Re: TR: August 2013 Solo Hike
Posted: Thu Mar 13, 2014 5:28 pm
Day 4 continued . . .
I headed down to Tyndall Creek as the clouds began to spit. It didn't rain much, but looked threatening. Here's a view towards Mt. Tyndall from the JMT, taken about 2 miles north of the Tyndall Creek crossing.
I camped just south of the creek crossing, just a few yards from the junction with the trail that leads to the Tyndall Creek ranger station. As I watched the clouds dissipate and made my dinner, trail workers filtered past, making their way back to their camp in the Tyndall Creek watershed. I caught a great sunset that evening:
The next morning (Day 5) was bright and sunny. I loaded up the pack and left the JMT, heading down the Tyndall Creek trail, in forest cover with occasional open meadows.
Soon I came to the Tyndall Creek patrol cabin, where I said hi to Ranger Dena who was enjoying a Saturday off.
Further down the trail, I came across a few other old log cabins.
I passed the trail worker camp, saw their grazing stock, and soon the the trail leaves the drainage, ascending a low ridge, positioning itself for a steep plunge down to the Kern River drainage. This part of the trail is very steep and poorly maintained; there are lots of washouts.
Once past the steep section, the trail swings north into Manzanita country and meets up with the Kern River trail via well preserved switchbacks that remind me of those you see as you begin your climb up to Dusy Basin from LeConte Canyon.
Once down to the Kern River trail, it is an easy hike, mostly shaded, down to the junction with the Wallace Creek trail. I saw a few more cabin ruins on the way down. From here, it is a hot, sun-exposed walk down to Junction Meadow, with good views across to the Kern-Kaweah watershed and tomorrow's route.
Junction Meadow is outsized -- big trees (beware of falling pine cones!) and huge campsites -- and a little claustrophobic, coming from the wide-open expanses of the alpine country surrounding Forester Pass. The river was very low.
To be continued . . .
I headed down to Tyndall Creek as the clouds began to spit. It didn't rain much, but looked threatening. Here's a view towards Mt. Tyndall from the JMT, taken about 2 miles north of the Tyndall Creek crossing.
I camped just south of the creek crossing, just a few yards from the junction with the trail that leads to the Tyndall Creek ranger station. As I watched the clouds dissipate and made my dinner, trail workers filtered past, making their way back to their camp in the Tyndall Creek watershed. I caught a great sunset that evening:
The next morning (Day 5) was bright and sunny. I loaded up the pack and left the JMT, heading down the Tyndall Creek trail, in forest cover with occasional open meadows.
Soon I came to the Tyndall Creek patrol cabin, where I said hi to Ranger Dena who was enjoying a Saturday off.
Further down the trail, I came across a few other old log cabins.
I passed the trail worker camp, saw their grazing stock, and soon the the trail leaves the drainage, ascending a low ridge, positioning itself for a steep plunge down to the Kern River drainage. This part of the trail is very steep and poorly maintained; there are lots of washouts.
Once past the steep section, the trail swings north into Manzanita country and meets up with the Kern River trail via well preserved switchbacks that remind me of those you see as you begin your climb up to Dusy Basin from LeConte Canyon.
Once down to the Kern River trail, it is an easy hike, mostly shaded, down to the junction with the Wallace Creek trail. I saw a few more cabin ruins on the way down. From here, it is a hot, sun-exposed walk down to Junction Meadow, with good views across to the Kern-Kaweah watershed and tomorrow's route.
Junction Meadow is outsized -- big trees (beware of falling pine cones!) and huge campsites -- and a little claustrophobic, coming from the wide-open expanses of the alpine country surrounding Forester Pass. The river was very low.
To be continued . . .