I got up earlier than I thought it was—6:25. Cold last night, in the 30’s. Had my quiet time.
Usual breakfast. Leisurely start. It is a clear, beautiful morning. It is about 9:15 before we got started.
A word about the weather, There has been a lot of overcast during our days of hiking. But except for a brief hail and sprinkle the first day, we have been dry, but cold. We have been fortunate.
The first part of the day is a climb up to the junction (N37.60378 W119.52220). Its about two miles and 600’. We do it in 2 hours. What a view! Saw the backside of Half Dome, Clark, Starr King, and many others. Nice place for lunch. But it started to get cold again.
Buena Vista Lake (N37.60002 W119.51752) is an “Oh Wow” lake. Maybe it is three days hiking; it may be it’s the 9,077’ elevation; or the cliff side of Buena Vista Peak, but this is one fine lake. Right now snow is very much part of its show. We just gawk as we pass by. Stopping only to take pictures.
On up to the top of the saddle (N37.59977 W119.50974). Its another ¾ mile and 300’ climb up to 9,350’. Towards the top, snow covers some of the trail. Steven and David come down and take our packs. We were just about at the top when they came to us. But it was nice gesture for them.
Because of the snow, they went a non-trail route—designated the Dead Chipmunk Trail. Some bones were found along the way. I went off and took a few shots of Buena Vista Lake.
Coming down the south face of the saddle, there was lots of snow until about the 9,000’ level. We were able to follow the trail from a distance or crossing it with snow on the trail. We did pretty well going down, that is until a large patch of snow hid a left turn made by the trail. It crossed the creek. But we kept looking on the west side of the creek. When we went low enough, we realized where the trail was. So across the creek we went, and found the trail pretty quickly.
While we were coming down, it started raining for about an hour. Can’t say we were soaked, but it chilled us with a cold rain. There was a couple sounds of thunder—a ways away.
We came into Royal Arches Lake (N37.57809 W119.50439) as the clouds were descending. Got even colder. David got his tarp out and we pulled the tents under it—of course at this point, it stopped raining.
Dinner was beef stroganoff. Pretty tasty. We are about half way through our fuel. We will see how this works out.
David and Steven start a fire. It felt really good. Perfect would be hot chocolate and cheesecake. Clouds are starting to rise.
We have company! Two people came in. Sort of unsociable folks. They even buried their fish guts close to our camp.
The fire is dying. Its getting cold, and still cloudy, but breaking up. Bed time is around 8:30.
Showing posts with label Chilnualna Lake. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Chilnualna Lake. Show all posts
Monday, June 22, 2009
June 15, 2009 – Turner Meadow to Lower Chilnualna Lake, (8 miles GPS)
Got up just a tad before 7. Sun is already coming through and just about has reached our camp. David and Steven got up shortly afterwards. Breakfast is oatmeal, tang, and tea. This will be the standard breakfast throughout the trip. Pretty basic, but warm and filling.
Tents, tarps, and sleeping bags all are wet. There is a lot of moisture in the air and on the ground. But it did not rain last night. Drying takes a couple of hours. Played a game of cribbage. Lost something terrible.
David and Steven put a phase II repair on Steven’s pack. David found part of an aluminum walking pole. He used it as some additional bracing for the frame—more duct tape and string. But even with this additional bracing, we are still reducing his pack weight—I am taking the lunch canister; David the tent.
We set off at 9:45. We see a flock of deer in Turner Meadow, across the trail from where we camped. Shortly after we started out. The trail is mostly downhill.
We see and talk with a family we saw last night walking through. So far the only humans since we left the Ostrander trail.
Lunch break (N37.58608 W119.58651) is around 11:20, after 1 ½ miles. Its peanut butter, nutella, crackers, bagels and more. We are off again at 11:45.
After the trail junction (N37.58451 W119.58468), we start an easy to moderate climb. With the additional weight, I can feel the climb more than yesterday. Later on, we get steep. Scenery while not spectacular is good. Trail is less mushy. Right before we cross, Chilnualna Creek (N37.59151 W119.56695), we cross one of the many rivulets flowing across the trail.
