Trip planning from Courtright to Florence

[vmele53]

I'm planning a trip from Courtright to Florence via Hell for Sure Pass then back down along the San Joaquin, obviously that's the main route of travel for most people. Anyway, what I'm really doing here is looking for some advice on fishing. I love to fish the high country and am especially fond of catching Goldens, who isn't? I'm planning about three nights and four days to get it done, I wish I could go longer but my time is limited. Now the questions... First, I'm unfamiliar with the trail except what I've studied on maps, is it going to be rough trying to make it to Rae lake on the first day? I'm a somewhat advanced backpacker, level 3 I guess, comfortable with cross country travel, tough hiking, and I am extremely good at orienteering (thank the army for that). I'm not worried too about the climb, but as I've never hit these trails before I just wanted a little advice. Also, I'm comfortable putting in some hard high mileage days, especially in the backcountry. Second, and really most importantly, is the fishing in the area good this year? I'm not sure what lakes I want to camp and fish, I'd like to hit them all but I've only got two nights in the area, then I'm planning one night somewhere along the San Joaquin then a long hike out to florence the last day. I guess I'm just looking for a little advice on where to go and what to do. Most importantly I'm just looking to have fun and enjoy the beauty. Thanks for the time.

[giantbrookie]

Four days is somewhat fast paced trip, but outrageous, so as long as you are in good hiking shape going into it. The 4 days becomes a bit more pinched if you are indeed doing this as a shuttle using two vehicles (instead of simply using one vehicle and improvising from Florence), given that setting up the two vehicles will mean a later start on day 1 plus a bit to drive on day 4 after you get to Florence. You have a good selection of lakes available to you at the end of day 1 (presuming you make it into the basin) and day 2 can be the one leisurely day of the trip moving the pack from Fleming/Rae to the eastern Red Mtn basin (Disappointment L. and others). Day 3 will take you over the pass and down Goddard Cyn as far as you feel like going. You should find decent fishing on this trip, but goldens are going to be hard to come by. None of the lakes along the trail will have them (lakes are predominantly brookies and some rainbows). I'm going to take a guess that you may find some in the upper San Joaquin in Goddard Canyon after you descend there from the pass.

[balzaccom]

From Courtwright to Rae Lakes is a long haul for one day. It's about 12 miles or so, and the last four miles are pretty darn steep. With an early start, we made it to Post Corral Meadows by lunch--and that part was relatively easy. ONly about one mile of real climbing. But then we headed over to the Kings River and camped there. That was about 11 miles, and without a huge amount of climbing or descending.

Your route would be the same 7-8 miles to PCM, but then the trail just goes straight up for about three to four miles. Once you get up there, the trail to Rae Lake isn't too bad (you could also camp at the lower lake, about 1/2 mile closer, if you want. Fishing wasn't bad there, although the mosquitoes were fierce on that trail last year, mid-July. We actually had much better fishing at Lower Indian Lake, but quickly got tired of feeding the mosquitoes there.

You still have to get up and over Hell for Sure Pass...and then down the other side. And Rae Lake is about 1/2 mile off the trail, so you can add that to whatever mileage you are planning.

Hope that helps