As for mosquitoes, yes, the High Sierra is notorious for them being thick basically from late June or early July (depending on elevation) to mid- or late August, although they taper off in August. 5 Tips for Choosing a Suitable Backpacking Trip for your Family, Tramping the Pouakai Circuit: Egmont National Park, DAY 3: BEARPAW MEADOW TO NINE LAKES BASIN, DAY 4: NINE LAKES BASIN TO BIG FIVE LAKES, Canoeing the North Fork of the Flathead River. It was amazing and sentimental, and couldn’t have been done in a more perfect location. Columbine Lake Country Club January– March 2019 Community Information for CLCC ... Hotshot crew based out of Sequoia/Kings Nation-al Park in California. Remember to practice all parts of no-trace camping. Just under 2km of walking bought us back to a spot by the river that would have made a nice alternative place to camp. And the views!! It was basic, but they had giant $5 camp-made brownies that we could split into 5 pieces, and potato chips. I would definitely not advise hiking the loop in the opposite direction, climbing from Monarch Lakes to Sawtooth Pass, especially with heavy backpacks. Varied and always changing. I turned east and walked down Lost Canyon. 25 all-time favorite backcountry campsites, the best backcountry campsites I’ve hiked past. The heat was extreme – 115°F or 45°C and we honestly thought we might melt. Mon 20 Jul Sequoia … It is narrow; not suitable for trailers, or people who don’t know how to drive around sharp bends and steep dropoffs, while sharing the road with others. Cliff Creek Campsite among giant trees, was just on the other side.DAY 2: CLIFF CREEK TO BEARPAW MEADOW, Elevation gain: 1800ft (550m)  Elevation loss: 1100ft (335m), Time on the trail (total travel time, breaks included): 7 hrs. But the bonus?! NB:  We navigate with a paper map and compass, therefore distances and elevations are not going to perfectly match a digital navigation device. The mosquitoes are really only bad first thing in the morning and in the evening. We did it!! 829. Hume Lake is on my list to check out on my next visit. We set camp in one of the coves and took a dip in the lake. Highs 78 to 88 at 5000 feet. The going was a little easier; less steep. Many seem to start on the High Sierra Trail at the Crescent Meadows trailhead in the ‘main’ part of Sequoia National Park. Yep, a shop. 70 to 80 at 8000 feet. The underlying thing that fueled this motivation was a desire to honour our oldest daughter. Thank you for such a prompt and extremely thoughtful reply. Apparently the marmots aren’t a problem down there, or in other months outside of June and July. Just up the hill, we discovered was the junction for the very popular High Sierra Trail. Of course. Our original plan was to camp at Columbine Lake (11.000ft). Columbine Lake and Sawtooth Peak - The sky was completely clouded over by the time I caught the reflection of Sawtooth Peak in the crysal-clear water of Columbine Lake. Two questions about your article on the 6-day, 38-mile Sequoia National Park loop: If you were hiking that loop without your children, would you have still been content with the daily mileage, or would you have done something different? When I hike without my family, I tend to hike much longer distances (i.e., often 20-mile days or farther), but I know that’s not for everyone. We bought two large ones because I am sure we will use them again. We put our application in right on the dot; we didn’t want to miss out. Sequoia National Park may be known for its giant sequoia groves, but the best backpacking is actually in the lesser-known Mineral King Valley. You’ll walk down a … No-one! Sequoia National park had a 180% snowpack this year so even in September the snow hadn’t completed melted off Precipice Lake. I found this little alcove that held a reflection long enough for me to snap off a few shots. Our rhythm on the trail was one of early starts and early bedtimes. Bear in mind that this loop includes a handful of passes in the 9,000-foot to over 11,000-foot range, so that tends to affect your pace, as does the typically very hot afternoon sun at higher elevations in the High Sierra. The trail was very well defined for the most part, and was signed at all intersections. The photographer in me really wanted to go there but it would have been nearly 3 miles to go in and out, and was out of our way. Granite Creek (bridged & with camping opportunities here for one or two tents), Eagle Scout Creek, and the Kaweah River (camping here too). The area is very rugged and remote and the drive in gives a sense of isolation and vulnerability. Water was freezing, but it was well worth it! We always carry bear spray; in California (or at least in Sequoia) it is considered a weapon and isn’t allowed. Our 7 year old, who is an excellent little hiker, would have been fine coming with us. Do you like The Big Outside? There are parts of the trail that the sun would beat down hot in the middle of summer. Email it to me at michael@thebigoutside.com. You can always bring a head net for camp, wear pants and long sleeves, and in the mornings, either start hiking very early, before the mosquitoes are out, or linger in your tent until they’ve dissipated. 