Steven stops and tells me to look left—I had been scanning for a good place to cross the creek. There are two startled bears, golden in color. The first bear immediately senses us and runs away. The other bear still has his head down eating vegetation, then senses that his partner had run off. He starts running, without looking up, directly at me. About twenty feet away, he stops, looks up, and realizes the mistake. He veers to his right and runs up the hill out of site. So that is three bear, eight deer and four people on this trip, already.
After cross the creek, we take a short break. Its 12:45. David had found a small waterfall so we trudge over to it. Then we start our uphill for the next 2 ½ hours. The grade is not bad. Its just the pack is heavy. We get into Lower Chilnualna Lake (N37.59342 W119.54121).
We rest for a little while. Then David and I set off to Upper Chilnualna Lake (N37.59918 W119.53659) to see if it is a better lake (yes) and if the camping sites are better (we did not find any sites). The Upper Lake is a bit bigger and deeper and the backdrop more mountainish. But we did not find any camp sites. So back we came and circled the lower lake. We found a few places with fire rings. One is wide open and on the trail (N37.59437 W119.54162). We see how that is. If a little wind should blow, we are ok. But much more than that, it could be cold and miserable. By the way, the lake is ok right now, but it is shallow. Probably will be dry by August.
Dinner’s concoction was cabbage wraps with beef and noodle filling. Probably a little more would have been good. Finished by about 6:30. Nice fire to take some bite off the cool evening. We played a hand of cribbage—Steven and I won. Yeah! Onward to Mille Bourne—we lost.
Its getting cold and its time for bed. About 8:30.
Tents, tarps, and sleeping bags all are wet. There is a lot of moisture in the air and on the ground. But it did not rain last night. Drying takes a couple of hours. Played a game of cribbage. Lost something terrible.
David and Steven put a phase II repair on Steven’s pack. David found part of an aluminum walking pole. He used it as some additional bracing for the frame—more duct tape and string. But even with this additional bracing, we are still reducing his pack weight—I am taking the lunch canister; David the tent.
We set off at 9:45. We see a flock of deer in Turner Meadow, across the trail from where we camped. Shortly after we started out. The trail is mostly downhill.
We see and talk with a family we saw last night walking through. So far the only humans since we left the Ostrander trail.
Lunch break (N37.58608 W119.58651) is around 11:20, after 1 ½ miles. Its peanut butter, nutella, crackers, bagels and more. We are off again at 11:45.
After the trail junction (N37.58451 W119.58468), we start an easy to moderate climb. With the additional weight, I can feel the climb more than yesterday. Later on, we get steep. Scenery while not spectacular is good. Trail is less mushy. Right before we cross, Chilnualna Creek (N37.59151 W119.56695), we cross one of the many rivulets flowing across the trail.
Steven stops and tells me to look left—I had been scanning for a good place to cross the creek. There are two startled bears, golden in color. The first bear immediately senses us and runs away. The other bear still has his head down eating vegetation, then senses that his partner had run off. He starts running, without looking up, directly at me. About twenty feet away, he stops, looks up, and realizes the mistake. He veers to his right and runs up the hill out of site. So that is three bear, eight deer and four people on this trip, already.
After cross the creek, we take a short break. Its 12:45. David had found a small waterfall so we trudge over to it. Then we start our uphill for the next 2 ½ hours. The grade is not bad. Its just the pack is heavy. We get into Lower Chilnualna Lake (N37.59342 W119.54121).
We rest for a little while. Then David and I set off to Upper Chilnualna Lake (N37.59918 W119.53659) to see if it is a better lake (yes) and if the camping sites are better (we did not find any sites). The Upper Lake is a bit bigger and deeper and the backdrop more mountainish. But we did not find any camp sites. So back we came and circled the lower lake. We found a few places with fire rings. One is wide open and on the trail (N37.59437 W119.54162). We see how that is. If a little wind should blow, we are ok. But much more than that, it could be cold and miserable. By the way, the lake is ok right now, but it is shallow. Probably will be dry by August.
Dinner’s concoction was cabbage wraps with beef and noodle filling. Probably a little more would have been good. Finished by about 6:30. Nice fire to take some bite off the cool evening. We played a hand of cribbage—Steven and I won. Yeah! Onward to Mille Bourne—we lost.
Its getting cold and its time for bed. About 8:30.
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