Nine Days Backpacking in Mineral King

 

Mid- August saw me on Sequoia trails with six fellow hikers on a Sequoia Natural History Association trip led by Rick Mitchell. The first day's hike to Franklin Lake was over a Cadillac trail. Day # 2 we gained another 2,000+' going over Franklin Pass.(Photo right at 11,800'). Then down hill under threatening rain to No Name Lake for two nights, going up to Shotgun pass (also 11,000+' ) for a pleasant day hike.  Weather conditions were "iffy" with rain threatening at several times. The rain clouds made for some fantastic sunsets.


Franklin Lake View

Heading for Little Claire Lake we passed through marvelous Foxtail Pine forest with gnarly, lightening-split trunks that looked tortured, and probably are hundreds of years old. On to Big Five Lakes, then Little Five Lakes with distant views of Whitney and it's neighbors and up close views of the Kaweah mountains. Watching the colors change on the mounains at sunset was a spectacular light show. That night I woke to the loudest thunder I've ever heard with lightening striking just a bit too close for comfort.
Out over Black Rock Pass (another 11,000+'), down to the junction and then finally Timber Gap pass on our last day and back into Mineral King. Life doesn't get much better than this!