TR: Tehipite Fever 8/6/18 - 8/19/18

If you've been searching for the best source of information and stimulating discussion related to Spring/Summer/Fall backpacking, hiking and camping in the Sierra Nevada...look no further!
User avatar
Mike M.
Topix Expert
Posts: 647
Joined: Fri May 25, 2007 10:50 pm
Experience: Level 4 Explorer
Location: Portland, Oregon

Re: TR: Tehipite Fever 8/6/18 - 8/19/18

Post by Mike M. »

Wandering Daisy wrote:
I assume Van went down the JMT to the Kings River and then on down to Tehipite. Are we going to get a report of HIS adventures!??
Yes, Van's report is on the tumbler site I referenced above: https://wildernessjournals.tumblr.com/

Mike
User avatar
Mike M.
Topix Expert
Posts: 647
Joined: Fri May 25, 2007 10:50 pm
Experience: Level 4 Explorer
Location: Portland, Oregon

Re: TR: Tehipite Fever 8/6/18 - 8/19/18

Post by Mike M. »

TR continued: Day 10 . . .


Lake 10,232 is a wonderful, fjord-like paradise that is one of my favorite places in the Sierra. Wild, remote, seldom visited, and the dramatic scenery is world-class.

DSCF9058_DxOtopazpop.jpg
DSCF9069_DxO-1.jpg
DSCF9097_DxOtopazpop.jpg


Since I last saw Van, he had been hiking 12-hour days and was bushed. We decided to take another layover day and just hang out.

DSCF9090_DxO-1.jpg
DSCF9100_DxO-1.jpg
DSCF9102_DxO.jpg
DSCF9103_DxO.jpg
DSCF9104_DxO.jpg
DSCF9105_DxO.jpg
DSCF9106_DxO-1.jpg

To be continued . . .
You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.
User avatar
Mike M.
Topix Expert
Posts: 647
Joined: Fri May 25, 2007 10:50 pm
Experience: Level 4 Explorer
Location: Portland, Oregon

Re: TR: Tehipite Fever 8/6/18 - 8/19/18

Post by Mike M. »

TR continued -- Day 10 part 2

DSCF9107_DxO.jpg

By noon the wind was picking up and it looked like we might be in for some rain.

DSCF9117_DxO.jpg

But mother nature relented and spared us this peaceful day.

DSCF9111_DxO.jpg
DSCF9113_DxO.jpg
DSCF9124_DxO.jpg
DSCF9119_DxO.jpg
DSCF9121_DxO.jpg
DSCF9123_DxO.jpg
DSCF9152_DxO.jpg

Our original plan was to hike into the Ionian Basin, camp near Scylla and The Three Sirens, then make our way to the base of Black Giant Pass and camp there, then head over Black Giant Pass and exit the high country via either Muir Pass and Lamarck Col, or via Bishop Pass. But because we took the extra layover day, we were short a day, unless we were willing to tackle four really long days of hiking. So we altered our plan and decided to head over Reinstein Pass to Martha Lake. That would spare us a Day 14 death march. Instead, we would hike down to the Piute Pass junction, then head up to Hutchinson Meadow and enjoy a leisurely exit via Piute Pass -- plopping us down right at our car.


To be continued . . .
You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.
User avatar
Mike M.
Topix Expert
Posts: 647
Joined: Fri May 25, 2007 10:50 pm
Experience: Level 4 Explorer
Location: Portland, Oregon

Re: TR: Tehipite Fever 8/6/18 - 8/19/18

Post by Mike M. »

TR continued . . . Day 11

After a restful day at Lake 10,232, Van and I hiked up to Reinstein Pass. We deviated from our usual route (see map below), which allowed us to see some of the highlands above the north end of Lake 10,232. It was bright and sunny as we started our hike but by mid morning clouds started to build up earlier than normal.

map -- reinstein pass from south.JPG
DSCF9161_DxO-2.jpg
DSCF9162_DxO.jpg
DSCF9164_DxO.jpg
DSCF9166_DxO-2.jpg
DSCF9169_DxO.jpg
DSCF9173_DxO.jpg
DSCF9176_DxOsony.jpg
DSCF9177sony.jpg

It started to sprinkle as we neared the pass and I stopped and put my poncho on.

