We visited Zion National Park several times, normally during April and try few times to come to Bryce as well, but it was too cold and there was still a lot of snow, so all our previous attempts failed. On another hand July was perfect time to visit, park elevation is around 8000 ft and temperature was tolerable. We picked the most popular Queens Garden & Navajo loop trail, 2.8 miles (4.6 km) with altitude gain only 560 ft (170 m), very easy compared to my normal hikes.
Queens Garden trail in Bryce Canyon
In the middle of the trail we noticed some interesting rock formations further east, so we added some XC section and explore more territory.
Going off the trail in Bryce Canyon
Because trail was super easy I did not bring GPS and, of course, get lost. Eventually we saw very helpful sign "You are leaving Bryce NP", turn around and found right way back to the main trail. My overall impression from the park was very good, I certainly recommend to visit if you did not been there before.
This year instead of usual PG comps I decided to try something different. Idea was to visit some parks, which we usually can't reach on our weekend sally and explore some new flying destinations. Here is a map to illustrate our 10 days and 4000+ miles journey.
After last year High Sierra Trail, which I hiked alone I certainly want someone else to share all aspects of backpacking trip and also to shorten it from 5 to 4 days, which is quite enough for my taste. After some considerations and negotiations my wife Karina agreed to join me. Logistics was much more easier then HST, we dropped car at Lone Pine, hitch hiked to Independence first and then to Onion Valley. I asked some random people at ranger's station where we got our permit and luckily they was going to Big Pine and had room for us. I left car at Dow Villa Motel overflow parking, they don't charge you anything, just ask to fill your info and date when you plan to return. At Independence there was 5-7 PCT hikers, some was going north, 1 was going south and 2 the same way as we to Onion Valley. We got a ride from PCT helper and camped at Onion Valley first night.
Onion Valley to Whitney trail
Day 1. Onion Valley to Central Basin, 11.5 miles, 3600' up
First part of the trail over Kearsarge pass we know very well and hiked it several times, so it was very easy going. Started at 7:30. Then trail descend to Kings Canyon and slowly climbed again toward Central Basin. Most spectacular point is from Kearsarge Pass:
Kearsarge Pass
We stopped at Bullfrog Lake for some fishing, which was successful. Very delicious lunch. We was done hiking by 5:00 pm.
Trout
Day 2. Central Basin to Tyndall Creek Frog Pond, 8.5 miles, 2800' up.
Again start hiking at 7:30 and it was challenging part over Forester Pass, but luckily it was very little snow on the north side of the pass.
North of Forester Pass
Forester Pass
Tyndall Creek Frog Pond Lake
South side was complitly snow free. We made it to Tyndall Creek Frog Pond at 4:45 pm. Enough time to try climb over Tawney Point ridge, but it was steep and lose and I run out of time. Good attempt though.
Day 3. Tyndall Creek Frog Pond to Guitar Lake, 15 miles, 2200' up
Easy day, so we started late at 8:30. A lot of up and down but mostly in the forest with a good shade. Stop for lunch near Guitar Lake ranger station and then at Timberline lake for fishing. Caught 2 trouts. Arriving to Guitar Lake at 18:15. Try to fish there, but no luck.
Deer near Guitar Lake ranger station
Guitar Lake
Day 4. Guitar Lake to Whitney Portal, 15.5 miles, 3300' up
Last day and hard push to Whitney in the morning, so start early at 4:30 am. Tag Whitney at 8:00 and down at Whitney Portal by 01:45 pm. It is tedious hike down, very painful for knees.
Hitchcock Lake
On Trail Creat
On Whitney
Overall it was very good hike and distance per day was right on, allowing enough rest every day. Good weather also made significant contribution and a little bit of luck with hitch hiking top out our trip. Here is our GPS track with major waypoints: Onion Valley to Whitney KMZ
University Peak 13,589' (4,142 m) north face class 2-3 with class 3 supposed to be only near the top. My companion this time was my friend Aleksey and it was his first high altitude hike, so chances to make it to the top was low from the beginning, but you never know how people tolerate altitude before you try. We camped at Onion Valley the night before and started hiking at 6:00 am.
University Peak trail
Matlock Lake
We made a good progress to 12,893' (3930 m) before Aleksey bailed around noon. We had enough time to complete hike, but I did not want to push him beyond his limits, so we made some pictures and turn around.
Trail head for Mt. Langley 14,026' (4,275 m) starts from Horseshoe Meadow one of my favorite place for acclimatization since its 10,000'. Igor agreed to join me, but have no idea what to expect at high elevation, it was his first 14'er. We camped at Horseshoe campground and start hiking at 6:30. First part of the trail is relatively flat and uneventful until New Army pass, where we encounter first snow and lost trail. Little bit of cross country straight up hill and we got back to trail. Last part was fully covered by snow, but easy passable.
New Army Pass
Plato was snow free and next snow was 0.5 km from the top where we have to climb small section of class 3, Igor was worry about going back, but luckily on the way back we found another way and totally avoided this steep section. We made it to the top around 1:30 pm. View from the top, especially to the north toward Mt. Whitney was magnificent.
Looking north from Mt. Langley
Lone Pine from Mt. Langley
Lakes from New Army Pass
We was hoping to cut some distance by descending via Old Army Pass, but it was still under snow and looked too scary to try it even with ice axe and crampons, which we did not have. So, climbed 100 m up to New Army Pass and came back the same way. Back at the car by 7:30 pm. Total distance 33 km, time 13 hours.
