Outdoor Adventures with Ancient Brit
PCT 2002 - June 3rd
Day 48: Monday 3rd June S. Fork, Kern River - Cow Creek
I made a late start at about 7.30am. Now I was heading into the higher mountains
and with the longer days an early start was now not so necessary.
I came across a snake on the trail trying to swallow a large lizard, having “bitten off
more than it could chew?”
Above the Kern River the woods had not recovered from the 1980 Clover Meadow
fire and brush had now replaced the forest. I was climbing up to 8000ft with a heavy
pack and some shade would have been appreciated as the temperature rose. It clouded
over in the afternoon and as I reached the high plateau of Beck and Monache Meadows
there was a little rain. By the time I regained the S. Fork, Kern River, 2000ft higher
than at Kennedy Meadows, the cloud had cleared and I was able to bathe in the creek
and do some washing, before having an early dinner. I was entertained by swallows
rebuilding their nests under the 1986 iron girder bridge, which crossed the river. The
steel was treated to resemble an old rusted structure to blend better into the wilderness.
With all the natural sites to choose from, it is surprising that they chose a man-made
site. It was in these meadows in 1993 that I saw my first Brown Bear, but now only
Marmot and Chipmunk put in an appearance.
I camped in Cow Canyon, where there was plenty of evidence of both cows and bears.
For the first time mosquitoes were a nuisance around the camp. June is the peak
season for mosquitoes in the High Sierra as they breed in the damp vegetation left by
the melting snow.
I hadn’t seen anyone all day.
Day 48: 13.7 miles 7.03 hours Camp: Cow Creek
I made a late start at about 7.30am. Now I was heading into the higher mountains
and with the longer days an early start was now not so necessary.
I came across a snake on the trail trying to swallow a large lizard, having “bitten off
more than it could chew?”
Above the Kern River the woods had not recovered from the 1980 Clover Meadow
fire and brush had now replaced the forest. I was climbing up to 8000ft with a heavy
pack and some shade would have been appreciated as the temperature rose. It clouded
over in the afternoon and as I reached the high plateau of Beck and Monache Meadows
there was a little rain. By the time I regained the S. Fork, Kern River, 2000ft higher
than at Kennedy Meadows, the cloud had cleared and I was able to bathe in the creek
and do some washing, before having an early dinner. I was entertained by swallows
rebuilding their nests under the 1986 iron girder bridge, which crossed the river. The
steel was treated to resemble an old rusted structure to blend better into the wilderness.
With all the natural sites to choose from, it is surprising that they chose a man-made
site. It was in these meadows in 1993 that I saw my first Brown Bear, but now only
Marmot and Chipmunk put in an appearance.
I camped in Cow Canyon, where there was plenty of evidence of both cows and bears.
For the first time mosquitoes were a nuisance around the camp. June is the peak
season for mosquitoes in the High Sierra as they breed in the damp vegetation left by
the melting snow.
I hadn’t seen anyone all day.
Day 48: 13.7 miles 7.03 hours Camp: Cow Creek
Beck Meadow
"Biting off more
than you can chew?"
than you can chew?"
Rain Lily
Kern River
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