A Backpack Cross-Country Traverse of the Minarets

The trail here approaches the Summit Meadow ridge where the trail will climb 600+ feet over nearly .7 miles.

Climbing Out of Snow Canyon

A Cross-Country Traverse of the Minarets, August 2006

DAY 1, ~ 6+ Miles and 2000 feet of gain.

After the King Creek crossing (we did not stop for a break due to a late start), the trail showed us it was through fooling around and began a 1000+ foot climb over 1.5 miles out of Snow Canyon: a pretty stiff climb. The first mile gains about 520 feet and is fairly easy. There is a bit of a short chug to get to 8000 feet and into another small creek drainage, but it levels out some (in a Sierra way) for a good distance before it reaches the real climb.

The Kink Creek drainage of Snow Canyon as seen from the trail. Perhaps all that white granite helped to name the canyon.

Once beyond King Creek the countryside really begins to take on the classic Sierra white granite high country look. The tree cover is sparser, the views are wider and the air is crisp. It is the advantage of starting high and going higher. Younger people would benefit from spending an acclimation day at Mammoth to avoid altitude sickness and sometimes the general run-down feeling of not enough air. Even though we had started the day at sea level, we were both feeling pretty good and making good time. We were both glad to be back home and into the mountains.