California's Lost Coast - King Range Wilderness

a short inland section on day 3

The King Range Wilderness area in Northern California (aka Lost Coast) is one of the rare areas for a beach hike in a wilderness area. It is a National Conservation Area, administered by the Bureau of Land Management, and less developed than a National Park. But it also has a low quota of backcountry permits. Usually those are gone months in advance, but I got a 3-person permit for the week after July 4th. Kathy invited our friend John Zaller, who immediately accepted even though he would come off a multi-day hike in the Sierras the day before we start.

The King Range is a steep coastal mountain range, so rough that no road was built on the beach side (unlike Big Sur). King Peak is 1300 m and within 5 km of the beach. However, the hiking route is along the water and almost entirely on sand and rocks. Elevation gain is minimal and the brief sections that go a little bit inland are very welcome for having a harder surface:

afternoon day 2

There are several sections that are only passable during low tide; other times, the waves crash against the rocks, often steep cliffs that offer no option for a detour. Our permit started during a full moon, which tends to have extreme tides. In this case, only an early morning low tide was low enough to get past otherwise impassable sections. That timing was perfect for us going opposite (south to north) to the typical route and it avoided congested campsites (as the N-S hikers had to aim for campsites just north of the impassable sections). Sometimes there will be no passable tide during the day.

We started after 4pm in the afternoon at Black Sands Beach (Shelter Cove), with pleasant air temperatures, but still a hot sun. We only had about 6km before the first section that requires a low tide and stopped at Gitchell Creek to camp.

Kathy and John along Black Sands Beach.

The weather during all 3 days was clear with a gentle breeze (other times could be foggy with a strong headwind going north). Slept outside with just a tiny bit of moisture on the sleeping bag, there was no need for a tent or tarp.

Soft sand/gravel (even at low tide few spots with hard sand) and rocks make for a strenuous hike. Although our afternoon was just a small hike, the soft sand made it harder than one would think.

On day 2, we started about 6.30 around the lowest tide level.

Early morning on day 2

But we weren't the first: There were already new animal prints in the sand. The mountains are steep, often cliffs, and even bears hike on the beach to get from one area to another (these fresh bear footprints can't be more than a hour old). Deer, too.

Fresh bear tracks

It didn't take long before the animal tracks were obliterated by humans, within the next 2 hours, we saw several groups coming the opposite direction. The sand comes and goes, depending on how the coast line curves. At some places, deep sand gets deposited; elsewhere it gets washed away, leaving just medium to large rocks and little space between the water and the cliffs. This picture is during a very low tide, most low tides leave less space - and during higher tides, the waves crash against the rock.

These rocky sections are slow and strenuous

The morning was great, but this was the longest day of the trip(about 20 km) and the afternoon sun is not as pleasant as the morning. The terrain (soft sand or rocks) makes walking harder than 20km sounds. The hiking experience is quite different from the mountains not just in scenery, but apparently walking mechanism: I got blisters on my toes despite wearing my usual hiking boots and socks.

We made camp at Randall Creek by 3.30, right before the next section that required waiting for a low tide.

looking down from my camp at Randall Creek

Day 3 started off with a similarly lovely morning as the previous day, it just had a bit more fog and wind towards the end. The first section that has to be hiked during low tide had some spectacular rock formations, almost like a minuscule version of Devil's Postpile near Mammoth.

This needs a low tide - at other times, waves crash against the rocks

Cooskie Creek is in the middle of that section and probably getting quite crowded at times (for people hiking N-S, the two camping options just before or along the impassable section are Sea Lion Gulch - where we saw the first people already making camp by 11am to start the next morning- or Cooskie).

Cooskie creek

The narrow section ends at Sea Lion Gulch, which unsurprisingly has many sea lions sitting on the rocks. The trail goes inland for a little bit, but soon returns to the beach and then it is mostly deep sand until the trailhead at Mattole Beach. The last hour is definitely a sand slog.

Just before the final sand slog, the elephant seals at the old lighthouse provide some entertainment. Not a particularly exciting entertainment, mostly they lie next to each other and doze. The more enterprising ones use their flippers to toss sand on their backs every few minutes. They spend most of their time in the ocean and much further north (Alaska), but come to California twice a year. This is the summer beach vacation for molting (they will be back for the winter breeding season). But first they will be swimming north again. These are two very long round-trips each year!

