Brewer Basin in Kings Canyon

The peak on the left horizon is Mitchell Peak sitting on Sentinel Ridge. Below the peak the small thumb-like Sugarloaf can be seen. On the end of Sentinel Ridge is Sentinel Dome as named by the Yosemite inspired John Muir. He was trying to draw parallels between Kings Canyon (seen on the right) and Yosemite Valley in order to generate interest and preservation for Kings Canyon. Unlike the doomed lost yosemite of Hetch Hetchy, Kings Canyon was saved from being turned into a giant water tank.

A Stroll Down the Mountain

24 Sept., Day 6, Mt. Brewer Basin
The morning dawned clear and cool and rapidly warmed up just as one comes to expect when traveling in the Sierra. We had decided to head back to Bubbs Creek and possibly position ourselves for a hike up to East Lake. We would head down canyon below Big Brewer Lake and hit the Avalanche Pass Trail; a trail neither of us had ever been on. We swiftly packed up and slathered on the sun block.
The entire route downward to the trail was about as easy as cross-country can be. We stepped across the creek and headed for the nearby master joint, which provided an easy grassy ramp leading to the lake below. About ¾ of the way down, we left the joint at some easy natural granite steps and angled to hit the north end of the meadowed clearing below. We then stayed well to the right of the creek on an easy shaded slope that led downward. When the easy section approached some steep terrain ahead we turned right across an easy granite slope and ridge that afforded fine views and made it easy to pick our route for the next section. To the north and below us was a large meadow area, and down slope (West) of that another forested slope awaited us. We descended on easy slabs to the lower part of the meadow and entered the forest, following the slope downward. Once again the going was remarkably easy, and devoid of any mark of man. Some brushy parts were easily avoided, and the worst thing encountered was some low rocks that needed stepping through.