TR: Forks of the Kern 11/8 & 9/2014
Posted: Mon Nov 10, 2014 10:21 pm
48 hours on the Forks of the Kern:
Saturday 11/8/2014
Friday afternoon I decided the weather was too perfect to miss out on one last low elevation Sierra backpack. I've gotten in the habit of keeping backpacking food on standby so when I decide to jet out of town at the last minute I can grab and go! I left my house at 4:00 am and after stopping in Kernville to obtain a self registered/issued permit I was on the trail by 10:00. I have never hiked this trail before and choose it for that reason as well as the fairly easy access, and the low elevation. At home, studying the map, I trace my finger all along the Kern River until I reach it's headwaters some ...60 trail miles and 6,000 feet of elevation gain deep in the heart of the Sierra. I marvel at how I stood at the head waters of the Kern this summer midway through my Circle of Solitude hike. I fantasize about starting at the Forks of the Kern and hiking all the way to the headwaters....perhaps a trip for another time... but not today! There are 8 cars including mine at the trailhead, within 2 hours I will have passed all 7 other parties and the far reaches of the canyon will be mine to explore in solitude. The trail immediately descends 1,000 feet to the Kern and the Little Kern River....The Forks. It is crazy hot and I can feel the sun not only frying my right side but also reflecting of the rock walls and frying my left side. Well, it's good to be even. I cannot imagine the heat radiating off these walls and up this canyon in the summer. Wow what a gorgeous day today. In fact it's perfect. Once at the forks I spend some time criss crossing the braided rivers until I find the right trail heading up the canyon. This is a cold, fast and dangerous crossing in the spring and early summer especially in high snow years. Today I only get the toe box of my boots wet. And yes the water is cold.
The black oaks and willows are still showing some nice fall color and provide a stunning backdrop to the Kern. There are campsites and swimming holes everywhere! Sadly at the beginning of the trail there is also a lot of trash. And too much TP! Fortunately the further up the trail I go the more pristine both the trail and river become. I actually stop and jump in the water....yup still cold. I find a great campsite next to the river. I gather wood, set up my tent and watch the sunset. By 5 it is dark. I settle in for the long, almost 13 hours long of darkness that accompanies November camping.....as the Kern lulls me to sleep at 8:30, I sigh and smile knowing I wouldn't want it any other way. Sunday November 9, 2014
The sun does not reach my campsite until almost 9:00Am. It is COLD down in the canyon. I spend the morning hiking an hour more up the canyon arriving at Kern Flat before I need to turn around in order to make it back to my car before dark. I arrived back at my car at 4pm. The trip was short but it sure beats staying home!
brenner
sole2soulhiking.com
Saturday 11/8/2014
Friday afternoon I decided the weather was too perfect to miss out on one last low elevation Sierra backpack. I've gotten in the habit of keeping backpacking food on standby so when I decide to jet out of town at the last minute I can grab and go! I left my house at 4:00 am and after stopping in Kernville to obtain a self registered/issued permit I was on the trail by 10:00. I have never hiked this trail before and choose it for that reason as well as the fairly easy access, and the low elevation. At home, studying the map, I trace my finger all along the Kern River until I reach it's headwaters some ...60 trail miles and 6,000 feet of elevation gain deep in the heart of the Sierra. I marvel at how I stood at the head waters of the Kern this summer midway through my Circle of Solitude hike. I fantasize about starting at the Forks of the Kern and hiking all the way to the headwaters....perhaps a trip for another time... but not today! There are 8 cars including mine at the trailhead, within 2 hours I will have passed all 7 other parties and the far reaches of the canyon will be mine to explore in solitude. The trail immediately descends 1,000 feet to the Kern and the Little Kern River....The Forks. It is crazy hot and I can feel the sun not only frying my right side but also reflecting of the rock walls and frying my left side. Well, it's good to be even. I cannot imagine the heat radiating off these walls and up this canyon in the summer. Wow what a gorgeous day today. In fact it's perfect. Once at the forks I spend some time criss crossing the braided rivers until I find the right trail heading up the canyon. This is a cold, fast and dangerous crossing in the spring and early summer especially in high snow years. Today I only get the toe box of my boots wet. And yes the water is cold.
The black oaks and willows are still showing some nice fall color and provide a stunning backdrop to the Kern. There are campsites and swimming holes everywhere! Sadly at the beginning of the trail there is also a lot of trash. And too much TP! Fortunately the further up the trail I go the more pristine both the trail and river become. I actually stop and jump in the water....yup still cold. I find a great campsite next to the river. I gather wood, set up my tent and watch the sunset. By 5 it is dark. I settle in for the long, almost 13 hours long of darkness that accompanies November camping.....as the Kern lulls me to sleep at 8:30, I sigh and smile knowing I wouldn't want it any other way. Sunday November 9, 2014
The sun does not reach my campsite until almost 9:00Am. It is COLD down in the canyon. I spend the morning hiking an hour more up the canyon arriving at Kern Flat before I need to turn around in order to make it back to my car before dark. I arrived back at my car at 4pm. The trip was short but it sure beats staying home!
brenner
sole2soulhiking.com