Sierra Nevada - Sequoia National Park

On October 20-22, 1973 I climbed 11,188' Mt. Silliman with Explorer Post 360 on a 18 mile round trip via Lodgepole. The group of Don Deck, Gil Beilke, Brian Twohey, Brian Jordan, Rick Erb all made the peak.

We picked Gil up near Convair at about 5:40 p.m. and headed north via U.S. 395 and Four Corners. A traffic jam on the freeway north of Riverside delayed us a while. We hit Four-Corners about 9 p.m. for snacks then headed across to Bakersfield - arriving about 11 p.m. We arrived at Kaweah Lake and made camp about 12:30 a.m.

Up at 6 a.m. and after a quick breakfast headed up the long winding road to Giant Forest and Lodgepole. We hit the trail around 9 a.m. Walking across the auto bridge over Marble Fork Kaweah River we found the trail immediately and started up following the old road used to build a reservoir.

We soon reached the flat topped reservoir with its two large cast iron vent pipes. The trail continued on a nice grade through pleasant forest, crossing over a ridge end into the Silliman Creek drainage.

Silliman Meadow - Sequoia National Park - October 1973

Cahoon Meadow - Sequoia National Park - October 1973

The route continues up with occasional level or down at a pleasant grade - passing Silliman and Cahoon Meadows. I arrived at Cahoon Gap about noon and joined the rest for lunch. We met a few other backpackers on the trail here - after lunch the trail dropped slightly to E. Fork Clover Creek where we left the other hikers behind after passing the JO Pass junction. A fairly good climb brought us to Twin Lakes which were quite nice.

Sierra Nevada - Sequoia National Park - Twin Lake - October 1973

Sierra Nevada - Sequoia National Park - Twin Lake Fall Snow - October 1973

Sierra Nevada - Sequoia National Park - On the trail Twin Lake - October 1973

Sierra Nevada - Sequoia National Park - The other Twin Lake - October 1973

Sierra Nevada - Sequoia National Park - Twin Lake - October 1973

Sierra Nevada - Sequoia National Park - Fall colors and Twin Lake - October 1973

Sierra Nevada - Sequoia National Park - Twin Peak near Siliman Pass - October 1973

Sierra Nevada - Sequoia National Park - Mt. Silliman from Siliman Pass - October 1973

The trail then climbed steadily up past a spring and views of the lakes to Silliman Pass. We then dropped down a long meandering trail overlooking Ranger and Beville Lakes to camp at Ranger Lake about 4:30 p.m. The evening was pleasant and Brian Twohey caught a few small fish. Low temperature was 34.

Sierra Nevada - Sequoia National Park - Mt. Silliman from Siliman Pass - October 1973

Sierra Nevada - Sequoia National Park - Ranger Lake - October 1973

Sierra Nevada - Sequoia National Park - The crest from trail - October 1973

Sierra Nevada - Sequoia National Park - Beville Lake - October 1973

Up at 6 a.m. and after breakfast headed back to Silliman Pass and then along the ridge south to a view point - then after snacks - continued on easy terrain cross-country over a ridge and down to Little (Silliman) Lakes - camping between the lakes - an outstanding campsite with views of Mt. Silliman and the San Joaquin Valley.

Sierra Nevada - Sequoia National Park - Morning over Ranger Lake - October 1973

Sierra Nevada - Sequoia National Park - Mt. Silliman from trail - October 1973

Sierra Nevada - Sequoia National Park - Beville Lake northeast from Silliman crest - October 1973

Sierra Nevada - Sequoia National Park - Mt. Silliman route from crest - October 1973

Sierra Nevada - Sequoia National Park - Twin Lakes, San Jouquin Valley
from crest - October 1973

Sierra Nevada - Sequoia National Park - Twin Lakes from crest - October 1973

Sierra Nevada - Sequoia National Park - enroute to Mt. Silliman - October 1973

Sierra Nevada - Sequoia National Park - descending to Little Silliman Lakes - October 1973

Sierra Nevada - Sequoia National Park - upper Little Silliman Lake - October 1973

Sierra Nevada - Sequoia National Park - upper Silliman Lake - October 1973

Sierra Nevada - Sequoia National Park - Starting Mt. Silliman climb - October 1973

After setting up camp and eating lunch we all headed for Mt. Silliman. It was a class 1 walk up slabs to just below the west ridge, then up a class 2-3 gully to the top of the ridge, then class 1 to the summit.

Sierra Nevada - Sequoia National Park - enroute to Mt. Silliman - October 1973

Sierra Nevada - Sequoia National Park - Mono Rock from Mt. Silliman - October 1973

The summit provided outstanding views of the Sierra from Yosemite north of Banner and Ritter to Mt. Whitney. Gil and Rick climbed another nearby unnamed peak for a view of Pear Lake and then we all returned to camp about 3 p.m.

Sierra Nevada - Sequoia National Park - On top of Mt. Silliman - Don Deck, Rick Erb, Brian Jordan, Brian Twohey, Gil Beilke - October 1973

Sierra Nevada - Sequoia National Park - Little Silliman Lake
from top Mt. Silliman - October 1973

Sierra Nevada - Sequoia National Park - Little Silliman Lake (camp)
from top Mt. Silliman - October 1973

Sierra Nevada - Sequoia National Park - North of Mt. Silliman - Ranger & Beville Lakes - October 1973

Sierra Nevada - Sequoia National Park - East from Mt. Silliman
toward Mt. Brewer - October 1973

Sierra Nevada - Sequoia National Park - East Southeast from Mt. Silliman
toward Mt. Brewer and Table Mountain - October 1973

Sierra Nevada - Sequoia National Park - Table Mountain from Mt. Silliman - October 1973

Sierra Nevada - Sequoia National Park - Milestone Peak, Mt. whitney
from Mt. Silliman - October 1973

Sierra Nevada - Sequoia National Park - Milestone Peak from Mt. Silliman - October 1973

Sierra Nevada - Sequoia National Park - Kaweah Peaks across tableland
from Mt. Silliman - October 1973

Sierra Nevada - Sequoia National Park - Mt. Whitney & Kaweah's across tableland Southeast from Mt. Silliman - October 1973

Sierra Nevada - Sequoia National Park - Kaweah Peaks from Mt. Silliman - October 1973

Sierra Nevada - Sequoia National Park - Farewell Gap at Mineral King
from Mt. Silliman - October 1973

Sierra Nevada - Sequoia National Park - Rick Erb & Gil Beilke viewing Kaweah Peaks
from Mt. Silliman - October 1973

Sierra Nevada - Sequoia National Park - Dusk over camp
at Little Silliman Lakes - October 1973

Sierra Nevada - Sequoia National Park - Alpen glow
at Little Silliman Lakes - October 1973

Sierra Nevada - Sequoia National Park - Sunset at Little Silliman Lakes - October 1973

Sierra Nevada - Sequoia National Park - Campfire at Little Silliman Lakes - October 1973

After a pleasant evening and outstanding sunset we got a good night’s sleep - low temperature 31. In the morning we headed cross-country down Silliman Creek. The ducked trail soon changed into a well-worn use path. Terrain was easy and the scenery outstanding. We soon hit the main trail and were back at the car about 10 a.m. We headed home arriving around 8 p.m. A most outstanding weekend.

Sierra Nevada - Sequoia National Park - Icy Silliman Lake in morning - October 1973

Sierra Nevada - Sequoia National Park - On the way down Silliman Creek - October 1973

Sierra Nevada - Sequoia National Park - Water stop on Silliman Creek - October 1973