Trip report - Two Kings Loop, Kings Canyon NP

[lambertiana]

After spending most of my hiking time this year getting some scouts prepared for a Whitney trip, and taking them on the trip, I was finally able to take one for myself. We did an 84 mile loop in Kings Canyon National Park, going up the Middle Fork of the Kings River, crossing a few high passes, and then going down the South Fork of the Kings River. We started at the Rancheria trailhead by Wishon Reservoir. Our first night's campsite was in a thick white fir forest.

The next day we dropped into Tehipite Valley, which is just like Yosemite Valley without any people. It was a rough descent of 3500' on very steep unmaintained (almost nonexistent) trails.

There were some nice views in the canyon, and the river is a pleasant stream that goes over rapids and waterfalls (even in a very dry year like it is now).

There are some very nice sugar pines in that canyon. The latin name for sugar pine is Pinus Lambertiana, so it doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out that I really like them.

 

[lambertiana]

From Tehipite Valley we went up the Middle Fork of the Kings River to Simpson Valley, and then up the canyon of the Middle Fork to meet the John Muir Trail. Simpson Meadow is a wide area of the canyon with peaks rising over 4000' above it. We were treated to a little bit of lenticular cloud formation.

A nice treat in the higher part of the canyon is Devil's Washbowl. This is at the end of the summer after a 40% snowpack; imagine what it is like there during spring runoff with a heavy snowpack (note the high water mark).

As we went further up the canyon we were treated to great views:

After meeting the JMT (and seeing no one else for three days) we went up Palisade Creek to camp for the night.

The next day we continued up Palisade Creek

And then past lower and upper Palisade Lakes (here is Lower Palisade Lake):

Then we went over Mather Pass (12,100') and got great views looking back toward Palisade Crest (with five peaks over 14,000'):

 

[B Finnigan]

Sounds and looks like it was a great trip. I have not been to King's Canyon and Sequoia national park since I was kid. Those giant redwoods are amazing and I still remember thier size. You can't beat the smells you experience in an old growth forest. I would like to be able to bottle it up.

 

[Fonly]

You know, I'll never get a chance to look at anything like that with my eyes in my life time, but thats ok, because these pictures can almost make up for it, they are beautiful.

 

[lambertiana]

In case you are wondering why some of the pictures are not very clear, it is because smoke from a large forest fire to the west was being blown over the Sierra crest. It plagued us for most of the rest of the trip.

After crossing Mather Pass, we dropped down to Upper Basin to camp at treeline among some scattered whitebark pines.

There was a great view from camp looking south toward our next objective, Pinchot Pass.

We then descended to the South Fork of the Kings, then went back up past Lake Marjorie on the way to Pinchot Pass.

From the top of Pinchot Pass (12,130') we had a good view to the south.

From Pinchot Pass we descended to camp at Twin Lakes.

From Twin Lakes we had a good view toward Woods Lakes Basin.

 

[lambertiana]

From Twin Lakes it was a long descent. We went down Woods Creek canyon.

Then we met up with the South Fork of the Kings River (again) and followed it down past Castle Domes

and into Paradise Valley for our last night's camp.

Today we got up and finished the descent to Roads End in Kings Canyon NP, going past the Sphinx on the way.

In keeping with the spirit of the forums, included is a picture of what steel I took with me.

It was a very rewarding trip. Pictures and words just do not begin to convey the beauty.

 

[65535]

Excellent pictures and scenery. A quick question about your Whitney trip, being in cali, I have a friend that recently went on a Whitney trip (I think it was Whitney) and he said he went with the scouts. His name is nathan goldstick, anways great pics, and excellent choice of tools.

 

[lambertiana]

Sounds and looks like it was a great trip. I have not been to King's Canyon and Sequoia national park since I was kid. Those giant redwoods are amazing and I still remember thier size. You can't beat the smells you experience in an old growth forest. I would like to be able to bottle it up.

And that was just a sugar pine. The giant sequoias that are found at the middle elevations of Sequoia/Kings Canyon National Parks dwarf the sugar pines. They get up to 40' diameter at the base.

You are certainly right about the smell of an old growth forest. It is something I would like to bottle, too.

 

[lambertiana]

Excellent pictures and scenery. A quick question about your Whitney trip, being in cali, I have a friend that recently went on a Whitney trip (I think it was Whitney) and he said he went with the scouts. His name is nathan goldstick, anways great pics, and excellent choice of tools.

Sorry, I don't know Nathan.

 

[Dr. Mudd]

Thanks for sharing those SPECTACULAR photos.

 

[EmsRescueGuy]

Thank you for sharing these are teriffic pictures.

 

[DeadeyeLefty]

Wow....just.....wow!

The Lower Palisade Lake pic is my desktop now and the Castle Domes pic is next.

Do you know what the rock is in the Devil's Washbowl pic? I like how cubic it is.

Don't get me wrong, I love my own 'backyard', but.....wow.....

Thanks for posting the great shots !

 

[Myal]

that scenery is just AWESOME , dam its good , makes me wanne be there

top stuff !!

 

[Bwilson]

I just finished reading an excellent true story account of a back country ranger that died right where you were hiking. The book title is "the last season" and I highly recommend it.

 

[WILLIAM.M]

Great Photos

Thank You For Posting!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Tim the Slugman]

Awesome pics & awesome place!

 

[DOC-CANADA]

Excellent!

Doc

 

[raylaconico]

Wow, those are great pictures! How many days did it take you guys to do the loop?

 

[lambertiana]

The rock at Devil's Washbowl is a light colored granite or granodiorite. It is stained brown by the water/spray from spring runoff, but you can see the lighter color above the high water line. I have ordered geologic quadrangle maps of the area, and when they arrive I will be able to tell you the rock unit name. I am used to most of the southern sierras being a conglomeration of light colored granite/granodiorite plutons that look very similar from a distance (except for Mineral King). But this area of Kings Canyon has a tremendous variety in its geology, which is why I have ordered the maps (geology is my real love in life).

We took 8 days for the trip, averaging 10.5 miles per day. It was strenuous, but worth it. As I have already said, pictures do not begin to do it justice. I took 611 pictures, so I have plenty more that you haven't seen.

Was that backcountry ranger the one about whom Backpacker magazine recently had an article? I believe he died somewhere near Lake Basin; we crossed Cartridge Creek, which drains Lake Basin. The article did not tell how he died. Does the book?

And I have to make a correction - Castle Domes is on Woods Creek, a few miles upstream of its confluence with the South Fork Kings River.

 

[sasha]

man you got some awsome pics AGAIN ............. It must have been a killer going up and down those mountains. How much weight did you carry???

Sasha