R04/R01 TR: Blackcap - Evolution - Tehipite loop 9/29/24-10/4/24

[jimmyjamhikes]

I've always been curious about Tehipite Valley and saw a chance to do it this year during a recent warm spell in late season (I guess October is the new September).

We had perfect weather with low temps above 40 even at 12,000 feet and hi temps not too high when we were down in the valley. No bugs until we were below 7,000 feet, where I wore a head net to deal with swarming gnats, but otherwise they were not a nuisance.

We saw three rattlesnakes and a bear on the extremely unmaintained trail between Simpson Meadow and Tehipite Valley. The only time we saw poison oak was at 5,000 feet on the switchbacks above Tehipite, and that patch would have been avoidable (I wore pants for no reason, d'oh!).

Blackcap basin was spectacular. The Secor route between Martha and Davis Lake was even more so (I would do it again). We found the best Sierra swimming hole of my life on the Middle Fork Trail.

Tehipite Valley was hard, maybe even not worth the effort. But I was overjoyed to see so many big trees along there and it was (type 2) fun to climb 3,000 feet in less than two miles on the departure. I'm glad I did it once.

Here is a map of the route:

https://caltopo.com/m/J72FFBL

Here is a detailed TR:

Tehipite Valley Grand Loop

And here are some highlights:


Woodchuck Lake


Portal Lake


Midway Lake


Cathedral Lake


Pearl Lake


Bighorn Lake


Martha Lake and Mount Goddard from Valor Pass


Lake number two of about a dozen on the Secor route between Martha and Davis Lakes


Lake number six on the Secor route


Lovely cross country on the Secor route


Mount McGee and North Goddard Creek


Davis Lake


Approaching the Davis Lake isthmus


Wanda Lake and Muir Pass from Davis Lake Pass


Helen Lake


Black Giant


Fall colors above Little Pete Meadow


The Citadel above Grouse Meadow


Middle Fork Trail - best swimming hole ever!


Devil's Washbowl


Hundreds of blowdowns


Lots of Big Trees


A few rattlers


Painted Rock


Tehipite Dome


Relentless switchbacks


A small patch of poison oak at 5,000 feet beside the trail


Bye bye Tehipite!

[mort]

Hello,
WOW! What a great trip. beautiful pictures too. Also interesting to see all this country in the fall. Just a few things really caught my eye. Woodchuck country has lots to see I've git to get back. Valor pass looks (and sound) like a good way ro Martha etc. Davis Lakes - nice. Le Conte Canyon is one of my favorites. I was astounded to see that packer site on Cartridge Creek is still there, although reduced closer to current leave no trace sensabilities. Excellent shot of Tehipite dome. Pictographs!
All great. Thanks.
-m

[Wandering Daisy]

Did you loop from and to the same trailhead? And which trailhead(s) did you use? And how many joined you?

You said Tehipite may not be worth the effort, but what about the trail down to Simpson Meadow? I gather that was where there were all the blow-downs.

I have done the route from Martha Lake to Davis Lake years ago and it is quite lovely. I was not aware that it is in Secor's guidebook.

Nice trip - Thanks for posting.

[jimmyjamhikes]

Thanks Mort!

WD: we parked at the upper Rancheria trailhead that is about a mile further in than the regular Rancheria trailhead and looped from there. We were a party of 3.

I personally would not go past Devils Washbowl from the JMT again. I didn't think that the trail from there to Tehipite Valley was worth the effort. But then I have a strong preference for being above tree line. And I'm happy I did it once.

[thegib]

Great pics, thanks for posting. TV is the one place I haven't visited that nags at me. Your honest report supports my conflicted ambivalence.

[jimmyjamhikes]

Thanks thegib! BTW, I have learned that the trees I thought were sequoias are actually incense cedars!