Sierra Nevada - Sequoia National Park - Cottonwood-Triple Divide-Kings Canyon 1971

On August 28-September 6, 1971 myself, Gil Beilke, Roger Getz, Jim Bloom, Gordon Lee, Don Larson, Ralph Drollinger and Larry O'Leary backpacked 72 miles from Upper Rock Creek Lake to Triple Divide Peak and out at Kings Canyon.

On August 28, 1971 we broke off from the Explorer Post 360 trek at "Upper Rock Creek Lake" below New Army Pass. Gordon Lee brought the steak dinner and supplies in via mule and horseback to our layover at Upper Rock Creek Lake - a nice spot. Gil, Roger and Jim climbed Joe Devel Peak.

Upper Rock Creek Lake - Sequoia National Park 28 Aug 1971

Eating steaks at Upper Rock Creek Lake campsite - Sequoia National Park 28 Aug 1971

On August 29, 1971 we headed down Rock Creek past where the trail turns off to go over Guyot saddle. It was beautiful on the north side - many meadows. Also less brush on the north side lower down. The brush became a nuisance around 8500'. The plan was to descend to the Kern River near Kern Hot Springs but we ran into a waterfall and ledges we couldn't safely get around so we made camp.

On the trail down Rock Creek - Sequoia National Park 29 Aug 1971

Meadow on Rock Creek, Mt. Guyot - Sequoia National Park 29 Aug 1971

Start of cross-country down Rock Creek - Sequoia National Park 29 Aug 1971

Meadow along Rock Creek - Sequoia National Park 29 Aug 1971

Flowers along Rock Creek - Sequoia National Park 29 Aug 1971

View down Rock Creek of mountains near Mineral King
Sequoia National Park 29 Aug 1971

Cross-country down Rock Creek - Sequoia National Park 29 Aug 1971

Flowers along Rock Creek - Sequoia National Park 29 Aug 1971

Berrys along Rock Creek - Sequoia National Park 29 Aug 1971

Rock Creek - Sequoia National Park 29 Aug 1971

Along Rock Creek - Sequoia National Park 29 Aug 1971

Rock Creek - Sequoia National Park 29 Aug 1971

Crossing Rock Creek - Sequoia National Park 29 Aug 1971

Lunch stop on Rock Creek - Sequoia National Park 29 Aug 1971

Rock Creek - Sequoia National Park 29 Aug 1971

Flower on Rock Creek - Sequoia National Park 29 Aug 1971

Berries on Rock Creek - Sequoia National Park 29 Aug 1971

Descending Rock Creek - Sequoia National Park 29 Aug 1971

At this point we concluded that the terrain was too steep with cliffs, etc. so we backtracked up the creek until we found some ledges to make camp on.

The next day we returned up Rock Creek to the trail and over Guyot saddle to Crabtree Meadow to camp.

Climbing back up Rock Creek - Sequoia National Park 30 Aug 1971

Crabtree Meadow, Mt. Whitney - Sequoia National Park 30 Aug 1971

Kaweah range over Sandy Meadow on the John Muir/Pacific Crest Trail
near Whitney trail junction - 31 Aug 1971

Next day we continued on to Junction Meadow which we made about noon. Several of us were bushed so we made camp. Gil & Roger climbed Kern Point while the rest of us relaxed.

Junction Peak over Wright Lake Basin from south of Wallace Creek
Sequoia National Park 31 Aug 1971

View down Wallace Creek to Kaweah Ridge - Sequioa National Park 31 Aug 1971

Kern Canyon - Sequoia National Park 31 Aug 1971

Wallace Creek - Sequoia National Park 31 Aug 1971

Kern Canyon - Sequoia National Park 31 Aug 1971

Kern-Kaweah Canyon - Sequoia National Park 31 Aug 1971

Waterfall from Kern-Kaweah - Sequoia National Park 31 Aug 1971

Junction Meadow - Sequoia National Park 31 Aug 1971

Camp at Junction Meadow - Sequoia National Park 31 Aug 1971

Trail sign at Junction Meadow - Sequoia National Park 31 Aug 1971

The next day we continued up the newly cleared (of fallen trees) Colby Pass Trail along the Kern-Kaweah - nice scenery and hike. We camped where the trail turns to go up the pass at a beautiful campsite.

