Seven Day Loop, Mineral King Sequoia NP

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lambertiana

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This year's backpacking trip started as a plan to repeat my 2012 trip (see that report here:

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/s...ne-Days-in-Sequoia-Kings-Canyon-Dialup-Beware! )

. That trip was planned so that my niece could visit the lowest lake in the Picket Creek in Sequoia NP, but she backed out at the last minute because she got married. This year she said that she was ready to do the trip, so I planned accordingly. Well, something big came up and she dropped out, followed by the other family members who were coming with her. That left me with just one backpacking friend who was still committed to going, and he was the one who did the 2012 trip with me. So, to put a little variety in things, and knowing that my friend wanted to see the area around Mineral King, I settled on a route out of Mineral King that was a variation of what I did last year. It included some off-trail travel in the lowest part of Big Arroyo and also some off trail travel to some rarely-visited lakes at the top of Soda Creek.

We started at Mineral King on Saturday July 26. As we ascended toward Timber Gap, we were treated with views of the Mineral King area:




Then we were faced with a dilemma. My friend thought he had recovered from a respiratory infection, but was struggling on the trail and having serious problems. We realized that there was no way he could do the trip as planned. He decided to go back down to Mineral King, while I went on. I had to change my plans because I was going solo and off-trail is just not a good idea when solo, so I chose a route that was all trail walking.

Eventually I crossed Timber Gap and could see views to the north as I descended:


I got to Cliff Creek, which still has water in this serious drought year:


Heading up the Cliff Creek drainage:


A nice cascade on Cliff Creek (about 700' drop):


When I finally arrived at Pinto Lake, I stopped for the night. Some views of the area:


 
The next morning I started the long slog up Black Rock Pass (11,600'). As I went higher, I could see Spring Lake, then Spring and Cyclamen lakes, and finally, close to the pass, Spring, Cyclamen, and Columbine lakes:






Once on top of the pass, I could look east toward the Kaweahs:


As I descended the east side of Black Rock Pass, I got caught in a heavy hailstorm. By the time I got to Little Five Lakes, it had almost stopped, and the lighting got a little better (but far from ideal) for pictures there:


From there, I continued down toward Big Arroyo. A nice spot on the way:


Looking down Big Arroyo:


I eventually stopped at the junction with the High Sierra Trail in Big Arroyo, where the rain continued for about an hour after I got there. Here is Big Arroyo creek:
 
The next morning it was already gray when I got up (very unusual for the Sierra, I'm used to clear blue skies). I headed up onto Chagoopa Plateau. This is looking back up Big Arroyo:


And down Big Arroyo:


As I got higher I could see the peaks around Big Five Lakes:


Cresting over, I dropped onto Chagoopa Plateau, passing this big meadow on the way:


Then it started raining again, so photography wasn't very good. Just a couple shots from that section:




When I got to my destination for the day (Moraine Lake), it was still raining. After it stopped, this is what things looked like:


I walked over to the rise to the west to look at the peaks of the Mineral King area:


 
The next morning the sun showed up and I got better pictures at Moraine Lake:








Going back to the rise west of Moraine Lake:


 
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From there, I followed the High Sierra Trail to drop into the Kern River Canyon. I passed by Sky Parlor Meadow:


As I started down into the canyon, looking northeast:


Looking down the Kern trench, with forest fire smoke in the distance. I wonder what this looked like when it was filled by a glacier:




In the Kern River Canyon, passing by Upper Funston Meadow:


The Kern River, still flowing despite the severe drought:


When I got to the Rattlesnake Creek trail, I went up the first steep part. There were some nice cascades on Rattlesnake Creek:


Looking down the Kern from the Rattlesnake Creek trail (the first mile of the trail gains 1500'):


I made camp in the lower part of Rattlesnake Creek canyon, where I was joined by a scout troop heading the other way.
 
The next morning it was again quite gray so I got an early start to beat the storm because I had to go over a pass. I soon got to the better parts of Rattlesnake Creek:












I eventually reached Forester Lake, and the clouds were closing in:


As I ascended to the pass, looking back at Rattlesnake Creek:


 
I made it over the pass as things got really dark, and before the rain started I got a few shots. First, Little Claire Lake:


Looking at the upper part of Soda Creek (where I would have gone off-trail if I wasn't alone):




Looking down Soda Creek:


Then the heavens opened, with heavy hail, rain, and lightning. I beat a hasty retreat down to the lower part of Soda Creek while lightning hit the slopes above me. No pictures in that stretch except this one, in which you can see the rainwater coming down the face in streams that didn't exist that morning:


I finally made a very wet camp at the bottom of Soda Creek. One thing of interest there was in a grove of lodgepole pines near camp. All of the young trees were bent over to the ground in haphazard fashion. I've seen entire stretches of forest all bent in the same direction due to avalanche or microburst, but this was bizarre. Any theories out there?




 
The next morning the sun was back...to stay for the rest of the trip. Morning on the trail, looking back toward the bottom of Soda Creek as I headed around to the bottom of Lost Canyon:


Lost Canyon is very scenic:




Sawtooth Peak coming into view, it's one of my favorite summits because when you are on top, you really feel like you are on top. Just a few steps in any direction and you end up looking down a big face:


Upper Lost Canyon:




Looking down Lost Canyon from just below Columbine Lake:
 
Then I arrived at Columbine Lake, which would be my highest camp of the trip (lake water level is 10,970'):


Views around Columbine Lake, first going to the outlet and looking north toward the ridgeline I crossed on the second day of the trip going over Black Rock Pass:




Sunset on Black Rock Pass:


The next morning, sunrise on Sawtooth Peak:


Then it was just a matter of going up over Sawtooth Pass (11,700') and then dropping down to Mineral King, where my friend would be waiting for me:


Sawtooth Peak from Sawtooth Pass:


Looking in different directions from Sawtooth Pass:






After a long downhill, the trail ended at the road in Mineral King. All in all, not a bad trip, even after all of the changes.
 
Love the pictures. I have always wanted to see that area, but never made it that far south when I lived in Shasta County. Maybe I should free up a week and give it a try! Can you please share your supply list? And what would you say your total kit weighed when you set out?
 
Amazing scenery and perfectly captured !

The bent trees are the work of Bigfoot !;)
 
CapitalizedLiving said:
Love the pictures. I have always wanted to see that area, but never made it that far south when I lived in Shasta County. Maybe I should free up a week and give it a try! Can you please share your supply list? And what would you say your total kit weighed when you set out?
Click to expand...

I carried a little more on this trip, and my pack at the trailhead, including water, weighed 41 lb.

Basic gear list:

Pack - Osprey Atmos 65
Tent - Marmot EOS 1P (I have to have a full coverage free-standing ten)
Bag - Western Mountaineering Summerlite
Stove - MSR Windpro
Pot - Jetboil GCS pot (Anticipating two people, I brought my larger stove and pot. For solo trips, I use a Snow Peak Giga stove and Brunton IB pot)
Bear canister - Bearikade
Sleeping pad - Big Agnes Insulated Air Core, gotta have my comfort

The rest is the normal accessories - repair kits, first aid kit, toiletries, clothes, etc. For fixed blade I had this one that Ray Laconico made for me specifically for backpacking:


I don't bother with water treatment, so no filter or chemicals to carry.
 
Looks very nice. Maybe someday when Sarah is not getting married or having a baby.
 
Place looks amazing, wish to one day make it to sequoia. Thanks for the share. How do you like your marmot tent? Have been thinking of upgrading to from an asolo.
 
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