High Sierra Topix

Thanks G, missed it. Nice, looks windy.

The Big Pine Creek basin is one of my favorite areas. I am surprised more hikers do not got there. I have been there a lot because it is a well used climbing base-camp. I have climbed Temple Crag, Winchell and Thunderbolt from Thrid Lake area. My previous trips were so focused on climbing that I have yet to explore all the lakes.

Sometimes you actually can see a lot more by doing several shorter trips from several trailheads. Sounds like you had a great trip.

It's a little late, but i just got back from a family camping trip to Kennedy meadows. Easy 45 min. drive from the 395 from Ridgecrest and about 3.5 hours from L.A.. No snow, and perfect hiking weather. Fishing was really good for small trout with very few people there except for a few PCT guys coming through. Had such a good time that I am going back for a 4 day trip up the PCT along the South fork of the Kern river in a few weeks. Looks like a great early season area. I spoke with the Kennedy Meadows store, and was told that the rangers don't open the roads till Memorial day to get into Jordon hot spring and other trail heads. The black rock Ranger station opens around memorial day as well.

overheadx2 wrote:Fishing was really good for small trout with very few people there except for a few PCT guys coming through. Had such a good time that I am going back for a 4 day trip up the PCT along the South fork of the Kern river in a few weeks. Looks like a great early season area.

If you like fishing, the South Fork can be quite good. But watch out for the rattlers!The area you describe is ok, but the fishing gets much better the further back from Kennedy Meadows you go, and the more off the beaten track you get. And you can go south, not just north, and fish the South Fork in the Domelands wilderness. I have pulled fish as large as 18" out of the South Fork, as recently as opening day weekend of fishing season this year.

Thanks, we hikes the PCT south about 3 miles one day, and the fishing was definitely better quality. As you said, its getting pretty hot, and we were warned of lots rattlers being seen down south. I figured Id hike north to higher altitude and lower temps. I plan on hiking into rock house basin to the south earlier next spring before the heat and rattlers. Thanks for the tip.

Next year, if you still want to go south, Private Message me, and I will pass on some info you might find useful. I have fished the South Fork from Kennedy Meadows all the way through Rockhouse, and a couple of miles south of Rockhouse Basin, at one time or the other.