Middle Fork Kaweah River

Sequoia National Park

3/29/02 - 3/31/02

[Images]

Route map For logistical reasons, I had to leave work around 11am on Friday, and having previously seen some nice photos of the Middle Fork Kaweah trail while procrastinating on one of Yahoo's hiking groups, I took the opportunity to head down to the Sequoia NP foothills to check it out for myself. At this time of year, the trail requires only a self-issue permit, a pleasant change from having to hang around for the ranger station to open during the summer months, and I started walking around 4.30pm or so, stopping shortly after the ford of Panther Creek once it had become too dark to easily continue.

On Saturday, I continued walking along to see how far I could get before hitting the snow pack on the main trail as well as the side trails down to Redwood Meadow, before eventually retracing my steps. It appeared that I was the first person to walk along there in a while as I saw no other footprints in the snow--a bit surprising to me, as the early spring run-off while snow lingers by the creeks makes for a lovely setting.



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3/29/02
Looking towards Castle Rocks along the Middle Fork of the Kaweah. Castle Rocks. From the Panther Creek crossing, dusk falls on the Great Western Divide.

3/30/02
Along the trail, looking towards the Great Western Divide.  I'd woken early and started walking around 5.30 am or so, looking forward to seeing what lay further along the trail, and I wasn't disappointed. Unnamed creek along the trail. A truly gorgeous morning, looking back towards Moro Rock and the trailhead. This valley is quite beautiful--it far surpassed my expectations given its low elevation. Looking over the Middle Fork to the Great Western Divide.
Again looking over the Middle Fork Kaweah. Looking north along an unnamed creek (the first one after Buck Creek on the USFS topo). Looking south from the same bridge as the previous photo. Middle Fork of the Kaweah at the crossing at the far south end of River Valley; this was at the edge of the snow pack at the time.
Returning on Saturday afternoon after traversing as far as was snow-free on all trails from the Middle Fork; doing this made for a very long but enjoyable day. From a few feet further along the trail! Sun starting to set on a beautiful middle elevation forest. Lovely colours in the forest on Saturday afternoon; the photo simply does not do this scene justice.

3/31/02
On a ledge looking east along the river. Another view of the river from the same place as the previous photo. And again.



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