2. Nature

Hockett Plateau, Sequoia National Park, May 2007

A training hike to the Hockett Meadows area starting and ending at the South Fork trailhead in Sequoia National Park, May 25-27, 2006. It had been a dry winter so the area was relatively snow-free and the streams were only moderately full.
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  • Trailhead sign at South Fork trailhead, Sequoia National Park. Self-issue wilderness permits from this trailhead, no charge. Starting altitude about 3500 feet. Photo a bit fuzzy but I didn't want to use flash (thus the 1/6th second exposure...) See my website at: http://bryanlallen.googlepages.com

    Trailhead sign at South Fork trailhead, Sequoia National Park. Self-issue wilderness permits from this trailhead, no charge. Starting altitude about 3500 feet. Photo a bit fuzzy but I didn't want to use flash (thus the 1/6th second exposure...) See my website at: http://bryanlallen.googlepages.com

  • Lots of lupine and other flowers. The trail is on a north-facing slope and thus is shady, leafy, green, and well-watered.

    Lots of lupine and other flowers. The trail is on a north-facing slope and thus is shady, leafy, green, and well-watered.

  • Portions of the lower trail were/are a bit overgrown. Some of that greenness is poison oak, so long pants are advised...

    Portions of the lower trail were/are a bit overgrown. Some of that greenness is poison oak, so long pants are advised...

  • The green leafiness of the trail, bearing steadily upwards.

    The green leafiness of the trail, bearing steadily upwards.

  • Within three or four miles the trail intersects the western edge of the Garfield Grove of Giant Sequoias.

    Within three or four miles the trail intersects the western edge of the Garfield Grove of Giant Sequoias.

  • Base of a Giant Sequoia.

    Base of a Giant Sequoia.

  • Cones of Sugar Pine. They're big!

    Cones of Sugar Pine. They're big!

  • Giant Sequoia cone; rather compact.

    Giant Sequoia cone; rather compact.

  • Another Giant Sequoia cone, this one freshly cut off by a rodent in the treetops hundreds of feet above.

    Another Giant Sequoia cone, this one freshly cut off by a rodent in the treetops hundreds of feet above.

  • The dogwood trees (Cornus nuttallii) were in bloom along the trail.

    The dogwood trees (Cornus nuttallii) were in bloom along the trail.

  • Snowslide Canyon, with dogwoods.

    Snowslide Canyon, with dogwoods.

  • Snowslide Canyon, using a different exposure setting.

    Snowslide Canyon, using a different exposure setting.

  • Looking north across the South Fork Kaweah River Canyon to Homer's Nose.

    Looking north across the South Fork Kaweah River Canyon to Homer's Nose.

  • Another view of Homer's Nose.

    Another view of Homer's Nose.

  • Dogwood blossoms.

    Dogwood blossoms.

  • Cone of a Sugar Pine (Pinus lambertiana.) You do NOT want to park your car underneath one of these trees when it's shedding cones!

    Cone of a Sugar Pine (Pinus lambertiana.) You do NOT want to park your car underneath one of these trees when it's shedding cones!

  • Redwood & dogwood. A very verdant area.

    Redwood & dogwood. A very verdant area.

  • Tried and tried to get a photo of a Junco (Junco oreganus) but this was the best I could do. A common Sierra bird, always in motion.

    Tried and tried to get a photo of a Junco (Junco oreganus) but this was the best I could do. A common Sierra bird, always in motion.

  • One of several little watercourses along the trail. Stroll a ways, take a drink; stroll a ways further, another stream and another drink.

    One of several little watercourses along the trail. Stroll a ways, take a drink; stroll a ways further, another stream and another drink.

  • Mossy decorations along the small freshets.

    Mossy decorations along the small freshets.

  • More streamside gardens.

    More streamside gardens.

  • Redwoods and pines along the shaded trail.

    Redwoods and pines along the shaded trail.

  • The bases of the redwoods attest to the ongoing action of fires throughout many centuries.

    The bases of the redwoods attest to the ongoing action of fires throughout many centuries.

  • A first patch of snow along the trail, at about 8000 feet altitude.

    A first patch of snow along the trail, at about 8000 feet altitude.

  • Wading the South Fork Kaweah River. A fairly benign crossing, though having a walking stick was welcome. Kinda cold water!

    Wading the South Fork Kaweah River. A fairly benign crossing, though having a walking stick was welcome. Kinda cold water!

  • Once you ford the river the terrain flattens out and there are a number of trails across the plateau.

    Once you ford the river the terrain flattens out and there are a number of trails across the plateau.

  • Panorama of Lower Hockett Lake, just off the trail a few dozen yards to the north. All of the Hockett Lakes are very shallow and marshy: good for frogs, bad for fish.

