With driving induced stiff legs, my neck hurt looking up towards Timber Gap. But with spirits high I hoisted my pack and charged up the trail. I could hear, smell, taste, and feel the heat bearing down on me, mid-day on an open slope in a hot spell was a brutal place to be, but for some reason I liked punishment. The squeal of chipmunks broke me out of my trance, and I looked up to see a Cooper's Hawk sail past through the forest, the ground erupting with warning calls along its path. 1700 feet up, and 2500 feet down I was filling up my water bottle and belly along Cliff Creek, sitting next to a seemingly unclaimed pair of jeans and socks drying in the sun. My hopes of making it far up Cliff Creek fading, I threw down my pack near Pinto Lake, exhausted and dehydrated.
It didn't take much effort to sleep in the next morning. Tired, lazy, and packed I began the climb up the canyon. I didn't think twice about Black Rock Pass until I stood at its base. Massive switchbacks slowly stole my strength from me, and by noon I stood at its top exhausted, being blasted by a cold wind coming up canyon. A hawk soared overhead, enjoying the stiff breeze as it sailed past. A few hours later and somewhat recharged, I was rounding several of the Little Five Lakes, fishing all the while but coming up empty. Sunset moved in, and later that night I was listening to the movement of several nocturnals while enjoying the Kaweah's bathed in moonlight.
A relatively easy day on schedule, I stopped to visit Big Five Lakes, not having time to explore as much as I liked but getting my fill nonetheless, along the way a few pieces of garbage made their way into my backpack. Before long I was eating PBJ's in Lost Canyon. With each stride higher the more desolate the landscape became. Large sculptured cairns led the way around Columbine Lake. The wind packed a punch, and seemed to constantly pound every campsite available. Before long it got to me, dissatisfied with my first choice I found myself moving camp to a less secluded but more protected spot. Brookies were caught every other cast, but sheer laziness stopped me from a nice trout dinner. The wind finally started dwindling when I ducked into my tent that night.
I don't know what kept me awake that night, my mind racing or the rustling outside my tent. Curious, I stepped outside to see the ground scatter in all directions. Headlamp on, I thought the mice were going to walk off with my backpack on their shoulders, like ants marching back to their nest. What they were after I don't know, but my vestibule came in handy that night and the infestation went away after I moved some of my things inside.
I dreamt of Sawtooth Pass, and hauling myself up the east side the next morning I kept thinking "this isn't as bad as I've heard". Less than thirty minutes later I stood on top of the pass, tucked into the leeward side of a rock enjoying the views. Five minutes later I was cursing to myself "this is worse than I've heard". I descended down the west side, sliding and cursing as I went. Off and on the gravel gave way to rock, then to slippery gravel on top of slippery rock. Coincident with each sudden change I noticed the deafening crunch under my feet come and go. At last I was at Monarch Lake, nursing my feet back to life. It wasn't too long before they were punished just a bit more, but finally relieved as I slipped off my socks at the trailhead. Thirsty and exhausted I opened the hood of my truck to find the ranger was spot on: late season the marmots do find treats other than hoses, asbestos, and fan belts.
A few photos, perhaps more to come:
Kaweah Alpenglow
![Image](http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2530/3882401062_bcb0fa4917.jpg)
Kaweah Range from Little Five Lakes
![Image](http://www.naturefocused.com/archives/mineral-king/little-five-lakes.jpg)
An image I've planned for some time (although in hindsight the execution was less than ideal). Star trails above the Kaweahs
![Image](http://www.naturefocused.com/archives/mineral-king/kaweah-star-trails.jpg)
Sun spangles on Little Five Lakes #2
![Image](http://www.naturefocused.com/archives/mineral-king/sun-spangles.jpg)
Lost Canyon
![Image](http://www.naturefocused.com/archives/mineral-king/lost-canyon.jpg)
Sunrise at Columbine Lake
![Image](http://www.naturefocused.com/archives/mineral-king/columbine-lake.jpg)