Sequoia Loop Suggestions

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jimh
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Post by jimh »

maverick wrote: Are you interested in cross-country or does it have to be all trail?
We're starting to look at some cross-country stuff now. Maybe explore the 9 Lakes Basin and Kaweah Basin or cross-country into Cloud Canyon, etc. My question is, are the trails going into these areas marked in any way? There appears to be quite a system of trails into the back country. How easy are they to find and follow and are there maps with these trails on them?
maverick wrote: How many miles do you do a day(trail and on xc routes)?
We are hoping to stay around 10 miles a day, maybe have 1 zero day to either fish or day hike. XC routes will slow us down so probably less than 10. Depends on our motivation. Good thing about Sequoia National Park is you don't reserve sites, so your trip can change as necessary. And it looks like we'll be carrying bear cans.
maverick wrote:What month were you planning to go?
Hitting the trailhead on Saturday, August 25th and exiting on Saturday August 31st. Wanna join us?

In reading other posts on this board, it is apparent that xc trails are everywhere to be found. My feeling is, we should determine what it is we wanna see and do, submit the suggestions here and let you guys help us out. But if you experts were me, what would you wanna see within the parameters suggested above.
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maverick
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Post by maverick »

Hi Jim

9 Lakes Basin is xcountry but easily accessable from the trail coming down from Kaweah Gap.
Kaweah Basin can be entered by 2 passes from the west and 1 from the south(Pants Pass, Pyra Queen Col and Kaweah Pass). All are class 2 passes. Pants pass is very steep on the last 30ft on both sides! PQ Col is a little drawn out but pretty. Kaweah Pass is very rocky on the northern side where footing can be quite precarious.
Their are no signed trail in these xcountry areas. You should be experienced in reading topos and using a compass. Once in Kaweah Basin you are on your own, literally away from it all!!
You'll have the prettiest basin in the Sierra to yourself with some of the grandest views nature has to offer!!
Heres a few photos http://www.flickr.com/photos/maverick02/
You can make Bearpaw Meadow from Crescent Meadow the first day and then to 9 Lake Basin the next. Then go over PQ Col in KB. Then explore for a couple of days. Check out Picket Lake which is the last lake on Picket Creek before it descends down towards Kern Kaweah River.
Also, the lake with the island in it is a cool camping place!!
If you want to go from 9 Lakes Basin to Cloud Canyon you'll have to go over Lion Rock Pass and then Lion Lakes Pass both class 2. You can get more info on this and other passes in " The High Sierra Peaks, Passes, and Trails" by R.J. Secor.
Go down Cloud Canyon and up Deadman Canyon and over Elizabeth Pass, but this route even though it envolves trail and xcountry will take you longer to complete.
Its about 65 miles long which will not allow for any layover days.
Thanks for the invite, but I going to attempt a southern entrance into Red Spur Basin on the eastern side of Kaweah Basin from Chapooga Plateau's Red Spur Creek which should be a first, sometime in July.
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TwoFortyJeff
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Post by TwoFortyJeff »

Just a note. If you are going to hit Bearpaw on the first day, I highly suggest stopping a mile early at Buck Canyon. Despite being right on the trail, Buck Canyon feels more wild than Bearpaw.

If you can swing about 20 miles on day one, Hamilton Lake is an amazing place to spend the night.
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Post by maverick »

24Jeff is correct that Buck Canyon does offer more privacy than Bearpaw which in Aug can be pretty busy though it is hotter, Bearpaw does have more tree cover.
Hamilton is 15 miles from Crescent and if you get an early enough start you can make it, but it depends on you fitness. You do not want to waste yourself the first day out especially with you biggest climb yet to come.
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Post by giantbrookie »

I guess more folks are savvy about Buck Canyon than I realized. I've used it (on the way out) twice, in lieu of Bearpaw because it is indeed away from the crowds and quite pleasant. You can also soak your feet in the stream there which is really nice. On the other hand it is a small place that will fit two small parties at the most.
Since my fishing (etc.) website is still down, you can be distracted by geology stuff at: http://www.fresnostate.edu/csm/ees/facu ... ayshi.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
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jimh
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Fabulous pix Maverick.

Post by jimh »

I'm really amped about this trip.

I ordered the book you suggested. Thanks for the tip. I saw pix somewhere else for Picket Lake. It's definitely on our list.

Jeff, thanks for the tip on Buck Canyon. I think that will work out nicely on our 1st night.
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maverick
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Post by maverick »

When you do visit Picket Lake look for a dip in the ridge between Picket Creek and Kaweah Basin its much easier to go over this pass than to go to the end of Kaweah basin and try too get to Picket Lake.
The are alot of ledges and ravines that you have to negotiate and may be tricky with a large pack.
With that said you might be able to gain access by climbing up the steep ridge from the last lake leading out of Kaweah Basin, but option 1 is alot easier and safer.
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Post by SPeacock »

Kearsarge Pass, Rae Lakes, South Fork Kings River to Bubbs Creek to either Deadmans Canyon and Elizabeth Pass (missing some good stuf) or Cloud Canyon and into 9 Lakes Basin, over Kaweah Gap down to Bearpaw across to Mineral King and take an exit over to Little Five Lakes any way you want to get there, down to Kern up to Wallace Lakes Drainage (or follow Kern North more) follow PCT north to Tyndal Creek and exit over Shepherds Pass. Walk 3 miles to main road, catch an easy ride back up to car at Onion Valley.

You can figure out at least one figure eight on this trip as well as a couple of lollipops.
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jimh
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Post by jimh »

maverick wrote: You can make Bearpaw Meadow from Crescent Meadow the first day and then to 9 Lake Basin the next. Then go over PQ Col in KB. Then explore for a couple of days. Check out Picket Lake which is the last lake on Picket Creek before it descends down towards Kern Kaweah River.
Also the lake with the island in it is a cool camping place!!
I like this suggestion, but let me try one change in the itinerary; what if I wanted to get from 9 Lakes Basin to Pickett Creek. Looks like PQ Col puts me on the wrong side of a ridge-line. Is there an EASY pass (remember, I'm from the right-hand coast) between Lawson Peak and Kaweah Queen?

What I'm trying to accomplish is Pickett Lake first and Kaweah Basin on the trip back in.
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maverick
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Post by maverick »

Hi Jim


Then youll have to go over Pants Pass and then go up towards Picket Col and descend Picket Creek and exit Pyra Queen on the way out of Kaweah Basin.
After your visit Picket Lake just come back up to the same small dip in the ridge which gives you easy access to Kaweah Basin.
The dip is at around 10880 ft on the ridge under the word "Creek" in Picket Creek on a Tom Harrison map.
The approach to Picket Col is long and rocky. There is small lake which you could camp at if you run out of time towards the bottom after you descend Pants Pass.
Just to let you know the last 30 feet on both sides of Pants Pass is really steep and sandy but you can ski down the scree after that.
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