Leon Turnbull Photography

July 6. This was to be my final backpacking trip for the summer. Just when (you might think) the snow is melting out and everyone else is finally getting out backpacking, I am quitting. Yeah, strange perhaps, but the bugs are also coming out to play now, and I hate hate hate the bugs, so I tend to not go out much in the summer. I actually went on one more backpacking trip this year (six) than I did last year. Considering that I also went to Scotland/Ireland for 10 days, I think that is pretty darn good! My trips this year tended to be shorter trips because I already took so many days off work for the overseas trip. I also had more failed backpacking trips this year (four) than last year. That is quite a lot and the reasons vary (ticks, snow, stream crossings, brush) but I usually made up for the failed trips with different ones.

I have heard a lot of people talking about this year and all the snow, afraid to go out in the snow and wondering where they can go backpacking with no snow. At the same time, I have heard other people going on crazy dangerous trips in the snow (with no problems – for them). I think it all depends on your comfort level and the more you go out and the more prepared you are, then the more you will be able to do. For example, one of my failed trips (last week) was going to be a big adventure into the Mokelumne Wilderness. Except that I came across one very dangerous snow field with a huge drop off into the abyss. One mistake and I would be dead. I chose to live and retreat. I am sure others could have traversed this snow field with no problem, but I only had micro spikes. With crampons and ice axe (and experience), I am sure I could have done it. Experience is a big thing. I read often about people dying because they do things beyond their capabilities and without proper preparedness. Also, it helps to be not afraid of heights. Yeah right.

This long-ish weekend (which was not a long weekend for myself), I returned to the Mokelumne Wilderness, to the same location. This would be a scaled down trip from what I had planned the week before (because I only had two days), and also I would be taking a different route (to bypass that dangerous snow field). The snow was still there. Lots of it. There was anywhere from 1 to 5 feet of snow. In some places, I just walked on the snow with my boots. In a few places, I needed to use the micro spikes but there was nothing dangerous on this route. It was just extremely tiring walking on the snow. On a trail that is mostly flat, it is not mostly flat when there is snow. You are constantly hiking up and down the snow mounds, which adds up to a lot of extra elevation, and let’s not mention the huge ankle breaking sun cups you are walking over. Without a GPS, following the trail is impossible, and I lost the trail a few times even with a GPS. All in all, it is just very tiring and very slow going.

You might think that since it was a long-ish weekend, I would see plenty of other backpackers/hikers. I saw zero people the entire weekend. I saw some horse tracks at the beginning but they were going off to another location. I saw one other set of recent tracks in the direction I was going. However, they stopped before the top of the pass. I guess the snow was too much for him/her. I was alone in the Mokelumne Wilderness.

It was 2PM when I came to the junction for the first waterfall I wanted to see. I had hiked for 5.5 hours and only gone 8.5 miles. I determined that it would be at least two hours (likely more) until I reached my planned destination (the second waterfall), but I was already beat up, and the next day going back would be brutal, especially if I took the detour to this first waterfall as planned. I decided to skip the second waterfall and go down to camp at the first one. I was ok with doing this because I really want to come back to this area again anyway, when I have a lot more time.

It was only one mile, but it still took over an hour to get down to the creek. It is a 600 ft. descent, and there is no trail. The first part was really nice, with very wide open granite. It reminded me of the Desolation Wilderness. The last part was steep and brushy. It reminded me of my recent trip to West Cherry Creek in the Emigrant Wilderness. It took a while to get through the brush and down the granite cliffs, but I made it down to the creek and found a campsite.

I thought the mosquitoes would be bad on this trip. I was expecting the worst. However, there was only one single mosquito that I swatted in the evening (there were a few more in the morning – but hardly worth mentioning, and I did not even break out the repellent).

So … stupid mistake number one: I FORGOT MY DINNER! Actually, this was the only mistake on this trip, but how on earth does one go backpacking and forget their dinner! I had to eat my next day’s lunch for dinner. That meant I had no lunch for the next day, but thankfully, I was planning to be back at the car by noon and I had snacks, so I figured I should be ok. (and I was).

The next problem: how would I get up to the waterfall? My camping spot was beside the creek about a half mile below the falls. There was a huge mound of heavy brush between myself and the waterfall. After a bit of exploring, I realized there was absolutely no possible way to get through or around that brush. There was only one option: cross the creek and try on the other side. It looked pretty brushy on the other side as well, but maybe it would possible. It would really suck to come all the way down to this waterfall and not even be able to see it!

Could I even cross the creek? The creek was flowing quite swift (still) and deep, and in some places it was definitely not crossable. Nonetheless, I found one place near my campsite that looked “not too bad”, and so after my lunch/dinner, I made my way to this spot to attempt the crossing, needing to remember that in a couple hours (when I came back), the creek would be quite a bit higher than this. The crossing was up to my thighs, but really not a problem at all. I did not anticipate it would be much worse in a couple hours (and it wasn’t).

