Title: June 22, 2014 - Nine-Mile Creek to Hamilton Lake
Hike Info:
Type: Backpacking
Trail: High Sierra Trail
Destination: Hamilton Lake
Distance: 6.75 miles
Start Time: 9:09
End Time: 5:03
Travel Time: 7:53 (0.86 mph)
Moving Time: 4:42 (1.44 mph)
Elevation Rise: 1,807'
Maximum Elevation: 8,187'
(Lots of pictures at bottom of blog)
Bearpaw Meadow Area
Description:
Woke up around 5:30, but just enjoyed the warmth of my new bag for
awhile. Then did my quiet time. Finally got out of the bag around 6:10.
So far the only one up. But Andrea quickly joins me. Even Steven and
Rachel are up. We have breakfast and break camp at the un-backpacking
hour of 9:07.
Steven looking up at Lone Pine Canyon
The first part from Nine Mile
Creek is pretty easy some up, more down. Mostly in shade, but some
exposed. After a mile or so, we stop at Buck Canyon for a break, then on we go. Sherri,
Steven and I in the lead; Ray, Rachel and Andrea are relaxing by the
creek. So we start the climb up to Bearpaw Meadows. This is our first
really good climb of the hike. I am sweating early, but we make it up pretty
good. There is a discussion among the three of us about having a
cleaner camp, than we had at Nine-Mile Creek.
High Sierra Trail
We stop at the junction with
Bearpaw campground and rest for a little while. When we pass through the
High Sierra Camp, we are less than impressed by what we saw. By a supply cabin, there
are garbage boxes stacked high. The store from the outside looks sort of
humble, but what you would expect 11 miles off of the closest road?
Tent cabins are scattered about. We quickly pass through without sampling its delights.
Going
to Lone Pine Creek gives you a good appreciation of the trail builders.
We are perched on the side of a cliff, hiking across the cliff. Many
places all we have is a little ledge with some great vistas. I think of a
friend of mine who would have a bad case of vertigo. He would not like
this trail.
Old Bridge on Lone Pine Creek
Lone Pine Gorge
We cross Lone Pine Creek on a new
bridge. The wreckage of the old bridge lies below us. I am thinking the
trail used to cross a ways above this point-looking at an old topo map
confirms my memory. We stop a little ways up the trail, in some shade
for lunch. My fiendish children steal my Nutella, but do eventually return it.
Looking down Hamilton Creek
Water over the edge
But even with these shenanigans, there comes a time which we must face the challenges of the day. That challenge was now on us in the form an 800' climb which is the entrance to Hamilton Lake, our camping place for the evening. 800's gain over two miles does not sound like much, but for some reason, we, or at least Sherri and I were struggling. Maybe it was being on a surface exposed to the afternoon sun, maybe old age, or just not being in as good of shape as I thought. Either way, we bring up the rear. About 3/4 of a mile before Hamilton Lake, the trail crosses Hamilton Creek. We choose this as a resting place, and it is a good choice. From this crossing you have a granite seat which allows us to look down into the Lone Pine canyon, over to Bearpaw Meadow and even the last glimpses of Moro Rock. This is a good place to send off the Kaweah River.
Falls on Hamilton Creek
There had been talk of going on to Precipice Lake, but we all agree that Hamilton, with its three bear boxes is a wonderful place to stop for the night. Andrea and I talk and she asks if I know where Angel Wings is? No and I do not see it on the map. At home, I find out that Angel Wings is another name for Valhalla, which is on the map and we are passing by it. And it is a good place, that is except for the thieves. I am not talking about Andrea and Steven here, but the deer and marmots are in cahoots with eat other, providing distractions so the other can go after our equipment. Rachel and Andrea run after the deer anytime they are seen to drive them away. Last year, Andrea had one of her poles stolen, but recovered. After retrieving her pole, there was deer slobber on the straps-yech.
Hamilton Lake
Sleeping arrangements
Night Exercises
After a good evening chat, we decide it is time to tuck ourselves in for a good evening of sleep. Goodnight world.
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
Snacks
Oatmeal
and add-ins, such as dried peaches, strawberries, nuts, granola.
Tang.
