Old TR: Upper Kern Peak Bagging 8/20-27 2005
Posted: Sat Dec 17, 2022 8:58 pm
This was a CMC (California Mountaineering Club) trip. I did not lead this trip but just attended. The photos are not mine; I did not take a camera and one member send me only a few he had taken. Sorry but the photos are not that good.
Day1. 8/19/05: Drive and half mile up Symmes Creek (0.5 miles, 320 feet gain)
We all met at the trailhead mid-afternoon and walked about half a mile up the creek to camp at the last water and spent the rest of the afternoon acclimating and visiting. I did not take a camera so photos below are from another CMC member; Unfortunately, I cannot remember his name.
Day2. 8/20/05: Symmes Creek to above The Pot Hole (6.6 miles, 9 hours, 5200 feet gain)
We got a crack-of-dawn start and slowly and steadily walked up to pass when it was cool. Partway up the sun hit the trail and it soon became hot. After a 2,400-foot gain we lost 850 feet of hard-earned gain and crossed a side creek where fortunately water still trickled across the trail. Slowly continuing past Mahogany Flat and Anvil Camp we reached The Pothole. We decided to continue up to timberline, where the others camped in tight spots between scrub-timber. I continued up to the bench above and camped on rock slabs where the view was better and a breeze kept the annoying gnats away. This was an act of faith that the weather would hold, as my campsite was very exposed. It was a hard day and I was beat.
Day3. 8/21/05 Pot Hole to 10,850 on Milestone Creek (8 miles, about 6 hours, 2250 feet gain/1750 loss)
After the previous grueling day, we got a late start but made good time. There was a small snowfield east of the pass. We continued down on a well maintained trail, and about a quarter mile north of the PCT junction, we cut across off-trail. The cross-trail and drop to Milestone Creek went quickly. Wading across the Kern River and one member struggling with altitude slowed us down. We stopped and set up camp about half a mile from goal and camped on rock slabs at about 10,850 feet elevation above a large shallow pond (swamp on the map)
Day4. 8/22/05 Climb Midway and Milestone Mountains (6.5 miles, 3665 feet gain/3435 loss)
First we headed to the large lake at 11915, east of Midway Mountain and continued up the East Ridge to the summit. It was all easy class-2 travel. Traversing the south ridge to Milestone Pass proved to be more complicated. From Milestone Pass we climbed over scree and rock a bit over the ridge onto the west side. The summit block was fun and challenging class-3. We returned directly down the drainage, which also turned out to be a bit of a navigation puzzle. Unfortunately I was not sent any photos of the climb.
Day1. 8/19/05: Drive and half mile up Symmes Creek (0.5 miles, 320 feet gain)
We all met at the trailhead mid-afternoon and walked about half a mile up the creek to camp at the last water and spent the rest of the afternoon acclimating and visiting. I did not take a camera so photos below are from another CMC member; Unfortunately, I cannot remember his name.
Day2. 8/20/05: Symmes Creek to above The Pot Hole (6.6 miles, 9 hours, 5200 feet gain)
We got a crack-of-dawn start and slowly and steadily walked up to pass when it was cool. Partway up the sun hit the trail and it soon became hot. After a 2,400-foot gain we lost 850 feet of hard-earned gain and crossed a side creek where fortunately water still trickled across the trail. Slowly continuing past Mahogany Flat and Anvil Camp we reached The Pothole. We decided to continue up to timberline, where the others camped in tight spots between scrub-timber. I continued up to the bench above and camped on rock slabs where the view was better and a breeze kept the annoying gnats away. This was an act of faith that the weather would hold, as my campsite was very exposed. It was a hard day and I was beat.
Day3. 8/21/05 Pot Hole to 10,850 on Milestone Creek (8 miles, about 6 hours, 2250 feet gain/1750 loss)
After the previous grueling day, we got a late start but made good time. There was a small snowfield east of the pass. We continued down on a well maintained trail, and about a quarter mile north of the PCT junction, we cut across off-trail. The cross-trail and drop to Milestone Creek went quickly. Wading across the Kern River and one member struggling with altitude slowed us down. We stopped and set up camp about half a mile from goal and camped on rock slabs at about 10,850 feet elevation above a large shallow pond (swamp on the map)
Day4. 8/22/05 Climb Midway and Milestone Mountains (6.5 miles, 3665 feet gain/3435 loss)
First we headed to the large lake at 11915, east of Midway Mountain and continued up the East Ridge to the summit. It was all easy class-2 travel. Traversing the south ridge to Milestone Pass proved to be more complicated. From Milestone Pass we climbed over scree and rock a bit over the ridge onto the west side. The summit block was fun and challenging class-3. We returned directly down the drainage, which also turned out to be a bit of a navigation puzzle. Unfortunately I was not sent any photos of the climb.