On the other side, I donned my hiking boots and made my way upstream. It was not so brushy on this side. There were a couple spots but really not too difficult, and I quickly made my way to the bottom of the waterfall. It was gorgeous! Now I had to wait an hour for the sun to go down before I could take photos. It was worth the wait. Cole Creek Falls is a beauty, and I suspect few people (if any) have ever seen it before.

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I got up in the middle of the night to go to the bathroom, and my tent zipper broke. I was fiddling with it in the dark for quite some time, and I could not get it fixed. I did not think I’d even be able to get back in the tent, but mostly I was worried mosquitoes would get in to the tent. There was now a big hole and no way to close it. Finally I opened the zipper, got in, and then closed it so there were no gaps. Now I was worried I would not be able to get out in the morning. I did, but the zipper is in bad shape now. I cannot afford a new tent. Maybe my wife can fix it (I hope).

It was supposed to be below 40 degrees at night. I brought extra warm clothes and sleeping gear, which added quite a few pounds to my pack. Argh. I did not need them! It was not cold at all, nowhere near 40 degrees. Thanks, Mr. Weatherman.

I got up at 5AM. I wanted to get an early start back home. I HATE driving through Placerville. It takes like 45 minutes to get through that stupid town, especially on Sundays with all the Tahoe traffic. Maybe if I got there before noon, it would not be so bad. I packed up my gear, had breakfast and headed up the hill. I had to climb 1200 ft. back to the PCT, from there it would be a long but easy hike back to the car. On the way down, it took 6 hours. On the way back, it took 4 hours. And that is with that big uphill climb! I was booting it back hard, but I still don’t know how it took so much less time. Nonetheless, even though it was before noon, Placerville still sucked!

This was a surprise waterfall, found on an unnamed creek flowing down into Pleasant Valley. It is at least 20 ft. high. I had to cross the creek to get down to my campsite, and it was the biggest by far of all the creeks I had to cross; it had strong flow for an unnamed creek. It was not dangerous or anything, but the water was up to my knees when I crossed. I am calling it Raymond Peak Falls. It is a pretty thing.

 

 

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I took Friday off work with the intention of going on a big huge adventure in the Mokelumne Wilderness. It was going to be epic. Unfortunately, I came across very dangerous snow conditions. It is the end of June and there is still huge amounts of snow at high elevations. There was a big huge snow field with a deadly dropoff that I had to cross. There is no sense in dying. I had to retreat. I was bummed.

The next day, however, I returned to the Mokelumne Wilderness. I was much more optimistic about snow conditions for this second hike since the elevation would be a bit lower.

I would be hiking mostly on the Pacific Crest Trail. There was some snow on the trail, but nothing difficult, and the trail is very easy to follow. With so many people hiking this trail, it is clear to follow even if it is snow covered. I met a couple of PCT through hikers and chatted with them. They were happy and friendly. And why wouldn’t they be? They had just completed by far the most difficult section of the entire hike, making it through the Sierra Nevada (alive) after a huge winter snow pack. They said the creek crossings were challenging but not deadly. I thought that interesting because they must have come through at around peak flow. I would definitely think that some of the crossings would be impossible at that time. One of them told me about a very sketchy snow field that I potentially might have to cross in a few miles. Fortunately, I would be turning off the PCT before that point. Or would I?

There should have been a trail crossing the PCT and down to Pleasant Valley. It should be well defined. I saw it on Google Earth. Guess what? There was no trail. This was doubly odd because one of the through hikers I talked to said he saw the trail junction to Pleasant Valley. I do not know what he saw but there was most certainly no trail junction. I hiked right past the supposed trail junction. It was also extra difficult because in this area the PCT has been re-routed from the original trail. I found the old PCT and hiked along it for awhile, then went cross country,  came close to giving up, and then, miraculously, I found the trail to Pleasant Valley! Once on the trail, it is clear it has been traveled on somewhat occasionally because there are many rock cairns showing the way, but it is definitely very overgrown. You have to have an eagle eye to spot where the junction is with the PCT. It is not obvious whatsoever.

Once I came in view of the big waterfall, I needed to get off this overgrown trail, and cut straight down to the creek. It is steep, and you lose 1200 ft. of elevation, but it is not dangerous and there is a clear enough path going down.

I got all the way down to the creek and found a place to setup my tent. You cannot really see much of the waterfall from creek level, but there is a good view of it from 100 ft. higher up, so after dinner I climbed back up the mountain to take photographs. The total height of the falls is about 300 ft. high. It is a beautiful cascade. It does seem that others have been down in this canyon, but I have not heard of anyone else ever going down here. On this day and night, I was all alone at the bottom of this remote canyon in the Mokelumne Wilderness.

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I got up in the dark at 4:15AM, packed up quickly and headed up the mountain. I wanted to try to find a new waterfall. However, I totally underestimated the hike. It was an hour back up to the road. Then I had 3 miles to hike from there, however, it was off trail, with much elevation gain, through swamps, too much brush, and across icy hard (and dangerous) snow fields. It took far longer than anticipated. I was still at least an hour away from the falls when I realized the waterfall was already in the sun, and I had no chance to make it. I had run out of time, and I was past my turning around time. I needed to get back home. The animals I left alone all weekend would be starving by now. I will be back to this one some day when I have more time. Despite having to turn around, it was still an interesting hike with some great views of the Desolation Wilderness.

