Re: TR: Headwaters Kern R
Posted: Tue Aug 20, 2013 8:02 am
My choice of Onion Valley TH had nothing to do with elevation gain. I have never been on the portion of JMT from Vidette Meadow to Forester Pass, had never seen Center Basin or Vidette Lakes and never had spent any time exploring the lakes on the east side of Kearsarge Pass, but had been over Shepherd Pass three times. I always am looking to see new terrain! Although getting to the Kern watershed was a main goal, it was not my only goal. My route choice usually has more to do with where I want to wander in the mountains, not the easiest nor fastest way to get somewhere. My only limitation is how much food I am able to carry. Last year (in the Wind Rivers) I did a 14-day ration but it was miserable the first week. In the Sierra it amounts to what fits in the bear can! A 10-day trip is becoming my new limit - if I fish I can usually squeeze in another day. As for daily mileage - that depends on when my old knees get too stressed.
A good deal of the route decision also was to pick places where I most likely would avoid the smoke from the Aspen Fire. My second trip was a short easy trip up N. Pine Creek/Palisades. It would have been preferable to do the short trip first, but when I drove through Bishop there still was too much smoke - could not even see the Palisades! By the time the Kern Headwaters trip finished, the smoke had cleared significantly.
I like to change plans and adapt to conditions. This is why I seldom reserve permits. So far, knock on wood, I have never had any trouble getting a walk-in permit.
Just a note- there now is a lot of smoke up here east of Sacramento. There is a fire burning near Forrest Hill. We were thinking of going to Desolation this weekend, but decided we have to go farther south to get out of the smoke.
A good deal of the route decision also was to pick places where I most likely would avoid the smoke from the Aspen Fire. My second trip was a short easy trip up N. Pine Creek/Palisades. It would have been preferable to do the short trip first, but when I drove through Bishop there still was too much smoke - could not even see the Palisades! By the time the Kern Headwaters trip finished, the smoke had cleared significantly.
I like to change plans and adapt to conditions. This is why I seldom reserve permits. So far, knock on wood, I have never had any trouble getting a walk-in permit.
Just a note- there now is a lot of smoke up here east of Sacramento. There is a fire burning near Forrest Hill. We were thinking of going to Desolation this weekend, but decided we have to go farther south to get out of the smoke.