Rae Lakes 01

Kings Canyon - Rae Lakes Backpack

46 mile trek in three days up Woods Creek and out Bubbs Creek in Kings Canyon National Park, Aug 3-5 2012.
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Rae Lakes 37

04 Aug 2012 71
Painted Lady nearground with Mt. Rixford in the back.
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Rae Lakes 38

04 Aug 2012 63
Higher up, a semi-panoramic of these peaks down to one of the alpine lakes.
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Rae Lakes 39

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Then a look back at the alpine lake to the Rae Lakes far below.
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Rae Lakes 40

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More alpine lakes to the west.
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Rae Lakes 41

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At the crest of the pass, a final look back from 12,000 ft to Rae Lakes and the long drop down to the invisible 5,000 ft trailhead.
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Rae Lakes 42

04 Aug 2012 50
Now looking to the south for the first time, to alpine lakes that lead to my goal for the night of Vidette Meadow, which is 2,600 ft below.
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Rae Lakes 43

04 Aug 2012 69
I think those are the Kearsarge Pinnacles in the distance.
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Rae Lakes 44

04 Aug 2012 43
Looking up at the Glen Pass wall I just descended from the south alpine lake.
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Rae Lakes 45

04 Aug 2012 72
The Bubbs Creek Pass comes into view. This will be my way out, completing the 46 mile loop.
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Rae Lakes 46

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Rae Lakes 47

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Mountains leading to Forester Pass and Mount Whitney.
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Rae Lakes 48

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Rae Lakes 49

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Morning after one of the worst nights of my life at Vidette Meadow. I knew about August Sierran afternoon thundershowers can happen, but this hard rain lasted 4-5 hours into the night and my tent was crap. Everything got soaked. The goal of Mt Whitney was aborted because sleeping at even higher elevation with all this wet stuff would be risking hypothermia.
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Rae Lakes 50

05 Aug 2012 65
Dropping down Bubbs Creek with endless amazing granite formations.
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Rae Lakes 51

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Rae Lakes 52

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Rae Lakes 53

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Rae Lakes 54

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81 items in total