R04/R01 TR: Blackcap and Beyond (SEKI), 07/19/24 - 07/28/24

[papercup]

Great report and what a cool place to take your daughter. I love Finger Col and Lake 10232. Photos from Reinstein Pass are beautiful; great views.

[druid]

Great report, what made you identify it as a marten? Process of elimination?

More or less. My daughter and I were lucky enough to have seen a marten from much closer on a previous trip to the So. Fork Merced around 9100'. They have a pretty distinctive way of moving. I suppose we could have misidentified it the first time as well, but the only other possible animal we could think of after that sighting were fishers. Fishers are bigger, much more rare and don't typically range that high. This time it was farther away but its dark fur stood out well against the snow, giving us a pretty clear view. I wasn't expecting to see a marten above 11000' but according to John Muir Laws they go up above tree line in the summer looking for baby marmots to eat.

[giantbrookie]

Great report. So many good photos, but the wildflowers are especially striking. This is timely because I am headed out 8/12 and originally planned to go Blackcap (from High Rancheria) to Martha past 10232 and to the Tunemah Lake area, but now that I've revised the plan to a less ambitious trip (more or less up-and-back to the Tunemah area) I especially enjoy reading this report and seeing what I'll be missing.

[Harlen]

Fantastic route, and a coup to do it with your daughter. We appreciate the info on Finger Col. which we still have yet to try. It sure put your guys in some remote Sierra high country. Great that you enjoyed all of those passes, saw a Marten, and all of hose lovely flowers. Lizzie and Ian.

p.s. The first time I saw a Marten I was also off route, and so glad I was after the Marten. Ian.

[wmds]

Great report! and timely. We're heading out from Maxson August 23rd. Planning on visiting Blackcap as well as Bench Valley and RMB. Still trying to decide if we should head straight for Blackcap 1st and then head back towards Bench Valley with last night in Red Mtn. Basin. Or the reverse. A few years ago we started with Red Mtn. Basin and Bench Valley, but with heavy afternoon thunderstorms we decided against the cross country into Blackcap.

[wmds]

Has anyone camped along the North Fork of the Kings near the Scepter Pass junction with the Blackcap trail? Worth a night or better to push up into the basin, thanks.

[Wandering Daisy]

I have camped farther down near BM8028. The river is really pretty there. If the river is low enough there are nice campsites on the other side of the trail. You can walk down the river a ways where it has lots of little waterfalls. It was a good day's walk given I drove the same day. The area you are talking about did not seem anything special. It really was quite a boring walk until you get near Portal Lake. Lots of trees and view views. But that is just my opinion.

Here are a few photos of the Kings River near BM 8028.

NF Kings- across the trail

NF Kings- across the trail

NF Kings - waterfalls

[wmds]

Hi Wandering Daisy, great photos, hoping to find similar pools with camping around elevation close to 9200ft.

[wmds]

above photo from July trip 2022. North Fork of the King. about near the area you mentioned.