Occasionally they get on each others nerves - maybe one was snoring too loudly? - raise up their fronts and yell and snort at each other for a minute. They are huge animals, the males weigh several tons, and the males are also astonishingly ugly to human eyes with their fat wobbly noses. Their females must perceive that wobble nose differently: They didn't become extinct despite being aggressively hunted by humans. I think that huge nose is only good for loud snoring or roaring sounds (unlike an elephant's trunk, they can't do anything practical with it). Those two guys roared for a minute, the outcome was that the one at the left moved maybe a foot back before they laid down again. The rest of the pack didn't move a flipper and didn't pay attention, except for the tiny one in the front who was unnerved by the racket.

Elephant seals snoozing and grumpy males yelling at each other near the lighthouse

done, time to lie down again, the one with the bigger nose wins and gains a foot more space.

Mineral King Loop - Sequoia National Park

 

Top of Sawtooth Pass

My favorite trip so far this year was a 4-day hike in Sequoia National Park, starting from Mineral King over the Blackrock and Sawtooth passes into the Five Lakes Basins. One of most spectacular routes ever. I went by myself, starting July 6.

The Great Western Divide is a formidable barrier separating the justifiably famous tourist destinations of the Sequoia National Park from the much less visited (and road-less) high mountains that account for much of the area of the Sequoia/Kings Canyon National Parks. There is no easy way to get over the Great Western Divide, every pass here is over 3500m (or >11500 feet). This trip started from the west, whereas last month's hike over Kearsarge Pass into King's Canyon started from the east. The western and eastern approaches differ systematically: 

"All the passes make their steepest ascents on the east flank of the range, where the average rise is nearly a thousand feet to the mile, while on the west it is about two hundred feet.  ... Approaching the range from the grey levels of Mono and Owens Valley the steep short passes are in full view between the peaks, their feet in hot sand, their heads in snow, the courses of the more direct being disclosed nearly all the way from top to bottom. But from the west side one sees nothing of the pass sought for until nearing the summit, after spending days in threading the forests on the main dividing ridges between the canyons of the rivers, most of the way even the highest peaks being hidden."

Muir, John. The Complete Works of John Muir: Travel Memoirs, Wilderness Essays, Environmental Studies & Letters (p. 25). Madison & Adams Press. 

Sunset from upper Monarch Lake on my last night

Mineral King is a quiet corner in the National Park, connected to the rest of the park by trails. A windy road that is too narrow for lane markings leads there, with an easily missed turnoff before the official park entrance (coming from the south, Three Rivers). It can take 1 1/2 hours for the 40km/25m to the ranger station (and the road dead-ends shortly afterwards). For John Muir, this took "days in threading the forests". 

Nicely wrapped minivan

I stopped at the ranger station to pick up my backcountry permit (only for overnight, none needed for day hikes). Rangers want to confirm that people know the rules and have appropriate equipment. Although the ranger quizzed me on bear-containers (I have a Garcia, which can hold 4 days of food) and waste disposal, his first question was whether I had a tarp for the car. Car wrapping is a custom specific to Mineral King: The local marmots chew wires and hoses in cars left overnight. This is a major concern Mineral King, but only there (nowhere else in the park) and only until August (no car chewing from August to April). I brought my own tarp, but the ranger station has spare ones if needed. Marmot-disabled cars have occurred so often at Mineral King that the National Park Service has a webpage on that. While marmots could easily chew through a tarp if they wanted, having the car wrapped from below is sufficient to discourage them (whereas open wheel wells seem to invite exploration and wire/hose tasting sessions). 

Funny looking trail parking lot

The fairly recent recreation.gov website makes backcountry permit reservation fairly easy (it also is the portal for park passes, campsite reservations, shuttles, backcountry permits is a tiny part). Backcountry permits are inexpensive, this was the most expensive permit at $25, King Range/Lost Coast was $6. The website is for reservations only, getting the actual permit varies across agencies. Sequoia and Kings Canyon require in-person pickup of the permit at a ranger station, whereas I printed the King Range/Lost Coast permit (BLM) from the recreation.gov site and received the Kearsarge permit by email from the Inyo National Forest backcountry office. 

