Overnight at Franklin Lake

L

lambertiana

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I got back today from an overnight trip to Franklin Lake in Sequoia NP. I went with Ray Laconico and another friend (Dan). The trail started here, in Mineral King:
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A view on the way up:
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Dan and Ray on the trail
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Camp scenes at Franklin Lake (the lake water level is 10,330'):
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Ray and Dan (bundled up because it got a bit chilly last night):
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It clouded up yesterday afternoon, but in the evening the sun shone under the clouds to give us a little alpenglow
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And we were treated to a nice sunset
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This morning, Dan and I summited Rainbow Mountain (12,043'). This was the only peak above the lake that I hadn't done yet. We went up to the summit ridge and traversed to the summit; here are some views along that traverse:
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There were only four other people signed in on the summit register this year, so this peak does not get much traffic. Dan on top, with the register:
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Here is the view north from the summit, toward Sawtooth (left) and Needham (right), with the Kaweahs in the background:

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And this is looking east toward the Whitney group:
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Then things got a little more exciting. We dropped down the north face of Rainbow so we could check out Panorama Bowl (where a creek drops into a cave and then resurfaces twice, only to drop into a third, much longer cave to resurface much further down the mountain. The top cave has an ice floor. But we got stuck on top of a cliff, so we kept traversing west on top of the cliff to find a way down, to no avail. At one point I had to go up a 45 degree chute that emptied over the cliff. The chute was about five feet deep, with solid rock floor covered with gravel, and vertical walls about four feet apart. The only thing I could hang onto were quarter inch flakes on the rock on the sides of the chute, hanging by my fingertips. That was a bit unnerving. But eventually we traversed over to the west face, where we found an easy way down.

There we found Ray holding down the fort at camp (can you see him by the trees a little left of center?)

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Here is the view toward Florence Peak and Peak 12,146 from camp:
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There are a lot of nice foxtail pine on Rainbow (one of my favorite trees). Here are a few pics of some:
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Here are a few more pictures. First, some foxtails on top of a ridge near the lake, with some nice clouds
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Ray and Dan on the trail, heading down
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This is Franklin Creek, which drains out of Franklin Lake. This is much further down from the lake, not far above Mineral King.
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wow.. awesome pics as usual John... :thumbup: i love that area... you folks are lucky to be so close...:)
 
What a great way to spend a couple days! Someday I'll have to take a vacation out there and do some hiking.
 
Great pics :thumbup:

Looks like you guys had a great time out there. It would be quite the adventure to get to do an outing with other members from my area.
 
Beautiful area. How's the fishing? Might have to make my way over there some time. Great pictures, thanks for sharing.
 
It was one of the best times I've had backpacking. The hike was really nice, the weather was just right and the company was great. I only wish I could have gone on that summit but John and Dan are super fit and there's no way I would have kept up!
Here are some of my pictures..

John and Dan on the trail:
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Relaxing at camp just before sunset:
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Me above Franklin Lake and upper Franklin Lake in the back:
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Our Camp:
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Knife Picture:)
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What, no lineup shot of all the steel this group had? I see the D2 Para in John's pocket, and that would be just the start, there had to be at least several more. And that must be the camp knife challenge entry.
 
Don M said:
What, no lineup shot of all the steel this group had? I see the D2 Para in John's pocket, and that would be just the start, there had to be at least several more. And that must be the camp knife challenge entry.
Click to expand...

Don, There were a few knives with us. I had my usual Endura and SAK Huntsman combo along with the camp knife. I saw john had his Paramilitary and another knife I made for him, and probably others too. Dan had a SAK and Buck type folder. Oh and I made sure that John didn't cut his finger again this time:D
 
I'm never going to live that finger cut down, am I! My appointment with the hand surgeon is October 6, and the surgery to reattach the tendon will most likely be the following week. So take it easy on me at Bush Bash II.

There are plenty of brook trout in Franklin Lake, but it is overpopulated and they don't get very big.

I hope I had enough steel on me - I had my D2 Para, Moore Maker 5301 stockman, SAK Classic, Leatherman Squirt, Victorinox Farmer, and this one that Ray made for me (with Narra handles, I got the wood from a board my wife's cousin was using to block a gap at the bottom of the door on his house at his bangus fish farm outside Dagupan, Philippines):
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Lambertiana, fantastic images as always. I always know I'm in for a good show when you post pictures from your trips. The opening image taken at the trailhead showing the valley and hills beyond was a great opener. Thanks for posting.
 
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