Sequoia [California] National Park Part 5

The flowers which by their profusion and brilliancy most attract attention are, among myriads, the lupine, yucca, goldenrod, shooting star, ragwort, Queen Ann's lace, bears clover, false h.e.l.lebore, many gilias, pentstemons, and monkey flowers.

KERN CANYON AND MOUNT WHITNEY

The entire upper watershed of the Kern River, and the widely known Kern Canyon, added to the park in 1926, is a spectacular area containing the roughest and loftiest peaks of the entire Sierra Nevada, with Mount Whitney at 14,494.7 feet elevation, the highest point in continental United States, only barely thrusting its head above many others of nearly equal height. In the center of this ma.s.s of mountain wonderland is the Kern Canyon, with its colorful walls 3,000 feet high extending north and south 25 miles. Hot springs and mineral springs are added attractions, while fishing is unsurpa.s.sed anywhere in the Sierra. A minimum of 2 weeks for a trip either by pack or foot is necessary adequately to cover the wonders of this region, but it may be reached in 1 day from Mineral King to Kern Canyon Station (Camp Lewis or Soda Springs). The new High Sierra Trail has linked the Big Trees of Giant Forest to the Kern Canyon by a graded trail. It is a good 2-day journey from Giant Forest to Kern Canyon.

MOUNTAINEERING

The peaks of the Sierra Nevada and Great Western Divide, as well as the Kaweah Peaks, in Sequoia National Park, offer excellent opportunities for mountaineering. Devotees of this greatest of outdoor sports are visiting the park in increasing numbers. Those interested in mountaineering in the park should communicate with the Sierra Club.

Members of that club have made some notable ascents and are fully conversant with the technique of climbing in the Sierra of California.

Among the high peaks in the park, many of them over 14,000 feet, which offer opportunities for mountaineering may be mentioned Mount Whitney, highest in the United States outside of Alaska, Muir, Langley, Russell, Tyndall, Williamson, Junction, Stanford, Table, Milestone, Kaweah, Sawtooth, and Silliman.

[Ill.u.s.tration: THE VALHALLA AS SEEN FROM THE HIGH SIERRA TRAIL

_Padilla Studios photo._]

Of the approximately 60 peaks in the United States over 14,000 feet, 13 are in California; and of these, 6--Whitney, Muir, Langley, Russell, Barnard, and Tyndall--are in Sequoia National Park.

Information about mountaineering may be obtained by applying to the superintendent of the park, or at any ranger station therein. Full information about equipment and types of climbs may be obtained by writing to the secretary of the Sierra Club, Mills Tower, San Francisco.

PACK TRIPS TO HIGH SIERRA

Many inquiries are received relative to hiking and pack trips in the Sierra within and adjacent to the Sequoia National Park. The following information about maps, trails, camps, routes, etc., will be useful to prospective visitors; but in view of the wild nature of the territory and inaccuracy of existing maps, the information must be accepted with reservations.

The country from the Sequoia National Park to Yosemite National Park is shown on the United States Geological Survey quadrangles: Kaweah, Tehipite, Mount Whitney, Olancha, Mount Morrison, Mount G.o.ddard, Bishop, Mount Lyell, Kaiser, and Yosemite. The John Muir Trail crosses parts of these quadrangles. Maps of these areas are based on surveys made from 15 to 25 years ago, with only slight corrections since, and the trails and other artificial features have undergone many changes. These maps may be obtained from the United States Geological Survey, Washington, D. C., or from the superintendent, Sequoia National Park, Calif., at 10 cents each. The parts of the maps of the Tehipite, Kaweah, Mount Whitney, and Olancha quadrangles included within the Sequoia National Park are printed on a single sheet, which may be obtained for 25 cents from the chief ranger, or at the Giant Forest naturalist's office.

Sequoia National Park and the area surrounding it includes a region of as great diversity and wild grandeur as any area of equal size in America. Here are more than 75 peaks over 11,000 feet in elevation, of which 7 are more than 14,000 feet, 35 over 13,000 feet, and 20 more than 12,000 feet high. Here are at least 200 high mountain lakes, and over 300 miles of streams containing the famous golden and Kern River rainbow trout. Good mountain trails traverse this area and lead to the outstanding points of interest.

Camping places and fenced pastures are available, so that parties may make camp in comfortable places that also provide adequate facilities for the horses.

Pack outfits start for the high mountains during the season. Packing into the High Sierra starts from Giant Forest and Hospital Rock Camps in the park, from points near the park such as at Three Rivers, the Maxon Ranch, and Mineral King, from points in the national forests both north and south, and from Owens Valley towns to the east.

Giant Forest, elevation 6,500 feet, because of its excellent accommodations and general activities of a mountain resort, is becoming more popular each year as a point of departure for the High Sierra.

Automobiles left at Giant Forest will be cared for by the park operators and canvas covers furnished.

Main trails lead north from Giant Forest via J. O. Pa.s.s to the Kings Canyon, Roaring River, and Sugarloaf districts north of the park; east and south via High Sierra Trail or Redwood Meadows to the Kern Canyon and Mount Whitney in the park; by either Kaweah Gap or Black Rock Pa.s.s to the Big Arroyo or by Timber Gap to Mineral King and a choice of trails southward to the Kern River in the lower canyon.

