Re: Trip Advice: Circle of Solitude
Posted: Tue Jul 24, 2012 1:44 pm
Of course I haven't forgotten. This is easily my favorite place to talk/read about the Sierra.
I only got back a few days ago and have barely started processing photos. It will be at least a week before I've compiled my thoughts and photos onto calitrails. When I put the post up, I'll be sure to link it here immediately.
I do want to thank you and everyone else who chimed in with some info. It was very appreciated. Unfortunately, I got sick midway through and had to bail on my plans for Picket Lake and Milestone Basin. I didn't feel comfortable going offtrail by myself in my weakened state, and I also wanted to give myself as much time as possible to get back to the car. Realizing you are sick but still 40+ miles from your car is an unfortunate feeling. My tripod ballhead also broke midway through
Good trip though, and thanks for the kind words on the Reflection shot. I'm quite happy with it too. I'm really happy I made that little sidetrip. It's one of the most amazing places I've had the privilege to spend a night.
A few notes: There are no mosquitoes left out there pretty much. They were bad at sphinx creek and a few other creek areas, but for the most part, there are none. There were none in big wet meadow!!!!
Everything is really dry. Most meadows are already yellow.
The canyon southeast of Colby Pass is not very nice. There are tons of downed trees, the trail is a mess, and the whole area feels barren and lifeless. There aren't many good views there either. Definitely the disappointment of the trip. I'm sure once you get into Kaweah Basin it's a whole different world, but hiking along the trail in that canyon was not that nice.
I only got back a few days ago and have barely started processing photos. It will be at least a week before I've compiled my thoughts and photos onto calitrails. When I put the post up, I'll be sure to link it here immediately.
I do want to thank you and everyone else who chimed in with some info. It was very appreciated. Unfortunately, I got sick midway through and had to bail on my plans for Picket Lake and Milestone Basin. I didn't feel comfortable going offtrail by myself in my weakened state, and I also wanted to give myself as much time as possible to get back to the car. Realizing you are sick but still 40+ miles from your car is an unfortunate feeling. My tripod ballhead also broke midway through
Good trip though, and thanks for the kind words on the Reflection shot. I'm quite happy with it too. I'm really happy I made that little sidetrip. It's one of the most amazing places I've had the privilege to spend a night.
A few notes: There are no mosquitoes left out there pretty much. They were bad at sphinx creek and a few other creek areas, but for the most part, there are none. There were none in big wet meadow!!!!
Everything is really dry. Most meadows are already yellow.
The canyon southeast of Colby Pass is not very nice. There are tons of downed trees, the trail is a mess, and the whole area feels barren and lifeless. There aren't many good views there either. Definitely the disappointment of the trip. I'm sure once you get into Kaweah Basin it's a whole different world, but hiking along the trail in that canyon was not that nice.