Mineral King: Lakes, Passes and Peak in Kings Canyon and Sequioa National Park, California

The Trip

The Great Western Divide is the mighty, rocky spine of the High Sierra between Kings Canyon and the southern end of Sequoia National Park. It is a massive presence, often impenetrable. We will cross it twice.

Beginning at Mineral King, our trek takes us over Timber Gap and through a grove of giant Sequoias. Moving East off Timber Creek we workout our lungs ascending Black Rock Pass. Our descent affords us views West into the Five Lakes Basin. Turning north we join the High Sierra Trail for 5-6 miles before bearing off cross-country into the rugged Nine Lakes Basin. There we’ll have a layover day and energetic hikers will have the opportunity to summit nearby Mt Lawson. For our return, we head South along the Sierra High Trail past 5 Lakes Basin, then turn West to follow  Lost Canyon creek, ending our trip with a hike out over the impressive Sawtooth Pass.

We strive to travel light and implement (and teach those interested) modern backpacking techniques to lighten our packs and quicken our pace, while maintaining a positive, social environment with group meals and shared goals.

Our backcountry travel style, developed over the course of many years in the wilderness, is key to successful trips. We seek adventurous routes, enjoy the company of our co-adventurers, emphasize both safety and humor, and follow Leave No Trace principles. Our mantra is, “Every day in the mountains is a good day."

Ifyou are an adventurous backpacker with a high level of fitness and enough endurance to trek deep into often the hidden treasures of Sequoia National Park, you can't miss this trip.

Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks are the homelands of the Mono (Monache), Yokuts, Tubatulabal, Paiute, and Western Shoshone. The tribes affiliated with the parks  -  16 Federally Recognized Tribes and 11 State Recognized and other tribes - all have numerous descendants living today who continue to steward and tend to the lands now with the National parks.

Day 1: We meet mid-afternoon at a campground in Mineral King. This serves as an opportunity to get to know each other, discuss last-minute equipment questions, prepare our loads, outline trip details, and conversation over a BYO dinner in a car-camping setting.

Day 2: We begin our hike out of Mineral King around 7,700 feet. We’ll enjoy climbing Timber Gap (9,500 feet) and hiking to Pinto Lake, where we will make camp in a mixed alpine environment. Estimated distance is 8 miles.

Day 3: Leaving Pinto Lake we head east to over Black Rock Pass (11,500 ft) and enjoy a grand view of the Five Lakes Basins. We’ll descend into the Little Five Lakes Basin where we will make camp and soak our feet at one of the larger little lakes, approximately 5 miles.

Day 4: Turning north we will drop down to the Kern River valley to join the scenic and classic High Sierra trail. We slowly regain elevation, passing Kaweah Gap up on our left as we head off trail into the Nine Lakes Basin area, approximately 6 miles.

Day 5: Those wanting a relaxing day can spend it exploring the Nine Lake Basin area while others wanting more adventure -- weather cooperating -- we will attempt to summit Mt Lawson.

Day 6: Retracing our steps, we head southward on the High Sierra Trail passing by the Little 5 Lakes Basin, and the sparkling waters of Big 5 Lakes Basin. We continue south, turning westward to follow the Lost Canyon Trail to to a campsite along Lost Canyon Creek not far from the river, 13 miles.

Day 7: Our final day is a highlight. We climb the rocky moonscape of Sawtooth Pass (11,732 feet), enjoy icy Columbine Lake, and descend to our Mineral King trailhead. 8 miles

The total trip distance is estimated at 40-45 miles, mostly on-trail, but with off-trail and unmaintained trail components.

Our hiking schedule is not absolute. How far we get each day and where we camp depends on group speed, the weather, trail conditions, and other factors outside our control. The route is not rigid, and flexibility is essential.

Getting There

The start of the trip is Saturday at Mineral King. Our meeting point will be a public campground near the trailhead. Mineral King is about 3 hours east of Fresno, CA (the nearest airport). The leader will provide driving instructions to participants. It is an unpaved, serpentine road and will take longer than you think to reach the trailhead.

Please do not make non-refundable travel arrangements until notified to do so by the trip leader.

