Photo: Paul Scudder Rae Lakes Loop, Kings Canyon National Park, Ca Highlights:
Includes:
Trip Number: 08111A Price: $635 Deposit: $100 Capacity: 12 Rating: M Leader:
The Trip  Photo: Paul Scudder Thousands of tired, nerve-shaken, over-civilized people are beginning to find out that going to the mountains is going home; that wildness is a necessity; and that mountain parks and reservations are useful not only as fountains of timber and irrigating rivers, but as fountains of life.
The Kings River cuts through a deep, glaciated, granite valley with sheer walls and domes reminiscent of Yosemite. We will hike from a lush meadow at 5,000 feet through a number of biotic zones to almost 12,000 feet. We will explore timberline lakes and watch the majestic alpenglow on the high peaks. We will walk on the John Muir Trail and day-hike where no trail goes. Most of all, we will enjoy the company of fellow Sierra Club members. This trip is suited for both novice and experienced backpackers who are looking to enjoy this magnificent area. We will average about eight miles a day, all on-trail. We expect the participants to be in good physical shape. The experienced leaders will help you prepare for this trip with useful pre-trip correspondence, and answers to any questions you might have on gear, trip planning, etc.
 Photo: Paul Scudder Day 1: We will meet in the early afternoon at a campground near Cedar Grove to go over gear and possibly go for a short day-hike. We will start at 4,600 feet elevation and should be prepared for hot weather. After our first dinner, we will talk about the trip and get to know each other. Day 2: After driving to Roads End, we will begin our trip, heading up the Kings River past Mist Falls and into Paradise Valley with its steep walls of granite. Today's hike will cover 7.2 miles and gain 1,600 feet elevation. Day 3: At the north end of Paradise Valley we'll cross the Kings River at an impressive fork and head up Woods Creek where we'll join the John Muir Trail. Next, we'll cross a swinging backcountry suspension bridge and camp with a view of Castle Domes. The distance for the day will be 8.5 miles with elevation gain of 1,900 feet. Day 4: Today we'll begin our climb into the lake basins as Diamond Peak, Fin Dome, and a necklace of timberline lakes come into view. Our destination is Rae Lakes, at 10,500 feet, nestled between the Sierra Crest to the east, the Sixty Lakes Basin to the west, and with the Painted Lady to the south. Today's trek will be 6.5 miles with an elevation gain of 2,100 feet. Day 5: We will indulge in a layover day to explore. A dayhike into the Sixty Lakes Basin in the shadow of Mt. Cotter and Mt. Clarence King is possible, or a shorter trip up to Dragon Lake with its impressive view of the majestic King Spur. Of course you can choose to remain in camp, kick back and relax. Day 6: Today we will climb up 1,400 feet to Glen Pass at almost 12,000 feet, where we can have lunch soaking up the spectacular view from this highest point of our loop. Be prepared for the possibility of snow covering the trail. We will descend 1,600 feet to Charlotte Lake, covering about five miles for the day. Day 7: This is our longest day at 10 miles, but it is all downhill (3,100 feet) and our packs will be lighter. We will camp by Charlotte Creek where it cascades down into Bubbs Creek. Day 8: We will notice the air becoming warmer as we drop 2,200 feet down Bubbs Creek in seven miles to return to our cars at Roads End. To be safe and allow enough time for the long drive out, we advise that participants who are flying not to plan their return flights before the next day. The route and itinerary should be regarded as preliminary and is subject to change. Snow conditions, runoff, progress of the group, camp site availability, and other factors may require the leaders to make adjustments, so participants must be flexible and be able to maintain a good sense of humor. Getting There Our meeting place is located near Cedar Grove and Roads End in Kings Canyon National Park, about a two-hour drive east of Fresno, California. No public transportation serves the park, but airlines, buses, and Amtrak serve Fresno. Road’s End is about 270 miles from the San Francisco Bay Area (five hours driving time) and almost the same distance from Los Angeles. To assist participants who want to share rides with other trip members, we will provide a group roster well before the trip begins. Those arriving a few days early may enjoy camping at one of the several campgrounds in Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Park.
Our first meal will be dinner at the campground on the day we meet. Our last meal will be lunch on the last day. The meals will be high in energy, with cheeses, nuts, and some freeze-dried meats to provide protein. We will be providing all meals, drinks and snacks. Vegetarians are welcome, but please let us know well before the trip. We will make every effort to accommodate other dietary restrictions as long as we know these in advance. Trip members will share responsibility for cooking and clean-up duties.
