Sierra Nevada - Kings Canyon National Park - Taboose Pass 1975

This was the second of two trips to Taboose Pass. Click here for the first trip.

You will experience many biologic zones as this strenuous trail begins from the black lava rocks and sage of the Owens Valley floor. The trail climbs more than 6,000 feet as it follows the canyon of Taboose Creek between Cardinal Mountain and Goodale Mountain. Crossing over Taboose Pass leads to the John Muir Trail and destinations in Kings Canyon National Park. Click here for a trip by other people in 2014 with pictures.

On August 23-24, 1975, myself and Paul Durantine backpacked over Taboose Pass on a 23 mile round trip exploration up to 11,500'.

Paul came up from Long Beach Friday and we left Lone Pine on Saturday about 6 and were on the trail for Taboose Pass about 7:30 a.m. starting from 5400 feet with a steep trail. It was about four miles to the first water, then water stops at reasonable intervals.

We stopped for an hour lunch at about 9200' at third creek crossing near a waterfall. A pack train caught us here but they were having trouble with some horses (pooped out) and we passed them shortly.

We finally topped Taboose Pass about 3:30 in a strong cool wind and left quickly to camp about a mile down the west side in the first trees. The pass is 9 miles from the roadhead so we made 10 miles Saturday. Nice campsite with great views of Bench Lake and Arrow Peak and surrounding mountains.

Sunday we hiked over to the Muir Trail at the Bench Lake trail junction and then came back to two lakes at about 11,500 above our camp, and back to camp for lunch. We left about 12:30 and topped the Taboose Pass about 1, then on down the rocky trail to the car about 6 or so. It was a great trip.

Taboose Pass Route Map
Taboose Pass Route Map
Mather Pass and Palisades from near Bench Lake - Kings Canyon National Park 24 Aug 1975
Mather Pass and Palisades from near Bench Lake
Kings Canyon National Park 24 Aug 1975
Mather Pass and Palisades from near Bench Lake - Kings Canyon National Park 24 Aug 1975
Mather Pass and Palisades from near Bench Lake
Kings Canyon National Park 24 Aug 1975

Cardinal Mountain from near Bench Lake - Kings Canyon National Park 24 Aug 1975
Cardinal Mountain from near Bench Lake - Kings Canyon National Park 24 Aug 1975
Marmot at John Muir Trail - Kings Canyon National Park 24 Aug 1975
Marmot at John Muir Trail - Kings Canyon National Park 24 Aug 1975

Marmot at John Muir Trail - Kings Canyon National Park 24 Aug 1975
Marmot at John Muir Trail - Kings Canyon National Park 24 Aug 1975
Marmot at John Muir Trail - Kings Canyon National Park 24 Aug 1975
Marmot at John Muir Trail - Kings Canyon National Park 24 Aug 1975

Marmot at John Muir Trail - Kings Canyon National Park 24 Aug 1975
Marmot at John Muir Trail - Kings Canyon National Park 24 Aug 1975





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