Cloud Canyon, Big Arroyo, Kern Canyon July 2010
Posted: Mon Jun 09, 2014 6:58 pm
This trip started at Crescent Meadow and ended at Roads End, traveling through Big Arroyo, Kern Canyon, and Cloud Canyon. I was supposed to make a loop going back through Deadman Canyon but my buddy had a feet that looked like they went through hell. Turns out bailing out to Roads End from Roaring river was no joke, and probably not the right decision. That being said this was the best backpacking trip of our lives.
Day 1
The week leading up to the trip I came down with a bad case of runners knee. I was barely able to walk 5 days before the planned date, but that wasn't going to stop me, I had just graduated college the month before and this was going to be my reward. So I got a brace and the day of the hike I forced myself to head out with my buddy (after locking my keys in my car, delaying the beginning for 2 hours, this was only the start of our problems). So we head out of Crescent Meadow, my knee bothering me, and I didn't care, it was beautiful. So a few miles down the trail my knee was actually feeling better, we stop for a break. I sit on a rock and reach for my water bottle and accidently knock it down a cliff. I wasn't going to leave it down there so I climb down to retrieve it. I try putting it in my pocket so I can climb up and it falls out dropping another 10 feet down. I was pretty pissed at that point. I climb down and get it and make sure I don't drop it again. So we finally continue toward Bearpaw Meadow, our 1st nights destination, stopping one last time at Buck Creek for a break. While there my friend takes his shoes off and his feet are already starting to bleed. This is because he decided to hike in some old running shoes, bad decision. I tell him that I'm completing this hike, he can go back if he wants, but he'd be damned if he quit. So he goes to put his foot in the creek, and slips and gets washed down the rockslide, getting totally soaked. I just start laughing at him, he gets really pissed. It was already getting dark so I tell him to stop messing around and to hurry up put his shoes on and lets go. We head out and make it to Bearpaw around 9pm. That portion of the trail is deceptive. On the map it looks relatively flat. It's not, it's up and down basically the whole time.
So we open our packs to go for dinner and I see he doesn't have a bag I gave him with 3 days of food that wouldn't fit in our canisters. I ask him about it and he said he left it at the trailhead locker and that he thought it was for when we got back (face palm). Looked like I was sharing some of my food with him. Then I look over and he busts out a huge flashlight that takes 6 D batteries. I freak out and asks what the hell he was thinking carrying that. This isn't his 1st trip so he should know to keep it lightwieght. Well turns out he had underwear and shirts for almost every day, & some cologne. Guess he though we'd be seeing some ladies or something. Day 1 over, and what a day.
Day 2
We get up late but eventually head out. Our destination is Little 5 lakes and Big Arroyo Creek jct, about 9 miles away, and over Kaweah Gap. About half a mile outside of Bearpaw we encounter a bear walking towards us on the trail, His head was down and he was just moping along minding his own business. I just stood there and watched peacefully, but made noise when I felt he was getting a little too close. When he noticed us he scrambled up hill. So we continued and stopped at Pine Creek for a break. We made our way to Upper Hamilton lake where my buddy drops his pack and states that he isn't going any farther that day. Risking a rumble I give in and agree. His feet were killing him and he was carrying a crap load of useless stuff. Upper Hamilton lake is really pretty and popular. There was a lady in an inflatable tube out on the lake when we arrived. It seemed kind of weird but looked comfy. The water is relatively warm and we went for a swim.
To be continued....
Day 1
The week leading up to the trip I came down with a bad case of runners knee. I was barely able to walk 5 days before the planned date, but that wasn't going to stop me, I had just graduated college the month before and this was going to be my reward. So I got a brace and the day of the hike I forced myself to head out with my buddy (after locking my keys in my car, delaying the beginning for 2 hours, this was only the start of our problems). So we head out of Crescent Meadow, my knee bothering me, and I didn't care, it was beautiful. So a few miles down the trail my knee was actually feeling better, we stop for a break. I sit on a rock and reach for my water bottle and accidently knock it down a cliff. I wasn't going to leave it down there so I climb down to retrieve it. I try putting it in my pocket so I can climb up and it falls out dropping another 10 feet down. I was pretty pissed at that point. I climb down and get it and make sure I don't drop it again. So we finally continue toward Bearpaw Meadow, our 1st nights destination, stopping one last time at Buck Creek for a break. While there my friend takes his shoes off and his feet are already starting to bleed. This is because he decided to hike in some old running shoes, bad decision. I tell him that I'm completing this hike, he can go back if he wants, but he'd be damned if he quit. So he goes to put his foot in the creek, and slips and gets washed down the rockslide, getting totally soaked. I just start laughing at him, he gets really pissed. It was already getting dark so I tell him to stop messing around and to hurry up put his shoes on and lets go. We head out and make it to Bearpaw around 9pm. That portion of the trail is deceptive. On the map it looks relatively flat. It's not, it's up and down basically the whole time.
So we open our packs to go for dinner and I see he doesn't have a bag I gave him with 3 days of food that wouldn't fit in our canisters. I ask him about it and he said he left it at the trailhead locker and that he thought it was for when we got back (face palm). Looked like I was sharing some of my food with him. Then I look over and he busts out a huge flashlight that takes 6 D batteries. I freak out and asks what the hell he was thinking carrying that. This isn't his 1st trip so he should know to keep it lightwieght. Well turns out he had underwear and shirts for almost every day, & some cologne. Guess he though we'd be seeing some ladies or something. Day 1 over, and what a day.
Day 2
We get up late but eventually head out. Our destination is Little 5 lakes and Big Arroyo Creek jct, about 9 miles away, and over Kaweah Gap. About half a mile outside of Bearpaw we encounter a bear walking towards us on the trail, His head was down and he was just moping along minding his own business. I just stood there and watched peacefully, but made noise when I felt he was getting a little too close. When he noticed us he scrambled up hill. So we continued and stopped at Pine Creek for a break. We made our way to Upper Hamilton lake where my buddy drops his pack and states that he isn't going any farther that day. Risking a rumble I give in and agree. His feet were killing him and he was carrying a crap load of useless stuff. Upper Hamilton lake is really pretty and popular. There was a lady in an inflatable tube out on the lake when we arrived. It seemed kind of weird but looked comfy. The water is relatively warm and we went for a swim.
To be continued....