NAVIGATION
 Prior Image |
 Next Image |
ON YOUR WALL | |
Kings Canyon
I just finished a 4 day trip into Yosemite a month ago. But I couldn't seem to stay away from my backpack, so I stuffed it again and went to Kings Canyon National Park, starting at Onion Valley 15 miles west of Independence, California.
I drove in Sat and I should have taken 4 days off for this trip instead of just 2.5, due to the rough terrain--very vertical with steep switchbacks. I would really have preferred a week, so that I could study the area for images, etc.
Read on for the details or skip to the next image by clicking here
Sunday: I hiked down about 400 ft. to Bullfrog lake (10,610). then on up to Glen Pass @11,978 ft. A party of six, which had started in Yosemite 15 days before arrived at the pass where I had started to munch on a bagel and cheese sandwich. Having had dehydrated food for the trip, one woman said in a Scottish brogue, "'E's goat [we say got] a bloody cheese bagel! It's fresh!" I barely saved myself by telling them that it was two days old. Down to Rae lakes at 10,538 & camped. Elevation changes: 3200 feet. I did NOT get to Sixty Lake basin which would have taken more time than I had.
Monday: I shot a few fotos at the lake level and then a marmot showed up on a rock. I wasted a few slides on it, getting as close as 12 feet with a 105mm focal length on my Canon. Back up to Glen pass, down to Bull frog lake for water (because I had forgotten to fill up at small lakes on the way down from Glen pass. Up the trail and down to Kearsarge lakes for more water and to take one photo. Up to Kearsarge pass for the final haul to the car. The last gorgeous rays of sun, orange, yellow and pink disappeared as I crested the pass. Used a headlamp for 2:40 to get down to the parking lot. Did not even have a blister or twist an ankle. About 6100 ft of up and down over about 12 miles. I went to a park in Lone Pine, cleaned up a bit, had a hamburger and coffee at PJ's and drove home arriving in Las Vegas @0330. I knew I had selected a **very steep trail, but I worsened it by carrying more than I knew I should in my Dana Designs pack. Its contents:
A Canon camera with two lenses and case at 5# 6 oz.
A 4x5 camera with 4 lenses, filters, lenshood, light meters, film holders, film, shutter releases, a focusing loupe at 13# 14 oz.
A tripod at 5.5 #
camping gear with clothing tent, sleeping bag, ground pad, water and food that weighed ~31 lb. That included a bear proof canister for carrying my food, mandatory in those parts.