Title: August 31, 2014 - Copper Creek Trail
Hike Info:
Type: Hiking
Trail: Copper CreekTrail
Destination: Upper Tent Meadow
Actual Destination: The Lip
Distance: 16.0 miles
Start Time: 7:05am
End Time: 8:30pm
Travel Time: 13:24 (1.19 mph)
Moving Time: 7:22 (2.17 mph)
Elevation Rise: 5,273'
Maximum Elevation: 10,366'
Description:
What a hike! As Fritz says, one vertical mile we climbed today, and he did a little bit more.
We get up at 6 and have breakfast. Sherri has decided to hike over to Mist Falls while we, that is Fritz and I, do our hike up Copper Creek. The last time I have been down, or should I say up, this trail was when my family climbed over from the Middle Fork of the Kings, back in the late 60's or early 70's.
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| Upper Kings Canyon at Daybreak |
We get on the trail just a little after 7. This is good because Kings Canyon promises to be hot today. We are able to start in the shadows. I think the first miles, even though pretty well graded, are the steepest. Traveling at a steady 2 mph pace, we have climbed a thousand feet before we know it. But I am feeling like this will not be maintained all day long.
A good thing about a climb like this is that you soon see the sides of the canyon. Kings Canyon is one of those places which can only be partially appreciated from the floor. As we climb up the sides we see the Sphinx and Avalanche Peak. Even higher up, we can see the cut which Roaring River passes through.
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| Fritz and Gary |
There are several creeks which still have water in them. I am surprised as I thought even the main creeks like Copper may be dried up. The gurgling sound is always pleasant to the ear, unless it comes from your Camelback, which thankfully it does not today. Someplace after Lower Tent Meadow I start losing gas. I am stopping more often and for longer times. But Fritz is patient with me-I think he enjoys the company. Probably several factors: we are climbing steeply, our pace has been-not obsessive but more than I can now keep up, then because we are going up, we have less oxygen to breath.
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| Mt Hutchings |
We pass a couple SLO women returning from back packing at Upper Tent Meadow. A good conversation. Then when we get to Upper Tent Meadow, we see a couple who will pass us in a few minutes. Friendly folk, besides, talking-and listening, I am able to catch my breath without stopping looking too bad. We sort of leap-frog for a while. They take our pictures and we theirs. Then a day hiker passes us, we find the secret to this trail. We need to be in the Zone! Right now, I am glad to be on my feet.
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| Fritz descending into the Granite Basin |
But eventually, we get to The Lip, at 10347'. This is a ridge which divides Copper Creek from the Granite Lake basin. Nice views, but obstructed by trees. Mt Hutchings is right before us with the Roaring River basin behind it. On our side, we can see some of the Granite Lakes. We have our lunch. Then Fritz wants to go down into it. I am still pretty tired so he goes on by himself. I wait on top. I snooze on and off, then write in my blog. After awhile I go down about a quarter mile to see if I can see him. No good, so I return and write some more.
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| Granite Basin |
Then things started to go south. Fritz did not return. But I am thinking that Fritz is still in Granite Basin. I wait and think that if there is a turn around time of 3:00pm then he may be back around 4:30. So I sit around and wait and write and play. At 4:25 I hear a shout and it is the hiker we saw earlier today-The Zone hiker. He and Fritz had met on the trail and he had come up after me. What a guy!
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| Copper Creek and Avalanche area |
So down I went. By this time I know the hiker's name is Gene. Fritz had gone down to find me while Gene came up to see if I was still on The Lip-I was. So I walked down with Gene and found out he is from Fresno and we had some friends in common. He is part of our hiking meetup group and knows some of the people I hike with. Pleasant chat, plus a good pace going down-it is easier.
Got back down around 7:30, to the relief of everyone.
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| Upper Kings Canyon in the Evening |
Trail Lesson:
Struggling during a hike is good. It gives a chance for others to be gracious.
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| Grand Sentinel |
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