Waterfall from Kern-Kaweah - Sequoia National Park 01 Sep 1971

Kern-Kaweah 'Pass' - Sequoia National Park 01 Sep 1971

Kern-Kaweah 'pass' - Sequoia National Park 01 Sep 1971

Kern-Kaweah 'pass' switchbacks - Sequoia National Park 01 Sep 1971

Kern-Kaweah 'pass' - Sequoia National Park 01 Sep 1971

Looking back down Kern-Kaweah 'pass' - Sequoia National Park 01 Sep 1971

Trout in Kern-Kaweah River - Sequoia National Park 01 Sep 1971

Kern-Kaweah River reflection - Sequoia National Park 01 Sep 1971

Trout in Kern-Kaweah River - Sequoia National Park 01 Sep 1971

Kern-Kaweah River vegitation - Sequoia National Park 01 Sep 1971

Kern-Kaweah River (foreground), Picket Creek - Sequoia National Park 01 Sep 1971

Kern-Kaweah River - Sequoia National Park 01 Sep 1971

Picket Creek - Sequoia National Park 01 Sep 1971

Kern-Kaweah River trail - Sequoia National Park 01 Sep 1971

Kern-Kaweah canyon - Sequoia National Park 01 Sep 1971

Kern-Kaweah canyon near Gallats Lake - Sequoia National Park 01 Sep 1971

Camp in Kern-Kaweah canyon near Gallats Lake - Sequoia National Park 01 Sep 1971

Interesting tree stump in Kern-Kaweah canyon near Gallats Lake
Sequoia National Park 01 Sep 1971

Fishing at Kern-Kaweah camp - Sequoia National Park 01 Sep 1971

On the way along Kern-Kaweah River to climb Triple Divide Peak
Sequoia National Park 02 Sep 1971

On a layover day the next day we climbed Triple Divide Peak - a loose cruddy mountain that really psyched me out - but it had good views.

Triple Divide Peak is a mountain along the Great Western Divide in the Sierra Nevada range on the boundary between Kings Canyon and Sequoia national parks, in Tulare County, California. It rises to 12,640 feet. First ascent 1920 by James Hutchinson and Charles Noble.

Near Kaweah Gap, the peak divides three important watersheds: the Kern River, the Kaweah River, and the Kings River. This three-way divide leads to the peak's name. At one time, it was also called The Keystone.

The Kaweah Peaks Ridge spurs off to the south, while the Kings-Kaweah Divide branches off to the west.

Along Kern-Kaweah River on way to climb Triple Divide Peak
Sequoia National Park 02 Sep 1971

Kern-Kaweah River canyon - Sequoia National Park 02 Sep 1971

On the way up Triple Divide Peak - Sequoia National Park 02 Sep 1971

On top of Triple Divide Peak - Sequoia National Park 02 Sep 1971

Kern Point, Kern-Kaweah Canyon from top of Tripple Divide Peak
Sequoia National Park 02 Sep 1971

Crabtree Basin, Mt. Langley from top of Tripple Divide Peak
Sequoia National Park 02 Sep 1971

Siberian Pass area from top of Tripple Divide Peak - Sequoia National Park 02 Sep 1971

Kaweah Peaks Ridge from top of Tripple Divide Peak - Sequoia National Park 02 Sep 1971

Castle Rocks, Lion Lake from top of Triple Divide Peak
Sequoia National Park 02 Sep 1971

Castle Rocks from top of Triple Divide Peak - Sequoia National Park 02 Sep 1971

Roaring River, Whale Peak from top of Triple Divide Peak
Sequoia National Park 02 Sep 1971

Coppermine Pass area, Glacier Lake from top of Triple Divide Peak
Sequoia National Park 02 Sep 1971

Glacier Lake, Cloud Canyon from top of Triple Divide Peak
Sequoia National Park 02 Sep 1971

Moose Lake from top of Triple Divide Peak - Sequoia National Park 02 Sep 1971

Looking along ridge to Milestone Mountain on skyline from top of Triple Divide Peak
Sequoia National Park 02 Sep 1971

Milestone Mountain from top of Triple Divide Peak - Sequoia National Park 02 Sep 1971

The chute I launched rocks down and then descended on Triple Divide Peak
Sequoia National Park 02 Sep 1971

Descending from Triple Divide Peak - Sequoia National Park 02 Sep 1971

Rest stop descending from Triple Divide Peak - Sequoia National Park 02 Sep 1971

The next day we went over Colby Pass to Scaffold Meadows on Roaring River in Cloud Canyon. A nice hike but 16 miles was a little long. Some great views.

