Kern-Kaweah and Kaweah Basins

The East flank of The Whaleback is to the right. The cross-country up-canyon looks interesting and worth exploring. Note the snow. This is looking in the direction of Triple Divide Peak.

Back Along the Whaleback

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

The way back was interesting and not without challenges, the biggest worry was the trail being obscured by snow in those places where it was merely a ducked route. However, I had an advantage. Dave was going before me and all I had to do is follow his footsteps in the snow and hope he didn’t get lost.

I need not have worried because the snow was rapidly melting and the way was always clear. The trail wormed its way through a small forest and crossed the outlet stream, which was not a problem. The next section was a snow covered granite wonderland with its new white accenting. Only a bit of care had to be spent on making sure I stepped on sure footing, and that problem was usually solved by stepping in Dave’s footsteps. The views opened up nicely below me as I descended with the curious looking open space shrubs covered with clumps of snow. The snow gave the surroundings a new look, different in the gloomy light I experienced going up the slope.

The stream from Colby Lake runs past The Whaleback on the left. Down below you can see the "unmaintained" trail. Down canyon is Cloud Canyon. That stream could be a problem early season, but if you got this far, you have overcome other problems by the time you got to this point.

At the next stream crossing I stopped briefly to get some food and take off a layer of clothing in the rising heat. I swiftly made my way to the shoulder of the Whaleback and enjoyed, once again, the view down Cloud Canyon. The zigzagging stairs and trail brought me down to the next stream crossing in Cloud Canyon, and soon afterwards I met a group of people who told me where I could find the cabin of Shorty Lovelace.