2. Nature

Silliman Pass-Jenny Lakes loop July 2008

Sam Duran and myself set off for a three-day hike, originally intending to climb over Silliman Pass and loop south through the Tablelands to return via the Pear Lakes trail. We changed our trip plan to loop north instead, seeing country new to both of us. An excellent hike!
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  • Climbing up the trail from Lodgepole heading north towards Cahoon Gap and beyond. Sam Duran pictured.

    Climbing up the trail from Lodgepole heading north towards Cahoon Gap and beyond. Sam Duran pictured.

  • At the southern end of Cahoon Meadow, taking a break.

    At the southern end of Cahoon Meadow, taking a break.

  • Looking north at Cahoon Meadow, quite green and verdant, with Cahoon Gap in the distance. A nice place to take a break.

    Looking north at Cahoon Meadow, quite green and verdant, with Cahoon Gap in the distance. A nice place to take a break.

  • Another view of Cahoon Meadow and Gap. And just what is a Cahoon anyway? ;-)

    Another view of Cahoon Meadow and Gap. And just what is a Cahoon anyway? ;-)

  • Mushrooms along the trail.

    Mushrooms along the trail.

  • A feature of this hike was the profuse number of wildflowers along the trail. I had never seen so many tiger lilies in all my years in the Sierra. Also in this photo are the blue columnar blooms of lupine.

    A feature of this hike was the profuse number of wildflowers along the trail. I had never seen so many tiger lilies in all my years in the Sierra. Also in this photo are the blue columnar blooms of lupine.

  • A close-up view of some of the stream-side tiger lilies and lupine.

    A close-up view of some of the stream-side tiger lilies and lupine.

  • Heading east toward Twin Lakes and Silliman Pass, at the crossing of the East Fork of Clover Creek.

    Heading east toward Twin Lakes and Silliman Pass, at the crossing of the East Fork of Clover Creek.

  • The trail steepens as it climbs alongside the East Fork of Clover Creek toward the cirque that holds Twin Lakes.

    The trail steepens as it climbs alongside the East Fork of Clover Creek toward the cirque that holds Twin Lakes.

  • Another view of the East Fork of Clover Creek, cascading over smooth granitic rock.

    Another view of the East Fork of Clover Creek, cascading over smooth granitic rock.

  • More trailside flowers. To photograph all the different types of blooming plants on this hike would have taken many hours.

    More trailside flowers. To photograph all the different types of blooming plants on this hike would have taken many hours.

  • At the western shoreline of the larger of the two Twin Lakes, looking east.

    At the western shoreline of the larger of the two Twin Lakes, looking east.

  • A female Mule Deer along the southern shore of the main lake. It stayed in this location for quite a while and may have been sick or injured (or ready to give birth?)

    A female Mule Deer along the southern shore of the main lake. It stayed in this location for quite a while and may have been sick or injured (or ready to give birth?)

  • A view across the lake looking northeast towards Silliman Pass, which is the tree-covered saddle.

    A view across the lake looking northeast towards Silliman Pass, which is the tree-covered saddle.

  • Rock, grass, shrubs, and deer along the shoreline. I took this photograph from a rock I had leapt to at the margin of the lake for filling Sam's and my water containers. Once I turned around I realized I'd probably fall in if I attempted to jump to the decomposing log I'd originally leapt from, so declared defeat, removed my shoes and socks, and waded to shore.

    Rock, grass, shrubs, and deer along the shoreline. I took this photograph from a rock I had leapt to at the margin of the lake for filling Sam's and my water containers. Once I turned around I realized I'd probably fall in if I attempted to jump to the decomposing log I'd originally leapt from, so declared defeat, removed my shoes and socks, and waded to shore.

  • Large boulder at the margin of the lake. Some who've seen this photo fancy it looks like a surfacing whale.

    Large boulder at the margin of the lake. Some who've seen this photo fancy it looks like a surfacing whale.

  • A calm evening at 9400 feet altitude in the late-afternoon summer sunshine.

    A calm evening at 9400 feet altitude in the late-afternoon summer sunshine.

  • Boiling up some water for tea and chocolate while finishing off the last of my Trader Joe's Punjabi meal. Also seen is my SPOT satellite tracker device (orange, by water bladder) which I used to send position fixes to the folks back home. Sticks at the right have been gathered to fuel my stove; I always seem to collect much more than I need.

