My California - Mineral King Loop

derekrichardson (67)adminin SoCal Steemit • 2 days ago

For this weeks Show Us Your California contest by @socalsteemit I headed up into the Sierra Nevada mountains to spend 5 days backpacking the...

Mineral King Loop!

Every year my mom and I try to get in at least one backpacking trip together and this year we planned a great 5 day loop in the Mineral King area in the southwestern corner of Sequoia national park. It's a really long and tedious drive out to Mineral King so we decided to drive up the day before we started and spend the night at the Cold Springs campground. Along the drive we passed through several giant sequoia groves which was really cool and at the campground we had an awesome site right next to the east fork of the Kaweah river!

Mom at our site at Cold Springs

The next morning we headed up to the trailhead and started our hike. The hike started out fairly level for the first two miles as we hiked along the bottom of Mineral King valley. The scenery in the valley is really beautiful. The river runs right down the middle surrounded by open meadow with aspens and pines dotting the edges, deer meandering about, and waterfalls coming down from the many creeks that flow into the valley from the huge mountains that surround it. After the first two miles we arrived at Franklin creek where we were greeted by another awesome set of waterfalls. We stopped for a quick water break there and then continued on up the trail. From here the trail was much steeper climbing up high above the valley floor. Which was a bit tiring but the awesome views made up for it. The trail cut up into Farewell canyon and eventually we reached the trail junction. And this is where our loop began with one fork leading to Franklin lakes, our destination for the day, and the other fork coming down from Farewell Gap which we would be crossing over at the end of our trip. At the junction there was a nice little natural spring so we stopped for another water break there and then started making our way up towards the lakes. Along the way we passed by a spot where at some point in the distant past there had been some mining. We didn't have the time or energy to really explore the area extensively, but it was cool to see some of the old artifacts lying around just off the trail. Passed that we crossed Franklin creek again in a nice little meadow full of wild onions and then started the final climb up to the lake. As we climbed the clouds were building and we were starting to worry that it might rain on us before we got there, but it didn't. The trail actually ended up being much higher than the lake itself so when we finally arrived we were overlooking the lake from above, but we quickly found a good spot to cut down and ended up finding a really nice spot to setup camp right by the water. After camp was setup we found a natural spring pouring right out of a granite cliff which provided us with some nice clean water. Once we were all settled in I headed out along the shoreline for a little bit of fishing and ended up catching 7 nice Brook trout! And while it never rained on us, the previously mentioned clouds were quite the spectacle. They'd build up and move up the drainage, shrouding us in fog and socking in the surrounding peaks, but then clearing up and receding back down into the valley. And they did this over and over several times. I honestly don't think I've ever seen anything like it. Even after it got dark the clouds continued on with this rhythm. Clearing up and allowing me some wonderful views of the stars, and then coming back with a cold fog and cool breeze that eventually forced me to retreat into my tent for the night.

Starting our hike

Deer sighting

Waterfalls coming down Crystal creek

Waterfall at Franklin creek

More waterfalls at Franklin creek

Looking up Farewell canyon to Farewell Gap(our return route)

Looking back down into Mineral King valley from the trail junction

Overlooking Franklin creek from near the old mining site

Crossing Franklin creek

Overlooking the small meadow full of wild onions

Cutting down to the lake

Our camp

The lake

The lake and the granite cliff with the spring(on the left)

Brook trout

Fishing

The next morning we woke up to clear skies. We packed up our camp and made the short but steep climb back up to the trail. From there we started the big climb up and over Franklin pass(11,710'). And although we had a lot of elevation to climb, for the most part the trail was actually fairly gradual with several switchbacks. Upon arriving at the pass we were rewarded with some amazing views out to the east overlooking Rattlesnake creek and Forester lake, our destination for the day. The descent down the east side of the pass was much steeper and we passed a bunch of CCC trail crew workers on our way down who were working hard on the trail. Eventually we got down to Rattlesnake creek and the trail leveled out a bit as we got back down below the tree line. We hiked down through a forest of lodgepole and foxtail pines passing the trail junction for Shotgun pass, which we would be taking in two days, and then getting to the junction for Forester lake. And after another mile of gradual uphill we arrived at the lake. The lake was absolutely beautiful and when we had passed the CCC workers one of them had told us that the fishing was really good so I was excited about that. We set down our packs and started looking around for a good camp spot and mom ended up finding us a really nice spot on the far side of the lake. So we headed over there and got our stuff all setup. After that I just relaxed for a bit because I was still pretty tired from the big climb over the pass. But after some rest mom and I headed out to the shore for some fishing and I ended up catching like 20 fish! After the sun set we started a small campfire and hung out around it for a bit and made some dinner and then eventually headed into our tents for night #2.

