North Fork Big Pine Creek TR

[kgw]

Had a fine 5 days at a campsite in between First and Second Lakes. Here's the view up the South Fork from the North Fork trail:



The sun was hot (got up too late!), but it did provide me with this image:



After a few miles of dry uphill hiking, the cataract of Second Falls is a real treat:



It's not a vertical falls, but rather a very steep cascade over rock. There were many more scenes like the one above.

The stone cabin of the actor Lon Chaney at Cienega Mirth is impressive:


Wow, what a cabin in such a place! I was green with envy. . .

Our first view of Temple Crag, above the ledge of First Lake:



We met several climbing groups heading for Temple Crag and the Palisade Crest peaks.

The color of First Lake was even better in person, and a surprise to my wife who had not seen any pictures of it.



The peninsula really gives this lake character: I hiked down to it from our camp to try the fishing. No luck the first day, but finally the vintage wisdom of Giant Brookie paid off:


A 12" Brown(?) Trout. (edit: it's a Rainbow!)

Temple Crag above Second Lake:





Some serious alpen glow on, I think, Mt. Winchell: (edit: It's actually Mt. Robinson)



The peaks above the Middle Palisade Glacier, seen as we were hiking out:



After getting down to Big Pine, we ate a restaurant meal, obtained a motel room, showered and laid down in a nice, soft bed. Serious luxuries after backpacking, as you are all aware! Hey this was tough work for us old folks! My wife is just 69, and I'm a young 60 year old. . .

As we left, the sunrise early Tuesday morning was beautiful:



Here's the link to the full photoset on Flickr:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/kwhitmyre/ ... 204565890/


Thanks to all you folks for your responses to my questions. I'll be back!

[windknot]

Nice shots, thanks for the report. It's always neat to see that aquamarine color of some of those east slope lakes. I like the framing of that last sunrise picture, by the way.

Matt

[Snow Nymph]

Those turquoise lakes are awesome! Awesome that your wife is out there at that age. I hope to be doing the same! Beautiful pix of a beautiful area! Thanks!

[kgw]

Thanks for the kind words Snow Nymph, we started going to the Sierras before we were married, and kept it up until moving to eastern New York state for a while. We've been getting back into the local mountains (Southern California), but I had been pining for a High Sierra walk.

I'm sure you will be cruising the mountains for a long while.