Bridge Creek ford: barely over the ankle (note high water on the bank behind Faron) |
Looking back down the South Fork Bridge Creek drainage, with a brief rain shower |
Rainbow Lake from Rainbow Pass; Tupshin and Devore peaks |
The upper tarns at Rainbow Lake |
Tupshin Peak, Devore Peak |
Descending to Rainbow Lake |
Rainbow Lake and the eastern ridge of McGregor Mountain |
Climbing up Rainbow Creek to McAlester Pass |
McAlester Mountain |
McAlester Pass is just a huge meadow |
Richard West and I ran this loop in an October day in the early 1990s just after a wet snowfall. I remember freezing feet in icewater. What a beautiful route!
ReplyDeleteKaytlyn and I ran this last June in seemingly opposite conditions (and opposite direction) - super hot, high forge, and the trails were unmaintained. The PCT was comically overgrown and between bridge creek and rainbow lake it was almost bushwack status. Glad to know that there was some work done there-- it was a great alternative to elsewhere in the state at the time (fires/thunderstorms), and though not the most scenic miles in our backyard, they're enjoyable!
ReplyDeleteHa! Yeah I've been to it in early season and it doesn't look like a nice and easy crossing. I think they wait until they can take horses across and then get to the maintenance.
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