Title: June 21, 2014 - Crescent Meadows to Nine-Mile Creek
Trail head:
Hike Info:
Type: Backpacking
Trail: High Sierra Trail
Destination: Buck Canyon
Actual Destination: Nine-Mile Creek
Distance: 8.64 miles
Start Time: 1:12
End Time: 7:03
Travel Time: 5:51 (1.48 mph)
Moving Time: 4:23 (1.97 mph)
Elevation Rise: 1,897'
Elevation Descended:877'
Maximum Elevation: 7,683'
Description:
Got up at 5:40; I am still pretty tired. Ray got up shortly after me,
with the rest following at various increments. We were ready to leave
around 6:30 for the Train Depot Restaurant. The operative word for the
day is slow. Usually the service gets you out of the place quickly with
good food. But today, it seemed to take forever. Then we went to Subway
to pick up sandwiches. But the first two were closed for breakfast, even
though their hours were posted as being open. We finally get our
sandwiches and head to Sequoia National Park. There is a pretty good line waiting to get in. So we stop at Grants
Grove to hold the permit and take a bathroom break. From their Andrea
and I head off to. Horse Coral Meadows to drop off the Rav4 for our return trip, while the rest
of them go to Giant Forest and secure our permit. It takes 45-60 minutes
to drive up to the Meadow and about 45 minutes to come down. So Andrea
and I get to Giant Forest around 1pm. Ray and Rachel are waiting for us;
Sherri and Steven have gone ahead and started walking. We are able to
drive to the Crescent Meadow parking lot because we have a permit-with weekend crowds, rangers block admittance to the Crescent Meadows area except by shuttle bus. So we feel like royalty as we drive past all the commoners.
Sherri and Steven
Andrea and Gary
So
starts our adventure! The first three quarters of a mile climbs us out
of Crescent Meadows. The lushness of the place is something I enjoy. We
quickly come to Eagle View. We appreciate the view. Looking westward we
see Kaweah Reservoir; across the way is Castle Rocks which guards the
way into Mineral King. It will be our company for most of today. Of course,
the Middle Fork of Kaweah River is way down beneath us, several
thousand feet in a very steep ravine. Finally, our eyes gaze at the wall
we will be climbing soon, the Kern-Kaweah Divide. Those mountains just
seem to rise up vertically, making you wonder how will I ever get beyond
them?
Westward down Kaweah
Kern-Kaweah
Castle Rocks
Sherri and Steven have a 30 or
40 minute head start. So we are taking friendly wagers about when we
will see them. It turns out none of these bets pan out on the first wager.
But we enjoy our walking since there is a lot of shade protecting us
from the heat of the sun. Lots of wildflowers, I know some of the names
of the flowers, but many more slip through my many gaps of flora. Apparently these slips in my flora knowledge is a surprise to Andrea-she has always assumed I knew a lot more than I did-by did I have that girl fooled.
Andrea, Rachel and Ray
It is time for another wager. This time instead of distance it is time.Who can guess the time which we meet Sherri and Steven. Once again we all lose horribly. But what is there is complain about-Steven and Sherri are making good time, we have some very delicious eye candy, and the trail is not hard on us. There is much for us to stop and look at. We continue to see more of what we saw from Eagle View, but in various perspectives. With some cloud cover, the trail is not as hot as I feared it would be in the afternoon-but it still is plenty warm.
Steven and Gary
Steven
Still time for one last wager, since we have not caught Sherri and Steven and it is getting close to four. But a few minutes later, we see them and are reunited. They have done well, traveling about seven miles-this is definitely in the "Better Than Expected" category.
Little Blue Dome
But now we are pretty far east along the High Sierra Trail. Little Blue Dome has been coming into play below us. We have also been able to examine a bit more of the changing flora. There is a succulent growing out of rocks which such a pretty flower. I know understand it is called a Stonecrop. I think another week, it would look pretty poor, but we have caught it in bloom and marvel at it.
Stonecrop
While I was hoping to make Buck Canyon tonight, I think we will fall short, particularly with our late start. But it has been a good first day. Before leaving I was able to download a list of bear boxes along the way. This will prove useful. We decide to try for Nine-Mile Creek-it does have a bear box. I charge ahead with renewed energy and in 10 minutes find the box. According to the poster in the box, it says there is 6 camp spots here-where they would be, my eyes see only one obvious one and that is where we stay. Water flows pretty well nearby and we are set. We begin the routine of the next nine nights-finding a place for our three tents and two hammocks. Shortly after dark, it is into our bags we go for a good night sleep.
Today's Food
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
Snacks
Train Depot Breakfast
Subway Sandwich
Subway Sandwhich
Clif Bar, Jelly Bellies, CytoMax, Propel, GORP, Bank Balls
More Photo's
Kern-Kaweah Divide from Eagle View
End of the Kaweah River Basin
Little Blue Dome, clouds and where we are heading towards, over the Kern-Kaweah Divide
Destination: Hamilton Lake