    Panorama of Lower Hockett Lake, just off the trail a few dozen yards to the north. All of the Hockett Lakes are very shallow and marshy: good for frogs, bad for fish.

  • Another trail junction further east.

    Another trail junction further east.

  • Strolling across the Hockett plateau. I only saw two other hikers earlier in the day by the Garfield Grove area.

    Strolling across the Hockett plateau. I only saw two other hikers earlier in the day by the Garfield Grove area.

  • Meadows along the trail.

    Meadows along the trail.

  • Panorama of South Fork Meadows. I had last visited here in 1970.

    Panorama of South Fork Meadows. I had last visited here in 1970.

  • There are several carbonated springs and iron springs like the one above in the region of South Fork Meadows. The flavor is distinctive.

    There are several carbonated springs and iron springs like the one above in the region of South Fork Meadows. The flavor is distinctive.

  • A large tree which had suffered some sort of major insult earlier in its life.

    A large tree which had suffered some sort of major insult earlier in its life.

  • Quite an insult, eh? :-)

    Quite an insult, eh? :-)

  • Miles and miles of shaded trail across Hockett Plateau, heading east towards Wet Meadows.

    Miles and miles of shaded trail across Hockett Plateau, heading east towards Wet Meadows.

  • Another trail junction. My goal was Blossom Lakes.

    Another trail junction. My goal was Blossom Lakes.

  • Walking stick is just under four feet high at its top, giving scale for the large bear-claw marks on this tree. I did see a bear ambling away from me close to this area the next morning; the bear was an attractive golden cinnamon in color.

    Walking stick is just under four feet high at its top, giving scale for the large bear-claw marks on this tree. I did see a bear ambling away from me close to this area the next morning; the bear was an attractive golden cinnamon in color.

  • The trail goes ever on. The soil across much of the Hockett Plateau is quite sandy.

    The trail goes ever on. The soil across much of the Hockett Plateau is quite sandy.

  • Near trail junction to Blossom Lakes. Wet Meadow Entrance is an eastern boundary of this part of Sequoia National Park.

    Near trail junction to Blossom Lakes. Wet Meadow Entrance is an eastern boundary of this part of Sequoia National Park.

  • A sign next to the previous sign; guess they don't want anyone to miss the turnoff to Blossom Lakes.

    A sign next to the previous sign; guess they don't want anyone to miss the turnoff to Blossom Lakes.

  • Daylight was dwindling; this is a view to the east across the drainage of the Little Kern River, with the Great Western Divide in the distance.

    Daylight was dwindling; this is a view to the east across the drainage of the Little Kern River, with the Great Western Divide in the distance.

  • Lower Blossom Lake, with my shoes and socks soaking up the last few drying rays of the sun.

    Lower Blossom Lake, with my shoes and socks soaking up the last few drying rays of the sun.

  • Campsite at Lower Blossom Lake. I may have been the first to camp at the lake that season, but there was evidence that the area gets fairly heavy use in the summertime, especially from packstock, as there were some tie-down rails and other slight improvements here and there.

    Campsite at Lower Blossom Lake. I may have been the first to camp at the lake that season, but there was evidence that the area gets fairly heavy use in the summertime, especially from packstock, as there were some tie-down rails and other slight improvements here and there.

  • Dinner preparation. My stove burns small twigs; it's a carbon-neutral solution! No fuel weight to carry either!

    Dinner preparation. My stove burns small twigs; it's a carbon-neutral solution! No fuel weight to carry either!

  • Sunset clouds reflected in Lower Blossom Lake.

    Sunset clouds reflected in Lower Blossom Lake.

  • Sunset at Lower Blossom Lake; many frogs calling, and some small fish were rising.

    Sunset at Lower Blossom Lake; many frogs calling, and some small fish were rising.

  • Looking northwards along the eastern shore of Lower Blossom Lake. This lake lies just below 10,000 feet elevation, so my altitude gain for the day was about 6500 feet.

    Looking northwards along the eastern shore of Lower Blossom Lake. This lake lies just below 10,000 feet elevation, so my altitude gain for the day was about 6500 feet.

  • Mirror-smooth surface of Lower Blossom Lake in early morning.

    Mirror-smooth surface of Lower Blossom Lake in early morning.

  • Calm early-morning reflections on Lower Blossom Lake; temperature was about 38 degrees F.

    Calm early-morning reflections on Lower Blossom Lake; temperature was about 38 degrees F.

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    Another view of Homer's Nose.
    Dogwood blossoms.
    Cone of a Sugar Pine (Pinus lambertiana.) You do NOT want to park your car underneath one of these trees when it's shedding cones!