South Fork of the San Joaquin sierra junipers
Posted: Fri Jun 01, 2007 5:14 pm
I've just about decided to do a short base camping backpack up above Florence Lake reservoir on the South Fork of the San Joaquin River and hike about to the 8,000 foot elevation just before the Piute Creek junction where the Kings Canyon National Park border starts. Thus totally within Sierra National Forest and past the horse happy Muir Trail Ranch. It is one of the Sierra's deepest U-shaped glaciated granite canyons and in that area, the bedrock floor of the canyon is quite flat and wide. I've been up that trail a few times in the past including just a couple summers ago enroute to Evolution areas. My main reason for the trip is to do large format photography of sierra juniper trees as I remember being particularly impressed with the numbers of those trees on the canyon walls and floor of that zone. Likely will be doing some class 2 scrambling up canyons walls.
Given it is early June after a light winter, this year's snowpack likely melted back in that sunny area weeks ago. So I'm expecting early wildflowers in that zone for what there are, to be out. Also some nice green grassy granite benches. So will also have fun expanding my body of Sierra wildflower closeups with my little digital Coolpix. Besides the wildflowers and junipers, both the San Joaquin River and Piute Creek ought to be rather full though certainly less than usual at this time of year. So I hope to find some nice river shots too. And the canyon itself is oriented to get moderately late afternoon light especially on towering Pavillion Dome. May try and climb up rather high for a late pm pic all the way to Mount Darwin and Haekel at the crest.
I may drive up and start the trip this Sunday afternoon and be out three or four nights? Don't expect any issue getting a permit on the drive in. Weather forecast is for generally typical sunny fair weather and less likely possibly are afternoon cumulus buildups with possible showers. Mosquitos are likely to be of some level of nuisance though my destination is a particularly dry rocky area squeeters would tend to avoid. Thus leaning on lugging my tent up instead of the lighter bivy.
What my big question is has to do with the Florence Lake Resort Ferry. Just like other Sierra ferries like Echo Lake, Saddlebag, and nearby TA Edison, the crossing rates have increased over the years. I just checked the website for Florence and they are now charging $10 one way or $19 roundtrip. Since I've been in the frugal mode the last year, I'm considering hiking around the reservoir on the trail on the way in and just spending $10 on the way out. In part because I don't want to hike the full 8 miles from the ferry dock to my destination in one day. I've got just two short backpacking trips in this year so the old joints are not in strong shape. Taking the ferry saves about 3.5 miles of hiking and eliminates about 550 feet of up and down going around the reservoir. That questionably layed out trail monotonously goes up and down like a yoyo for a dozen times on the topo. If I take the trail instead of spending $10, I'll likely hike six miles or so to near Lower Blaney Meadows late in the afternoon then do the final six miles early Monday morning. Maybe even hike with my headlight in the evening if it is warm and stop atop one of the granitoid areas. Most likely when I actually get there and heft my huge pack I'll gladly spend the 10 buckos. I'm thinking of being out 3 or 4 nights which will give me enough time to explore that area leisurely and find good tree shots.
It is Friday afternoon, so Sunday is just a couple days away. If any of you fine Sierra Topix folks out there I've had the pleasure of conversing with on the board the last few years are not tangled up in work and whatever the next few days, and are interested in independently tagging along, including driving to and from the trailhead yourself, and can get organized in short order, send me an email, the address of which is at my below website. With nearly 70 pounds I will be hiking slow and frequently taking breaks.
...David
Given it is early June after a light winter, this year's snowpack likely melted back in that sunny area weeks ago. So I'm expecting early wildflowers in that zone for what there are, to be out. Also some nice green grassy granite benches. So will also have fun expanding my body of Sierra wildflower closeups with my little digital Coolpix. Besides the wildflowers and junipers, both the San Joaquin River and Piute Creek ought to be rather full though certainly less than usual at this time of year. So I hope to find some nice river shots too. And the canyon itself is oriented to get moderately late afternoon light especially on towering Pavillion Dome. May try and climb up rather high for a late pm pic all the way to Mount Darwin and Haekel at the crest.
I may drive up and start the trip this Sunday afternoon and be out three or four nights? Don't expect any issue getting a permit on the drive in. Weather forecast is for generally typical sunny fair weather and less likely possibly are afternoon cumulus buildups with possible showers. Mosquitos are likely to be of some level of nuisance though my destination is a particularly dry rocky area squeeters would tend to avoid. Thus leaning on lugging my tent up instead of the lighter bivy.
What my big question is has to do with the Florence Lake Resort Ferry. Just like other Sierra ferries like Echo Lake, Saddlebag, and nearby TA Edison, the crossing rates have increased over the years. I just checked the website for Florence and they are now charging $10 one way or $19 roundtrip. Since I've been in the frugal mode the last year, I'm considering hiking around the reservoir on the trail on the way in and just spending $10 on the way out. In part because I don't want to hike the full 8 miles from the ferry dock to my destination in one day. I've got just two short backpacking trips in this year so the old joints are not in strong shape. Taking the ferry saves about 3.5 miles of hiking and eliminates about 550 feet of up and down going around the reservoir. That questionably layed out trail monotonously goes up and down like a yoyo for a dozen times on the topo. If I take the trail instead of spending $10, I'll likely hike six miles or so to near Lower Blaney Meadows late in the afternoon then do the final six miles early Monday morning. Maybe even hike with my headlight in the evening if it is warm and stop atop one of the granitoid areas. Most likely when I actually get there and heft my huge pack I'll gladly spend the 10 buckos. I'm thinking of being out 3 or 4 nights which will give me enough time to explore that area leisurely and find good tree shots.
It is Friday afternoon, so Sunday is just a couple days away. If any of you fine Sierra Topix folks out there I've had the pleasure of conversing with on the board the last few years are not tangled up in work and whatever the next few days, and are interested in independently tagging along, including driving to and from the trailhead yourself, and can get organized in short order, send me an email, the address of which is at my below website. With nearly 70 pounds I will be hiking slow and frequently taking breaks.
...David