Climbing back up to the trail from Franklin lake

Starting our climb towards the pass

Overlooking all of the Franklin lakes

A pack train heading down the trail

Views looking east from Franklin pass

Views of RAD peak
(our planned adventure for the following day)

Views overlooking Soda creek

Descending the east side of the pass
(Suzanne Mtn. left, Shotgun pass center, and Bullfrog peak right)

Rattlesnake creek

Trail junction for Forester lake

Arriving at Forester lake

Our camp

Mom fishing

Brook trout

Fishing

Views from Forester lake

The next morning we woke up to another beautiful clear day. We didn't have to pack up camp this time because our plan was to day hike nearby RAD peak(12,108') and then come back and camp at Forester lake for a second night. So after a casual breakfast we got our daypacks together and started our climb. As we climbed up we passed a few small meadowy creeks and lots of really cool looking old pine trees. Getting through the trees took a bit of navigation and much of it was quite steep, but as we got close to tree line it got even steeper and we got into soft sandy terrain which made climbing extremely tough. But slowly and surely we made our way up and go onto the ridge just below the summit. From there we had to navigate through some huge boulders and do a little bit of technical climbing, but we did it without any problem and finally arrived at the summit! The views from the top were absolutely spectacular making it well worth the climb. The Great Western Divide to the west, the Big Arroyo the Chagoopa Plateau and the Kaweah range to the northeast, Kern canyon and the massive peaks of the Sierra Crest out to the east, and Soda creek thousands of feet directly below us to the north. We took a bunch of pictures and then sat down and enjoyed a snack and signed the peak register(which I was not expecting to be there, and in fact I didn't even know for sure this peak had a name until seeing the register). The register dated back over a decade and yet only had about a dozen or so signatures. Making us part of a very small group of people to ever have made the climb to RAD peak. Which is pretty cool in itself. And while we were sitting there enjoying the views of the many other peaks all around us I decided to count all the peaks that I could see that I'd previously climbed and I think I counted like 13 or 14 of them (some of which I've climbed multiple times) which was pretty cool and a bit nostalgic to get to see a new perspective of so many peaks that I've visited on so many past adventures. Eventually it came time for us to start heading back down. We made our way back through the boulders and then started to descend the steep sandy slope. Which was MUCH easier going down and actually kinda fun. It was kinda like skiing but in sand and with just our feet. We made it back down to the tree line in a small fraction of the time it took us to go up and from there we navigated our way back down through all the cool looking trees and right back to our camp at Forester lake. It was still pretty early in the afternoon when we got back so I decided to take a short nap just to get some extra rest because I hadn't been sleeping great and I knew we were planning to wake up early the next day. After my nap I got up, collected a little bit of firewood and then decided to take a walk out around the southeastern shore of the lake which was fun and I was even able to get some nice views looking down into lower Rattlesnake creek. After my walk it was time for fishing so I got my pole and headed out to the shore. And once again Forester lake did not disappoint and I caught over 40 fish!! It was too much fun! I fished until after the sun set and then headed back to camp and hung out around the campfire for awhile before making dinner and then heading off to bed.

