Photo: Andy Johnson Mineral King Cross-Country, Sequoia National
Park Highlights:
Includes:
Trip Number: 08136A Price: $ 545 Deposit: $100 Capacity: 12 Rating: MS Leader:
The Trip The western drainage of the Great Western Divide at the southern tip of the Sierra Nevada forms the headwaters of the East Fork of the Kaweah River. The spectacular secluded valley created by this drainage is Mineral King. The name itself evokes dreams of mineral wealth gained and lost in the late 19 th century and, to environmentalists of the 1970's, it recalls an epic environmental battle to save Mineral King from a fate as a major ski resort for the Disney Corporation. On this late-summer hike in the high country of Mineral King, we will have plenty of opportunity to enjoy the majestic mountains in this basin and further understand the history and issues which kept Mineral King from being included in Sequoia National Park in the first place. As we leave the trail behind and enjoy the challenges and rewards of cross-country hiking, we will have time to explore alpine lakes and scramble up mountaintops. Shorter, but intense, hiking days allow for time in the afternoon to relax and revel in a post-hike dip. We will hike at timberline – the stark granite landscape of the high country mitigated by groves of pines – occasionally dipping down through meadows and streams as we circumnavigate the southern arc of the valley.
The trip officially starts on Saturday, August 23 rd at Mineral King. We encourage participants to arrive the afternoon before to help acclimatize, get oriented, and have the opportunity to review any last minute gear decisions with the leaders. Dinner that evening, will be a pot luck meal for all to partake.  Photo: Andy Johnson Day 1: We start from Mineral King trailhead (7,800 feet) and head south up the East Fork of the Kaweah River into the heart of Mineral King. The trail rises steeply and we ascend 1,200 feet in the first two miles, climbing 2,000 feet in all up to Mosquito Lakes. Day 2: We head over a cross-country pass (10,800 feet), boulder hopping for the last 100 feet. We descend through meadows and forest before dropping into Horse Creek, reaching Ansel Lake (10,600) in the early afternoon, in time for a quick dip. Day 3: This is a layover day. This will give us opportunity to finish acclimating and to enjoy swimming, fishing or climbing nearby peaks. The view to the west opens up to the San Joaquin Valley giving way to spectacular sunsets. Day 4: This will be a long and challenging day with a mix of cross-country and trail. We will first ascend a delightful cross-country pass (11,250 feet) out of Ansel Lake, then drop down through a primitive hanging valley and make a steep scree descent to the Little Kern River (9,700 feet). We'll rest by the creek, enjoy lunch, and contour across a slope, dropping as low as 9,000 feet, before heading back up for a long and grueling climb up to Silver Lake (10,500 feet). Day 5: is a short hop on trail over Shotgun Pass (11,400 feet) to “Beautiful Lake Alline” (10,600 feet), named by Sierra Club leader Cal French on a past leader training trip. We'll arrive in time for lunch and have the remainder of the day for swimming and exploring. Day 6: we hike to an unnamed lake (10,500 feet) to the east of Rainbow Mountain. Our route winds past Forester Lake and Little Claire Lake on trail, then we have a tricky cross-country section where we scoot across the face of a steep slope, traverse through the forest, then on to our lake destination. The day is long, but without the elevation gains and losses of the route to Silver Lake.  Photo: Andy Johnson Day 7: we will layover below Rainbow Mountain and enjoy a peak climb up Rainbow or Needham Mountains, or just relax by the lake. Day 8: we hike to Crystal Lake (10,800 feet) via a challenging cross-country pass (11,400) between Amphitheater and Crystal Lakes. We will be happy to have light packs and a week of cross-country hiking under our belts as we scramble up this pass. Day 9: we hike out. We pick up the trail at Crystal Lake and descend 3,000 feet back to the trailhead, with the creek beckoning as our reward. The route outlined above is tentative and may be modified due to unforeseen circumstances. Trip participants are expected to be flexible should there be any need for changes. Getting There
 Photo: Andy Johnson The trip starts and ends at Mineral King, Sequoia National Park. Mineral King is at the end of Highway 198, 27 miles up a narrow winding road from Three Rivers, just west of Visalia in California’s Central Valley. There is no public transportation to Mineral King, so participants are encouraged to carpool. The leader will provide a trip roster with contact information for carpooling. The nearest airport is Fresno. Mineral King is about seven hours drive from San Francisco (283 miles) or six hours (243 miles) from Los Angeles. Silver City, three miles from Mineral King, has meals, minimal supplies and showers.
