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Sequoia / Kings Canyon, CA

Two Week Trip

Aug 14 - Aug 26, 2016 -- $1925 ★★★★

Sequoia / Kings Canyon National Park is truly a land of Giants. The General Sherman Sequoia Tree is the largest tree in the world (by volume) and is between 1800 and 2700 years old. We will see immense and rare giant sequoias in some of their few remaining groves, as these old growth redwoods have been preserved. You will walk through groves of leviathan trees that are centuries or even millenia old and can grow more than 300' tall.


Kings Canyon is a beautiful Sierra woonderland with towering mountains, thundering waterfalls and rugged pulchritude. The solitude in this true wilderness is inescapable. Furthermore, we will hike several miles along the famed John Muir Trail and Pacific Crest Trail, probably meeting several long distance hikers along the way.


Our journey will begin in Sequoia National Park for a day of altitude acclimation. We will walk among the giant sequoias and day-hike to the top of Moro Rock. A 3-day backpacking excursion to Alta Meadow with a day-hike to the summit of Alta Peak follows. After a day in a frontcountry lodge (with showers) we'll head deep into the remote backcountry of Kings Canyon National Park. We'll do a grand loop up the Woods Creek Trail, over to the John Muir Trail and then spending consecutive nights at various high Sierra Lakes, Sixty Lake, Charlotte Lake and East Lake. We'll end our journey via Bubbs Creek Trail.


Come walk through time in the amazing canyons of Kings Canyon. There is a good chance of seeing black bears, big horn sheep, yellow bellied marmots, mule deer, pika, short tailed-weasels and maybe even mountain lions, so why not join us this summer?



Weather

Weather is always an important concern when hiking. Expect daytime hiking temperatures well into the 80s and nighttime temperatures in the 40s & 50s. However, be prepared for the possibility of day temperatures in the 90s and as low as 30 plus violent afternoon thunderstorms. Here is the historical August weather.



Trip Leaders

Steve Silberberg
Rick Romine


Cost

$1925 per person double occupancy. Here, double occupancy means that you will share a room with another participant during the 2 hotel nights. You will probably share the cabin with 2 participants. You will also be responsible for transportation to and from Fresno, CA (FAT), personal equipment and any restaurant meals eaten off the trail.


Covered expenses include 2 hotel nights, 1 cabin night, 1 night in a campground, 11 days of trail meals, ground transportation, National Park permits, Satellite Phone, insurance, and 2 awesome guides.



Important Notes

The trails through Sequoia / Kings Canyon National Park are well groomed with good footing. However, elevation gain and loss can be dramatic. Furthermore, some days are relatively high mileage making this trip difficult at times, but also rewarding, with incredible scenery few ever get to see, that continually changes and keeps you engaged.


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Packing List
Itinerary
Weather
Guides for this trip
Cost
Important Note
Difficulty (Please Read)
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Itinerary


Sunday, August 14, 2016

Fly, bus or drive into Fresno, CA (FAT). Some time between Noon - 3PM is the ideal time to arrive, but flights are limited, so if you can save a substantial amount on trip costs by arriving a few hours earlier or later, you should do that.


Note: Flights to Fresno can be expensive, so book early. Chances are that someone else will drive in from San Francisco (3+ hours) so we might be able to arrange a carpool if you decide to do this.

Take the free airport shuttle to Hampton Inn & Suites Clovis-Airport North, 855 Gettysburg Ave, Clovis, CA, 93612, 559-348-0000


Equipment shakedown. We go through your pack and examine everything you brought.


Trail mix distribution


"Before" body composition measurements taken


Go to Herb Bauer Sporting Goods, 6264 N. Blackstone Ave, (559) 435-8600, for last minute or forgotten equipment


Go out for a group dinner (not included in trip cost)



Monday, August 15, 2016

Second set of "before" measurements taken


Free breakfast in Hotel


Cars may be left at Hotel. However, the hotel may charge you a fee and assumes no responsibility for your car's security and will have you sign a document saying so.


All the items that you won't bring on the trail will be set aside and placed in storage


Shuttle to Sequoia / Kings Canyon National Park (about 2 hours)


Set up camp at Lodgepole Campground, elevation 6700'


Take the Shuttle Bus to Moro Rock parking area, elevation 6400;


Day-hike 0.6 round-trip miles to the summit of Moro Rock, Elevation 6725'


Day-hike 0.5 miles to Tunnel Log, Elevation 6725'


Day-hike 3.8 miles through Giant Sequoia groves to the 275' tall General Sherman Tree, the so-called biggest tree in the world, Elevation 5300'


Take the Shuttle Bus to Lodgepole Campground, elevation 6500;


Camp at Lodgepole Campground (site TBD) elevation 6500'


Miles today: 4.7 miles. Total to Date: 4.7 Miles


Possible Bailout: California Route 128


Tuesday, August 16, 2016

Take the Park Shuttle Bus to Wolverton, elevation 7250'


Hike 1.3 miles to Long Meadow


Hike 2.4 miles to Panther Gap


Hike 1.0 miles to Mehrton Meadow


Hike 2.7 miles to Alta Meadow


Camp at Alta Meadow, elevation 9050'.


