Nine day loop from Kings Canyon to Minearl King and back

Cool stuff Dave T!!!
The circumnavigation of the Kaweah Peaks (94.8-mile loop) is on my "To Do" list for next summer.. Nice pictures
Thanks for posting..

-Jay

Superb route concept, Dave! You passed through just about the finest the southern Sierra has to offer. It doesn't get much better, IME. Thanks for sharing.

" Climb Triple Divide Pass, and traverse to ridge, climbing atop it. Not able to initially find the way off the end that Bill Finch discusses, and find ourselves dropping to be stymied on narrow granite cliffs. Turn around and to back up, only to find relatively easy way down."

Are you referring here to the ridge that Secor advises crossing at 12,000', just south of the Colby Pass Trail and overlooking it? If so, I can second your confusion. I had trouble finding the route down, too. It is much easier to figure out going up, enroute to Triple Divide Pass.

Man! That's some nice hiking. Did 5 days in that area in July, but man, a few extra days and I could've done your route.

It's all good.

HJ

Heaven on earth.

Epic hike. Thanks for posting! I especially liked your view of Black Rock Pass. Wow, that is formidable-looking from the south!

Looks fantastic! Really makes me want to spend some months in the states hiking (even though it is pretty nice here in Norway too)

Awesome trip report. I'm considering doing the Mr. Brewer Loop this summer and was wondering how "technical" the rock section is on Longley Pass to bypass the cornice? Any additional beta on that specific section that you can share? I'm not a technical climber and I will likely be down climbing that section. Much appreciated.

(Sorry to be tardy in the reply – I didn't see your post until today.)

Longley Pass looked harder from a distance than it was up close. From the east, it was a loose, steep sand slog up to the pass, where a long hard cornice was still in place in September. We could've gotten through/over it, but choose to do an easy rock/sand scramble around it – no more than Class 2 or so at the worst. I'm not a rock climber either, so no worries – it was easy. Secor calls it a Class 1 pass I think, so there's nothing to it.

Longley Pass as viewed lakes below to east.

Atop Longley Pass with old cornice remains