Trip Report: Kaweah Basin, July 25-August 3

[LMBSGV]

With 50 pages of notes and about 400 photos, it took a while to organize and complete this to some semblance of satisfaction. A big thank you to Maverick who suggested the route to Picket Creek lake as an alternative entrance to Kaweah Basin.

The trip report is here:

http://laurencebrauer.com/Images/TripRe ... n-2012.pdf

The photos are here:

http://laurencebrauer.com/ASITHSTripReports.html

Thanks for reading and looking,
Larry

[rlown]

A nice report, Larry. I read the pdf but haven't looked at the pics yet. I concur with your conclusions on how fast one can move as they get older. Still sounds like a nice trip. The SPOT mentions were a little superfluous, although I understand why one might do that.

[kpeter]

A beautiful report. You capture the essence of "coming alive" in the wilderness. I devoured every page and picture, and might be inspired to follow in your footsteps.

[austex]

Larry, Great report. Both pictures and narrative. You have a writing ability I wish I had. Again, thanks.

[maverick]

Hi Larry,

Have been looking forward too this TR with great anticipation, thank you. Not
only because of the routes that were discussed in our PM's but mainly because
of how much you really were looking forward to getting into KB. From your
beautifully written TR, and great pictures I will comfortably assume it was a
great hit.
Totally can relate to your feelings of serenity and humbleness when entering
into KB and seeing the Kaweah Ridge for the first time (it is like entering a church).
KB does somehow allow one to have clarity with ones inner spirit in a way that I
have not felt any where else. Hope you do get too visit KB again, and have the time
too include the magical Red Spur Lakes Basin too.

[LMBSGV]

Thanks Russ, kpeter, austex, and Maverick for your kind words. kpeter, I hope you get there, too (and provide one of your usually great trip reports).

You’re right Maverick, Kaweah Basin does feels like one is in an outdoor cathedral. In 35 years in the Sierra, I’ve never experienced anything quite like it. Your observation caused me to finally be able to articulate something I kept feeling while I was there and never got down right in my journal. I guess I need to have time and other inspirations to guide me in the right direction. So I’ve added a paragraph to the trip report between the second and third paragraphs of day 6:

That presence of the eternal strikes me as what only be called mystical. Last year, I was in Winchester Cathedral on a Saturday afternoon. The choir was rehearsing for Sunday services. Mid-summer sunlight shone through the stain-glassed windows, rendering the light inside on the soaring columns with a reverential sense of peace. That is what Kaweah Basin feels like, a natural cathedral. Except this is not a man-made structure with choirs singing. This is the natural world — wilderness unadorned, unsullied by humans beings.

[ndwoods]

Very nice. I love that area. If you didn't swim in Colby, make it a must next time around...it is one of my fav "swimming holes" in the Sierra.