11,630ft (3550m). Lost Canyon Campsite - I shared this campsite with a hiker who was hauling supplies into Kern Canyon. Loading... Autoplay When autoplay is enabled, a suggested video will automatically play next. You might also be interested in my Ask Me post, “What Clothing Do You Recommend For August in the High Sierra?” And you may find some good, general tips about hiking and backpacking anywhere in the High Sierra by seeing my stories about the John Muir Trail and Yosemite National Park. A bit after 5 p.m., I walk up to the rocky shore of small, oval-shaped Precipice Lake, still 30 minutes below Kaweah Gap. It was upward bound, but gentle in its approach, travelling through the open forest and  coming and going from the creek. I was not one of them!After a much needed rest, and a belly full of food we continued up to Kaweah Gap. Subscribe for updates about new stories and free gear giveaways by entering your email address in the box at the bottom of this story, at the top of the left sidebar, or on my About page, and follow my adventures on Facebook and Twitter. From what I read, I was expecting there to be quite a few people camped here. At 10,400 feet, with the nearest tree at least a couple of trail miles below us, the lake’s glassy, green and blue waters sit in a granite bowl, reflecting a white and golden cliff with black water streaks on the opposite shore. The trail from Columbine Lake up to the pass was the least defined part of the circuit. “10 Tips For Making Hiking and Backpacking Easier”. © 2020 Born to Adventure | Family Outdoor Adventures & Vacation Photography|ProPhoto Photo Blog. Thank you for your support. If you are experienced, neither of those areas should pose any problems. The ranger who issues your permit will check you have them. Gorgeous. The trail between Cliff Creek Camp and Redwood Meadow was mostly a gentle descent. This trip had been on our radar for a couple of years, after our oldest daughter asked if we could make it happen for her 13th birthday. After ascending some 1500 ft., still smiling : First camp, Monarch lake : Columbine lake view from Sawtooth pass : Sawtooth peak, 12343 ft. Spring lake, our home for two nights : Columbine Lake (National Park Services) WHAT TO DO: ON THE WATER. Miles worth of hiking from anywhere. This blog and website is my full-time job and I rely on the support of readers. You can find out what you need to know at this link, The road from Three Rivers to Mineral King is not clear of snow and open until May. It was so great to be hiking when the sun came up! Beyond the waterfalls, in the high country backpacking or day hikes – Moose Lake; Big Bird Lake; Pear Lake; Heather Lake; Aster Lake; Emerald Lake; Kings Canyon Lakes, Kings Cyn NP at … As we were summiting, there was the first distant clap of thunder and we needed to high tail it to camp. We recently read in the paper that many people have died, and we can personally verify that it has been well over 100 degrees. Breakfast today was at Hamilton Lake. columbine lake in sequoia np. The views from the front of the cafe were amazing too. I'll be honest and say I'm undecided on the presence of the moon, but not much I could do about that. It therefore comes with a very high recommendation from us! We got up at 5am (in the dark), packed up camp, and were walking between 5:45am and 6:00am each day. Experiencing Goblin State Park. Mosquito Lake - no camping within ¼ mile of Mosquito Lake #1; Hockett Meadow - no camping between the trail and Whitman Creek; and; Timberline Lake area - Lake – within ¼ mile of the lake; Columbine Lake – within 100 feet of the lake; The following sequoia groves: Atwell, Big Stump, Clough Cave, Coffeepot, Dillonwood, Drowning while crossing creeks is the number one cause of death in Sequoia National Park and I can see why. It would have been nice to add an extra day, making it a 7 day trip. As mentioned previously there was 180% snowpack. From the pass you also have view to Columbine Lake. Bear-proof food storage containers are a mandatory requirement to travel in the backcountry in Sequoia. Our trip was from August 30th to September 4th. Lessons we learned on the trail? The trail heads into Lost Canyon. Thank you for setting such a high bar in quality