Sequoia POCer Party Part II

Sunday we decided to rehab our swimming muscles with an 8 mile hike at 7,000 feet elevation. Everyone else had to fly or drive home so Brian and I headed up to the Wolverton Trailhead and did the hike to Heather Lake. On the way up we took the Watchtower trail. I assumed the name referred to a fire watch tower we would be able to check out, but really it refers to a big outcropping of rock overlooking the Marble Fork of the Kaweah River. It was very impressive but also steep and loose so we didn't walk very far out onto it. The valley was beautiful, the river cascades down a granite dish at one end and makes a series of pools in the side of the cliff. I'd like to do the hike from Lodgepole campground to Tokopah falls sometime. I'd also like to do some backpacking from there so we can get deeper into the alpine country. Above the Watchtower the trail turned into a ledge blasted from the side of the cliff. It was wide enough for comfort but still pretty exposed, very fun.

View from just past the Watchtower into the valley.

Nell being pensive on the ledge section.

Ledge section on the Watchtower trail, Sequoia.

 On the way up we saw three marmots hanging out on a rock and a hairy woodpecker tapping on trees. The lake was very nice, Anna claimed it was pretty warm for an alpine lake but I didn't test it out. We spent about half an hour basking on a rock then hobbled back down to the trailhead via the Hump trail. I think the Hump bit refers to the fact that you have to go over the ridge into the next little creek drainage over before you start descending. In the future I think I'll do the Watchtower trail out and back, it had better views and more uniform elevation change. 

The Watchtower trail turning inland toward Heather Lake.

Heather Lake, Sequoia.

Brian taking the previous image.

Yet more pondering of the Sierras.

We had dinner at the Lodgepole Grill. Protip: if the you ask the cashier "Are the chicken tenders are strips of chicken or pressed minced chicken?" and she says "Yeah they're really good, like big chicken nuggets." that is not the answer you're looking for. Luckily Brian is not obnoxiously fussy like I am. He gave me most of his cheeseburger and ate my chicken tenders.

Sequoia POCer Party Part I

This past weekend Brian and I went to Sequoia to celebrate Derick and Anna's impending baby with a bunch of Purdue Outing Club peeps. We hadn't seen any POCers since our Red Rocks trip last fall so it was fun to catch up with people and celebrate. I haven't been to the Sierras for several years, I'd forgotten how beautiful they are with all the trees and granite. I really like the scrubby desert too. 

I made a hat for the baby based on the Windschief pattern, but I forgot to take a picture of it. It turned out pretty cute. I think I'll do that pattern again. I may alter the decreases though because I wasn't wild about how they went. We also bought a board book of The Runaway Bunny, the prettiest baby book ever written. I hope they enjoy reading it together. 

Saturday we went low-key canyoneering with Brendan and Stephanie on the East Fork of the Kaweah River. I'd never really been canyoneering before so I was very excited. It was not a camera friendly outing so we don't have any pictures, but the river was beautiful. We started about 3.5 miles up Mineral King Road and bushwacked down some cow paths to the river. From there it was about 2 miles along the river back to 198, where we had a cocktail at the Gateway Lodge while Brendan hitched a ride back to the campsite to pick up a car.

We had a great time sliding down rock ramps, floating through deep pools and bumping over rapids. Everyone but Brian jumped off a 15 ft. rock. Brian scouted the depth of the pool for us, despite being very disinclined to stick his feet down into the dark water. Shortly after lunch Steph rolled her ankle scouting a ramp so we had to take the last bit of the trip a bit slow and careful. It clearly hurt pretty badly at the time but luckily the next day it didn't seem to be getting worse, hopefully just a minor sprain. Although I managed not to damage myself the next day I was sore everywhere, I guess I should have stretched after all that swimming. Hopefully next year we can do a more technical canyon with some rappels and waterfalls and things.