass

Actual Destination:  About 10,600' on way to Forester

Distance:  9.3  ¹

Start Time:  7:20

End Time:   6:10

Travel Time: 10:50 ( mph)

Moving Time: 5:50 ( mph)

Elevation Rise:  2,420'  ¹

Maximum Elevation:   11,960'

Description:

Painted Lady

I must have been anxious about today. Woke up several times last night wondering if it was time to get up. Morning is bright and crisp blue sky with no wind. Sun is just starting to hit the Painted Lady.

At 7:20, we get a good start to going up to Glen Pass. Leaving behind the blue, inviting lakes we stayed by last night creates a longing to stay. But the steady climb of switchbacks are calling us. We start taking our breaks about every half of a mile. At our second break, we are passed by a group of young men, whom we label as the singing Boy Scouts, even though they are a little older than that. But they are going up this without breathing hard, nor stopping their singing. Amazing, since we are doing what we need to do to breath-even at rest.

Rae Lakes

 

Going up to Glen Pass, I am the weak link. Usually I am waiting for Sherri. But today, she is keeping up with me. She says that my breathing is a lot more gasping, that is for air, than usually. I am having more troubles with this pass than other higher ones, or ones which we have had to climb up more. It may be steeper, or maybe I am getting weaker. I do not know.

Range after range after range to the south

But once on top, we have such a scenic view of those tarns we have been looking at on the way up. Rae Lakes have popped back into view. As Sherri said, from this perspective, Rae Lakes just looks like another big tarn. She thinks the tarns look like alien lakes, maybe because of their deep blue-green colors, surrounded by all that rock. But you see them more like emeralds, even with their own islands. Their beauty does shine out, drawing you. But then your gaze looks across at where you came from. Range upon range of mountains. Some of which we traveled several days ago. The Palisades are there; Cardinal Mountain; and maybe even Mt Goddard. Then you look where to you are going and see this same series of mountains which we will need to cross. You wonder are we up to it?

Matt and Derek with Sherri

Also on top, are the singing Boy Scouts, which now that we see them, we wonder if they are Boy Scouts. They seem older, may be Explorers. But there is an older person with them. We have seen them lift off a balloon, maybe a weather balloon. They are from San Diego area. We got our Capture California picture for the hike with Matt and Derek.

Also Larry and Paul are up here, with three others who have made it to the top with us. It does seem a bit crowded with all of us on this narrow strip marking the difference between waters going to Woods Creek and Bubbs Creek. But nobody falls off, even though we are a bit leery of any sudden movements.

On top of Glen Pass

We start the descent down the south side of the pass, with me in the lead. Why? Because I seem to be the least concerned with the sheerness of the slope. This will seem funny to my brother as he is the one who is fearless in our family. But with I in the lead, Sherri following and Larry and Paul bringing up the rear, we make it down the trail safely.

At one of the stops, we find out that Larry is a Lutheran pastor while Paul teaches the electrical trades at a technical college in Green Bay.  We sort of walk with them, then lose them, only to regain them at lunch break at the junction with the Kearsarge Pass trail. Here we also eat lunch with three others whom we will get to know through the rest of the trip-George, Chris and Steve.

Bubb's Creek Valley

After lunch we continue down the sides of the valley which Bubbs Creek form. As we go down, we see the Videttes-both east and west. Seems like it takes awhile to get down this. But we are making it down farther than we did the Rae Loop a couple of years ago. When we get down to the floor, finally, we go a little ways, then take a break. Nothing fabulous, but refreshing.  Being intrepid, onward we go. Soon we see Paul and Larry, setting up camp. Sounds like they will be about a day or two behind us. So we say farewell and it has been good walking with them.

The Videttes

Center Peak

Up a ways, we start thinking about  where we wanted to stop for the night. It is a trade-off between getting some rest tonight and  setting up to tackle Forester Pass tomorrow. The higher up we go, the easier tomorrow will be. But we have about a 2,000' climb to get up to the highest feasible camp space. We are not going to be able to do this. So we pick a campsite around 10,000'. When we get there, there is a flock of tents, so on we go. The next stop is the creek which comes out of Center Basin. People are camped there, but being eagle-eyed, I think I see a spot above the creek on a ridge.  But when I pop my head over the ridge, there is a tent and a couple of men relaxing-we will see them tomorrow. So again onward we go. About a quarter mile up the trail, it cuts back and comes reasonably close to the creek. Plus there is a little draw where we can put a tent out of sight. It is a good place, better than the others we wanted to camp at. (36.73048, -118.37161)

What a glorious evening. There are still clouds in the sky, but looking down Bubbs Creek, the sun reflecting its golden rays. What a sight. Sherri and I are the only ones to collect this sight from a rock rock outcropping just outside of our camp.

Shortly afterwards we go to bed. It is getting colder. We watch half of Dr Who episode. I read, then go to sleep around 9:20.

Breakfast	Lunch	Dinner	Snacks
Oatmeal and add-ins, such as dried peaches, strawberries, nuts, granola. Tang.	Peanut Butter and Nutella on crackers	Beans with Tortillas	Clif Bar, Jelly Bellies, CytoMax, Propel, GORP, Bank Balls

 ¹The supplied figures above come from either the book John Muir Trail: The essential guide to hiking America's most famous trail by Elizabeth Wenk or from topo maps. There was only partial tracks for today in my GPS. Below is the readings from today's status on the GPS. I view it as only somewhat accurate.

Distance: 9.50 miles

Elevation Rise:  1,566'

Maximum Elevation: 11,910'

Center Peak

Upper Rae Lake