Accommodations and Food

Meals on the trip will be filling, tasty, and packable. We serve various types of protein. If requested we are happy to provide vegetarian options. As is true on other Sierra Club Knapsack trips, meal preparation is a group effort and you will be expected to take turns helping in the “kitchen." Our meals are designed for simplicity, lighter weight, and enjoyment. The quality of our meals is of particular interest to the leaders. It is our goal that you will be well-fed and fueled for strenuous days on the trail while maintaining reasonable pack weights. All cooking gear and stoves are provided.

Trip Difficulty

The trip is rated a 4 (on a scale of 1 to 5, with 5 representing the most difficult trip Sierra Club offers). This trip is for well-conditioned participants with an adventurous spirit who can move confidently over challenging terrain at a good pace. 

You don’t need to be a veteran of numerous backpacking trips to sign up for and enjoy this trip. We welcome and enjoy a mix of savvy veterans and backpackers with moderate experience levels or newer backpackers who have spent significant time in the mountains.  All must be comfortable in off trail conditions where there may be talus, scree and unstable footing where balance, strength and coordination come into play. 

We seek participants with varied experience levels and backgrounds who have good aerobic capacity (needed to climb high passes), and know they can keep moving over rocky terrain with a fully loaded pack. It is essential for all participants to be in their best shape. Substantial individual pre-trip training is a must. 

Participation in this outing requires that you have some backpacking experience, are fit enough to backpack at high elevation for up to a full 8-hour day for several days in a row (we arrive into camp mid-to-late afternoon most days -- our longest day is 13 trail miles), and have at least a little off-trail hiking or climbing experience.

Group wilderness trekking requires not just aerobic strength; it requires patience when scouting is needed, and a collaborative team-first approach. This is not a solo hike. We look out for each other and sometimes have to compromise our individual goals. We also owe it to each other to arrive at the trailhead physically and mentally ready for the challenges described here.

The leader will screen participants to help ensure each individual, and the group as a whole, maintains the ability to accomplish the goals of the trip. The leader will contact each participant to discuss the expectations of the trip and answer questions.

Equipment and Clothing

We choose to travel light given our itinerary and require a pack weight limit to keep the burden, our feet, and our spirits light on the trail. Each individual’s total pack weight at the beginning of the trip, including group gear and all food and water, should be under 40 pounds, with a reasonable goal of 35 pounds. Your personal gear must be under 20 pounds. Weighing your pack at home with your gear before you leave for the trip will help you make informed decisions on what to bring. Once we meet, we will distribute the bear cans, food (about 12-13 lbs/pp) and group gear. If you are new to lighter backpacking, we can help you prioritize your gear to reach the ideal weight.

Participants provide their own personal gear, first aid kits and water purifying systems. Make sure your gear is well-tested and performing well. Break in your boots before the trip and ensure they are sturdy enough to cushion your feet and be comfortable on and off trail. Blisters are one of most common “injuries” hikers get and cause much more discomfort and trouble when you are hiking without relief for a week. Your backpack must be large enough to carry a large plastic bear-resistant canister, which protects our food from bears and other critters.

Bring a flexible and positive attitude (a weightless backcou ntry tool), as conditions often require a change in route or itinerary. By definition, backcountry travel requires adjustment. The positive attitude of our trip participants is infectious and makes the trip enjoyable, especially on harder days and when other unexpected weather or events crop up.

Reading this helpful article will teach you about different types of backpacking equipment and give you a general overview of appropriate gear for this outing. Additional materials will be sent to all participants as we prepare for the trip.

References

USGS Maps:

• Mineral King

• Lodgepole

• Triple Divide Peak

Maps may be purchased online at http://www.rei.com or http://store.usgs.gov.

You may also consider one of the many apps for smart phone such as Topo Maps. This trip leader uses Gaia GPS app and Caltopo.com. Useful information can also be found at www.sierrabackpacker.com.

Books:

• Secor, R.J., The High Sierra: Peaks, Passes, and Trails. An excellent general reference to climbing routes, cross-country routes, and trails in the Sierra Nevada.

• Laws, John Muir, The Laws Field Guide to the Sierra Nevada (published by the California Academy of Sciences). An excellent guide to the plants and wildlife of the Sierra Nevada.

Conservation