R01 TR: Avalanche, Colby, Kern Junction Mdw, Forester, Bubbs starting 12 Aug 2019

[Matthew]

Hi looks easy from here
We met 3 trail crew in Big Wet Meadow (they are stationed just above it), working on raised paths to avoid wet areas.
We also met 6 or so trail crew between Tyndall Creek and Forester, they were working there too.
Apparently the brush at Kern Junction Meadow grows very fast, they did a huge clearing last year, but they plan be back there clearing again later this year.

[looks easy from here]

Ah, that explains it. My cousin, despite being at least twice the outdoorsman I am and generally having no problem running around barefoot, has a strangely strong aversion to taking his shoes off to ford rivers. So when we got to the crossing just south of Big Wet Meadow we spent about ten times the energy looking for a tree bridge, didn't find one and had to ford anyways, completely lost the trail, and got stuck full-on brush swimming long sections until we finally regained it just below the switchbacks starting to lead up to Colby Lake. Not that we didn't have a ball adventuring, but it definitely wasn't the most efficient route.

[tlsharb]

Really well done. Your description of getting over Colby was excellent.
ts

[sekihiker]

Your trip went through country where I spent a lot of time in the late 20th and early 21st centuries and your photos and words reminded me why I chose that area to visit. Thanks for the photos and musings.

[commonloon]

Awesome narrative, really enjoyed reading. Thanks for the TR and what a great trip!

[jwill]

I went over Colby a day or so before you, followed just about the same route. Finding the trail after the rock scramble was the hardest part.

[potatopants]

Do you happen to be the couple from Davis? I may have passed you going the other way below Colby Pass. Solo female on the short side. Great report! And thanks for saying how hard the descent on the south side of Colby was. Coming up from the south just about did me in!

[stevet]

Great trip report and thanks for sharing.

You aren't the first to shake and blur a bear photo. In 2006 I hiked the High Sierra Trail returning via Kern-Kaweah and Colby Pass. Here my bear picture...

And then crossing that little saddle from the opposite direction...I was thinking wtf is this?

And yes the Kern-Kaweah segment is beautiful especially Gallats Lake.

[kpeter]

I thoroughly enjoyed reading your report!

I am mulling over your route as an approach to Kaweah Basin, especially since following your route would take me through country I have not seen before and which looks spectacular!

[Harlen]

Stevet says:

Great trip report and thanks for sharing.

You aren't the first to shake and blur a bear photo. In 2006 I hiked the High Sierra Trail returning via Kern-Kaweah and Colby Pass. Here my bear picture...

Me too. This young bear blundered unknowingly to within 30 meters of us- 4 adults and 4 kids! It was so startled, and perhaps embarrassed, that it wheeled around and bolted! I took a blurry photo per usual.