At Columbine lake, afternoon of day 3
I didn't stay there but continued over
Sawtooth (peak and pass in the background)

The permitting process is not difficult to navigate and I think that minor hurdle is a necessary requirement to keep the backcountry pristine. Along the Colorado trail a few years ago (no permits were required there), I've seen lovely lakes in the tundra surrounded by human waste. Nature's processes work slowly in those climates. 

I went clockwise: Mineral King - Timber Gap - Blackrock - Five Lakes - Sawtooth - Mineral King. The data from my GPS are here: Mineral King map and GPS files The parking area (middle of the week) was almost full, but compared to the well-known hiking destinations of the John Muir or High Sierra Trails, Mineral King is nearly empty (there is room for maybe 20 cars, not hundreds). Not that there is anything secret or less impressive than other hikes. It just isn't famous like the JMT or HST. And that makes Mineral King loop hard to beat. 

The High Sierra Trail is actually not far from my trail, at times even parallel to it 2-3 km away. You probably would encounter dozens of hikers on the HST during any summer day. I saw far fewer on the trail: Zero on day 1, 3 on day 2, zero again on day 3, although 12 or so near Mineral King on the last day (mostly day hikers). The route wasn't entirely empty, I saw tents/people when passing visible campsites, just not on the trail. 

Elevations are in meters; the top right shows a bit of the High Sierra trail running parallel.

I started in the afternoon, planning only to get to Cliff Creek, which goes over Timber Gap, followed by a long descent. In the afternoon sun, ascending to Timber Gap (< 2 hours) was a sweaty affair despite pleasant air temperatures and largely forested. The ascent is up to about 3000m, followed by a much longer descent to Cliff Creek, the descent is almost double the initial climb.  

Cliff Creek can be a difficult or even dangerous crossing during spring with high water, but once I found the right crossing (took a bit of searching), it was easy. Cliff Creek is marked as a campsite with a bear box and indeed there were already 3 tents nearby (it was about 7 pm). Too crowded for me and I continued because I expected to find better opportunities. This wasn't guaranteed: The climb started, it is a steep canyon, and the vegetation is thick. However, after about 20 mins, I found a perfect spot near the creek, with a little waterfall, and no bugs. Outstanding camp site and I slept well, possibly because this was still at relatively low altitude, around 2200m. The standard recommendation, which would have been my fallback if I hadn't found anything else, is continuing to the next official camp with bear boxes at Pinto Lake, another 4k and 500m of climbing.  

Early in the morning, before the sun made it over the mountains

The next morning started before 7 as I read trip reports warning of the difficulty of Black Rock Pass, 1400 m climbing with a full pack and without shade (or in feet: it goes from 7100 to 11,600). While not easy, it certainly wasn't grueling, and I got to the top after 11am without feeling particularly exhausted, less than 5 hours after I started. Cliff Creek to Black Rock Pass was the hardest part of the loop.  

The climb begins gently after crossing Cliff Creek, along the creek with lots of vegetation, sufficiently overgrown that I twice lost the trail. Near the bottom of the waterfall in the photo (I think that waterfall is Cliff Creek, too, but maybe there is another contributor to it), it veers away to go over a ridge to the flat area near Pinto Lake. A path to the right (south) with a bear box presumably leads to camp sites, but the main trail briefly goes through marshy meadows. That may be half the distance and 1/3 of the elevation gain. Then the climb starts for real on a scree slope, now fully exposed to the sun. Trees - or any meaningful vegetation - are gone. 

Columbine is the lake on top
2 days later I get there from the other side

While going up the switchbacks,  one terrace after another with a lake become visible to the right/south: Spring, Cyclamen, and Columbine. The switchbacks themselves are strenuous and boring, but the views of the lakes and valley below are fantastic. Everytime a new lake is revealed, a good time for a short break. 

Black Rock Pass crests the Great Western Divide and crossing it leads to a different world. The western part is hot, scrubby foothills and some forests, but now it is all alpine mountains with lakes and ragged granite peaks. 

