Sierra Nevada - Shepherd/Milestone Basin Deck Trek 1967

On August 27-September 3, 1967 myself, Gil Beilke, Bob Johnson, Tim McSweeney, Andy Lavis and Don Hovey backpacked 45 miles round trip over Shepherd Pass into the Milestone Basin. We had fairly good weather - rain most afternoons.

We left the Shepherd Pass trailhead at 11 a.m. - took 8 1/2 hours for 6 miles from 5600 feet to 10,000 at Anvil Camp.

Mount Williamson from Symmes Creek - John Muir Wilderness 27 Aug 1967
Mount Williamson from Symmes Creek - John Muir Wilderness 27 Aug 1967
Owens Valley from Shepherd Pass trail - John Muir Wilderness 27 Aug 1967
Owens Valley from Shepherd Pass trail - John Muir Wilderness 27 Aug 1967

Don taking a rest at top of first trail section - John Muir Wilderness 27 Aug 1967
Don taking a rest at top of first trail section - John Muir Wilderness 27 Aug 1967
Mount Williamson from Shephers Pass Trail - John Muir Wilderness 27 Aug 1967
Mount Williamson from Shephers Pass Trail - John Muir Wilderness 27 Aug 1967

Peaks north of Mount Williamson from Shepherd Pass Trail - John Muir Wilderness 27 Aug 1967
Peaks north of Mount Williamson from Shepherd Pass Trail
John Muir Wilderness 27 Aug 1967
Toward Anvil Camp from Shepherd Pass Trail - John Muir Wilderness 27 Aug 1967
Toward Anvil Camp from Shepherd Pass Trail - John Muir Wilderness 27 Aug 1967

Shepherd Creek from Shepherd Pass Trail - John Muir Wilderness 27 Aug 1967
Shepherd Creek from Shepherd Pass Trail - John Muir Wilderness 27 Aug 1967
Anvil Camp, Shepherd Creek from Shepherd Pass Trail - John Muir Wilderness 27 Aug 1967
Anvil Camp, Shepherd Creek from Shepherd Pass Trail
John Muir Wilderness 27 Aug 1967

Monday we continued over Shepherd Pass - clocked 50 MPH gusts of wind - made nice hike to Lake South America - tremendous views. Lots of 12 inch trout in lake - Bob Johnson and Don Hovey caught by hand in pools - Gil Beilke caught one on fly.

Waterfall on side creek from Shepherd Pass Trail - John Muir Wilderness 27 Aug 1967
Waterfall on side creek from Shepherd Pass Trail - John Muir Wilderness 27 Aug 1967
Lake at the top of Shepherd Pass - John Muir Wilderness 28 Aug 1967
Lake at the top of Shepherd Pass - John Muir Wilderness 28 Aug 1967

Shepherd Pass - John Muir Trail/Sequoia National Park 28 Aug 1967
Shepherd Pass - John Muir Trail/Sequoia National Park 28 Aug 1967

Great Western Divide from below Shepherd Pass - Sequoia National Park 28 Aug 1967
Great Western Divide from below Shepherd Pass - Sequoia National Park 28 Aug 1967
Tyndall Creek, Great Western Divide from below Shepherd Pass - Sequoia National Park 28 Aug 1967
Tyndall Creek, Great Western Divide from below Shepherd Pass
Sequoia National Park 28 Aug 1967

Tyndall Creek, Great Western Divide from below Shepherd Pass - Sequoia National Park 28 Aug 1967
Tyndall Creek, Great Western Divide from below Shepherd Pass
Sequoia National Park 28 Aug 1967
Tyndall Creek, Great Western Divide from below Shepherd Pass - Sequoia National Park 28 Aug 1967
Tyndall Creek, Great Western Divide from below Shepherd Pass
Sequoia National Park 28 Aug 1967

Junction Peak, Diamond Mesa - Sequoia National Park 28 Aug 1967
Junction Peak, Diamond Mesa - Sequoia National Park 28 Aug 1967
Camp at 'Sheep Camp' - Sequoia National Park 01 Sep 1967
Camp at 'Sheep Camp' - Sequoia National Park 01 Sep 1967

Camp at 'Sheep Camp' - Sequoia National Park 01 Sep 1967
Camp at 'Sheep Camp' - Sequoia National Park 01 Sep 1967



Tuesday Gil Beilke, Bob Johnson and Tim McSweeney climbed Gregory's Monument and Mt. Stanford. Don Deck & Don Hovey climbed Harrison Pass. Andy Lavis was misplaced at Kern River. After climb, we moved to Kern River and found Andy and then proceeded up Milestone Creek to camp at 11,200 - beautiful views. Arrived by noon. Gil Beilke, Bob Johnson and Tim McSweeney climbed Midway. Wild weather that night.







Wednesday Gil Beilke, Don Hovey, Tim McSweeney and Andy Lavis climbed Milestone. Bob Johnson recovered from illness. Don Deck explored nearby lakes and took pictures. After climb, moved back to Kern river.







Thursday, we moved over to Shepherds Camp near Diamond Mesa. Crazy clouds made great pictures. In camp by noon. Gil Beilke went to Forester Pass.







Friday morning it started raining and wiped out plans for Junction Peak. At noon we decided to give it up and hiked 12 miles out over Shepherd Pass to cars. Trip was great despite the weather. Wish I didn't have sprained ankle and could have done some climbing.







END OF TRIP
Symmes Creek Trailhead, Tim McSweeney, Bob Johnson - John Muir Wilderness 02 Sep 1967
Symmes Creek Trailhead, Tim McSweeney, Bob Johnson
John Muir Wilderness 02 Sep 1967

equipunderconstruction.gif - 59342 Bytes