Brewer Basin in Kings Canyon

Mt Brewer as the sun sets as seen from our camp.

A Mt. Brewer Evening

No sooner had we set up camp and rinsed a few sweat-soaked things out than we had to start preparing the evening meal. We were not to be cheated of the alpen-glow this night for the weather was clear and calm and turning golden in the late afternoon sun. As we settled down in our chairs and warm dry clothing next to the "kitchen", the only thing challenging the vast silence was the nearby flock of Clarks Nuthatches and the low rumbling of the stove blowtorch. By the time we were into the first part of our meal the sunset brilliant golds were deepening in color, and when we began the last part of our meal the golds were taking on a decidedly red tinge. As we were finishing our food and the wilderness silence was unspoiled at last, the towering bowl and lofty peaks of Brewer Basin were bathed in an intense bright ruby red. Lord above all the basin was Mt. Brewer, and it drew me to the waters edge of Big Brewer Lake. Looming above in royal reds and ever deepening in hue, Mt. Brewer was reflected in the water below, turning the lake into a red pool in a rippling reverse imitation of Mt. Brewer above. Eventually the red cloaked peak reached a climax of intensity and brightness and quickly began to fade to purples and blues as the huge red sun began to slip below the horizon behind me. With all depth of field gone in the failing light, the whole basin tableau seemed to fade back into something more like a giant mural than the vast granite skyline it really was. Stars began to peek out, reminding me I had some after dinner washing up to do while there was still enough light to see. Because the basin faced west and there were no significant mountains to block the sunlight, the whole basin benefits from the very last dregs of sunset light, and the afterglow lingers on when in other canyons of the Sierra it would be in near full dark.