Kaweah Basin trip report

Rosabella · Post by **Rosabella** » Tue Jul 03, 2007 9:47 pm

Greg... These are some of the most beautiful sierra pictures I ever seen! You've always had a way to capture the most spectacular scenes and somehow create an almost a magical feel to them, especially the ones with moving water.... but these were amazing!

So, you've piqued my interest, and I think I'm going to get my maps out to find this "Kaweah Basin". I've done very little x-country, but I'm comfortable with a map and compass, so I'd be fine with it.

It sounds like a wonderful trip!

Post by **maverick** » Wed Jul 04, 2007 12:18 pm

Hello Quentinc

Its approx 30 miles to the point across from Kern point where
you start you ascent.
The Black Rock Pass route with Spring Lake, Little Five, Big
Arroyo and Nine Lakes Basin is a pretty route.
Pants Pass is only very steep at the last 30 ft on both sides
with a steep dirt section on the eastern side(dont slip or
loose your balance on this section) from there on its skiing on
scree.
The Colby route starts out boring thru the Sugarloaf area(hot
and dry from mid-season on), but once you get to Roaring River
it gets alot better.
The views of the Whaleback are impressive and Colby Lake is
quite beautiful. As an option you could head up the western side
of the Whaleback and go over Lion Lake Pass and Lion Rock Pass
to end up in Nine Lakes Basin.
Triple Divide Pass from Glacier Lake is another option also with cool
scenery and you can descend down to the Colby Trail or head over
to Picket Creek Pass and then descend to Picket Lakes or go over
the small pass into Kaweah Basin.
You could also go up Deadman Canyon and go up to Coppermine Pass
and hook up with either LLP/LRP or TDP and then exit using the
Colby Trail /Cloud Canyon route giving you almost new scenery
in and out(Ranger Meadow is very pretty with great view to the south
towards Elizabeth Pass).
All of these option are class 2 and if you have the time well worth it.
IMO the route from Sunset would rate higher that the Glacier/BlackRock
approach.

Post by **copeg** » Wed Jul 04, 2007 2:09 pm

Thank you doug, quentic, and Rosie! quentinc, maverick's detailed post says more than I could ever say about the approaches.

madeintahoe · Post by **madeintahoe** » Wed Jul 04, 2007 4:52 pm

Oh My!!! Those are absolutely amazing...I LOVE them all. I looked at my map to see where you were at...it looks nice and remote. What a gorgeous part of the Sierra.

How does one choose where to go..this area is a for sure place!

Cloud Canyon is gorgeous! So nice to see it so green and lush!
Thank you for posting them!

Post by **quentinc** » Wed Jul 04, 2007 7:10 pm

Thanks Maverick. That gives me a lot to think about. Finally, how bad is Pyra-Queen pass? I ask that with the possibility of heading in from Crescent Meadow.

Post by **maverick** » Thu Jul 05, 2007 12:25 pm

The easiest pass into Kaweah Basin, the pass is the small chute you see
in the middle of the saddle from left to right above the patch of snow.
The other side is long and rocky but great scenery especially at
sunrise.

Trailtrekker06 · Post by **Trailtrekker06** » Thu Jul 05, 2007 6:53 pm

ahhhhh. What a great trip , Trailblazer. Beautiful shots.

Post by **copeg** » Fri Jul 06, 2007 6:57 am

Thanks madeintahoe and trailtrekker! I'm still in a different world right now after being in "the real world" for a work week.

Buck Forester · Post by **Buck Forester** » Fri Jul 06, 2007 8:13 am

YAAAA!!! Awesome adventure and pics! This stuff is what makes High Sierra Topix such a fantastic place!

lostcoyote · Post by **lostcoyote** » Fri Jul 06, 2007 10:01 am

trailblazer

congratulations on this most outstanding photograph in your collection (my opinion here of course)

http://www.naturefocused.com/archives/v ... x/IMG_7840

it is beautiful and you were at the right place at the right time

Kaweah Basin trip report

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