DSCF9178_DxO-1.jpg
DSCF9179_DxO-1.jpg
DSCF9181_DxO-2.jpg

to be continued . . .
You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.
User avatar
Mike M.
Topix Expert
Posts: 647
Joined: Fri May 25, 2007 10:50 pm
Experience: Level 4 Explorer
Location: Portland, Oregon

Re: TR: Tehipite Fever 8/6/18 - 8/19/18

Post by Mike M. »

TR continued . . . Day 11, part 2

The weather looked dicey, so we didn't stay long on the pass. We worked our way down to the shore of Martha Lake, Van moving much quicker than me, as usual. Rather than go around the lake to avoid a field of huge boulders, we elected to go left and pick our way through the boulder field. It looks so easy from a distance, but the going here is painfully slow. Finally, after about an hour of bouldering, we made it to our sheltered campsite above the lake, on sandy ground, near the outlet stream.

Before I could properly settle in and get hydrated, the skies loosened and an an hour-long downpour ensued. Van had the wisdom to set up his tent while I was getting water and preparing to eat lunch, so he retreated to his tent while I sheltered in a copse of stunted pines, poncho on, and attempted to read my Kindle. During a lull in the storm, I attempted to set up my tent, but the winds picked up again and then the rain came again too. I did finally get the tent up and the rainfly on, but the inside of the tent floor got pretty wet in the process. Bad timing. I retreated once again to the copse of trees and read my Kindle. The rain let up and the sun broke through clouds hanging low over Goddard. Then a double rainbow broke out. I hollered over to Van to get out of his tent and take a look. Both of us snapped away with our cameras (my shots are pathetic compared to the real thing).

DSCF9183_DxO.jpg
DSCF9184_DxO-3.jpg
DSCF9185_DxO.jpg
martha rainbow 5 auto_DxO.jpg
DSCF9186_DxO-1.jpg
DSCF9190_DxO.jpg
DSCF9192_DxO.jpg
DSCF9198_DxO.jpg

to be continued . . .
You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.
User avatar
limpingcrab
Topix Regular
Posts: 368
Joined: Sun Nov 04, 2012 8:38 pm
Experience: Level 4 Explorer
Location: Minkler, CA
Contact:

Re: TR: Tehipite Fever 8/6/18 - 8/19/18

Post by limpingcrab »

Oh man I would have killed for lighting like that when I was camped in your exact Martha Lake campsite last summer.

I had my tripod and lenses and gear all ready and got nothing.

Great rainbow shots!
User avatar
Flamingo
Topix Regular
Posts: 346
Joined: Tue Mar 29, 2011 12:18 pm
Experience: Level 4 Explorer
Location: West Oakland, California
Contact:

Re: TR: Tehipite Fever 8/6/18 - 8/19/18

Post by Flamingo »

@Mike M. I'm loving these episodic posts, and I can hardly await the conclusion. Your photos are incredible. Thanks for sharing!
User avatar
Mike M.
Topix Expert
Posts: 647
Joined: Fri May 25, 2007 10:50 pm
Experience: Level 4 Explorer
Location: Portland, Oregon

Re: TR: Tehipite Fever 8/6/18 - 8/19/18

Post by Mike M. »

Limpingcrab, that's a great campsite, isn't it? I stumbled on that site years ago and keep on coming back. We had the whole lake to ourselves.

Flamingo, thank you! I'm having a lot of fun reliving the hike and can't wait for August to roll around again. Be sure to check out Van's photos on Tumbler.

Mike
User avatar
tlsharb
Topix Regular
Posts: 211
Joined: Tue Aug 20, 2013 11:05 am
Experience: Level 3 Backpacker

Re: TR: Tehipite Fever 8/6/18 - 8/19/18

Post by tlsharb »

Mike, this is one of the best trs I've ever read. Hope to be at Martha first week of September this year.
User avatar
RonnR
Topix Novice
Posts: 8
Joined: Wed Aug 10, 2011 10:30 pm
Experience: Level 4 Explorer
Location: Roseville

Re: TR: Tehipite Fever 8/6/18 - 8/19/18

Post by RonnR »

That was a great read!
Post Reply

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: Bing [Bot] and 124 guests