TR: Kernville to Lone Pine 5/14-18/2024
- jimmyjamhikes
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TR: Kernville to Lone Pine 5/14-18/2024
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!
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
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Re: TR: Kernville to Lone Pine 5/14-18/2024
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
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Re: TR: Kernville to Lone Pine 5/14-18/2024
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
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Re: TR: Kernville to Lone Pine 5/14-18/2024
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
Texan
- John Harper
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Re: TR: Kernville to Lone Pine 5/14-18/2024
Wow, what a great trip report. Well done.
John
John
- sekihiker
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Re: TR: Kernville to Lone Pine 5/14-18/2024
Great report and photos. Thanks for sharing.
- BillyBobBurro
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Re: TR: Kernville to Lone Pine 5/14-18/2024
A hiking machine and an interesting transverse of the southern Sierra!
- paul
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Re: TR: Kernville to Lone Pine 5/14-18/2024
Nice! Thanks for posting. I am curious how you handled the trailhead transportation?
- kpeter
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Re: TR: Kernville to Lone Pine 5/14-18/2024
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
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Re: TR: Kernville to Lone Pine 5/14-18/2024
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.
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