TR: Kernville to Lone Pine 5/14-18/2024

[jimmyjamhikes]

Hi everyone!

I just got back from a 90ish mile trip from Kernville to Lone Pine via the Dome Land, South Sierra, and Golden Trout Wildernesses.

There were no people (solitude!), no mosquitoes (other than Lubken Road!), water crossings were manageable (waist-deep or lower), and the snow generally did not become an issue until about 8,500 feet on north slopes, 10,000 feet on south slopes.

The route is here:

https://caltopo.com/m/GQ0S

And the full write-up is here:

Day 1
Day 2
Day 3
Day 4
Day 5

Here are some highlights:

Day 1 I took the Cannell Meadows OHV Trail to the Deadwood Trail to get to the Dome Land Wilderness, which I loved and hope to return to. Along the way I made a friend!


Lake Isabella


Big Meadow


Northern Pacific Rattlesnake


Dome Land Wilderness

Day 2 I hiked the Woodpecker Trail (er, I should say "route") through the Dome Land Wilderness, crossed Trout Creek, and then connected to Jackass Creek via the Mahogany Trail. I stopped early due to rain.


A lovely dome


Ground level dome that created a beautiful staircase creek


Trout Creek Crossing

Day 3 I climbed to Jackass Peak and then hiked down a trail (er, route) to Broder Meadow and then on to Monache Meadows. From there I followed the Bakeoven Trail (er, route) to Templeton Mountain.


Jackass Peak


Olancha Peak above Broder Meadow


Brown Mountain


Sunset from my campsite on Templeton Mountain

Day 4 I hiked the Mulkey Meadow – Templeton Meadow Trail (er, route) to the Trail Pass Trail and then out over Trail Pass down to Horseshoe Meadows and down the switchbacks (with one very fun cross country short cut!) to a campsite in BLM land by Carroll Creek.


Frosty Ramshaw Meadow and snowy Kern Peak


South Fork Kern crossing


Trail Peak over Mulkey Meadows


Olancha Peak


North slope of Trail Pass


Round Valley


Peak 11062


Gorgeous (and fun!) cross country short cut of final two switchbacks on Horseshoe Meadows Road

Day 5 I wrapped things up by fleeing hoardes of mosquitoes on Lubken Road and then walking through the Alabama Hills.


Sunrise over Owens Lake


Mount Whitney


Lone Pine Peak from the Alabama Hills


The Sierra Crest


Alabama Hills Cafe!

[thegib]

I'm jealous. I've never been further south than Horseshoe Mdws (in the Sierra) and sometimes I think I'm missing out. Now I know I am.

[Flamingo]

Neat! Thanks for sharing this unique TR. It's an under-appreciated area, and I enjoyed seeing your pictures from the shoulder season. And oh man. . . every time I visit Domeland, I encounter rattlesnakes. Yikes.

[texan]

Great TR report. I grew up in Bakersfield and been to a lot of places you visited. Not that much snow this year from your pics. Thanks for sharing.

Texan

[John Harper]

Wow, what a great trip report. Well done.

John

[sekihiker]

Great report and photos. Thanks for sharing.

[BillyBobBurro]

A hiking machine and an interesting transverse of the southern Sierra!

[paul]

Nice! Thanks for posting. I am curious how you handled the trailhead transportation?

[kpeter]

Thanks for this! A part of the Sierra I have always missed. How wonderful you could get out this early and enjoy. The flowers! And you covered a lot of mileage!

[jimmyjamhikes]

Paul: I took greyhound to Bakersfield and then Kern Transit to Kernville. From Lone Pine I took Eastern Sierra Transit to Lancaster, Metrolink to LA, then Amtrak to San Diego.