Camping & Hiking @ Kearsarge Pass/Onion Valley
Details
Preface:
First and foremost, this trip is with another group member, Madison.
She is in our LA group, and not our OC group. She is NOT in this OC group, so she won't see comments, RSVPs, etc.
https://www.meetup.com/la_camping/members/8593786
She says she's going during Father's Day weekend, Fri to Mon.
I personally haven't decided yet on when exactly I want to go, but if any others want to go on this weekend, I'll explain more about this trip, and you all can decide for yourselves if you want to join Madison or not.
Second: Many trails in Eastern Sierra are dog-friendly, however, some trails at high elevation might have snow, mud/slush, etc.
In mid-to-late June, some trails might be snow-free, but it's best to check updates/reports, such as from
https://www.highsierratopix.com/community/viewforum.php?f=1
https://www.facebook.com/visitBishop
https://www.facebook.com/groups/ilovethesierra
Note - there are other FB groups to check, but they are private. If anyone wants to join them to view updates, feel free to lmk.
Third - Feel free to check our LA group if any others are interested in going, and maybe some will discuss carpooling, sharing a campsite, hiking together, etc.
https://www.meetup.com/la_camping/events/291628000
Hi,
If interested / curious / serious about this trip -- please read carefully to avoid problems, confusion, and misunderstandings. Thank you.
Last year, I didn't go to Eastern Sierra, so this year, I definitely want to return. The area is beautiful and one of my favorite places to visit.
I posted a tentative idea for visiting Onion Valley in June, but I personally have not decided on which weekend yet.
I'm willing to wait and see how this year's snow pack is and how much snow there will be on trails at higher elevation (e.g. Kearsarge Pass).
If trail conditions are okay, then I'm thinking of going in June, such as June 16 - 18 or June 23 - 25.
A group member in our LA group (not OC group) contacted me and said she's going on June 16 - 19 (Friday to Monday).
Please keep in mind that Sunday, June 18, is Father's Day.
I'm unable to commit now to that weekend, but it's possible I might go during that same weekend.
I probably will wait until May or early June to decide.
However, if any other group members are able to decide now/sooner, then feel free to join her and possibly other group members.
Regardless if I go or not, Eastern Sierra is gorgeous, and the lakes, mountains, trees, and everything else--are all beautiful.
For years, Kearsarge Pass / Kearsarge Lakes has been on my bucket list, and I've always wanted to go sometime in late spring (or early summer) when the mountains still have some snow.
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Onion Valley is near a small town, Independence, which is north of Lone Pine and Mt. Whitney...and south of Bishop and Big Pine.
Drive time is about:
4.5 - 5 hours from OC - https://goo.gl/maps/bkfyW23dRXLsiTjUA
4 - 4.5 hours from LA - https://goo.gl/maps/fmKL2do2AsprhgC37
Onion Valley is near the small town of Independence.
Independence is north of Lone Pine & Mt. Whitney, and south of Bishop & Big Pine.
These maps show the area:
https://bishopvisitor.com/wp-content/uploads/pdfs/BishopTreasureMap.pdf
https://bishopvisitor.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/ScenicBywayFront2008-1.pdf
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The other group member, Madison, is camping from Friday until Monday.
However, if some people need to return for work on Monday, then Friday to Sunday is possible...which is why I posted this as Fri to Sun. But feel free to stay until Mon if anyone wants to join Madison.
Madison reserved one campsite at Onion Valley campground.
Parking space at campground might be limited (maybe 2 vehicles). If so, she might have room for another driver.
If any other group members want to carpool or share her campsite, feel free to contact her directly.
It's her campsite reservation, so she decides if/who can share it with her.
If her campsite is full and/or anyone wants to reserve their own campsite, then consider
Onion Valley - https://www.recreation.gov/camping/campgrounds/232077
or
Grays Meadows - https://www.recreation.gov/camping/campgrounds/232052
I personally am not worried about waiting, because if Onion Valley and Grays Meadows campgrounds become full, there should be some basic/simple campgrounds (BLM?) to possibly stay at.
The hike I'm interested in, which Madison might also be interested in, is to Kearsarge Pass (descending down to Kearsarge Lakes is optional).
Distance: 9.6 - 11 miles (round trip)
Elevation Gain: 2,560 - 3,800'
Elevation: 9,200 - 11,823'
https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/california/kearsarge-pass-trail-to-kearsarge-lakes
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https://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/fseprd498796.pdf
https://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/stelprdb5337642.pdf
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This is rated as a hard / strenuous hike.
If serious about attending, consider perusing the info/details of this hike on any of the following websites. The recent reviews/reports on Alltrails should be helpful.
If anyone wants to do just the moderate part...then going to Kearsarge Pass is popular.
If anyone wants to go further, i.e., going down to the lakes (means more elevation gain on the way back up).
https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/california/kearsarge-pass-trail-to-kearsarge-lakes
http://www.hikingwalking.com/destinations/ca/ca_ses/lone_pine/kearsarge_pass/kearsarge_pass_detail
http://www.americansouthwest.net/california/onion-valley-kearsarge-pass/index.html
https://www.hikingproject.com/trail/7008407/kearsarge-pass-trail
https://www.yelp.com/biz/kearsarge-pass-bishop
http://www.naturalbornhikers.com/KearsargePass/KearsargePass.htm
http://adventuresofthepint.com/kearsarge-pass-2
https://www.joshuacripps.com/2017/12/kearsarge-lakes-kings-canyon-trip-report
If Kearsarge Pass is too hard, there might be other trails that are easier (but might require extra driving).
https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/california/onion-valley-campground-to-flower-lake
Nearby is Alabama Hills, which shouldn't be affected by snow at this time imo.
Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest isn't too far, but at higher elevation, I don't know if the road/trails will be open.
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To reiterate, this trip is NOT with me, but with Madison.
She is a member in our LA group, not OC group.
If anyone wants to join her, feel free to contact her directly to communicate and coordinate.
I don't know if she'll see any comments posted here or the event chat conversation -- so it's best to message her directly.
https://www.meetup.com/la_camping/members/8593786
Ultimately, it's her choice in deciding on who joins her (sharing campsite, hiking together, etc.).
If anyone is unfriendly, rude, disrespectful, entitled, difficult, annoying, negative, creepy/weird, etc. -- then it's 100% her decision to allow you to join her or not.
Signing up (RSVPing) on Meetup doesn't guarantee you anything imo.
I often ask people to plan trips without me, and few actually do.
Others have told me they get frustrated and discouraged by some group members who don't read, ask too many questions, and seem strange.
haha.
So I'm grateful to Madison for wanting to plan this trip...so if anyone joins her, please "be cool."
For any who have met me before (i.e. previous trip/event), and want to go when I go, then feel free to lmk, and I'll update you on my status (such as going on June 16 - 18 or 23 - 25).
Okay...if anyone goes, have fun, be safe, and enjoy the incredible scenery of Eastern Sierra.
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IIRC, Independence is a really small town. It should have gas stations, and maybe a small market / convenience store, and possibly a restaurant.
But for sure, nearby is Lone Pine (near Mt Whitney), which should have a few restaurants, a small market/store, etc.
Examples of recommended items to bring:
Bug Spray / Insect Repellent / Head Net
Sleeping bag + pillow
Sleeping pad / mat or air mattress
Tent (or share with someone who has one)
Appropriate clothes, socks, & shoes
Toothbrush, toothpaste, & other hygiene items / toiletries
Lip balm / chapstick
Hand sanitizer or baby wipes / wet naps
Sunglasses, sunscreen, and a hat or a bandana
Earplugs
Flashlight / Headlamp
Portable chair
Cell phone charger cable (car adapter) or portable charger
Water or water filter
Water bottles or hydration pack
Food (and cookware)
Music or games
https://www.rei.com/learn/expert-advice/family-camping-checklist.html
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The following is just filler that I need to add b/c Meetup has some weird character limit, and I might need to add to this description later...so the following is just a short story that you can ignore...it's seriously just filler.
Genesis and Catastrophe
Roald Dahl
“Everything is normal,” the doctor was saying. “Just lie back and relax.” His voice was miles away in the distance and he seemed to be shouting at her.
“You have a son.”
“What?”
“You have a fine son. You understand that, don’t you? A fine son. Did you hear him crying?”
“Is he all right, Doctor?”
“Of course he is all right,”
“Please let me see him.”
“You’ll see him in a moment.”
“You are certain he is all right?”
“I am quite certain.”
“Is he still crying?”
“Try to rest. There is nothing to worry about.”
“Why has he stopped crying, Doctor? What happened?”
“Don’t excite yourself, please. Everything is normal.” “I want to see him. Please let me see him.”
“Dear lady,” the doctor said, patting her hand. “You have a fine strong healthy child. Don’t you believe me when I tell you that?”
“What is the woman over there doing to him?”
“Your baby is being made to look pretty for you,” the doctor said. “We are giving him a little wash, that is all. You must spare us a moment or two for that.”
“You swear he is all right?”
“I swear it. Now lie back and relax. Close your eyes. Go on, close your eyes. That’s right. That’s better. Good girl… ”
“I have prayed and prayed that he will live, Doctor.”
Of course he will live. What are you talking about?”
“The others didn’t.”
“What?”
“None of my other ones lived, Doctor.”
The doctor stood beside the bed looking down at the pale exhausted face of the young woman. He had never seen her before today. She and her husband were new people in the town. The innkeeper’s wife, who had come up to assist in the delivery, had told him that the husband worked at the local customs-house on the border and that the two of them had arrived quite suddenly at the inn with one trunk and one suitcase about three months ago. The husband was a drunkard, the innkeeper’s wife had said, an arrogant, overbearing, bullying little drunkard, but the young woman was gentle and religious. And she was very sad. She never smiled. In the few weeks that she had been here, the innkeeper’s wife had never once seen her smile. Also there was a rumor that this was the husband’s third marriage, that one wife had died and that the other had divorced him or unsavory reasons. But that was only a rumor.
The doctor bent down and pulled the sheet up a little higher over the patient’s chest. “You have nothing to worry about,” he said gently. “This is a perfectly normal baby.”
“That’s exactly what they told me about the others. But I lost them all, Doctor. In the last eighteen months I have lost all three of my children, so you mustn’t blame me for being anxious.”
“Three?”
“This is my fourth… in four years.”
The doctor shifted his feet uneasily on the bare floor.
“I don’t think you know what it means, Doctor, to lose them all, all three of them, slowly, separately, one by one. I keep seeing them. I can see Gustav’s lace now as clearly as if he were lying here beside me in the bed. Gustav was a lovely bo.
Camping & Hiking @ Kearsarge Pass/Onion Valley