SEKI Help

Have a permit from Bubbs in July. Think it helped I have only one person. Check out website DoingMiles.  Then you can find links and info to lots of places.  My route will be Bubbs-60 lake basin/Gardiner basin-Muro Blanco and back – in a loop. Permit office said they would call a week in advance. With no walk in permits this year, they maybe more flexible. They said my exit date can be tentative so if Muro Blanco looks too brush filled, I may add 30 mike and take upper route and back down Copper Creek.

Dave – Thanks for the input…the Doing Miles website is fantastic! I credit Amy and James for turning me on to this wonderful place. Sounds like you’re saying they are allowing flexibility in your case, which is good news!

If you go out via Copper Creek and you’re  hiking from Simpson Meadow….that thar is a hill…bring water! Granite Lake is beautiful!

Russ

Thanks. My backup permit was for Baxter Pass entry. I’m happy I got Bubbs entry!!

I’ve always been told by the Park Rangers issuing my permit that I’m free to change my itinerary once I’m past some X miles from my entrance trail head. So, yeah I think you’re free to exit where you like.

Possibly this year that may change due to covid? I doubt it tho.

alta leaves from the wolverton trailhead and yes, you can easily connect to the high sierra trail via panther gap.

typically, you go over your itinerary with the ranger in person before they issue you a permit. even then, the only thing that has to stay the same is the trailhead you enter on — everything else can change depending on conditions, weather and whim (with the exception of something like whitney, i suppose). they are trying to get a sense of where you are going in case of an accident.

in the age of corona, maybe you will complete that ranger process over the phone?

Thank you all for the insight.  Trailhead is where I thought it was but nothing was explicitly labeled as such on any maps I reviewed. Very nice! Now…assuming I can get a reasonable flight to Fresno!

Dave B,

While the descent of Murro Blanco remains one of our all-time favorite Sierra trips, please note that a July trip could be difficult. During our trip, we crossed the South Fork Kings many times to significantly reduce the amount of bush-wacking we had to deal with, enough times that we never considered the brush to be a serious issue.

However, during July, the river is likely to be much higher and flowing much faster than during our early October trip. Many of the crossings could be dangerous or impossible if the water is high. This may force you to deal with a lot more brush than if you took a late season trip.

Also, if you plan on  Copper Creek as an alternate, be aware that as of last year, there was a major wash out on the Middle Fork Kings Trail between Palisade and Cartridge Creeks. You should confirm with the Park Service that this has been repaired enough to be passable. And again, the upper end of the Middle Fork Kings Trail crosses Palisades Creek at an unbridged location and the water can be extremely high and fast in July.

Not to discourage you, but early season Sierra hiking can have its challenges with water crossings.

Best of luck,

James and Amy

When in July? Early versus late makes a difference.

This is a below average snow year.

But I take river crossings very seriously!

“This is a below average snow year.”

The South Fork Kings is still likely to be high enough all through July to present problems.  It would be well worth making serious inquiries as to the water level before committing to that route in July.