Sierra South. Mike White
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and Crown Pass and left (north-northeast) toward Woodchuck Lake. Note this junction; you’ll return here on Day 3.
Turn left (north-northeast) toward Woodchuck Lake, cross a couple braids of Woodchuck Creek, and meander past lodgepole pines interspersed with large boulders. As the route ascends moderately along pure lodgepole pine stands, views north reveal the sheer granite ledges that enclose Woodchuck Country. Easterners mistook the Sierra’s marmots for the East’s woodchucks and gave the area this erroneous name, which has stuck.
After topping out at 9840 feet, the trail descends 0.1 mile into Woodchuck Lake’s basin (9812´; 11S 332701 4101144). At the lake’s northwest bank, a small spur trail leads 100 yards south to large campsites. The main trail skirts the lake’s sandy north shore, passing more campsites.
DAY 2 (Woodchuck Lake to Halfmoon Lake, 6 miles): En route to the south end of Woodchuck Lake, the trail crosses the eastern inlet and enters the gentle, lush terrain of the southern inlet’s meadow. The trail gradually ascends out of Woodchuck Lake’s basin and climbs 200 feet southward over the next mile before reaching a signed junction (9960’). The right fork goes southwest back toward Wishon Reservoir by way of a spur to Chimney Lake; note this junction, because you’ll also come back here on Day 3.
For now, take the left fork (northeast) past a seasonal creek to a minor saddle where the trail briefly descends past a shallow pond. Your route then continues along barren granite slopes, climbing the south shoulder of an unnamed peak. This climb tops out 250 feet higher than upcoming Crown Pass. Descending the unnamed peak’s eastern flanks, the trail reaches a junction (10,180’) immediately before Crown Pass, where the right fork turns southeast toward Crown Lake (Trip 6’s destination).
This day’s route continues straight ahead (north-northeast) at this junction. Just beyond the signed junction, pine-filtered views lead to Scepter Peak, which separates Crown and Halfmoon lakes and their drainages (Crown to Middle Fork Kings River, and Halfmoon to North Fork Kings River).
Crown Pass (10,189’) is nestled in the saddle between Crown Peak to the northeast and that unnamed higher peak (10,520’) whose eastern slopes you’ve just descended. (For an exhilarating view, head west cross-country to the unnamed higher peak’s summit for a panorama from the LeConte Divide and Kettle Ridge down the forested slopes west of Wishon Reservoir, and north-south from the Minarets near Mammoth Mountain to the high peaks of the Great Western Divide and the Kings-Kern Divide. Return to Crown Pass.)
Continuing, the rocky path descends toward Halfmoon Lake, moderately at first and then on steep switchbacks under western white and lodgepole pines. Heavily used campsites are located on the north and west banks with larger, more attractive sites situated across the outflow. Halfmoon Lake (9430’; 11S 354494 4016101) is a jewel in a granite setting and offers good swimming and fishing for brook and rainbow trout.
Halfmoon Lake is a jewel of the Sierra, offering excellent swimming and fishing opportunities.
DAY 3 (Halfmoon Lake to Chimney Lake, 5 miles): Retrace your steps to the Chimney Lake/Woodchuck Lake junction described in Day 2 (9960’). Beginning the loop part of this trip, turn left (south) toward Wishon Reservoir and descend past outcrops left by ancient volcanic mudflows.
In 1.5 miles, find another junction (9460’), this one with a spur trail to Chimney Lake. Turn right (northeast) toward Chimney Lake, which the trail reaches in 0.4 mile. Campsites at Chimney Lake (9484’; 331717 4099549) are just off the trail on the lake’s northwest side, surrounded by towering trees and lichen-covered boulders. Its shallow basin and lower elevation mean its water is relatively warm and supports a healthy population of rainbow trout. Chimney Lake is not as popular an overnight destination as the other lakes along this route, due to its marshy banks, which host thick clouds of mosquitoes in the early to mid-season. During the late season, with breeding grounds drying up, head 0.3 mile farther to Marsh Lake.