This trip is rated Moderate (M). Daily hiking distances range from five to 10 miles with packs of 40 to 45 pounds. This weight will include 15-18 pounds of group gear, so plan your personal gear to be 22-27 pounds. The average elevation gain is about 1,800 feet a day. The total distance of our trek is about 48 miles. On a typical hiking day, we plan to be on the trail before 9:00 a.m. and to arrive in camp by mid-afternoon. We plan] to have one layover day where we can stay at our campsite and use the time for day-hiking or just relaxing. Our hiking will be on established, graded trails. Wet creek crossings are possible. Hiking across steep snow may be encountered at our highest altitudes. Our most challenging day and highest altitude will be crossing Glen Pass on day six. Enjoying the backcountry travel is just as important as our destinations, so you owe it to yourself and the other participants to be in very good physical condition. You will be hiking with others who have taken their training very seriously and expect you to have done the same. You need leg strength as well as endurance. The High Sierra is renowned for its excellent summer weather. Extended storms, however, can occur at any time of the year. Afternoon thunderstorms, with sudden cloudbursts of wind, rain, hail, and even snow are not uncommon. Be prepared for extremes; temperatures during the day can exceed 80 degrees and fall into the low 20s at night.
In addition to food, the Sierra Club will provide all cooking gear (stove, fuel, pots, pans), iodine tincture for water treatment, a group first-aid kit, a dining tarp, ropes, and the bear-proof canisters that we will use to store our food. A suggested equipment list will be sent to all approved participants. If you have any questions about the proper equipment, please feel free to contact one of us. If you have a large tent (for more than one person), you might want consider sharing it with another trip member in order to keep your pack weight down and minimize impact. Make sure your hiking boots are well broken-in.
You may wish to bring your own map and compass. The leader is quite willing to assist participants in improving their map and compass skills. Maps Tom Harrison's trail maps: "Kings Canyon High Country" and "Kearsarge Pass Trail Map-Rae Lakes Loop." Books on Backpacking Hart, John, Walking Softly in the Wilderness: The Sierra Club Guide to Backpacking. Curtis, Rick, The Backpacker's Field Manual. Books on the Route Mock, J.,O'Neil, K., Hiking in the Sierra Nevada. Scheidt, L., Hiking Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks. Winnett, J., Morey K., Haber L., Winnett T., Sierra South. Conservation Sierra Club Outings started over 100 years ago based on the idea that if you can show people the beauty of the wilderness then they will be inspired to preserve these special places. After dinner we will often gather together to hear the history of Sierra Club and to discuss the challenges that face environmentalists today. Even after a place is protected, the demands of an ever-increasing number of users threaten to damage these very places. Our route is one of the most popular in Kings Canyon . Therefore, it becomes very important that all visitors, including our group, practice the principles of Leave No Trace. The leaders will discuss the principles of Leave No Trace and encourage group comments and participation. "If future generations are to remember us with gratitude rather than contempt, we must leave them something more than the miracles of technology. We must leave them a glimpse of the world as it was in the beginning, not just after we got through with it." -- President Lyndon B. Johnson, on the signing of the Wilderness Act of 1964
See the How to Apply for an Outing section for more details on registering for this trip and details about our Reservation and Cancellation Policy. The payment of a deposit does not confirm you as a member on the trip. Participants must be approved by the trip leader. After signing up for this trip, you will be sent a confirmation packet containing approval materials (Participant Approval Questionnaire, Medical Form, Liability Release Form). Each applicant (including those on the waitlist) must fill out these forms and promptly mail them to the trip leader. The leader will review the approval materials and notify you of your acceptance in a timely manner.
Leader:
General Notes About Sierra Club Trips
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Dave Bugay has been a participant on a number of Sierra Club trips and has experience leading with the Boy Scouts. He is a graduate of the leader training trip given annually by the Knapsack Subcommittee. Last summer Dave made two trips west, first to attend a training event and later to spend 20 days backpacking in the Sierra. He is attracted to the Sierra by its beauty and the cool, dry air -- a real contrast from summers in East Texas!
Paul Scudder is a college professor and Sierra Club life-time member. He lives in Florida but is most at home in California's Sierra Nevada. He fell in love with backpacking as a boy at Philmont Scout Ranch in northern New Mexico and has spent many summers since hiking in the Sierra, leading trips for friends and participating on Sierra Club national outings. He has also backpacked in Alaska, the Pacific Northwest, the Rockies, the Appalachians, and the Grand Canyon. His interests include photography, orienteering, minimum-impact backpacking, kayaking, and helping others discover, as John Muir did, that "going to the mountains is going home."