Deadman Canyon Loop

The Sugarloaf pokes its head above the forest, the only real feature of note in this valley. This valley gives real meaning to the phrase "mixed conifer forest". How many different trees can you name here?

Down in the Valley...

Deadman Canyon Loop - By D.W.Donehoo (All rights reserved)

Leaving Sugarloaf Meadow, the trail meanders Northeast below the skirts of the Sugarloaf on a trail about as level as any trail gets in the Sierra backcountry.

The Sugarloaf Valley trail is level, wide and sometime very sandy. The walking as fairly pleasant, if sometimes tedious.

The trail sails smoothly along, eventually turning east to meet a wide ford of Sugarloaf Creek (camping), an early season wet crossing. Another small creek is crossed after a stretch of undulating trail, after which you are treated to the usual sierra roller coaster trail leading to a crossing of Ferguson Creek (camping), a precursor to a tiresome climb to a ridge overlooking the Roaring River, and finally some good views towards the Great Western Divide. It was probably here the 1864 California Geological Survey/Brewer Party crossed into the Roaring River country, and plotted how they would get close enough to Mt. Brewer to climb it from a suitable base camp. Since then many knapsackers have ventured up Brewer Creek, Ferguson Creek to Ferguson Meadow, and the other tributaries lead into the headwalls of the Tablelands, all worthwhile destinations.

The occasional breaks in the forest allows some nice views of the nearby peaks, in this case, the Mt. Brewer group.

It was probably here the 1864 California Geological Survey/Brewer Party crossed into the Roaring River country, and plotted how they would get close enough to Mt. Brewer to climb it from a suitable base camp. Since then many knapsackers have ventured up Brewer Creek, Ferguson Creek to Ferguson Meadow, and the other tributaries leading to the headwalls of the Tablelands, all worthwhile destinations.