Gary-Summer: June 25, 2014 - Moraine Lake to Kern Canyon

Wednesday, June 25, 2014

June 25, 2014 - Moraine Lake to Kern Canyon

Title: June 25, 2014 - Moraine Lake to Kern Canyon

Hike Info:

Type: Backpacking

Trail: High Sierra Trail

Destination: Kern Hot Springs

Actual Destination: four miles above Kern Hot Springs

Distance: 11.40 miles

Start Time: 7:04

End Time: 7:21

Travel Time: 12:17 (0.93 mph) ¹

Moving Time: 6:11 (1.84 mph)

Elevation Rise: 1,148'
Elevation Drop: 2,818'

Maximum Elevation: 9,292'

Description:

I should give you a feel for our morning camp life. Either Ray or I am the first ones up. If it is me, I walk around a bit, enjoying the sounds of quiet-a few birds chirping or a the creek rambling down besides camp. The sun starting to show its rays on the peaks above us. When Sherri gets up, I start stuffing our pads and bags. Then empty out the tent while Sherri readies her feet. Then it is time to get water boiled for our oatmeal. Then get the packs ready, including filling the water bladders for drinking later. After eating, Sherri gets her tea and hits the trail with me doing a few last minute chores.

Mt Kaweah from Sky Parlor Meadow

We do start hiking early today, at least for us, leaving Moraine Lake around 7:15. Andrea has filled us with the fear of the heat of Kern Canyon. The morning is nice and we move well. A few ups over some knolls, but mostly downs. There are many fallen trees which causes us to circumnavigate around. I lose the trail, but Sherri finds it. But the big surprise of the morning is Sky Parlor Meadow. First, we come to an old abandoned log building, without a roof. It becomes evident why this is called Sky Parlor. Whoever stayed here had the whole of the heavens to him. Then we get a view of the Meadow. The Kaweah's are rising from beyond the Meadow. They seem to be ruling over the area. The aurora they give off fills us with awe. My thoughts turn not to the greatness of the mountains, but to the Creator of these. O Lord, our Lord how majestic is your name! You have created all which I see and call it good.

View from Sky Parlor Meadow

John Muir?

Cabin at Sky Parlor Mdw

Kern Canyon

Ferns and Trail

We quickly come to a trail junction of the trail which split from Moraine Lake. Now it is the point of No Return. We start our drop into Kern Canyon. I am duly surprised. The trail I am expecting is similar to the Snow Creek Trail in Yosemite-that would be straight down. Instead, this one has a pleasant-we are going down it, not up feel to it-a certain lushness to it. For a ways, there are ferns lining the trail as we walk along Funston Creek. Then we round a point and there is the "U" of Kern Canyon before us. Instead of feeling like we are being surrounded, I get the impression of openness, a tunnel which goes on and on. As we descend, the canyon's expanse creates more of an emotion of awe. In some ways, it is like Yosemite, but there is softness in its sides rather than the granite challenging you.

Andrea and burnt log

Still with all of this to see and feel, we are dropping down a long ways and we are starting to feel the constant pounding of our downward movement. Also the more we go down, the warmer it is getting. But I remark to Andrea how well this trail is graded. We do come to a place where it looks like a fire went through here². Maybe a lightening fire. Andrea does not remember seeing it last year and there is a danger tag dated Aug 28. The tag talks about a dangerous tree leaning over the trail we just came down.

Walking the Kern Canyon Bottom

We reach the junction with the trail coming up the Kern. Less than two miles to the Hot Springs. But the worst is yet to come. The trail up Kern Canyon starts off pretty flat and easy. There is a lushness to the canyon floor. Ferns abound, wildflowers are blossoming in abundance. Then we hit an area where a swamp is so the trail goes up against the canyon wall. The sun beats on us and the trail turns into a small stone foot grating experience. And it seems to go on forever. But then it dips back onto the floor. While dry, it is better than the wall. As we churn across the sandy floor we come to a footbridge-and lunch. The trail is is more north of where the map shows it.

Hot Springs

Lunch Break Rest

The day is now hot and the trail seems a bit relentless. We had figured that the hot springs was about a mile from the crossing. But we round a corner and there it is. Sherri does not recognize it-I say it is an outhouse. We go up into some shade to set the packs down. None of us move much, except to find the real outhouse. After a few minutes rest, some of us, and eventually all of us, make use of the hot springs. There is a system of stoppers, buckets and a trough to adjust the 130 degrees hit springs water to something bearable. But the hot springs water feels so totally relaxing to muscles which for the past four days gave been laboring. We stay around the hot springs for over an hour. If you have a hot spring, what better place is there than that to discuss the ills of the world? Our topic: What is wrong with education? No definite answers, just a lot of good dialogue. After relaxing some more, we make dinner, and rest ans stay out of the sun.

Around five, we take off up the trail for a couple of hours. It is much cooler and we make good time. But there is a sense of being tired now. Fewer stops to take pictures. But the trail is not strenuous. So we move well. Andrea and I go ahead to look for a camp spot. But they are not easy to find. We find one place just below Whitney Creek with a nice sandy gravel place to stay.

Camp set up

The rest catch up with us just as we were discussing who will go back for Mom's pack. No fire tonight. Just good conversation before bedtime, which came soon after our stop.

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

¹Includes a prolonged break we took at the Hot Springs for a dip and dinner.
²From what I can tell, this fire was called the Chagoopa Fire which started on Aug 22, 2013 due to lighting and was declared out on October 30, 2013. Because of the remoteness and small size and the ongoing Rim Fire, the Chagoopa Fire was only monitored, not fought.