Up
reasonably
early,
for
a
walk
to
the
highpoint
and
periphery
of
(re
the
fenced
portion,
least)
Critter
Creek
Ranch,
appropriately
accompanied
by
resident
animals
at
least
part
of
the
way.
Breakfast with Carol, Michele, and Steve --
and we are off, down Juniper
and
Back
Canyon,
then
north on Caliente Creek,
over the divide,
again into Walker Basin,
now
lateraling
north
Havilah
Valley,
over
the
pass
to
Lake
Isabella,
still
farther
on
155
towards
Wofford
Heights,
and
Burlando
to
Kernville,
intially stopping off at the
Forest Service Ranger Station.
Next,
more
lingering,
first for lunch at
Big Blue Bear,
then Carol-shopping at the adjacent
antiques joint.
Beyond,
up
the
North Fork Kern River
into
Tulare,
winding
along
sinuous
curves
to
Sherman
Pass Junction,
where
we
take
the
challenge,
up
dizzingy
heights,
through pine forests lush
and in-the-process-of-renewal,
to the
9400'
summit
viewpoint,
with vistas north to Mt Whitney and Olancha Peak.
Ah,
the Kern Plateau,
an undulating,
forested tableland of sensuality,
right turns
near Troy
and
Kennedy
Meadows,
surprising
structures,
an
even
more
surprising,
yet
certainly
not
unwelcome
change
in
scenery
topography,
as
we
plummet
down
Nine-Mile
Canyon
in
the
company
of
Joshua
Trees
with
views
ahead
to
the
Mojave.
Bottoming
out,
north
on
395,
as
Red
Butte
and
JTs
give
way
to
Owens
Lake
and
Valley
up
to Lone Pine,
Alabama Hills,
and the Highest Sierra.
Refreshment pause,
and
further
up --
Manzanar,
ironic
Independence
and
Big
Pine,
to
overnight
in
Bishop,
still in consort with the heroic ridge west,
as well as the increasingly impressive White Mountains east.
High farther north: back down 2 to 96
(ABA of 96-98-96 last three days, 152nd such of summer, 51 90-or-above, 88 80+),
perhaps 100 Caliente, and 96 Bishop.
