John Muir Wilderness – Page 6 – Not Your Average Engineer

July 3, 2016August 16, 2016

Up and Out of Crown Basin

After spending some quality time in Crown Basin, we started the hike up toward the ridgeline that separates Crown from Blackcap Basin. This is looking back at the big meadow that we used to let the llamas graze in while we camped up on a sandy area out of the mosquitoes.

Looking forward toward the upper reaches of Blackcap Basin. Before getting there, we crossed through and around lush meadows and creeks.

One of the two little unnamed lakes in upper Crown Basin. At some point back in the 50s and 60s, people used to come here in the fall for fishing and deer hunting.

At the upper little lake in Crown Basin before heading over the low ridge toward Blackcap Basin.

July 1, 2016August 1, 2016

Hiking Through Crown Valley

On our way into the backcountry, we passed through Crown Valley where my dad spent a summer in the Forest Service.

Lots of beautiful wildflowers everywhere.

At the old Crown Valley Guard Station where my dad lived for a summer. Last year, this place smelled really bad probably from a badger or weasel living in it. This year the smell was gone but the lower logs are starting to rot out.

Looking inside the old guard station.

Hiking through an old burn area on the way to Blue Canyon in Kings Canyon National Park.

Looking toward Kettle Dome. We are going to hike over the left side of the dome on our way into Blue Canyon.

A pretty tiger lily along the trail.

In deep grass walking through an old burn area.

Now entering the park!

June 3, 2016August 16, 2016

Down in Crown Basin

After successfully coming over Hummingbird Pass, we headed down the drainage toward Hummingbird Lake and into Crown Basin.

Looking back up toward the pass.

We spotted a white-tailed ptarmigan among the rocks. It must have had a nest nearby with eggs or maybe even chicks based on how it was acting. The ptarmigans were introduced to the Sierras many years ago and now live happily at high elevation.

Hummingbird Lake comes into view. I recall as a kid that we did encounter many hummingbirds around here.

We encountered another bird in the brush as we walked past Hummingbird Lake. She had several chicks that fled as we approached. If they hadn’t moved, we would never have seen them.

Standing on the lip before descending down into Crown Basin.

Entering into Crown Basin. We camped in this area several times with the llamas when I was growing up. There is an old cross country route that descends out of this basin and winds its way over to Woodchuck Country on its way out to Wishon Reservoir. The last time we took that trail was at least 15 years ago. I doubt many people have been on it since.

I once found a 50 calibre shell out in this big meadow. Back during the Vietnam War, it was somewhat common for jets and helicopters to come up into basins like this for target practicing. That is frowned upon now.

At the old shepherd’s camp where I spent several nights sleeping in a tent growing up you can still find carvings on the trees from the cowboys and herders who spent their summers up here. There are some carvings that date back to the 1870s and 1880s.