Miles today: 7.4. Total miles: 12.1


Possible Bailout: California Route 128


Wednesday, August 17, 2016

Day-Hiking only today. Leave tents set up and get an early start


Day-Hike 1.6 miles to the Alta Peak Trail Intersection


Day-Hike 2.1 miles to the summit of Alta Peak, elevation 11,204', featuring The best views on the western side of Sequoia National Park


Day-Hike 3.7 miles back to Alta Meadow, elevation 9050'


Camp at Alta Meadow, elevation 9050'.


Miles today: 7.4. Total miles: 19.5


Possible Bailout: California Route 128


Thursday, August 18, 2016

Hike 3.7 miles to Panther Gap


Hike 2.5 miles to Wolverton


Take the Park Shuttle Bus back to Lodgepole, elevation 6500'


Shuttle around 45 minutes to John Muir Lodge, Grant Grove Cabins, 86728 Hwy 180 Kings Canyon Natl Park, CA 93633, 559-335-5500


Stay in Grant Grove Cabins in an "Oversized Camp Cabin"


Miles today: 6.2. Total miles: 25.7


Possible Bailout: California Route 128

Dinner in a nearby restaurant (not included in trip cost)


Friday, August 19, 2016

Shuttle over an hour on California 180 to Road's End, elevation 5100'


Hike 1.8 miles to Bubbs Cree Trail Intersection, elevation 5150'


Turn left and hike about 6.0 miles on the Woods Creek Trail


Camp along South Fork Kings River, elevation 6500'.


Miles today: 7.8. Total miles: 33.5


Possible bailout: California Route 180


Saturday, August 20, 2016

Hike about 7.4 miles on the Woods Creek Trail to the intersection of the John Muir Trail, elevation 8500'


Camp near the JMT trail intersection, elevation 8500'.


Miles today: 7.4. Total miles: 40.9


Possible bailout: Very distant, no good options


Sunday, August 21, 2016

Hike 7.1 southbound miles on the John Muir Trail to Rae Lakes, elevation 10550'.


Turn right and hike 2.3 miles on the Sixty Lakes Basin Trail to the Sixty Lakes


Camp at Sixty Lakes, elevation 10850'.


Miles today: 9.4. Total miles: 50.3


Possible bailout: Very distant, no good options



Monday, August 22, 2016

Hike 2.3 miles on the Sixty Lakes Basin Trail to the John Muir Trail


Hike 3.9 southbound miles on the John Muir Trail over Glen Pass (elevation 11978') to Charlotte Lake Trail, elevation 10750'.


Hike 1.1 miles to Charlotte Lake Patrol Cabin


Camp at Charlotte Lake, elevation 10600'.


Miles today: 7.3. Total miles: 57.6


Possible bailout: Very distant, no good options



Tuesday, August 23, 2016

Hike 1.1 miles to the John Muir Trail, elevation 10750'


Hike 1.1 miles on the JMT to Bubbs Creek Trail, elevation 9600'


Turn right and hike 2.3 miles on the Bubbs Creek Trail to Junction Meadow, elevation 8200'


Turn left and hike 2.4 miles to East Lake, elevation 9466'


Camp at East Lake, elevation 9466'


Miles today: 6.9. Total miles: 64.5


Possible bailout: Very distant, no good options



Wednesday, August 24, 2016

Hike 2.4 miles to Junction Meadow, elevation 8200'


Turn left and hike 6.3 miles to the Avalanche Pass Trail , elevation 6750'


Camp along Bubbs Creek near the Avalanch Pass Trail, elevation 6750'


Miles today: 8.7. Total miles: 73.2


Possible bailout: Very distant, no good options



Thursday, August 25, 2016

Hike 3.9 miles back to Road's End, elevation 5100'


End of hiking


Miles today: 3.9. Total miles: 77.1


Possible bailout: California 180


Shuttle back to Fresno. Check into Holiday Inn Express® Hotel Clovis / Fresno, 650 W Shaw Ave, Clovis, CA, 93612, 559-297-0555


Your stuff will be transported here shortly after we arrive and check in


After measurements taken


Go out to dinner (not included in trip cost) and awards Ceremony


This is the official end of the trip. You are welcome to spend the night at the hotel, however if you drove and would like to get on the road or if you flew and would like to schedule a late flight (or a red-eye if this is a West Coast trip) you can definitely do so.


Friday, August 26, 2016

Free hotel breakfast

Free airport shuttle


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