R03/R02 TR: Wet Wanderings, Loop Over the Kuna Crest and Back, 7/24 - 7/29 2021

[tomba]

Since I didn't see this mentioned: Parker Pass Creek watershed (where Kuna Lake is located) is a no camping zone. Perhaps because Tuolumne Meadows area gets drinking water from there.

[sekihiker]

Great photos of places that remind me of SEKI.

[Lumbergh21]

Since I didn't see this mentioned: Parker Pass Creek watershed (where Kuna Lake is located) is a no camping zone. Perhaps because Tuolumne Meadows area gets drinking water from there.

I realize that it is no camping, and I had no intention of camping there. However, I could barely make it from my tent 40 feet to the hole I dug, least of all 7 or 8 miles cross country down to Tuolumne Meadows. I camped at least 200 feet from the lake, buried my waste, packed out my TP, and did my best to minimize my impact. I guarantee that the 100's of people bathing and doing other things in the creek on a daily basis have a far greater impact on the water quality. The "waste" I left buried near Kuna Lake was going to end up in that watershed one way or another anyway once I got sick and wasn't able to hike back over the Kuna Crest as originally planned. Sorry, but I don't know what else I could have done. It was not my intention to get sick. (Shrug)

[tomba]

That's understandable. I just think it is useful to mention the no camping zone so that people inspired by this trip report don't plan to camp there.

[Wandering Daisy]

Safety always is a higher priority than "rules". Sorry you got sick. I think we underestimate the impact of simple illness when backpacking. I have walked out miles on a sprained ankle, yet like you, been entirely disabled due to illness (thankfully brief 24-hour variety). I now bring my own food to eat in the car driving to the trailhead to avoid the chance of food poisoning.

From Lake Helen, I once hauled water to Kuna Crest and camped. Then walked north on the crest and then dropped back to the trail just as it goes down to the river. I did that trip specifically to avoid thick mosquitoes- it is always windy up on the Crest. There were big cat footprints in snow patches but never saw the creature (a mountain lion?) Perhaps not the best route in a storm, though. I also really like Alger Lakes.

[Lumbergh21]

From Lake Helen, I once hauled water to Kuna Crest and camped. Then walked north on the crest and then dropped back to the trail just as it goes down to the river. I did that trip specifically to avoid thick mosquitoes- it is always windy up on the Crest. There were big cat footprints in snow patches but never saw the creature (a mountain lion?) Perhaps not the best route in a storm, though. I also really like Alger Lakes.

Hmmm, I saw some scat in a couple of places on the saddle between Parker Peak and Mt Wood, but it wasn't cat. It was large pellets like elk size. Maybe Bighorn sheep? Of course, a big cat could also be crossing over the pass from one hunting ground to another as well, not necessarily hunting along the crest.

[Lumbergh21]

That's understandable. I just think it is useful to mention the no camping zone so that people inspired by this trip report don't plan to camp there.

True, I hadn't thought about that when typing up the trip report.