Kern-Kaweah and Kaweah Basins

I said this was one great camp-site, and here is proof. Level soil for sleeping, clean granite for cooking and sitting, an illegal and unneeded fire-pit, sun in the morning, water nearby for all your needs, shade for the hottest part of the day, and mind-bending views all around. It does not get any better than this.

"Picket Lake" Camp

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

Naturally we sat down on the convenient stone steps near the outlet to refresh our water and to have a snack, all the while admiring the beautiful surroundings and wishing our camp was there.

If you visit this place, please, leave it as natural as you can and police the area before you leave. Leave only footprints. Most times of the year a fire is just not needed, and gets in the way of seeing the stars and the natural experience. Fires are also illegal at this altitude, so do the natural world a favor and do not make a fire: and leave the wood alone. This lake is a treasure, so please treat it as such.

You can see both the lakes inlet and outlet: a unique sight. The small waterfall of the inlet would provide pleasant night-music.

We were at the edge of an extensive relatively level region at the foot of the basin of Picket Creek, and I suppose the lake could be rightfully called "Picket Lake". Beyond us we could see a fair ways up the basin, and it all looked like good shaded unimpeded cross-country. It looked like the hardest hiking was behind us.