Trail head: Woodchuck Lake
Hike Info:
Type: Hiking
Trail: Unnamed
Destination: Half Moon Lake
Actual Destination: Crown Pass
Distance: 4.90 miles
Start Time: 9:34
End Time: 4:12
Travel Time: 6:37 (0.74 mph)
Moving Time: 3:27 (1.42 mph)
Elevation Rise: 744'
Maximum Elevation: 10,306'
GPS Tracks
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| Early morning sun on Loper Peak |
Description:
Note: I wrote this up once and then lost it. I think a second re-write almost always loses some of the vitality of the first. But this blog is principally about recording hikes so i can relieve them later.
I woke up around 5 and went out to do my business. When I came back in, I just laid there for the next hour and a half. It
was relaxing. As light started hitting the tent, I got up. I am the first one up, even though I think I heard Rose rolling over.
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| Breakfast crew |
I had my quiet time, enjoying
the morning silence. I attempted to play my recorder but found out that
I've lost any sense of fingering. Will have to work on that. I did see
Finger Rock and
Mt Hoffman-not the Yosemite one-which we see from
Delilah.
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| Bear hang and Laundry Line |
The morning is a slow morning. But that is OK, it is a
day hike rather than having a heavy pack on our back. Our goal is to get to
HalfMoon Lake, about 3-4 miles away. So we don't
need to rush or anything. That shows in how we are moving around camp, rather lackadaisical. But that is OK since there is no pressure and that is not why I hike.
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| Laundry water |
We
have our breakfast oatmeal like usual. I have my electronics all charged up. Then string a laundry line and place my sleeping bag on it. Now it is time to do the laundry.
Amazing how dirty our clothes can get in two days. Then we just mosey around some more and eventually get everything
packed for our day trip.
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| Mylar Balloon |
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| Towards Marsh Lake |
We start
walking about 9:30, traveling on the west side of
Woodchuck Lake.
There's not a trail on this side of the lake, even though I noticed several other sets of footprints over here. It is easy to walk, here as there not many obstacles. So far it is a pleasant relief from the climbing of the last couple of days. As a bonus, we get a better view of the lake as well as the area what we've
come from. I get to show Rose and Sherri Finger Rock and Mount Hoffman. But in a tree we find a surprise: a Mylar balloon at 9,900'. How far those things travel.
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| North part of Woodchuck Lake |
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| South part of Woodchuck Lake |
We
continue to walk towards the trail, starting to rise to meet the trail.
When we come to the trail, I walk straight over it, while telling Sherri and Rose to where I think the trail actually is. After we get on the trail, we continue to climbing until we meet the junction for
Marsh Lake. The trail starts gently meandering, rising without much protection from the sun. But there are many meadows. I stop and gaze at many of these. When we get to the top of the rise, we meet Adam and
Jason-our friends from the past couple of days. They are heading to Woodchuck Lake, neighbors again. They tell us that where we are at
is the best view of
Crown Lake and that there is a 900 foot drop going into Half Moon
Lake.
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| East Looking from Crown Pass |
Since this is a nice place to eat lunch, overlooking Crown Lake we decide to do just that. Afterwards,
things get a lot more leisurely-I guess contentment does that to you. Rose and I take a side excursion along the ridge. Many excellent views. When we came back
to Sherri, we just sit around and talk and talk and talk until the breeze cooled us off get a bit.
One thing which catches my eye is out by the Middle Fork of the
Kings River. I spot the backside of
Tehipite Dome. The Dome stands high above Tehipite Valley-reportedly Kings Canyon answer to Yosemite Valley. Many years ago our family tried to make it down the Middle Fork to Tehipite Valley, but we were driven out by coming across many rattlesnakes. Ever since then, the name Tehipite evokes a since of a forbidden place. Memories of my Dad flood my mind and I wonder if he would have been satisfied with this view. It also gives me a sense of appreciation for him and how he and Mom brought both my brother and I backpacking, starting at an older age when most people are on the decline. Today is two days short of the first anniversary of his death.
And then it's time to reach race are steps back
to the Woodchuck Lake. When we reach the place which we caught the
trail, we decide to go off trail again to the west side of our Lake
since its it is a bit shorter.
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| Woodchuck Lake from the trail |
This gives us a couple hours just to enjoy the camp life. The laundry is mostly dry, so it is taken down. Besides that, I mostly read and attempt to send out our Spot messages. Rose wades in the lake and gets her self clean. I take the hint and a little bit later I do the same. There is a nice sandy beach on the north side of the lake. A meadow flows down to almost the lake's edge with a barrier of sand before the water. It is
great just wading out and getting wet, cleaning off trail dirt and sweat. After getting all wet, I sun myself on the meadow grass, getting dry and warm. What a life!
Now it is time for
dinner. Sherri and I are having Tamale Pie Freestyle. I am hungry and enjoy
the meal. Sherri has a little bit more than she can eat, so I devour most of that as well. It is important to leave a little room for treats. What do we have? Girl Scout
thin mint cookies. Satisfaction all the way around! We are just about ready for bed. But before we retire to our tents, there is sunset. Orange skies and dark trees-fantastic! The alpine glow off of the east side of the lake is not as intense as other places, but still pretty. And now, we can go to bed, around 8pm. Evidently we are tired as we do not continue with
A Walk in the Woods.