Big 5 lakes - I think #2

The first basin is Little Five Lakes, which came highly recommended. "Definitely a place to camp", "spend more than a day here" seems to be the summary. One ranger considers it the most magical spot and his favorite in the whole Sierra. Well, wasn't my experience. Now early afternoon with a biting sun and even more directly biting mosquitoes, this was instead one of the "why am I doing this?" times.  I don't think Little Fives Lakes is to blame. I got there between 1-2pm, my least favorite part of the day, and was welcomed by hungry mosquitoes. Slathering myself in Picaridin kept them from biting or landing on me, but didn't change the dial from miserable to pleasant. I'd rather be going up Blackrock Pass. I had lunch near the intersection of my route and Big Arroyo and somewhat listlessly explored the next lake as well, but can't say it was enjoyable. Flying bugs and hot sun overwhelmed whatever charms the Little Five Lakes basin had. My visit to Little Five Lakes was a bust. That July is peak season for mosquitoes in the Sierra is not a new observation:

 

"The Sierra mosquitoes are courageous and of good size... They sting anywhere, any time of day, wherever they can find anything worth while, until they are themselves stung by frost."

Muir, John. The Complete Works of John Muir: Travel Memoirs, Wilderness Essays, Environmental Studies & Letters (p. 716). Madison & Adams Press. 

After an hour or two, I decided that this requires a change of plan, I wouldn't stay here, and continued. Slowly trudged along towards the Big Five Lakes basin with repeated breaks. Still too many bugs, and too hot, and too much sun, or sand, or maybe it went up and down too much, or trees in the way. By 3.30, I found a spot without flying bugs, sun was at a lower angle, and I made coffee and started liking where I was. After a long break, I continued towards the Big Five Lakes and the rest of the day was lovely again. 

Heading towards the Big Five Lakes Basin, life is good again

Only one of the lakes in the Big Five Lakes basin was on my planned route, the others would be a detour on an unmaintained spur trail going west. It was still early and now I was happy to do this detour (which would be an out and back). This part is definitely off the beaten path, by lake 3 it is so unbeaten that it becomes hard to make out any trail. People come here as I saw good sites to camp that clearly had seen use within the last month. It is a bit swampy, lots of grass, and unsurprisingly buggy. I continued to lake 4 and found an excellent sandy area slightly above the lake, bug free until sunset. 

Lake 3, I think

The trail is getting overgrown. This is a slightly elevated path above the swamp, now  getting hemmed in by trees that want to grow on the elevated part as well. It looks as if somebody tried to plant a row of trees, but it is just that the trees started growing where they didn't get stepped on. There is still room to get through, but not much longer, now the trees will win. I encountered this repeatedly, maybe 4 times just between lakes 2 and 3, a sign of too few hikers on this side trail.   

Around 7.30/8.00, I had to put up the inner tent as mosquitoes started showing up. As I looked out, there were a dozen of them hanging on the net outside trying to join me on the inside. I didn't have to stay indoors for very long. It was a moonless night and the stars were great, which I rather see directly than filtered through netting. By 10, the bugs had left and I was outside again.  I couldn't sleep well (nor the next day) and attribute the difference to the elevation on the second and third night, almost 1000m higher than the first night.  

In the morning I retraced my steps to the main route - sort of. It wasn't the same way I came until I joined up with the more established trail from lake 2 back to the intersection. Lake 1 is on the main route and substantially downhill from the other lakes. While I didn't see anybody on the trail this day, it is clear from the trail condition that this sees many more visitors than  lakes 2-5.

Big Five Lakes # 1

The Five Lakes trail is paralleled by Big Arroyo and Big Arroyo trail (1-2 km aerial distance to the northeast, the canyon in the next photo) and the High Sierra Trail (another 1 km beyond that, probably along the foot of the mountains). On the far side of the High Sierra Trail are the Kaweah Peaks: Kaweah Queen, Black Kaweah, Red Kaweah, and Mt Kaweah. Every one of them is over 4000m. The High Sierra Trail is about halfway between from where I took the picture and the mountain tops. 