    Boiling up some water for tea and chocolate while finishing off the last of my Trader Joe's Punjabi meal. Also seen is my SPOT satellite tracker device (orange, by water bladder) which I used to send position fixes to the folks back home. Sticks at the right have been gathered to fuel my stove; I always seem to collect much more than I need.

  • A Saturday-morning view down towards our previous-nights campsite, while ascending Silliman Pass.

    A Saturday-morning view down towards our previous-nights campsite, while ascending Silliman Pass.

  • Granitic pinnacles just to the north of the trail. Sam is still wearing his head-net to fend off the early morning mosquitoes.

    Granitic pinnacles just to the north of the trail. Sam is still wearing his head-net to fend off the early morning mosquitoes.

  • Early-morning light filters through the conifers which wrap up and over Silliman Pass.

    Early-morning light filters through the conifers which wrap up and over Silliman Pass.

  • At the top of Silliman Pass, chowing down while re-planning our mountain ramblings; our original schedule depended on us climbing over this pass the previous day. The SPOT satellite tracker makes such re-routings far more responsible and less guilt-inducing. Without home-base contact, you're much more obligated to stick to your original trip plan so that if you're injured or otherwise incapacitated and don't show up on time back at the trailhead the search parties have some idea of where to look. Ah, technology!

    At the top of Silliman Pass, chowing down while re-planning our mountain ramblings; our original schedule depended on us climbing over this pass the previous day. The SPOT satellite tracker makes such re-routings far more responsible and less guilt-inducing. Without home-base contact, you're much more obligated to stick to your original trip plan so that if you're injured or otherwise incapacitated and don't show up on time back at the trailhead the search parties have some idea of where to look. Ah, technology!

  • View to the east from the pass, towards peaks in Kings Canyon National Park. Due to many fires in Northern California, the air was hazy.

    View to the east from the pass, towards peaks in Kings Canyon National Park. Due to many fires in Northern California, the air was hazy.

  • Looking to the southeast towards the approach to the Tablelands. Once you get to the base of Silliman Pass, it's easy cross country all the way (given careful and accurate route-finding.) Though we had originally planned to follow this route, available time intervened and so we looped up to the north instead.

    Looking to the southeast towards the approach to the Tablelands. Once you get to the base of Silliman Pass, it's easy cross country all the way (given careful and accurate route-finding.) Though we had originally planned to follow this route, available time intervened and so we looped up to the north instead.

  • Looking east and north across the main canyon of the Kings River towards the Kings Canyon National Park high country, where we planned to hike the following month.

    Looking east and north across the main canyon of the Kings River towards the Kings Canyon National Park high country, where we planned to hike the following month.

  • Descending the east side of Silliman Pass, with Beville Lake below.

    Descending the east side of Silliman Pass, with Beville Lake below.

  • Ranger Lake at about 9200 feet, about 1000 vertical feet below Silliman Pass.

    Ranger Lake at about 9200 feet, about 1000 vertical feet below Silliman Pass.

  • Another view of Ranger Lake, taken as I reclined on a rock in the shade while eating lunch. Saw no other people here.

    Another view of Ranger Lake, taken as I reclined on a rock in the shade while eating lunch. Saw no other people here.

  • We headed off-trail due north from Ranger Lake, knowing we'd intersect the northbound trail lying to our east as it bent to the west ahead of us.

    We headed off-trail due north from Ranger Lake, knowing we'd intersect the northbound trail lying to our east as it bent to the west ahead of us.

  • Sam in his element: cross country, off-trail! Once you overcome any initial uncertainties, hiking cross-country at these altitudes is really the most pleasant way to see the high country. At lower altitudes, trails are really nice since all the trees make navigation difficult plus you're almost always struggling through undergrowth when off-trail, i.e., bushwhacking.

    Sam in his element: cross country, off-trail! Once you overcome any initial uncertainties, hiking cross-country at these altitudes is really the most pleasant way to see the high country. At lower altitudes, trails are really nice since all the trees make navigation difficult plus you're almost always struggling through undergrowth when off-trail, i.e., bushwhacking.

  • Back on-trail, and time for another break. Location is just to the northeast of Lost Lake.

    Back on-trail, and time for another break. Location is just to the northeast of Lost Lake.

  • Looking up the creek which drains Seville Lake.

    Looking up the creek which drains Seville Lake.

  • Looking across the same creek, back the way we came. The map indicates that this is one of the branches of Sugarloaf Creek.

    Looking across the same creek, back the way we came. The map indicates that this is one of the branches of Sugarloaf Creek.

