Kern-Kaweah and Kaweah Basins

Another beautiful Sierra morning. Hey look! There are a few clouds up-canyon...

Back on the Trail Again...

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

Day 6:

The morning was bright and sunny, honest! It was another day in paradise in fact. I really hated leaving our camp, but we had a plan that might let us visit Deadman Canyon before we had to vacate the Sierra. So reluctantly I packed up, observing with interest the frost on the meadow as the sun came up. When the sun hit, the frost sparkled like diamonds, and the reflections in the shaded water before us looked like a mirror reflecting the awesome scene before us. There were even some clouds at the end of the canyon just cresting the highest peaks, unusual for a Sierra morning.

When I was almost done, naturally Dave was past ready and itching to hit the trail while I had a few things to do and some "needs" to take care of. Dave decided to move on ahead saying he would wait somewhere near or on the pass. That was fine by me and we both valued solitude. Before long I was sadly bidding our camp goodbye and turning my boots towards the trail, which was down at the end of the white granite dike. My pace was swift and my load was lighter now that I was so thoroughly acclimated and in good shape. The golden early morning sunlight was streaking through the trees and meadows to my left as I made my way up the trail and up the canyon. I could not help but notice the clouds forming above the highest peaks well up canyon. Well, as long as they stayed way up there….