 

From left to right, that is Black Kaweah, Red Kaweah, and Mt. Kaweah
Big Arroyo is the canyon in the foreground

At the eastern end of the 1st Big 5 Lake, I briefly lost the trail again and followed a creek, which would have gotten me into Big Arroyo. But as it got steeper and steeper and the creek became more a waterfall, I realized that this was not the right way. First I have to go over another ridge, so uphill, not downhill! Afterwards, there is a steep downhill into Lost Canyon. A slide obliterated the trail and it is almost as much of a bushwhack as my earlier error would have been, the difference being that here obviously many other people have recently tried to find a way. But not a trail yet, just many attempts at finding one - which eventually recreates one. More sliding than walking, but a preparation for the even longer and steeper slide down Sawtooth. 

At the bottom, crossing a log leads into the sweet Lost Canyon. A narrow forested canyon with a clear stream and small interspersed meadows. Gentle uphill, shady, and it is such a sweet place that even a hike during the bad time of day is pleasant (now it was about 2 pm). 

Eventually trees peter out, revealing and a much fiercer granite vista. 

Approaching the end of Lost Canyon with a pointy Sawtooth Peak 

The back of Lost Canyon has a double climb, first to Columbine Lake and then to Sawtooth pass. It looks intimidating from the approach, but the first half to Columbine is surprisingly easy, with a very developed, almost manicured, path. The second part, from Columbine Lake to Sawtooth, isn't any of that. 

going up to Columbine Lake - a lot of effort must have gone
into building this trail!

Columbine Lake may be the highlight of the route. It comes as a surprise, tucked into a bowl of granite on the Great Western Divide near the top. Camping is possible, but there are only 3 or 4 suitable sites and the rangers discourage camping because human waste has been an issue. The area is fragile and overused. At this altitude, everything moves more slowly. 

Columbine Lake, with Sawtooth Peak and Pass behind it

The outflow of Columbine Lake is Cliff Creek, so now I cross it again (which at its origin is just a tiny little creek). The climb to Sawtooth pass is hard, big rocks. Initially there are some cairns and at the end a trail reappears (gravel), but the middle part can be confusing and require some backtracking to find a route (at least for me). 

The way to the top

From the top of the pass, I had read about "complicated route finding", "constant side-hilling", "slow descent". The closest to a trail runs along the ridge for a while. The ranger said that some people try this, but also that it isn't worth trying to find a trail and instead go straight down. From the top it is clear where you want to go and straight down the chute is almost a fun jog/slide down. Like running down a sand dune. The "almost" is only because gravel doesn't feel as nice as sand and you want to avoid bigger rocks. A really fast and (I think) easy descent. 

Sliding/jogging down the chute is the easiest and fastest way

At the bottom of the chute, the trail continues to the two Monarch Lakes. They are popular, but right after Columbine, I found them rather disappointing. Lower Monarch is marked as wilderness camping and it has a lot of visitors, there were maybe 6 tents. So popular that it even has a toilet. That was a dud, so I continued to the upper Monarch Lake, a terrace up and with a steep climb on a primitive/unmaintained/no trail, but only for 1 km. Yet that climb is enough to discourage people, even for a visit, and I had the upper lake to myself. On the populated side of the Western Divide and close to Mineral King, these lakes are not in the same league as the pristine lakes on the other side. Upper Monarch even has a dam. I'll skip those lakes in the future. 

upper Monarch lake

I put the inner tent up for mosquitoes, but like the previous night, it was only necessary during dusk. Most of the night I was just outside, but it was another very restless night. I couldn't get comfortable (despite nice sandy ground, pleasant cool temperatures) and my mind was racing. Monarch lakes are still over 3000m and I just think that elevation takes a longer acclimatization. Up to 2500m seems to be fine immediately. 

Lower Monarch Lake and Mineral Peak

From Monarch Lake, it is only about 2 hours back to Mineral King, all downhill. 

Back on Mineral King road. Is the road descends, there are a few Sequoias along the way. But none like in the main part of the National Park.  

Eastern Sierras - Kearsarge Pass to Kings Canyon

Morning light on the Kearsarge Pinnacles from our camp at the 2nd Kearsarge Lake

Straight north from Los Angeles are the Mojave and Great Basin Deserts. Driving through the arid valley along Highway 395, it is hard to believe that hundreds of clear lakes lie within an aerial distance of 10 miles just behind the mountain barrier to the west. Only to the west, though. The mountains and valleys to the east (like Death Valley) are desolate. 

