[Stella]

This is a belated post from a 8-day trip last summer into Kings Canyon and Sequoia National Parks. We started from Onion Valley, went over Kearsarge Pass and down into Bubbs Creek/Vidette Meadows. We continued south on the John Muir/PCT, with a side trip into Center Basin, and then over Forester Pass. Once in the upper Kern Basin, we visited a side basin before backtracking over Forester and Kearsarge Passes. We had hoped to exit via Shepherds Pass but the 2019 heavy snow pack and our lack of skill/gear prevented us from doing so.

Kearsarge and Bullfrog lakes

Vidette Meadow and glimpse into Center Basin (left)

Bullfrog Lake

Bubbs creek

Yellow-legged frog

Center Basin

Center Basin lake

Gill net in Center Basin

Sunning

Approach to Forester Pass

Forester sun cups

Forester Pass view to the south

Forester Pass engineering

Sequoia NP sunset

Kern basin lake

Great Western Divide from Kern basin

Kern basin

Wandering

South side of Forester Pass

Camp below Forester

Great Western Divide

Sky Pilot at Forester Pass

Vidette Meadow sow

We followed up this trip with a three day visit into Granite Park, with a failed attempt to visit Bear Lakes Basin.

Tungsten Mine

Lone Pine Pass & Mount Humphrey

Granite Park

Approach to Italy Pass

Bear Lakes Pass

[Chief Joseph]

Awesome! That area is on my "Bucket List".

[olderthanIusedtobe]

Another wonderful Sierras TR, thanks for posting! That's probably the blondest black bear I've ever seen.

[RobinBaker]

Do you know what the "banded" peak is among your photos? It shows toward the last, when you went to Granite Basin and attempted to get to Bear Lakes Basin.

[Stella]

It should have a name but I believe this is peak 12245. It's just north of the Pine lakes.

[Malachai Constant]

Sierra bears are typically cinnamon phased.

[MangyMarmot]

Thanks for the report. My son and I are going there in late July. I can't wait. Looks awesome!