R03 TR: South Fork Big Pine Creek, August 13-14, 2016

[jimmeans]

What I originally hoped would be a couple of nights turned into a quick overnight trip up the South Fork of Big Pine Creek. My buddy Brad and I got a very late start not leaving the trailhead until 11:30AM. A downside at the South Fork trailhead is there is almost no available parking. We had to park at the North Fork trailhead and hike up the road. When we reached the crossing of the creek we found that the bridge that apparently had been there was gone. We only had to go about 50 yards upstream to find some large boulders that facilitated crossing. This was an easy crossing spot for this trip, but it could be more difficult when the water is flowing higher.

Our original plan was to hike to Brainerd Lake and camp there, but due to the late start in the heat of the day we decided to stop and camped at Willow Lake instead. We were able to find several areas to camp where the creek coming from Brainerd enters Willow Lake. Willow Lake itself appears to be one of those lakes that is gradually turning into a march before it turns into a meadow.

The next morning we got a decent start to returned to the trailhead before it got too hot.

It gets pretty hot through here during a mid-day summer hike!

Approaching creek crossing. The trail later climbs and then traverses the scree slope in the right-side background.

Boulders for crossing creek upstream from destroyed crossing.

Resting at top of big slope climb.

Mt Gayley

Willow Lake

Tents

Middle Palisade and Norman Clyde Peak

Looking down canyon on the hike out

[uclacody0908]

Thanks for sharing!