High Sierra Topix

'The old man was packing a large revolver and wondered what we were doing on his property."

This reminds me of a story when my pard and I were heading to Tahipite Valley. At the trail-head we met a horse party, and one of them was busy packing away his saddle Winchester rifle. I asked him why he thought he would need THAT? He said "Bears!". I suggested that the only bears he would meet would be running the other way and there were no habituated bears in that area. He looked at me like I wuz crazy or sumpin, and I returned the favor. My pard suggested I not argue with someone packing heat.

Hello Lostcoyote-
Im new here to the HST and Im trying to become involved ie: give input where I can and obtain information where I can. I primarily go to the Fishing Hole link yet, have found some inspiration in the Backpacking/Hicking/Camping link and this is where I found your posting RE Ionian Basin. I was wondering if you could recommend any books detailing this zone ie: the fishing and enterance(s)/exit(s)? Any information is more than appreciated! Thanks!
-Evan

Hi Evan

Welcome to HST.
Phil Arnot's book "High Sierra" is the best book describing off trail jaunts in the Sierra
which he includes numerous ways of accessing most areas.
He describes these areas very descriptively, and accurately.
Ionion, Kaweah Basin, Miter Basin, Big Brewer Lake, and many other beautiful, and
remote areas are in this book.
The only thing missing is the fishing which I'm sure you''ll find info about on in this site
or some books.

Thanks Maverick for the info - I've got that book ordered through amazon!
From the little info Ive been able to gather here and there, its a day/ day 1/2 to get back into these zones. Im not sure but, is this type of thing not for someone whom only gets into the sierras 2 or 3 times a year? and is only used to on trail backpacking? or is something like Ionian a good place to start with the crosscountry backpacking? Thanks again!
-Evan

Great TR. Some of my fondest memories are from upper Goddard Canyon. Some of my worst nightmares are from lower Goddard Canyon. The first time I was there, we went over Hell for Sure pass, then over the pass south (?) of Martha lake. The second time we accessed it over Finger Col.

I've been over Solomon pass once, in the midst of a hail storm with much thunder and lightning. Just south of the pass, we saw a flash and heard/felt the roar of thunder instantaneously. We threw our packs off and ran down a ways, then hid under a cliff face until we could count about 7 second between the flash and the roar. Nothing like a near miss to get your heart pounding out of your throat.

Good read Paul and a rather ambitious route like I would have done decades ago haha. Very nice image looking down canyon along lake 10232. Might shoot it a bit more tele leaving out the unbalanced ridge at left and the high sky. Guessing that is late morning from shadows. Would not be able to get that blue in the water until the sun altitude was that high. And likely it would only work so in September. Also allows that nice backlit green in the sedges. Ought to ask giantbrokkie about that pink mineral. Recall we passed some purple and pink slate when I climbed nearby Goddard back in 1981. Maybe some metamorphosized volcanics? The "pinemat manzanita" is actually arctic willow, salix arctica. When one is up in well drained peripheral areas of turf meadows above 10k in the summer get down for a closer look and you ought to see some of their characteristic willowy catkins. Some more on this dwarf tree that is a mystery to most high country visitors.

http://www.davidsenesac.com/Fall_2006/fall_2006.html

David

The plant pictured is not stinging nettles. Not exactly sure what it is, maybe a species in Rosaceae. The plant in the picture appears to be a woody one, and stinging nettles is an herb with opposite leaves, squarish stem, and flowers growing out of the leaf nodes. Usually stinging nettles is found growing along a stream.

thanks for the clarifications on the plants.
oh ya, these are just snapshots - not looking for photo critiques or nuttin' of the sort

the plant that nailed me was in a marshy area.
i took a picture of these that were closer to my campsite thinking that was the same thing because of it's shiny leaves.... which made it suspect & not to be tested for potential skin reactions - lol
i did not take a picture of the exact plant that nailed me in the marshy area.

and the canyon looking south of lake 10232 was taken just after high noon - approx.

The plant in the picture may be a rhododendron... ???

That was a great trip report! Excellent photos. The perfect Sierra experience. Thanks!