I was watching the weather and low snow reports like many of us.
I started seeing PCT videos of first hikers getting over the high passes and into Mammoth in early May.
Lots of rocks visible and considerable snow free trails.
Creek crossings were looking very low key v. “normal” and similar to last year.
After reading a TR with fledgling mosquitoes supposedly at lower elevations it got my attention.
Then some legal paperwork needed me here in early June.
I've wanted some low key snow experience for a while so decided I had better just go and get it.
Avalanche danger seemed to be very scant.
Hence my decision to leave 3 weeks earlier than planned.
I figured I could play it by ear once I got up there.
My starting pack weight came in at 35 pounds - with more winter warmth stuff, more gas, 1 ½ pounds of carry water (thank goodness) and trekking poles. This was my first time with poles and I figured they may be on my pack sometime so included them in the weight. Food in the bearcan was good for 8 or even 9 days as my appetite goes through the floor.
Needless to say my trip did not go quite as planned. For starters there were some “equipment failures” – with the biggest one being ME!
I will be 72 in a few months and I can no longer deny the facts. The Ooooomph is just not there like it was. At the hint of an ascending grade I got severe “uphill-itis”. I was pooped in no time. (Ian, how on earth did I manage Tunemah with those 5 X-country passes just last summer???). This despite my daily workouts all winter, etc., etc.
OK, the near 400 mile drive to the TH then hiking in (and reverse on way out) takes a lot out of me but I used to recover in a day or so. Sigh.
On the first night I “popped” a pole join on my BA Copper Spur tent. Human error. I was too tired and did not double check the couplings. It must have been half seated and split the seam when I bent it downwards. Some careful jiggling and lots of tape seemed to fix it.
On the first try of my “new & refurbished” Sawyer Squeeze filter it failed to operate AGAIN! Just like its maiden trip last year. One drip per second from gravity when attached to my Platypus bag. I was pissed, as it took 3 hours to fill my water bottle.
And yes, I had complained to Sawyer a year ago and had to sent it to them (at my expense) for “rectification” via anti hydrophobic wash or something. I wanted a new replacement, but they assured me it was fixed. Harrrumph.
And yes, I tried it at home and it worked OK but not fantastically like their videos.
Any yes, I soaked it 48 hours before the trip and kept it damp.
And no, after life-changing (not for the good) chronic Giardia 25 years ago that trashed my gut permanently I was not going to just drink pure ‘natural’ water up there.
So, the lack of readily available water crimped my trip somewhat.
OK, that gets the introductory preamble out of the way. Now I can get on with the actual trip report…
Day one, with quota free permit, I camped at the no name creek just before (west of) Buck Creek. It was nothing to write home about. A place to collapse in peace as I was the only one there.
A few tame mosquitoes at dusk and dawn. Daytime temperatures had been warm to hot on the trail. Overnight low was 47 degrees.
- Gt. Western Divide - Looking east + to go over
- Trail meetings
- And flowers - anyone know what these are?
- Trail hugs cliffs for great views
- Views like this
Day two had me confronting more of the “uphill issue” and I did a short day up to Hamilton Lake giving myself much of the afternoon to rest and hang out in that gorgeous setting.
- Hamilton Lake and Kaweah Gap
- Hamilton Lake
- Valhalla
There were about 8 people at the lake by evening but were thankfully quiet. Asking around a bit 3 guys had gone up to Precipice Lake and one to the Kaweah Gap, but said there was too much snow up there, etc. so came back. Mmmmmmm.
The night was 48 degrees and was not at all cold in the morning. A few misc. mosquitoes but very off their game doing flight trials.
I left for the Gap at 7:45 am as even with my near zero snow experience I knew I needed to be on it before it got slushy. From then on I saw no-one for the next 3 days.
The trail had some interesting bits and I lost it to snow around 9,500 ft. The intuitive route was up more of the exposed rock to the north-east and avoiding the snow bowls at the two lakes. Plus I did not look at the map closely and see where the hidden trail actually went. Hence I ended up a bit higher than needed but it was an easy snow hike over to the Kaweah Gap itself.
- Going up - tunnel & slides
- At the top looking back west
- Looking north - Nine Lakes Basin
- Looking south down Big Arroyo
[CONTINUED]
