The Benson Lake Loop

Beyond Crown Lake, the trail (seen below) begins to mount the lip of a higher pocket valley. To the right you can see Kettle Peak.

Heading for Mule Pass

The Benson Lake Loop, August 2004

Day 2, ~4 miles, ~1400 foot total gain, 1196 Foot total loss, Friday, August 30^th, 2002

A pass day. One of the joys of backpacking for me is working towards a pass. The first pass I ever did alone I nearly turned back. I did not know the secret then. The secret is to keep moving, go at a pace that does not get you out of breath, and if you do get tired or out of breath, stop and rest for a moment. Usually a pass does not require you to walk a great distance: it is just a sometimes-steep climb, that’s all. And doing a pass always gives me a feeling of accomplishment, not to mention a great view. It is as close to summiting a peak as you can get without actually summiting a peak. And some passes are higher than many peaks in the Sierra.

In the morning light Kettle Peak is reflected in the waters of Crown Lake.

I got up as soon as it was bright enough to see well in my bivy-tent, which at that time of year was at about 6 AM. I packed quickly while setting out the wet bivy-tent and ground-sheet to dry. After a quick breakfast, the last items were in the pack and I was back on the trail. I was actually feeling good because by then I was in my third day of acclimation to the altitude and I was in good shape.