Title: June 26, 2014 - Kern Hot Springs to Kern-Kaweah River
Hike Info:
Type: Backpacking
Trail: High Sierra Trail and Colby Pass Trail
Destination:Junction Meadows
Actual Destination: Kern-Kaweah River
Distance: 7.02 miles
Start Time: 8:40
End Time: 6:37
Travel Time: 9:57 (0.71 mph)
Moving Time: 4:14(1.65 mph)
Elevation Rise: 2,824'
Maximum Elevation: 9,581'
Description:
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| Our camp |
 |
| Interesting Clouds |
When I got up, there were a few clouds in the sky, some dark. I had noticed early on how
diffused the sky looked. Is this a sign of rain for us? Clouds will be a fascination of today. But that was not the end of concerns. Sherri
pretty quickly found out that she could not find her Glide and her
ziploc bag of foot and personal hygiene stuff. This was a cause of anguish, which will last through
breakfast. The Glide could not be found.
 |
| Sherri crossing Wallace Creek |
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| Kern River |
So
after breakfast we takeoff, without our Glide around 8:40. Sherri is
charging out of the gate and I am not able to keep up. I get brief views
down the canyon, but no good shots for pictures. While keeping a good pace, I can
tell I am straining a bit at our pace, even though the climb is not bad
at all. I finally catch up to Sherri at the
Whitney Creek crossing. She
had to stop to figure out the crossing. Ray shows his strength and adds a
couple of boulders to allow for Sherri to cross. I am impressed.
 |
| Gary Crossing Kern River |
Then
off we go again. Not much rising on this trail, maybe 300' in 2+ miles.
We then hit
Wallace Creek. Each of us cross in our own way. I manage
to cross on rocks, while Ray and Steven cross on two different logs.
Andrea crosses on the same log Ray does. But Rachel and Sherri wade across.
We then decide to have lunch at the Kern River. But before lunch, we
pass through
Junction Meadow. A backpacker friend of ours had warned us that the Kern could be trouble crossing. We would at least get our feet wet. When we come to the Kern crossing, his prediction is only half true-we do get our feet wet. as we get to wade across the Kern
River. We are thankful that the crossing is above the
Kern-Kaweah River,
also for a dry year making this an easy early season ford.
 |
| Up the Kern-Kaweah |
 |
| We go to the right of the knob |
We have lunch at noon, just a couple hundred yards from the ford.
Now we turn from the High Sierra Trail to going up the Kern-Kaweah. The first 100
yards is not bad. Then I label this trail as
No Trail For Old Men.
It is a climb. About 1000' a mile and a quarter. It takes us about two
hours to do it. But this is also a trail with benefits. As we ascend,
if we turn around from time to time, we see the rest of the High Sierra Trail. This is
the part which goes up Wallace Creek, or as Andrea has labeled it,
The Ascent From Hell Trail, because of what she did last year and the heat she experienced in Kern Canyon. It does appear to mean not a fun climb, but neither is our present trail.
 |
| Kern-Kaweah |
 |
| Up Wallace Creek with Mr Young and Hale |
 |
| Kern Canyon |
More
mountains appear in the east. To the west, we see a little waterfall in
the distance between the crack we are climbing towards. The creek
actually has a name,
Picket Creek. Even more as we climb we see
distinct forms in the east, the daughters think it may be Whitney, but I
wonder if it isn't the mountains before Whitney-
Young and
Hale.
 |
| Rachel and Steven descending |
 |
| Andrea about to go down |
We
finally get to the top of this climb and have a bank ball break. We
need it, at least I do. But what awaits us on the other side? A very
steep descent, not long, about 240'. But it is you pick your steps
carefully. But we are starting to see more of the Kern-Kaweah Canyon we
are to travel up. There is another rise, but not nearly as steep as
before and then we find ourselves at
Rockslide Lake.
 |
| Rockslide Lake |
 |
| Rockslide Lake |
This becomes a scene from
Hunger Games,
where everybody seems to enjoy themselves, then suddenly the clock
strikes the hour and terror happens. We are walking along, enjoying the
sight of the lake. Ray is even fishing spots along this wide spot called a lake; Rachel is filling her
water bottle, and my family enjoys a little respite from the steep
trail. Suddenly, we are attacked by swarms of persistent mosquito's.
They it's seemed to keep with us no matter how many we killed. Then Deet
comes to our rescue! We can then hike in relative peace for a ways,
until we start up on the next rise.
 |
| Rachel at Rockslide |
 |
| Picket Creek |
While this
rise is not bad, after the previous one, we are worn out. Steven and I
get ahead of Sherri and Andrea. So I try to do my part and leave them a
Hunger Games gift of belly flops. Steven and I find an ok camp spot at the top of the rise and drop our packs.
 |
| Andrea of the mountains |
Everybody
agrees this is how far we should go, even though I convince Andrea to
go with me about a third of a mile more to see if we can find a better
one-no. It is windy, which keeps the pests away. But the after dinner
conversation is short because of it and the cold. Still is light, a
little before 8 when we roll into our beds.
Trail Lesson:
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