Kaweah-Red Spur Basin
Posted: Fri Dec 15, 2006 2:41 pm
We'll after visiting Kaweah Basin which included the beautiful Picket
Creek drainage 3 yr ago I had a yearning to revisit this area again.
I originally wanted to include the Red Spur Basin but enjoyed Picket
Lake area so much I extended my stay there instead.
I gained entry by using Pants Pass the last time, this time I revisited
using Pyra Queen Col.
The route was alot more tedious than I had remembered yet prettier
than the Pants Pass approach.
Extensive boulder hopping and talus involved. The col itself is a small
chute running left to right with some snow at the start of the chute.
Steep but short unlike Pants Pass which is long and steep on both sides.
Got a late start Sat(Sept 6th) around 11am from Crescent Meadow.
Pack weighed around 30lbs plus my new 30d and 2 lenses in a Lowepro
waist pack.
I got to Hamilton around 5pm had dinner and talked to a ranger on his
way to Pinto Lake to meet some friends.
Got up at 6am and was at Precipe Lake by 8am. Stopped a few times
taking pictures of Hamilton Lake and Angel Wings.
Kaweah Gap is always a great place to take a break and look down
the Big Arroyo and look at my route into Nine Lake Basin.
The climbing up to Pyra Queen Col was longer than I had remembered
it to be, but the lakes on the way to the col were even prettier than the
last time(pretty emerald green like the lakes out of Big Pine).
Once over the col I was running out of sunlight but managed to find
a spot next to one of the lakes at 11500ft between the rocks before it
got completely dark.
The next morning I got to revisit areas I have seen before and was
happy not to see any evidence of usage or abuse.
I headed down to one of the lowest lakes that has an island in it
and decide to spend the night before heading into Red Spur Basin.
The next morning I headed up the cliffs from the lake with the island
to about the 11000ft level and once over the shoulder I saw a small
lake.
I climbed down to the lake and headed up the drained that was dry to
some dried out ponds. There was a small ridge in front of me which
was supposed to have a lake on the other side of it.
Oh yes there was a beautiful lake which was my home for 2 days!!
I forgot to mention on my previous visit to Kaweah Basin the lakes
I had seen this trip were all dried out thats why I wasnt sure these lakes
would be here!
I explored the basins lakes and you can walk to the edge and look down
into the Kern.
The views to the east was as pretty as I had envisioned on the map,
even prettier. Whitney and all the other peaks in their full glory, with
unobstructed views!! Wow!
This place really gives you the feeling of being away from it all and it
really is!
I then made a decision to descend the Kaweah River to Rockslide Lake.
This was quite a down climb and there was some class 2 parts but with
the river running low I could rock hop down the middle of it in alot of
places.
The top part involves some steep down climbing from Red Spur Basin
which can be by passed by climbing back around and down toward the
lake with the island to the last pond before the river descends toward
Rockslide Lake.
From there it was down to Junction Meadow, Kern Hot Spring and Upper
Funston Meadow where I spent the night. This is also the first place I
experienced rain.
My way up to Chagoopa Plateau gave my a nice view down the Kern!
Once in the heart of the Plateau I followed Chagoopa Creek to a group
of some cool lakes where I decided to spend the night.
Took off at 6am again and got sprinkles early in the day near Big
Arroyo. Arrived at Little Five Lakes when it started to rain and there
was a very cold wing blowing. The rain did turn to snow for short
period. This is where I got to experience the most intense alpenglo
I have yet to experience in my many travels. The colors were surreal!
The next day I went over Black Rock Pass, down to Spring Lake, up
to Cyclaman and Columbine Lake over Sawtooth Pass and down to
Timber Gap to Pinto Lake for the night.
The next day was to Crescent Meadow and out.
Pictures posted in Sierra Photography Section allready.
Creek drainage 3 yr ago I had a yearning to revisit this area again.
I originally wanted to include the Red Spur Basin but enjoyed Picket
Lake area so much I extended my stay there instead.
I gained entry by using Pants Pass the last time, this time I revisited
using Pyra Queen Col.
The route was alot more tedious than I had remembered yet prettier
than the Pants Pass approach.
Extensive boulder hopping and talus involved. The col itself is a small
chute running left to right with some snow at the start of the chute.
Steep but short unlike Pants Pass which is long and steep on both sides.
Got a late start Sat(Sept 6th) around 11am from Crescent Meadow.
Pack weighed around 30lbs plus my new 30d and 2 lenses in a Lowepro
waist pack.
I got to Hamilton around 5pm had dinner and talked to a ranger on his
way to Pinto Lake to meet some friends.
Got up at 6am and was at Precipe Lake by 8am. Stopped a few times
taking pictures of Hamilton Lake and Angel Wings.
Kaweah Gap is always a great place to take a break and look down
the Big Arroyo and look at my route into Nine Lake Basin.
The climbing up to Pyra Queen Col was longer than I had remembered
it to be, but the lakes on the way to the col were even prettier than the
last time(pretty emerald green like the lakes out of Big Pine).
Once over the col I was running out of sunlight but managed to find
a spot next to one of the lakes at 11500ft between the rocks before it
got completely dark.
The next morning I got to revisit areas I have seen before and was
happy not to see any evidence of usage or abuse.
I headed down to one of the lowest lakes that has an island in it
and decide to spend the night before heading into Red Spur Basin.
The next morning I headed up the cliffs from the lake with the island
to about the 11000ft level and once over the shoulder I saw a small
lake.
I climbed down to the lake and headed up the drained that was dry to
some dried out ponds. There was a small ridge in front of me which
was supposed to have a lake on the other side of it.
Oh yes there was a beautiful lake which was my home for 2 days!!
I forgot to mention on my previous visit to Kaweah Basin the lakes
I had seen this trip were all dried out thats why I wasnt sure these lakes
would be here!
I explored the basins lakes and you can walk to the edge and look down
into the Kern.
The views to the east was as pretty as I had envisioned on the map,
even prettier. Whitney and all the other peaks in their full glory, with
unobstructed views!! Wow!
This place really gives you the feeling of being away from it all and it
really is!
I then made a decision to descend the Kaweah River to Rockslide Lake.
This was quite a down climb and there was some class 2 parts but with
the river running low I could rock hop down the middle of it in alot of
places.
The top part involves some steep down climbing from Red Spur Basin
which can be by passed by climbing back around and down toward the
lake with the island to the last pond before the river descends toward
Rockslide Lake.
From there it was down to Junction Meadow, Kern Hot Spring and Upper
Funston Meadow where I spent the night. This is also the first place I
experienced rain.
My way up to Chagoopa Plateau gave my a nice view down the Kern!
Once in the heart of the Plateau I followed Chagoopa Creek to a group
of some cool lakes where I decided to spend the night.
Took off at 6am again and got sprinkles early in the day near Big
Arroyo. Arrived at Little Five Lakes when it started to rain and there
was a very cold wing blowing. The rain did turn to snow for short
period. This is where I got to experience the most intense alpenglo
I have yet to experience in my many travels. The colors were surreal!
The next day I went over Black Rock Pass, down to Spring Lake, up
to Cyclaman and Columbine Lake over Sawtooth Pass and down to
Timber Gap to Pinto Lake for the night.
The next day was to Crescent Meadow and out.
Pictures posted in Sierra Photography Section allready.