Kern-Kaweah and Kaweah Basins

I had long dreamed of standing on this meadow and seeing this view of Cloud Canyon featuring the impressive Whaleback. It was everything I dreamed of and more. This alone made all the effort getting there worthwhile.

Whaleback!

Kern-Kaweah and Kaweah Basins via Colby Pass, September, 2000.

As we emerged from the thicket we were smacked in the face with a sight I had not seen the like of since Deadman Canyon. Spread before us was a huge flat meadow the allowed an unobstructed view up the canyon. And what a view it is. Dominating the scenery was the Whaleback, an enormous granite fin reaching an altitude of 11,717 feet, and over 2900 feet above the valley floor of Cloud Canyon. The canyon was showing its true glacier formed nature with its perfect "U" shaped glacier bed. Cloud Canyon seemed to go on and on before curving out of sight. Looking up at Glacier Ridge I could see the cirques that hid more high Sierra lakes. To the left was a grove of trees I knew held a camp and above that I could see the cut that divided the Great Western Divide from the Whaleback. It was that cut I knew the trail would be going, and I looked forward to it. What I didn't really realize would be all the work that it would take before we began to mount the giant shoulder of the Whaleback. No matter, after a few pictures, we moved on down the trail, which now turned left and began to skirt the meadow on the way to the woods on the left.

Typical section of trail skirting Big Wet Meadow and offering up excellent views.

Finally, the trip was definitely worthwhile! So far it was just a walk in the woods, however pleasant. Finally we were high enough and cool enough to avoid most of the heat that had dogged us on the trip so far. And finally were at the very foot of the real high country. We could see deer in the meadow, fish in the clear stream water, birds in the blue Sierra sky and all was well with the world…for now.