images and narrative. Instead of camping at the large Columbine lake, Louis ventured off to find our secret cove we stumbled upon three years ago. DAY 5: BIG FIVE LAKES TO MONARCH LAKE, Elevation gain: 2900ft (900m)  Elevation loss: 1900ft (580m). In fact, we really didn’t see many people at all. Sequoia National Park 8/2003 . Posted by 2 months ago. Afterwards, we set up camp, and like usual had the afternoon to hang out in another beautiful part of God’s handiwork.DAY 6: MONARCH LAKE TO MINERAL KING, Time on the trail (total travel time, breaks included): 2 hrs. Thanks for the nice words about my blog, I’m glad you found it. Do you know if most hikers experience such a thickness of mosquitos that the experience is negatively affected to a great extent? This is very helpful. A beautiful canyon most easily reached from Mineral King in Sequoia NP. The trail over the pass eventually leads down to the lower Kern River. It expressed the hopes and dreams that we had for her. There are plenty of warnings about how windy the road is from Three Rivers to Mineral King. You may not have read the news, but California has been having a heat wave. As a team (but mostly lead by the kids) we decided to push on over Sawtooth Pass and down to Monarch Lake so that our final day we could sleep in and not have very far to walk to complete our trip. It was smokey and overcast, and threatening rain. DAY 3: BEARPAW MEADOW TO NINE LAKES BASIN, Elevation gain: 3300ft (1000m) Elevation loss: 400ft (120m), Time on the trail (total travel time, breaks included): 9 hrs. The measures that were taken to construct this trail in completely inhospitable terrain were staggering to us. This paved trail will lead you to see the tallest tree in the world, General Sherman. My kids did fine, but we took it slowly. Some spots were slippery with the gravel over solid rock, and other parts were the most divine scree running. This was one of my favourite places on the whole trip. Some short sledding hills are found among the trees. The trail from Columbine Lake up to the pass was the least defined part of the circuit. The trail is primarily used for hiking, camping, and backpacking. “The Simple Equation of Ultralight Backpacking: Less Weight = More Fun” There was a shop there. Hume Lake is another place to find camping near Sequoia National Park, and you can also find gas and shops in the area. (We are physically fit and 60, so we do have limitations.) Some of the more quaint spots to camp only held one, maybe two tents. For just $75, I’ll answer your questions via email or in a phone call to help ensure your trip is a success. This tool allows you to look up elevation data by searching address or clicking on a live google map. If you camp above tree line and there’s a breeze, that helps considerably. From the Kaweah we climbed 1.4 miles up to Bearpaw Meadow. This particular Sequoia, had three trunks all coming from the same base. Though the going was easy and downhill, it was chilly. We had our early morning snack by the creek, and then followed the meandering trail for 4km. Fair bit of potential. There would be no way to enjoy this beautiful terrain if it wasn’t for them. Above Hamilton Lake, Sequoia NP Eventually schedule beckoned and we departed for Columbine Lake and our highest point on this loop, Sawtooth Pass at 11,700 feet. A lot of the trip you are camping around 10,000ft and night time temperatures can get below freezing even in the summer. Higher up in the valley the trail still had some snow, and a small section had sustained some avalanche damage from the unusually large winter snowpack. Secondly, you mention the mosquito population. Good luck. The near-by creek was cascading with numerous waterfalls and pools. Your email is never published or shared. But guess what? The crossing is right above a cliff and waterfall, which made for a pretty spectacular setting just as we were getting a little bit of alpenglow at sunrise. Honestly, I am kinda turned off by these sorts of places, especially when I am camped nearby. So much variety. That would indicate this wasn’t a ‘typical’ route. The trail enters into a patch of forest and through the big, impressive trees in the saddle, we gained glimpses into the type of topgraphy we would be travelling into.The 5km+ downhill trek to Cliff Creek felt like a long way on the first day on the trail.Crossing over Cliff Creek was the first of many stream crossings on this trip. A more populated option 4 was to camp some place with lockup boxes Redwood Meadow mostly... Application in right on the water Events ; Show more Show less camp meant got! Middle of summer the snow hadn ’ t a ‘ typical ’ route bound, they... 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