Kaweah Ridge from Colby Pass trail - Sequoia National Park 03 Sep 1971

Colby Pass trail - Sequoia National Park 03 Sep 1971

Looking back on Colby Pass trail - Sequoia National Park 03 Sep 1971

View towards Colby Pass trail - Sequoia National Park 03 Sep 1971

Approaching Colby Pass - Sequoia National Park 03 Sep 1971

Topping Colby Pass - Sequoia National Park 03 Sep 1971

Flowers at Colby Pass - Sequoia National Park 03 Sep 1971

Colby Pass - Sequoia National Park 03 Sep 1971

View from Colby Pass - Sequoia National Park 03 Sep 1971

Colby Pass - Sequoia National Park 03 Sep 1971

Descending Colby Pass toward Colby Lake - Kings Canyon National Park 03 Sep 1971

Colby Lake from Colby Pass - Kings Canyon National Park 03 Sep 1971

Switchbacks descending Colby Pass - Kings Canyon National Park 03 Sep 1971

Colby Lake - Kings Canyon National Park 03 Sep 1971

Looking back at Colby Pass - Kings Canyon National Park 03 Sep 1971

Colby Lake - Kings Canyon National Park 03 Sep 1971

South side of Whaleback near Colby Lake - Kings Canyon National Park 03 Sep 1971

Big Wet Meadow, Cloud Canyon - Kings Canyon National Park 03 Sep 1971

South side of Whaleback near Colby Lake - Kings Canyon National Park 03 Sep 1971

Avalanche Pass down Cloud Canyon - Kings Canyon National Park 03 Sep 1971

Palmer Mountain, Avalanche Pass down Cloud Canyon
Kings Canyon National Park 03 Sep 1971

Roaring River - Kings Canyon National Park 03 Sep 1971

Big Wet Meadow - Kings Canyon National Park 03 Sep 1971

Roaring River - Kings Canyon National Park 03 Sep 1971

Camp on Roaring River - Kings Canyon National Park 03 Sep 1971

The next day took us over Avalanche Pass on a so-so day to Sphinx Creek. Gil climbed Palmer Mtn. Haze of the low country cuts into view.

View south from near top of Avalanche Pass - Kings Canyon National Park 04 Sep 1971

Mossy pond near Avalanche Pass - Kings Canyon National Park 04 Sep 1971

Cross Mountain, North Guard from Sphinx Creek
Kings Canyon National Park 04 Sep 1971

Glacier Monument frum upper Sphinx Creek - Kings Canyon National Park 04 Sep 1971

Upper Sphinx Creek - Kings Canyon National Park 04 Sep 1971

Sphinx Creek camp - Kings Canyon National Park 04 Sep 1971

Larry O'Leary doing laundry at Sphinx Creek camp
Kings Canyon National Park 04 Sep 1971

The last day we hiked down a rough trail to Bubbs Creek - then "highway" to Kings Canyon roadhead - another so-so-hike. Lots of bugs and people.

Mt. Hutchings from Sphinx Creek trail - Kings Canyon National Park 05 Sep 1971

Mt. Hutchings and Buck Peak from Sphinx Creek trail
Kings Canyon National Park 05 Sep 1971

Bubbs Creek from Sphinx Creek trail - Kings Canyon National Park 05 Sep 1971

Bubbs Creek - Kings Canyon National Park 05 Sep 1971

Trail down Kings River to Kings Canyon trailhead - Kings Canyon National Park 05 Sep 1971

Left the roadhead about 10 a.m. for home. A great trip with beautiful weather.