Three Rivers, on the paved highway and a few miles below the park entrance, is the local center for packers and guides to the High Sierra.

There are hotel accommodations, stores, and post office located here.

Mineral King, 7,800 feet elevation, 32 miles above Three Rivers by mountain road, is in the Sequoia National Forest, which here forms an indentation from the south into the park area. It is a center for pack outfits and guides and an excellent place from which to leave for Kern Canyon, Mount Whitney, and the High Sierra. There are limited hotel accommodations, a store, and post office.

Lone Pine and Independence, on the east side of the Sierra on the Midland Trail, are centers for pack outfits. Good hotels, stores, garages, and other conveniences are available at these and other towns in the Owens Valley.

KERN RIVER CANYON

From Giant Forest the Kern is best reached by way of the High Sierra Trail to Hamilton Lake or Big Arroyo, first day; Moraine Lake or Funston Meadow in Kern Canyon, second day.

From Mineral King to the Kern there are several alternative routes, and the trip may be made by way of Franklin Pa.s.s and Rattlesnake Creek in 1 long day; or Franklin Pa.s.s and Soda Creek; or by Farewell Gap, Rifle Creek, and Coyote Pa.s.s. It is 1 long day or 2 easy days from Mineral King to the Kern by either Franklin or Coyote Pa.s.ses.

KERN RIVER CANYON TO KINGS RIVER CANYON

The trail generally used in the past between these canyons is not shown on the United States Geological Survey topographic map, but pa.s.sed through Shepherd and Junction Pa.s.ses east of Junction Peak to the headwaters of the Kings at Center Basin. This has been replaced by a new trail direct from Tyndall Creek to Center Basin, pa.s.sing just west of Junction Peak over Foresters Pa.s.s. It is known as the John Muir Trail Cut-off. In addition to this route, there is a rough but pa.s.sable trail from Junction Meadow, near the head of the Kern Canyon, via the Kern-Kaweah River and Colby Pa.s.s to Cloud Canyon and the Roaring River section of the Kings.

KINGS RIVER CANYON

At an elevation of 6,600 feet, General Grant National Park and places nearby at Hume and Big Meadow are points of departure for the Kings Canyon, Sugarloaf, and Roaring River areas. The most direct routes to these areas are from this park. Good hotel and camping facilities, post office, stores, telephone, and telegraph, repair shops, etc., are located in General Grant National Park.

From the Kings Canyon main trails lead out as follows: Up Copper Creek and via Granite Basin to Simpson Meadow (and down the Middle Fork to Tehipite Valley and Dome), north from Simpson Meadow to John Muir Trail, and over Muir Pa.s.s via LeConte Canyon to Yosemite; up Paradise Valley to Woods Creek and John Muir Trail over Pinchot Pa.s.s to the upper basin of the South Fork of the Kings River; up Bubbs Creek to intersection with John Muir Trail, or over Kearsarge Pa.s.s to the Owens Valley, or via Center Basin, Junction, and Shepherd Pa.s.ses to the Kern Canyon.

SUGARLOAF AND ROARING RIVER

This fine scenic area is covered from Giant Forest via J. O. Pa.s.s or Silliman Pa.s.s entrances to the park, Rowell Meadow, Sugarloaf Meadow, Scaffold Meadow, up Deadman Canyon to Elizabeth Pa.s.s, to Bearpaw Meadow, and to Giant Forest.

THE JOHN MUIR TRAIL

The John Muir Trail from Mount Whitney, in the Sequoia National Park, to the Yosemite Valley, in the Yosemite Park, is not clearly defined for all of the way on existing maps, but information concerning it may be secured by writing to the superintendent.

MOUNT WHITNEY

From the Kern, Mount Whitney is reached either by the new Wallace Creek or Golden Trout Creek Trails. The Wallace Creek Trail leaves the Kern Canyon about a mile and a half north of the mouth of Junction Meadow.

The Golden Trout Trail leaves the lower end of the canyon near Kern Canyon Ranger Station. At Camp Lewis, near the Kern Canyon Station entrance to the park, is a small resort, with store and accommodations, and telephone communication.

An outpost tourist camp is maintained at Ibex Meadow on Lone Pine Creek, and a special 3-day round trip from Lone Pine to Mount Whitney and return is provided by a Lone Pine packing outfit. Arrangements have also been made by the same packer for an all-expense trip from Los Angeles and return. Lone Pine may be reached by automobile from the San Joaquin Valley at Bakersfield, or direct from Los Angeles through Mojave.

PERMITTED PACKERS

All packers expecting to conduct parties through the Sequoia National Park should obtain a permit from the superintendent. Parties may then be taken through the park, subject to the National Park Service rules and regulations. Business may only be solicited within the park by the Sequoia & General Grant National Parks Co. (Earl McKee, Three Rivers, Calif.).

ACCOMMODATIONS

The following is a general scale of rates for accommodations, subject to change upon approval by the Secretary of the Interior. A detailed schedule of rates may be procured upon application to the superintendent of the park, the Sequoia & General Grant National Parks Co., at the station upon entrance to the park, or travel bureaus.

American plan--Rate includes room and three meals.

European plan--Rate includes room only, with extra charge for meals as taken.

Housekeeping--Rate includes furnished cabin or bungalow tent room with equipment for preparation of meals by occupant.