DAY 4 (Chimney Lake to Woodchuck Trailhead, 7 miles): Retrace your steps south on the Chimney Lake spur trail, back to the junction with the main trail (9460’). At this junction, turn right and head generally west toward the next junction where, on Day 1, you turned north toward Woodchuck Lake (8720’). The loop part of this trip ends here.
Today, turn left (southwest) and reverse the first part of Day 1’s steps through Moore Boys Camp, past the Chuck Pass junction, and on to Wishon Reservoir and the Woodchuck Trailhead.
5 Blackcap Basin
Trip Data: 11S 343726 4101161; 41 miles; 6/1 days
Topos: Rough Spur, Courtright Reservoir, Blackcap Mtn.
Highlights: One of a dozen High Sierra lakes within Blackcap Basin, Portal Lake occupies the top steps of a glacial staircase. Although official trails end at Portal Lake, exploration into the vast Blackcap Basin and beyond through this “portal” leads to exquisite scenic beauty at the west edge of the LeConte Divide and Kettle Ridge, deep in the heart of John Muir Wilderness.
DAY 1 (Woodchuck Trailhead to Woodchuck Lake, 8 miles): (Recap: Trip 4, Day 1.) From the Woodchuck Trailhead, the trail climbs nearly 400 feet, curves east, and joins a dirt road for 30 feet to a signed junction. Go left (southeast) and continue climbing steeply 500 feet, swing north, and begin a scenic traverse. After nearly 2 miles, the path turns east, tops a moraine, and then descends into Woodchuck Creek’s canyon. The trail curves north and descends to ford the creek (may be difficult in early season). From the ford, the path ascends north and then bears east to switchback 500 feet over a minor ridge. The trail meets a signed junction (8510’) with a trail to Chuck Pass. Turn left (northeast) toward Crown Pass, ford multiple branches of a creek, and, curving north again, make a short but steep ascent over another moraine to the south end of a meadow. Follow the track across the meadow to Moore Boys Camp (8710’) and then a signed junction (8720’) with trails right (east-northeast) to Chimney Lake and Crown Pass and left (north-northeast) toward Woodchuck Lake. Turn left (northeast) toward Woodchuck Lake and cross a couple braids of Woodchuck Creek. After topping out at 9840 feet, the trail descends 0.1 mile into Woodchuck Lake’s basin (9812’; 11S 332701 4101144), where Day 1 ends.
DAY 2 (Woodchuck Lake to Halfmoon Lake, 6 miles): (Recap: Trip 4, Day 2.) Head for the lake’s south end, cross the eastern inlet, and enter the southern inlet’s meadow. The gradual ascent out of Woodchuck Lake’s basin climbs 200 feet southward over the next mile before reaching a signed junction; take the left fork (northeast) to a minor saddle and descend past a shallow pond. The track then climbs 250 feet over the south shoulder of an unnamed peak above Crown Pass. As it descends, the trail reaches a junction (10,180’) a little before Crown Pass proper; continue straight ahead (north-northeast) here to find Crown Pass (10,189’) between Crown Peak to the northeast and the unnamed higher peak (10,520’) whose eastern flanks you’ve just descended. Continuing, the rocky path descends toward Halfmoon Lake (9430’; 11S 354494 4016101) to end Day 2.
DAY 3 (Halfmoon Lake to Blackcap Basin, 6.5 miles): At the lake’s north side, the route reaches a signed junction with a trail that leads straight ahead (north) toward Maxson Meadow. Take the right fork eastward, ford the creek, and head through lodgepole and western white pine stands.
The path climbs around a rocky ridge and then curves southeast, winding gently along a forested bench and skirting a number of shallow gullies that have produced lush meadows, a mosquito haven during the wetter months. After a short descent and a ford of Maxson Lake’s outlet, the path meets the southeast-bound North Fork Kings River Trail (9140’) coming up on the left from Courtright Reservoir (a