We went the weekend of June 20, a time when it is still easy to get wilderness permits on short notice, even for a popular trailhead like Kearsarge Pass, which goes into Kings Canyon National Park from the east. Timing was perfect, temperatures were pleasant, the days were not hot and the nights were no longer cold. No mosquitoes yet (I slept outside, didn't use a tent), which would change quickly. Some big fat mosquitoes were around, but very sluggish and barely for an hour. No tiny, hungry, aggressive ones yet, possibly because the week before still had freezing temperatures. Those would be out by early July (and indeed I encountered them at similar lakes 2 weeks later on the Mineral King loop in Sequoia National Park).

There is no easy way to get past the mountain barrier, only strenuous ones. However, one is noticeable easier and shorter than the others: Kearsarge Pass Trail. This comes at the price of extreme popularity (well, popular for something that involves physical activity and is not near a major city). From trailhead to the pass is less than 8 km and only 800 m elevation gain (<5 miles; about 2600 feet). Nearby alternatives, Baxter, Sawmill, or Taboose, are twice the effort because they start much lower. Sawmill is 20km long with 2000m of gain. 

Any of those passes serves as a gateway to the many lakes and peaks in the high mountain and connects with the famous long distance John Muir and Pacific Crest Trails. Because it is the easiest, many through-hikers use the Kearsarge Pass to resupply in Independence. In fact, that's what a long distance hiker did 150 years ago:  

"A good mountain trail conducts out of the valley at the head along the edge of the cascading river, and across the range by the Kearsarge Pass to Owens Valley, which we followed, and reached Independence on the east side of the Sierra in two days. From here we set out for the summit of Mt. Whitney."

Muir, John. The Complete Works of John Muir: Travel Memoirs, Wilderness Essays, Environmental Studies & Letters (p. 72). Madison & Adams Press. 

Because it starts high and quickly reaches some lakes, Kearsarge trail is popular with day hikers and families, some even bring inflatables. It may be the fastest escape from desert heat. The first lake, Little Pothole, is at 3000m.

The trail to Kearsarge Pass starts gaining elevation immediately, but on switchbacks with a gentle grade. Initially dry with sagebrush and manzanita vegetation. Very soon there is is a turnoff to the Golden Trout Lakes, a primitive trail that sees little use and is much more difficult (some scrambling and trail finding needed) than the Kearsarge trail. For just an overnight without crossing into Kings Canyon (Golden Trout does not go over the crest), I would try Golden Trout myself. 

The main trail climbs to the first lake within another 2 km, a basin holding Little Pothole Lake, and the beginning of trees. And shortly after that Gilbert Lake, a very pretty lake with views of tall peak towering over Kearsarge trail, University Peak, which is over 4000m. The campsites around Gilbert Lake are highly used. Now briefly within trees, a trail crosses Independence Creek to Matlock and Bench Lakes, just before Flower Lakes. That is a lot of lakes in such a short distance! 

After Flower Lake is when I think the real climb starts, maybe because it is now on talus/scree slopes and beyond the tree line. I certainly huffed and puffed from here, but took a break overlooking Heart Lake, 5 km from the trailhead. A sharp curve with some shade trees, a focal point to take a break from the effprt to have a sandwich. Good we had enough water; Heart Lake or the Big Pothole (coming next) are near the trail, but a scramble down (and back up) to get water (the earlier lakes are easily accessible). Great views of the lake and University Peak about 3 km away from the resting point. While not visible, there are another 2 lakes between Heart Lake and University Peak. 

Heart Lake and University Peak behind it

On with climbing switchbacks, the next basin is Big Pothole Lake (4.2 miles), with more views of the rugged peaks and ridges around University Peak.

Big Pothole Lake

Looks like we're almost there, but it is a really long final switchback to the top of Kearsarge Pass at 3600m, where signs mark the border of Kings Canyon National Park. 

Still on the "almost there" part

This is where day hikers turn back because passes have the common property that it goes down the other side and by now everybody had enough climbing. So they just get a view of the Kearsarge Pinnacles, Kearsage Lakes and Bull Frog Lake, but we head down. 

The main destinations, other than connecting with the John Muir Trail, are the Kearsarge and Rae Lakes or Charlotte Lake. We went to the Kearsarge Lakes and found an excellent camp site on lake 2. 