  • Looking down-creek; lots of well-watered vegetation.

    Looking down-creek; lots of well-watered vegetation.

  • We ascended the trail that heads towards Rowell Meadow, crossing out of King Canyon National Park and into the Jennie Lakes Wilderness.

    We ascended the trail that heads towards Rowell Meadow, crossing out of King Canyon National Park and into the Jennie Lakes Wilderness.

  • Off-trail again, staying a bit below the 9200 ft. contour while heading mostly south. The forest was in pretty good shape here, with little undergrowth or fallen trees. These forests benefit from occasional fires which keep the mature trees fertilized and make off-trail hikers happy with the open park-like feel.

    Off-trail again, staying a bit below the 9200 ft. contour while heading mostly south. The forest was in pretty good shape here, with little undergrowth or fallen trees. These forests benefit from occasional fires which keep the mature trees fertilized and make off-trail hikers happy with the open park-like feel.

  • I had seen an area on the topo devoid of vegetation along our intended route; sure enough, a talus field. Sam's wearing his mosquito headnet, as the creek below harbored a fair number of pesky mosquitoes hungry for a meal of blood.

    I had seen an area on the topo devoid of vegetation along our intended route; sure enough, a talus field. Sam's wearing his mosquito headnet, as the creek below harbored a fair number of pesky mosquitoes hungry for a meal of blood.

  • Looking upslope at the talus field. The big rocks are actually fairly easy to hike through; the things to avoid are the green patches of brush.

    Looking upslope at the talus field. The big rocks are actually fairly easy to hike through; the things to avoid are the green patches of brush.

  • Wending our way up through the talus and brush, in the late-afternoon sunlight.

    Wending our way up through the talus and brush, in the late-afternoon sunlight.

  • Looking south over the talus; we were (hopefully) taking the shortest way across the boulders by crossing east to west. It's actually quite a stimulating and fun undertaking puzzling out what the best route is across a boulder field like this. Big boulders are actually better, and easier, since they are much less likely to move about underfoot than smaller rocks. And the traction, due to wearing running shoes plus the crystalline surfaces of the granitic rocks, is superb and makes for sure footing.

    Looking south over the talus; we were (hopefully) taking the shortest way across the boulders by crossing east to west. It's actually quite a stimulating and fun undertaking puzzling out what the best route is across a boulder field like this. Big boulders are actually better, and easier, since they are much less likely to move about underfoot than smaller rocks. And the traction, due to wearing running shoes plus the crystalline surfaces of the granitic rocks, is superb and makes for sure footing.

  • A view to the northeast and the high peaks of the Sierra crest.

    A view to the northeast and the high peaks of the Sierra crest.

  • In the alpine reaches of the Sierra, there are occasional dead or dying remains of trees of quite astonishing size and sculpted beauty.

    In the alpine reaches of the Sierra, there are occasional dead or dying remains of trees of quite astonishing size and sculpted beauty.

  • The small pond just north of JO Pass near where we camped that night. There were a LOT of tadpoles and various water bugs, and...

    The small pond just north of JO Pass near where we camped that night. There were a LOT of tadpoles and various water bugs, and...

  • ...lots of mosquitoes too! These headnet gadgets are truly wonderful when there are a lot of skeeters. I am scoffing at the frustrated little bloodsuckers! Wearing DEET (mostly) keeps them from biting but does nothing to lessen the maddening hum of their wings 0.1 inches from your ears, not to mention the aggravation of inhaling them on every other breath.

    ...lots of mosquitoes too! These headnet gadgets are truly wonderful when there are a lot of skeeters. I am scoffing at the frustrated little bloodsuckers! Wearing DEET (mostly) keeps them from biting but does nothing to lessen the maddening hum of their wings 0.1 inches from your ears, not to mention the aggravation of inhaling them on every other breath.

  • Up and about the next morning, with the small pond just to the north. Both tents are Lunar Solo E's by Six Moon Designs: less than two pounds of shelter from wind, rain, and insects that you can both sit up and stretch out in. You use a hiking pole to hold them up.

    Up and about the next morning, with the small pond just to the north. Both tents are Lunar Solo E's by Six Moon Designs: less than two pounds of shelter from wind, rain, and insects that you can both sit up and stretch out in. You use a hiking pole to hold them up.

  • Back in Sequoia National Park descending the JO Pass trail southward. Flowers as far as the eye could see!

    Back in Sequoia National Park descending the JO Pass trail southward. Flowers as far as the eye could see!

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