We will provide all meals and snacks for the trip. The first trip meal is breakfast on August 23rd (day one) and the last meal is lunch on August 31st (day nine). The leader has developed a repertoire of tasty and easy to prepare camp cuisine. The menu includes some meat, but vegetarians and some dietary restrictions can be accommodated given sufficient advance notice. Trip participants are expected to help with cooking and cleaning on a rotating basis. All of our food will be carried in bear-proof canisters. You will eat well on this trip - please do not bring any extra personal food as there just isn't any more room in the bear cans.
 Photo: Andy Johnson This trip is rated moderate-strenuous overall, but some days will be strenuous or will have strenuous sections. This is a trip for the experienced backpacker with an interest in cross-country hiking. The route will primarily be off-trail and camp sites will mostly be above 10,000 feet. Off-trail, we will cover shorter distances as we route-find, scramble across boulder fields, and traverse cross country passes above 11,000 feet. Cross-country travel requires steady footing, good balance and the occasional use of all 4 limbs. Proper preparation prior to this trip is crucial. You will need to be in shape for backpacking and be prepared to carry 15-17 pounds of group commissary in addition to your personal gear. Getting in shape means general aerobic and strength conditioning in addition to conditioning your body to your boots and the weight of your pack. About two months before the trip, start to train with a loaded backpack (30-35 pounds) and hike up and down local hills or stairs, whatever is handy, once or twice a week. Increase the weight and intensity of your workouts until you are hiking two or more hours twice a week. The effort you put in at this time will more than pay off on the trip. Expect warm days and cool nights with occasional rain. This late in the season, the days will be shorter and nights slightly cooler than earlier in the summer. Weather in the Sierra Nevada can be variable and a bright morning can quickly change to an afternoon thunderstorm. It is best to come prepared for rain and cold; bring warm clothes, rain shelter (Emma and I each bring a solo tent), breathable rain gear, and that essential tube of sunscreen.
If you have any questions about these guidelines and/or your equipment, we would be more than happy to discuss your options well ahead of the trip. When in doubt, bring your gear options to the road head and we can help make a decision once we see the equipment.
Maps Our route is primarily covered in the 7.5 minute USGS topo map: “Mineral King”. A small portion of the route is on the “Quinn Peak” quad. Books Secor, R.J., The High Sierra: Peaks, Passes and Trails. This is a general reference for climbing and cross country routes in the Sierra Nevada. Conservation Mineral King was the focus of a major Sierra Club conservation battle in the 1960s and 70s that culminated in the inclusion of Mineral King in Sequoia National Park, saving it from becoming a major ski resort mid-way between San Francisco and Los Angeles. Today, only the remnants of some cabins and mining shafts bespeak of its short history as a boom and bust mining town in the 1870’s. This avalanche prone valley remains off the beaten path, the 27 miles of twisting road from Three Rivers enough to keep away all but the intrepid traveler. We will discuss the history of this area and ongoing environmental controversies and action that can be taken to preserve this area as a wilderness.
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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Jocelyn Miller's first Sierra Club outing was in 1980 at age 15,
when she took a junior's backpack trip on which Andy Johnson
was assistant leader. Since 2000 she has assisted Andy on several
backpack trips, and she led her first trip in 2003. She loves
to run, cycle, swim, ski, and make tasty dessert treats. In
the city, you will find her designing buildings and practicing
architecture. On the trail, she is happiest when hiking cross-country
and swimming in alpine lakes.
Emma is a biologist who has been hiking, backpacking, teaching and researching on the Colorado Plateau for the past 25 years. Emma has instructed for NOLS-Wyoming and has co-led three other Sierra Club National Outing trips for the Southwest Subcommittee.