2020 Kaweah Fire Tour
The original plan was to visit Kaweah Basin, but the fires on the south, specifically the Rattlesnake fire, closed the trails we wanted to use in Big Arroyo Canyon. We decided to enter Kaweah Basin from the north and take Pants Pass (a class 2 pass) into the area. Wellllll seems not all class 2 are the same. Pants Pass was a challenge and slowed us down (and tired us out). Given the challenges of getting back on time, we skipped Kaweah Basin this year and went north to Roaring River and Deadman’s Canyon. We received some bad info at Elizabeth Pass that changed the exit into an exciting time of trying to avoid a non-existent fire near our exit. We still ended up getting back to a closed national park with a sticker on our windshields saying “dial 911 when you want to exit the closed park!”
Map on CalTopo: https://caltopo.com/m/E484
Scott’s pictures (and great commentary): https://hikerscott.smugmug.com/Kaweah-Basin-Not-September-9-15-2020/
More pictures: https://www.jerrypierce.org/photos/index.php?/category/166
Our Actual Route (roughly)
Our Planned Route in Blue.
We left for the hike on the 9th and the closure area was the same when we returned (except Sequoia National Park was closed).
Day 1 Stats
Day 2 Stats
Day 3 Stats
Day 4 Stats
Day 5 Stats
Day 6 Stats
Day 7 Stats
While the air quality was not horrific, it was not always crystal clear (as per normal). Well my favorite is with afternoon thunderstorms so I get clouds and shadows – alas it was a grey sky for the first two days and the last two days. We did have two evenings of bad air quality (the second night and the last night).
<– Was provided by Alexandra as a start of a new publication dedicated to old hikers. I’m subscribing!
Hanna, Pat, Alexandra and Scott on the first day on the Sierra High Route.
Pat and I hiked this in 2015 and this area is FANTASTIC for photos – but not-so-much when there is so much smoke – or…
On Day 2 there is a tunnel next to an old site for a bridge (removed). The tunnel seems much safer.
Precipice Lake – my favorite lake in the Sierras (so far)
2015 Precipice Lake
July 2019 Precipice Lake
Nine Lakes region on the way to Pants Pass
Did we mention we have STYLE!?
Heads down, climbing up a (hard) class 2 Pants Pass
Super Wide Angle of the top of Pants Pass. STEEP and loose rocks. What’s not to like?
(Hint: everything.)
The lake below decision lake.
Our approach to Colby Lake
SUPER wide angle!
Moraine Fire – we hiked about 1 mile from the fire, but due to winds we couldn’t tell.
This (small) fire was on it’s way out – considered fully contained.
Alexandra turns on her blow-up light to read after dark.
Just pass Elizabeth Pass (day 6) the smoke was a bit worse.
Last day hike out…
This map shows where each photo was taken. I really liked the area near Colby Lake!