An overnight hike over Kearsarge into Kings Canyon may sound like an adventure, but 150 years ago, it served utilitarian purposes:

"We found a mountaineer who had come across the range by the Kearsarge Pass to catch trout for the purpose of stocking a number of small streams ....he caught large numbers ... and put them into tin cans to be transported on mules. He had already carried a train-load over the pass, and said that by frequently changing the water at the many streams and lakes on the way, nearly all the trout were kept alive to the end of their long and novel excursion."

Muir, John. The Complete Works of John Muir: Travel Memoirs, Wilderness Essays, Environmental Studies & Letters (p. 1793). Madison & Adams Press.  

From Kearsarge Pass, the trail drops about down steeply to the valley which then continues to descent more slowly to the John Muir Trail. After the steep descent, there is a branch trail to Kearsarge and Bullfrog Lakes. Kearsarge Lakes are a prime destination in themselves. Bullfrog Lake is particularly beautiful, but no camping or animal grazing is allowed near the lake. The curse of its attractiveness, which otherwise would lead to substantial damage (walking around the lake, the vegetation is more vulnerable as well). The Kearsarge Pass Trail connects with the John Muir Trail shortly before the big descent down to Vidette Meadow (going left/south). Charlotte Lake is a short distance beyond the end of the Kearsarge Pass Trail (right/north along the lakes trail, straight ahead otherwise). Rae Lakes isn't that much further, but there is Glenn Pass in between, as high as Kearsarge, so better saved for another day. The Rae Lakes loop seems to be another extremely popular hike, but everybody seems to start from Kings Canyon. It works just as well via Kearsarge, >80% is the same route, maybe from the East adds 5km. More than offset by a much shorter drive from Santa Monica (3 1/2 hours to Onion Valley vs 5 hours to Zumwalt). More time on trails, less in the car!  

Bull Frog lake is the prettiest of the lakes

Sunset at Kearsarge Lake 3 and Kearsarge Pinnacles

Early morning the next day

heading back

Joshua Tree Backpacking - April 2021

Before it is getting too hot, a hike the CRHT in Joshua Tree last weekend in April, which is about as close to a through-hike as feasible in JT. The CRHT runs for 38 miles from Black Rock (on the western end) to the North Entrance. I think most of the area it goes through is classified as wilderness, although it crosses two paved (and two unpaved) park roads. It makes for an easy 2 nights out (starting Friday afternoon, then all day Saturday, and finishing Sunday morning).

I had my 2nd COVID vaccine on Wednesday (April 21) and was miserable the next day, so didn't start with the group. However, I felt better later and then started from Covington Flats and caught up with them.

My camp night 1

I did not see anybody else on the trail on Friday until I caught up with them. The backcountry trails are empty, even though the park is congested along the paved roads - very typical for National Parks.

view from my camp night 2 (it was higher up on a ledge)

The nicest part is in the middle, between Covington Flats and Ryan Campground. Most of the trail -the middle 25-30 miles - is at higher elevation, very pleasant temperatures in the last week of April. Days in the 70s, nights high 40s/low 50s. The initial stretch is a sandy uphill (from Black Rock to Covington Flats), the last stretch (White Tanks to North Entrance) a sandy downhill, the least attractive parts of the hike. There is no water along the trail, not even near a detour, so it is necessary to cache water along the way. This is easily done at one of the backcountry boards when the trail crosses a park road; also the NPS recommendation. The birds know how to pick water containers, though, so there is the trade-off between easier to carry out containers (thin plastic) and bird proof. In the first case, you may find your water partly emptied (I saw holes in the top, and they knock the containers over). Water is highly valued by everybody in the desert!

 

A fair amount of hikers and runners (maybe a dozen) on the last 11 miles on Sunday, but that stretch parallels the park road, maybe why it is used more. Amazingly, near the end, two women ran by and I talked to them. They had started only 5 hours before at the other end, fully self-supported (i.e. they carried all their water). So if you are fit enough, the whole through-hike can be done in half a day! But 5 hours for 38 miles is truly impressive as these are not easy miles mostly because of the sand (which sucks up a lot of energy) and also has some climbing.

while not extremely the sandy, there are many stretches where you can feel the difference