R03/R01 TR: Sawmill Loop Kings Canyon 7-26-19 to 8-4-19

[sekihiker]

Awesome trip and report. Great photos. Great fishing. What more could you ask for? Thanks for posting.

[cgundersen]

Robert,
Thanks again for the great post and amazing photos. Obviously the guys you met deep in the backcountry have not chimed in yet; frankly, I like your route better than theirs! Your shots from atop Arrow have me re-thinking spending all my spare time collecting porcini (mushrooms). Like you, I'm not an obsessed peak bagger, but the views can be stupendous (and were!). Cameron

[Dwwd]

Nice trip report. I noticed the air was particularly clear in your photos on the passes for those very long distance views. Out of curiosity, what is your favorite memory of this trip compared to all the other ones your have done?

[c9h13no3]

This trip is fake. Fish the size of whales, great destinations. Someone check Snopes, can't be real.

[windknot]

Another great report! Thanks for taking the time to write it up and share -- I appreciate your perspective and understanding of all of the different elements that go into making a trip work.

I'd actually like to echo Dwwd's question -- when one has traveled so extensively through the Sierra as you have, what sorts of things tend to stand out now in current and subsequent trips that make you itch to go back? I've wanted to ask Wandering Daisy this question as well, as both of you are retirees who have already been to so many places yet don't seem to have any waning energy or excitement for planning and executing future creative and exploratory trips.

[oddtiger]

Thank you for sharing! What a great trip! I saw a bighorn sheep last year above the Window Peak lake, so I guess they are wandering around in the area.

[robertseeburger]

I had meant to reply to a couple of the responses...but then I got busy and had another backpack trip to the winds.. now catching up..

Another great report! Thanks for taking the time to write it up and share -- I appreciate your perspective and understanding of all of the different elements that go into making a trip work.

I'd actually like to echo Dwwd's question -- when one has traveled so extensively through the Sierra as you have, what sorts of things tend to stand out now in current and subsequent trips that make you itch to go back? I've wanted to ask Wandering Daisy this question as well, as both of you are retirees who have already been to so many places yet don't seem to have any waning energy or excitement for planning and executing future creative and exploratory trips.

Well, to both Gary and Matt...what was my favorite moment? Obviously catching big fish is a great moment, but I would say there is even more of a feeling of euphoria when bagging a peak.. especially at my advanced age. There is some inertia to do this..(i.e... should I really do this solo, can I really get around the cornice, etc..), but after I am done I really feel good! Plus there is just a "feel" about certain areas that call to come back. I haven't even come close to seeing all the areas that I want to see. Never been to Kaweah Basin, Tablelands, Grinnell Lake, Red and White Lake, Edna Lake, the Sierra High route between Devils Postpile and Tuolumne Meadows...enough places that I haven't been to keep me busy planning beyond my physical capability.
I haven't been close to the number of places as Wandering Daisy, Maverick, Rouguephotonic and many more.

Robert,
Thanks again for the great post and amazing photos. Obviously the guys you met deep in the backcountry have not chimed in yet; frankly, I like your route better than theirs! Your shots from atop Arrow have me re-thinking spending all my spare time collecting porcini (mushrooms). Like you, I'm not an obsessed peak bagger, but the views can be stupendous (and were!). Cameron

Cameron, I was hoping the other guys would sign on to HST, but it looks like they didnt. On your advice to stay over the night before in Owens Valley, that would add to my "day count" I give my wife!!! There is a "spousal negotiation" on the number of days for every trip, which I take quite seriously.
I do agree that probably makes sense...and probably will do more and more.

To get over Sawmill Pass would take this person 3 days with 2 nights. I do like how one can enjoy Sawmill Lake on day 2. Quite a challenging effort, well done. And congratulations on catching those large rainbows. I've never caught any trout larger than 17" in the backcountry though have seen some over 20". To make measuring trout easier in that situation, you might use a black marker to mark inch lengths on your rod.

Purple (actually pink) flowers are kalmia microphylla, aka alpine laurel, and appear just after snow melts atop soggy turfy areas. Most mature male salmonids have orange to red meat. Mature sea run steelhead rainbows can be as red as any goldens. With any larger salmonids with red flesh, we bake in a frying pan. Use aluminum foil to cover the pan top as the flesh of those mature fish contains oil that can cook itself without using extra oil.

I was supposed to go over Shepherd in about a week and would have done that on the third morning. Litle me at 135# carrying over 60# for a 10 day trip. Of the 4 passes, Shepherd would also be the most difficult for this person due to the hot 2300 foot waterless switchback section climbing out of Symmes Creek. The way I had planned to deal with that was late pm in heat do the one mile and 500 feet from the 6450 foot trailhead to the creek crossing at 6900 where I'd take a dip and fill up with extra water. Then at sunset try and add another 900 feet to the 2 mile point at 7.8k. At dawn the next day would start the 1300 feet of switchbacks and make it over 9020 foot saddle early. From there would be able to reach Anvil Camp at 9900 feet another 1400 feet and maybe The Pothole that would stage another early effort over the pass. But alas I now don't expect that to happen as my heel still gets sore where the large plantar ligament attaches that has bothered me since last fall when I'm carrying such a heavy load.

Dave, thanks for the input on the flowers..always good to know what the flowers you are looking at are!
On doing Shepherd Pass, I really struggle for how to do it myself. You mention 3 days. I have tried to do it in 2. The problem with 2 for me is that if you make it to Anvil Camp and start early the next morning you have to deal with the snowfield potentially before it gets soft. This happened to me a couple of years ago, and crossing was nerve racking. Hope your plantar issues got resolved.

Awesome trip and report. Great photos. Great fishing. What more could you ask for? Thanks for posting.

Sekihiker...thanks for the kind words. I see that you have reposted your Kaweah Basin trip from long ago. That is on my list as a place I gotta get to.
Love all your posts. Actually to some extent, your old posts have in some cases been a model for where I go. ( Last year going over pass connecting Kern/Reflection ).

[Mike M.]

Robert, great trip and report. Nice hairball!

Mike M.

[robertseeburger]

Robert, great trip and report. Nice hairball!

Mike M.

To Mike M.. I glad someone noticed the hairball!! I thought it was a classic move from the cat!

[kylekuzma]

Wow, beautiful TR. The pictures were inspiring. I will add this to my list basins to visit.