Planning for my 2014 trek

themappist · Post by **themappist** » Sun Mar 30, 2014 4:40 pm

We met on the trail in mid-September 2013, you were heading to Kern Hot Springs then too. Is this a regular destination for you in Sept? I'm planning on climbing triple divide peak around the same time, accessing it via Colby. Might run into you again on the trail this year.

RoguePhotonic · Post by **RoguePhotonic** » Sun Mar 30, 2014 5:28 pm

Was that at Wallace Creek? There were two groups there that knew me.

As for the Kern Hotspring I wouldn't say I plan to go there on any time frame really. It always seems to be more of a connector point than any specific planned place to go. After covering so much of the Sierra allot of places I end up at are connectors.

I do love staying there but it's always hit or miss with how crowded it is. I have stayed there in mid September for 3 nights without anyone else camping or I have been there when there were people everywhere.

This last summer the first night I went in I had to wait until about 11:30PM before the spring was free. The next night I didn't even bother since there were so many.

themappist · Post by **themappist** » Sun Mar 30, 2014 5:41 pm

Yes, it was at Wallace.

RoguePhotonic · Post by **RoguePhotonic** » Mon Mar 31, 2014 11:59 am

I think this might be my extreme end to the hike:

September 22 - 88 - Sugarloaf Creek
September 23 - 89 - Cement Table Meadow
September 24 - 90 - Lake 11,500
September 25 - 91 - Climb Midway Mountain
September 26 - 92 - Climb Centennial Peak & camp in Milestone Bowl
September 27 - 93 - Climb Milestone Mountain
September 28 - 94 - Climb Table Mountain & camp at lake 11,920
September 29 - 95 - Lake 11,530
September 30 - 96 - Layover
October 1 - 97 - Climb Kern Point
October 2 - 98 - Kern Hotspring
October 3 - 99 - Forester Lake
October 4 - 100 - Spring Lake
October 5 - 101 - Middle Fork Kaweah
October 6 - 102 - Lodgepole

So I would climb Midway from the West at the lake above Colby. I then would climb Centennial Peak from Colby Pass. Milestone would be from Milestone Bowl. Then cross Milestone Pass to do Table Mountain. Then hike South to the lake below Kern Point to climb it from there. Then drop to the Kern and move all the way down to the Rattlesnake Creek trail. I'd make my way to Amphitheater Lake where I would climb Sawtooth peak from the SE slope with my full pack. Then drop down to the Pass and go out over Glacier Pass to Spring Lake. Then drop down Cliff Creek to the trail and make my way out.

I still need to do more research on Kern Point as Secor's book only talks about Kern Ridge and the West slopes being class 2. It says nothing about the Eastern side.

TahoeJeff · Post by **TahoeJeff** » Mon Mar 31, 2014 1:21 pm

Rogue, I don't know if you've posed this, how many miles a day do you typically hike?

Wandering Daisy · Post by **Wandering Daisy** » Mon Mar 31, 2014 1:50 pm

Sometimes there is more information on various routes in climber.org than you can find in Secor's book. Milestone basin is a great place to camp. Just a warning- I was there last August and the meadow I planned to camp at was bone dry. The main creek and the lakes will have water. I am sure you already know this, but there is a good use-trail all the way up Milestone Creek from the main trail.

RoguePhotonic · Post by **RoguePhotonic** » Mon Mar 31, 2014 1:53 pm

Well I typically hike 10-15 on trail and maybe 5-7 cross country. It all depends on terrain but I think after these past years I have a pretty good grasp on how far I can go in a day. I still make a few mistakes though and over plan.

As for routes yeah I will do allot more research this year. I need some detailed notes and photos for Table Mountain for sure. Secor makes it sound very complicated to stay on a class 3 route.

In 2010 I lost the trail on the Kern and actually ended up following the trail that was headed up Milestone Creek for a couple hundred yards before I knew it was wrong. I then bailed cross country and found the trail again in the middle of some switch backs.

fourputt · Post by **fourputt** » Mon Mar 31, 2014 3:41 pm

In his book, Phil Arnot provides a detailed description of his route up to Josephine Lake from Cement Table Meadow ...

As much as I appreciate Arnot's enthusiasm, I can't recommend trying to follow many of his route descriptions.

alpinemike · Post by **alpinemike** » Mon Mar 31, 2014 9:07 pm

Hey Rogue.

My friend who is a ranger in SEKI traveled from South Guard Lake down Cunningham Creek last year and said that most of it had a game trail that was relatively followable. He said he did it at late when the sun was setting and he recommended that it would have been a better choice during the day. That seems to follow in line with what others have said. I'm planning myself to travel down Cunningham creek at some point as well this summer during a trip that takes me through a large part of Sequoia. The full trip I posted in the topic heading of 2014 trips.

As a side note: My friend and I are planning on finishing the JMT and I'm pretty sure we'll be heading through Reds Meadow and that part of the JMT around the time of when you're with the trail crews. Do you have any idea where they are going to be and where you'll be camped? I've read all of your reports and your photographs are fantastic (I'm a photographer myself) and I always find it cool to bump into people I read about online. You've definitely inspired me to try and get out there for longer periods of time as much as I can.

RoguePhotonic · Post by **RoguePhotonic** » Mon Mar 31, 2014 10:08 pm

Even if you don't work with us your certainly welcome to stop by for dinner and have a beer or soda depending on what you like. We camp at the back end of the Red's Meadow pack station. Enter into it from the main road and just cut straight through until you see where everyone is set up.

There is a chance the crew might be in Fish Creek for a few days though.

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