Mineral King Trip Report
Posted: Tue Jul 10, 2007 7:02 pm
Got back from a 6day/5night backpack 55 mile or so loop in Mineral King area. I was surprised how few people were out there. Probably ran into 15 people in 6 days and one was a group of 8. It was my first time in Mineral King area and it is beautiful up there. All the trails were in great shape and stream crossings were not an issue. If I ever figure out how to post pictures I will post some.
Day 0 - Drove from SOCAL to Mineral King - arrived Saturday at around 4PM and had no problem finding a site at Cold Spring Campground - Atwell had a lot of spots still open also.
Day 1 - rented Marmot wire and wrapped around the car to keep marmots out - it was funny seeing what people did with the wire and tarps. Did the climb up to Franklin Lakes and then Franklin Pass and then down to Forrester Lake. Had the lake to ourselves and it was really nice. It looked like there was another lake (unnamed) a little South of there that would have been nice to stay at also.
Day 2 - Headed down and then up to Big 5 Lakes. Stayed at the first one at 9,830 feet. Again a nice lake and we had it to ourselves once again.
Day 3 - Headed down to Big Arroyo Junction and then up to Nine Lake Basin. Ran into a couple of climbers at Big Arroyo who just finished Black Kaweah and then were going to do Red Kaweah the next day. Thought we were not going to find flat spot to camp at Nine Lakes but North of lake had a huge flat spot. Only one other person at this Lake.
Day 4 - Did a little exploring at Nine Lake Basin. Watched a group of 7 or 8 go up Pants pass - looked real steep to me but they kept plugging away. Went up to Kaweah Gap down to Lake Hamilton (took a quick swim) and then stayed at Bearpaw Meadow. Only a couple of people here.
Day 5 - Went from Bearpaw to Cliff Creek. Surprised to see a permanent structure at Redwood Meadow. There was a spigot at Redwood Meadow also. Started clouding up and thundering around 1 or so but never rained. Had this campsite to ourselves also.
Day 6 - Cliff Creek back to Mineral King - this was a lot of uphill to Timber Gap but it was in the shade and nice. First time I every heard anybody complain that there were not enough switch backs. Moved pretty quick to get out and get a piece of pie before the long ride home.
Day 0 - Drove from SOCAL to Mineral King - arrived Saturday at around 4PM and had no problem finding a site at Cold Spring Campground - Atwell had a lot of spots still open also.
Day 1 - rented Marmot wire and wrapped around the car to keep marmots out - it was funny seeing what people did with the wire and tarps. Did the climb up to Franklin Lakes and then Franklin Pass and then down to Forrester Lake. Had the lake to ourselves and it was really nice. It looked like there was another lake (unnamed) a little South of there that would have been nice to stay at also.
Day 2 - Headed down and then up to Big 5 Lakes. Stayed at the first one at 9,830 feet. Again a nice lake and we had it to ourselves once again.
Day 3 - Headed down to Big Arroyo Junction and then up to Nine Lake Basin. Ran into a couple of climbers at Big Arroyo who just finished Black Kaweah and then were going to do Red Kaweah the next day. Thought we were not going to find flat spot to camp at Nine Lakes but North of lake had a huge flat spot. Only one other person at this Lake.
Day 4 - Did a little exploring at Nine Lake Basin. Watched a group of 7 or 8 go up Pants pass - looked real steep to me but they kept plugging away. Went up to Kaweah Gap down to Lake Hamilton (took a quick swim) and then stayed at Bearpaw Meadow. Only a couple of people here.
Day 5 - Went from Bearpaw to Cliff Creek. Surprised to see a permanent structure at Redwood Meadow. There was a spigot at Redwood Meadow also. Started clouding up and thundering around 1 or so but never rained. Had this campsite to ourselves also.
Day 6 - Cliff Creek back to Mineral King - this was a lot of uphill to Timber Gap but it was in the shade and nice. First time I every heard anybody complain that there were not enough switch backs. Moved pretty quick to get out and get a piece of pie before the long ride home.