GPS track: GPS track in KMZ format
Thursday supposed to be switch day from Santa Ana. Original plan was to fly open distance from Marshall to Palmdale and beyond. It's all about timing. Start is determined when north wind switch to south at Marshall, you normally launch right into convergence. Finish is determined when east wind switch to south-west in the desert. 48h forecast looked great with 5 mph east at Palmdale at 5 pm. However, run after run it was getting worse and worse with morning forecast of 10 mph of SW at Palmdale at 5 pm. Not good at all. Another option was to fly OTB to Victorville and along I-15 toward Baker, but there was north east in the morning shifting to SW, and light north on top. Questionable as well. So, I decide to tag San Gorgonio and fly back. Meet at LZ with Rebar Dan, Russ and Ziggy. On launch at 11:30, but it was still NW, so we waited half an hour. I launched first at 12:12 and climbed to 6K drifting toward Arrowhead. Russ and Ziggy spend some time scratching, but then climbed all the way to 10K, wow! They catch up with me near McKinley, but were lower. I got to 10K at Harrison, which was very useful, a lot of sink up to -5 m/s and head wind all the way to past dam. I lost more than 3K of altitude. Russ and Ziggy did not tank up at Harrison leaving only with 6.7K, which cost them the day, they both landed short from the dam and hitchhiked back to LZ. Meanwhile I was struggling to get over Little San Gorgonio spine, air was nasty with forward speed dropping to 5 mph at times, I had a feeling that east wind from the pass was mixing with SW from the valley. Anyway I give up tagging a peak and flew back with a good tail wind. I was back at Marshall at 3:30, should probably try harder to tag San G. Went out to flats and then to Little Mountain.
Cajon Pass
Marshall
Marshall LZ
LZ
Rebar Dan completed 100 miles FAI triangle (Marshall to Elsinore to Soboba to Marshall LZ) on his Litespeed hang glider, very impressive. Congratulations!
I think all of the pilots familiar with XC flying when driving on highway 210 (or 10) along San Gabriel mountain range was at least thinking about Kagel to Marshall flight or vice versa. The best time for high altitude flights on the front range usually in the spring when Santa Ana (north) wind switch to south and there is no inversion around or later in the August or September after monsoonal moister and summer hit generates some thunderstorm activity.
Earlier this week there was very strong Santa Ana, wind was gusting up to 70 mph and Friday supposed to be a switch day. But gusty wind also resulted in the Etiwanda fire near Rancho Cucamonga and corresponding TFR (temporary flight restriction), which was exactly on the course line and put the end on Kagel to Marshall flight plan. Alternative option was to fly OTB (over the back) and follow highway 15 with SW wind. I did similar flight 2 years ago, but at that time I did not plan it, just follow HG's which means late start as well as not optimal route since I had no idea where I'm going. Now I have all time I need to prepare.
Aaron and Tavis agreed to join and Katie volunteer to drive. We meet at 9:45 at Kagel LZ and was on launch at 11:00. Good strong cycles, birds climbing easily all indicators pointed to the good day. I launched first at 11:27 and climbed right away to 6.5K, Aaron and Tavis launched shortly after and we all headed to BigT. I expected some SE wind, which means you arriving to lee at BigT, but it was not too bad. At BigT we spend some time making sure day is developed enough.
Climbing behind BigT. Mt. Lukens on the right
After few climbs we got to 8.5K (12:35 pm) and start our transition toward Mt. Gleason, but that altitude was not enough. We have to stop near Iron Mt. and search for one more climb, we spread around we found good enough thermal drifting in the right direction, eventually arriving to Gleason at 7.5K (1:10 pm). This is prominent peak and the best place to tank up. I was worry that we may encounter north wind here, but fortunately it was south already. We climbed to 11.5K and continue along the ridge. Aaron and Tavis stopped to check out some light staff, but I continue to nice looking SW facing mountain behind Angeles Forest Hwy and get right into +5 m/s climbing to 12.7K. Tavis was next and got into the same thermal, but Aaron missed that one and have to scratch low for awhile. Drift was from the NW, but not too strong. From that altitude we can easily cut across no mans land toward Juniper Hills.
Crossing San Gabriel Mountains
Tavis had slightly less altitude and decided to search on west side, while I pushed forward along ridge crest and finally found next good thermal, which took me to 14.4K with drift mostly from the west (good). Now I was all by myself. Just before Wrightwood I left mountains and went for the flats (3:00 pm).
Wrighwood ski resort and Mt. Baldy (with snow)
To my disappointment wind was from the NNW and my progress was very slow. Near Phelan I run into convergence and had my best thermal of the day to 15.1K. In the Victorville drift was from the west down low and from the north up high (4:30 pm), so I need to adjust my strategy. In the main time Aaron caught up with Tavis and they both decided to land near Spring Valley Lake in Victorville. I continue north along a dirt road (Stoddard Wells Rd.) periodically reporting my status to the crew. Thermals was getting lighter and wind was from west, while I need to fly north, altitude was dropping more and more. I was hopeless to make it to Barstow hopping from one hill to another, ready to land on dirt road at any time. Then I saw small village and paved road (Hwy 247) just to my right, which was down wind and at the same time found light thermal. Now I could cut the corner with my LZ on the nice green field few miles east of Daggett.
Daggett and Hwy 40
I landed at 6:47 pm. My friends was watching my progress on SPOT page and was there before I even unhook harness.
