On August 20-29, 1971 I backpacked with Explorer Post 360 (36 people) from Onion Valley to Cottonwood Lakes. The John Muir Trail goes to the top of Mount Whitney which we did as a day hike from the Crabtree Meadows area, then continue off of the John Muir Trail to the Cottonwood Lakes at Horseshoe Meadows.
We started with a hard day over Kearsarge Pass to Vidette Meadow. All arrived in good shape to meet group of 3 who came up from Kings Canyon.
Heart Lake on Kearsarge Pass Trail - Kearsarge Pass 21 Aug 1971
Kearsarge Lakes, Bullfrog Lake from Kearsarge Pass - Kearsarge Pass 21 Aug 1971
Bullfrog Lake from Kearsarge Pass Trail - Kings Canyon National Park 21 Aug 1971
Bullfrog Lake from Kearsarge Pass Trail - Kings Canyon National Park 21 Aug 1971
On trail above Bullfrog Lake - Kings Canyon National Park 21 Aug 1971
Bullfrog Lake - Kings Canyon National Park 21 Aug 1971
Easy day up Bubbs Creek to Center Basin Junction. Marmots all over near junction. Also a Ranger. Seven climbed Center Peak via class 3 direct from camp (returned via Class 2 route in Center Basin). Four climbed University Peak via Class 2 route.
Bubbs Creek - Kings Canyon National Park 22 Aug 1971
Bubbs Creek, Center Peak - Kings Canyon National Park 22 Aug 1971
Camp near Center Basin - Kings Canyon National Park 22 Aug 1971
Sunset at camp near Center Basin - Kings Canyon National Park 22 Aug 1971
Jeff Schrock became ill during night but we took him over Forester Pass - a long haul. Had lunch on pass. Seven climbed Junction Peak from the Pass. Got a little miss-laid finding "Shepherd's" Camp but everyone made it - another long day - mostly due to confusion on camp.
Junction Peak enroute to Forester Pass - Kings Canyon National Park 23 Aug 1971
Junction Peak enroute to Forester Pass - Kings Canyon National Park 23 Aug 1971
Looking back on the way to Forester Pass - Kings Canyon National Park 23 Aug 1971
Junction Peak, Forester Pass - Kings Canyon National Park 23 Aug 1971
Junction Peak from Forester Pass trail - Kings Canyon National Park 23 Aug 1971
Junction Peak from Forester Pass trail - Kings Canyon National Park 23 Aug 1971
Bubbs Creek, University Peak, Center Peak from Forester Pass trail
Kings Canyon National Park 23 Aug 1971
Descending south from Forester Pass - Sequoia National Park 23 Aug 1971
People on summit of Junction Peak - Sequoia National Park 23 Aug 1971
Trail south from Forester Pass - Sequoia National Park 23 Aug 1971
Tyndall Creek from below Shepherd Pass - Sequoia National Park 23 Aug 1971
Diamond Mesa, upper Tyndall Creek from Tawny Ridge
Sequoia National Park 24 Aug 1971
Jeff got worse during night so Gil Beilke and Roger Getz took him out over Shepherd Pass. (He got well at lower elevation - it was Pulmonary Edema. In-route to the Pass they met a local family group with a saddle horse who assisted in getting Jeff over the Pass.
That family also provided a place for our people to stay for the night and then in the morning transportation south to Los Angeles for Jeff to meet his parents and for Gill & Roger to Whitney Portal where they came in over Trail Crest Pass and rejoined us at Crabtree Meadow).
The main group went over easy cross-country saddle (Tawny Ridge) into Wright Lake Basin and over a more rugged ridge into Wallace Creek - Good campsites all along Wallace Creek. Returned to Muir Trail and made Crabtree Meadow by noon. Eleven went to Whitney summit for the night.
Toward Shepherd Camp, upper Tyndall Creek, Diamond Mesa from Tawny Ridge - Sequoia National Park 24 Aug 1971
Mount Whitney (left skyline), Mt. Guyot, Wright Lake basin from Tawny Ridge
Sequoia National Park 24 Aug 1971
Wright Lake basin from Tawny Ridge - Sequoia National Park 24 Aug 1971
Tawny Point and Ridge, Wright Lake Basin - Sequoia National Park 24 Aug 1971
Wright Lake Basin - Sequoia National Park 24 Aug 1971
Lower Wright Lake Basin - Sequoia National Park 24 Aug 1971
Lower Wright Lake Basin, Kaweah Ridge - Sequoia National Park 24 Aug 1971
Wallace Creek - Sequoia National Park 24 Aug 1971
Wallace Creek - Sequoia National Park 24 Aug 1971
Wallace Creek - Sequoia National Park 24 Aug 1971
Tawny Ridge Pass, Ridge between Wright and Wallace Lakes - 25 Aug 1971
On the next day ...
Meadow near Sandy Meadow - Sequoia National Park 25 Aug 1971
Meadow near Sandy Meadow - Sequoia National Park 25 Aug 1971
Burned trees and Mount Whitney from near Crabtree Meadows - 25 Aug 1971
Kaweah range over Sandy Meadow on the John Muir/Pacific Crest Trail
near Whitney trail junction - 31 Aug 1971
Junction Peak over Wright Lake Basin from south of Wallace Creek
Sequoia National Park 31 Aug 1971
View down Wallace Creek to Kaweah Ridge - Sequioa National Park 31 Aug 1971
View down Wallace Creek to Kaweah Ridge - Sequioa National Park 31 Aug 1971
Wallace Creek - Sequoia National Park 31 Aug 1971
Kern Canyon - Sequoia National Park 31 Aug 1971
Kern Canyon - Sequoia National Park 31 Aug 1971
Junction Meadow - Sequoia National Park 31 Aug 1971
Junction Meadow - Sequoia National Park 31 Aug 1971
Camp at Junction Meadow - Sequoia National Park 31 Aug 1971
Nineteen made a day hike to Whitney the next day. Threatening weather but it held off for a good climb. Two climbed Hitchcock, Two climbed Young, Hale & Hitchcock.
We continued on to Rock Creek. Two climbed Guyot, three climbed Chamberlain while five took Miter Basin cross country route. Rock Creek very pretty - lots of good campsites.
Post continued over Army Pass (11 or so climbed Langley) - GOOD TRIP.