Some of the cool looking pine trees on the way up RAD peak

Climbing up through the trees

On the sandy slopes above tree line

Approaching the summit

Summit views looking north

Summit views looking northeast

Summit views looking southwest

Summit views looking west

Mom signing the peak register

The peak register

Summit selfie

Time for sand skiing

Arriving back at camp

Views from the southeast shoreline

Watching mom fish from across the lake

Looking down Rattlesnake creek

Mom catching fish

Brook trout

More fish

Sunset glow

Relaxing by the campfire

The next morning we got up a little earlier than usual with the expectation that it could potentially be the most challenging day of the trip including some unknown factors. We had breakfast, packed up camp and headed out. Back around the lake to the trail and back down the trail to Rattlesnake creek. Then heading back up Rattlesnake creek to the junction for Shotgun pass(11,470') that we had passed 2 days earlier. The start of the route (there's no real trail) up the pass was a bit confusing because the CCC crew that was working on the Franklin pass trail had a big camp right near there and we ended up in the middle of their camp and were a bit confused on which way to go. And the CCC guys there were no help at all. So we just started heading up in the general direction we wanted to go and luckily we eventually started seeing cairns marking the route. And once on the route we didn't have too much trouble following it. We climbed up for a ways and then reached a big golden meadow with several small streams snaking all throughout it. We crossed the meadow and were able to pick up the route again on the far side. Eventually we got up above tree line and had the pass in sight, but it's still seemed like it took a long time to get up the last half mile or so. But honestly even though the route was fairly steep and tiring, it was actually not nearly as bad as I thought it would be and we arrived at the pass even earlier than expected. At the pass it was quite windy and cold, but we threw on our windbreakers and sat behind a boulder, had a snack break, and planned our route up Bullfrog peak(12,320'). Which was just a mile to the west of us, but with still almost a thousand feet of elevation to climb. As we were sitting there we noticed the clouds were building quickly so, not wanting to be going over the peak during a thunderstorm we promptly threw on our packs and started the climb. At first the climb wasn't too bad but as we went the slope got steeper and the talus got bigger and near the top we were climbing nearly vertical through some huge boulders. It was a bit challenging but nothing we couldn't handle and we were just happy that the storm had held off so we could rest for a bit on the summit and have a snack and enjoy the views. But with all the ominous clouds around us we couldn't linger, so before too long we decided it was time to start making our way down the west side of the peak to Bullfrog lake which was our destination for the day. This side of the peak was one of our big "unknowns" because although we had seen some distant pictures online we weren't really sure about the terrain. But luckily for us once we were through the big boulders near the top is was mostly all sand with some rocks mixed in making for a fun mostly "sand skiing" descent which was pretty much the best case scenario. The last couple hundred feet down to the lake we knew there was only one small area that was passable because above it was cliffs and below it was cliffs, but we easily located the right spot and although it was still a fairly steep and treacherous descent down to the lake we made it down without any issues. Once there we scouted out our campsite and got our stuff all setup. Once we were setup we got some water from the lake and then just relaxed at camp for a bit. The Bullfrog lakes aren't supposed to have any fish so we didn't try fishing, but I did take a walk out around the south shore and can confirm that I didn't see a single fish... or a single bullfrog. But on my walk I did start to feel some sprinkles so I headed back to camp and eventually the sprinkles built up into a light rain. Mom retreated into her tent, but I just threw on my rain jacket and actually found it quite pleasant. As long as it's not too crazy I usually like a little bit of weather on my trips. As I often say "it's all part of the experience"!

One last shot of Forester lake on our way out

Small meadow along Rattlesnake creek

The junction for Shotgun Pass

Arriving at the big meadow

Navigating our way through the maze of small streams in the meadow

Getting closer to the pass

Almost there!

Views off the north side of the pass

Views off the south side of the pass

Starting to make our way up Bullfrog peak

On the summit

Taking a snack break on the top

Starting to make our way down the west side of the peak

Overlooking Bullfrog lake

Arriving at the lake

Our camp

Walking around the southern shore

Looking back towards our camp

Looking out across the upper Little Kern river canyon

Sunset glow

In the morning we woke up to clear skies. We had breakfast, and started packing. Our tents were still wet from the rain, but being on the western facing side directly below huge peaks meant that the sun wouldn't come out and start drying things out until late. So we just packed it up wet and headed out. Now, while there is a trail from Bullfrog lakes, it would drop us like 800' in elevation just for us to have to climb like 600' back up to Farewell Gap. So instead we decided to just shortcut it directly cross country traversing the steep scree slopes. We weren't sure how it was gonna work out, but we're pretty adventurous so we just went for it. It got a little sketchy in a few spots, but nothing we couldn't handle and before we knew it we had met up with the trail just below the gap. And a couple switchbacks later we were sitting on Farewell Gap(10,587'). We stopped at the gap for a short break and enjoyed our last views looking down the upper Little Kern river canyon and then started making our way down the north side of the pass back towards Mineral King valley. At this point we were relieved that the rest of our trip would be all downhill, but we still had a long 8 miles to go and thousands of feet in elevation to descend. But the gradual grade of the trail, the lovely little springs and meadows, and the awesome views down into the valley, made the descent quite pleasant and before we knew it we were back at the junction for Franklin lakes making our loop come full circle. From there it was an easy descent back down to Franklin creek and then the last couple miles back across Mineral King valley and back to the trailhead wrapping up another absolutely amazing wilderness adventure!! With all the incredible scenery, the amazing fishing, the challenging peaks... and to be lucky enough to get to do it all with my incredibly awesome mother... it honestly just doesn't get much better!