Big Five / Little Five Lakes Loop

There is a lot to see here. Mt. Kaweah is on the right, while Black Kaweah holds down the left skyline. In the canyon I could see the High Sierra Trail on its way to either Nine Lakes Basin or Chagoopa Plateau, depending on which direction you are going on the trail. In the canyon below is Big Arroyo.

The Ridge

Big 5, Little 5 Lakes Loop and Sawtooth Pass, August 4th to 7th, 2000.

The next section was actually not too bad. While it was a climb, it was somewhat shaded and fairly unpredictable. The trail meanders this way and that on its way to a convenient low point on the ridge above while attempting not to gain too much altitude, or at least any more than absolutely necessary. Obviously it was a glacially carved away section of moraine and low ridge. As I climbed higher I was treated to a view of the upper section of the Big Arroyo where the High Sierra Trail could be plainly seen etched into granite of that glacier-molded canyon. Up canyon I could also see the peaks surrounding Nine Lakes Basin. Just across the canyon was the smooth-looking flanks of Mt. Kaweah with the Chagoopa Plateau at its foot.

An ideal camp at the small lake at nearly exactly 10,000 feet on the ridge between Lost Canyon and the canyon of Big Five Lakes. This is the view looking west.

The trail finally reached the top and reached a very level area that may at one time been part of the Chagoopa Plateau. It certainly looked flat enough. Hiking was now a breeze, and I fairly sailed along. The forest was now fairly thick; the only feature of note was the granite ridge rising West of where the trail topped out. However, at about the halfway point of the crossing of the flat area and at exactly 10,000 feet and to the right side of the trail, there is a small charming lake with an ideal camp among the trees. I took advantage of this picturesque spot to drop my pack for my first real rest of the day. I snapped a few pictures then sat in my chair for a while munching on my mid-morning snacks and enjoying the ideal conditions and temperatures. It was too bad I had to move on, for I would have loved to have spent the night at such a chimerical spot in the grand Sierra. The view featured the white granite crags to the west reflected in the waters of the small intimate unnamed lake. I have always loved these small tarns and lakes much more than their larger cousins. Usually they are much warmer than large lakes and make for great swimming. This lake looked a little shallow for that kind of activity.