It was a very long hike back to the car. It was very hot as well (despite it being very cold in the morning). Thankfully, it was mostly downhill. I got back to my vehicle at noon, and home in time to have a big pizza for dinner. (and the animals were all fine of course).

This photo is the top section of Middle Bassi Falls from my campsite.

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I went up to Bassi Falls on Saturday morning. I did not get up early. I have been there many times before, and I have many good photos of Bassi Falls. Why would I go back to Bassi Falls? When the light would be very bad? The answer is: so I could get some video of the falls. I was not happy about the bad lighting, but I just did not want to get up at 3AM. So there.

Even though I was not super early, I was the first one to arrive at Bassi Falls. Bassi Creek is well past peak flow now, but it is still not crossable. An important point to note for later. It was not long before the hordes showed up. It was a Saturday. It was summer. I knew it would be busy at Bassi Falls, but I was not expecting all of this. By the time I left at 10AM, it was already super packed around the falls, and when I got back to the car, the parking lot was overflowed. Yikes! There was a time not long ago, when no one went to Bassi Falls, not even in summer. You needed a four wheel drive to get to the trailhead, so that was a big deterrent, plus no one knew about it. What happened? Is it because of Facebook/Instagram? I do not know. I do know it is extremely popular now. I was just talking to someone on Instagram who had a recent photo of Bassi Falls and they said they did not know the name of the waterfall and wanted to keep it secret. Secret? What is the point of that? That ship has long passed by, many years ago. Also, how can you come here (apparently, more than once) and not know the name of this waterfall? There are multiple signs saying “Bassi Falls”. You would have to be blind not to see them. And if you are blind, how could you see the waterfall?

It is also interesting to note (and I pondered this as I was sitting on the rocks by the waterfall), is that there is no trash at Bassi Falls. It is such a popular location, yet the lack of trash is very evident! This is an oddity! But it is a very happy oddity. Now having said that, as soon as I got up to leave, I immediately noticed two pieces of trash on the ground (which I picked up of course). Nonetheless, that is all I noticed. I did not look very hard, and I’m sure I could have found more if I did. Still, I was pretty happy to find extremely little garbage at Bassi Falls. In fact, it was so shocking that I was thinking I must be on a different planet.

My main plan for the weekend was to backpack to Middle Bassi Falls and camp there for the night. I was also hoping to find a brand new waterfall as well. I would not be going up to Middle Bassi the same way as I have done before. This was to be a new route, one that would put me on the correct side of the river (creek), in order to properly view and photograph the waterfall. The way I have gone in the past, you cannot view the falls very easily, and remember, the creek is still not crossable right now. I would not have to cross Bassi Creek with this new route, but is it even possible?

I just had my little car with me. The road is dirt and is really ok for cars, but there are many sharp rocks on the road, and I was really worried I would get a flat, which would be really bad way out here in the middle of nowhere. I parked two miles from the trailhead and walked the rest of the way. I saw zero people on this hike in these two days, except for one couple which I will mention below.

It is an extremely steep climb, gaining 1400 ft. of elevation. It is a huffer and a puffer. Once this is climbed, you need to drop off the road and down to Bassi Creek, losing 700 ft. of elevation. I was thinking this section could possibly be brushy and impossible to negotiate, but I mapped my route out on Google Earth, and thought I could do it. There was definitely a lot of brush and it would indeed be impossible if you do not do it correctly, but I did it correctly and there was not so much brush that I could not get through it. Really, it was not a problem at all. There were no trails. No human trails, that is. There were bear trails. I saw bear evidence (ie. Poop) even down at my campsite. It was not too fresh, but clearly bears (or bear) went down this way to get down to the creek (right beside where I had my tent setup). Lovely.

I found a perfect camping area at the top of Middle Bassi Falls. Well, not exactly perfect because it was not exactly flat, but it was good enough. There was a stiff breeze all afternoon and evening. I was not expecting this (according to the forecast), but it was extremely welcome, and it kept the mosquitoes completely away. I had a long wait until sunset. The falls would be in the sun right up until the end of the day. I tried to nap, laying down on the rocks, but there were a lot of ants and I constantly had to brush them off of me. At one point, I felt one on my leg and brushed it off, except it was not an ant. It was a bee! And it stung me! Ugh. Needless to say, I did not get any sleep.

I had some interesting visitors while I waited. There was a couple on the other side of the creek, who obviously came up the creek from the big waterfall downstream. I have done this before as well. It is extremely brushy going that route. Not recommended. I am sure that they wanted to cross Bassi Creek to get a better view of the middle falls. As I said above, you cannot see it very well from that side. It would certainly be foolish to attempt a crossing, however. They looked up and down the creek, but could not find a good way to cross it. I am sure they were wondering how the heck I got across the creek! Eventually, they gave up and went back down towards the big waterfall. I was all alone once more (just the way I like it). All the while this was happening I was giving the play by play to my wife (I had cell service here). Ha ha.

In the evening, the sun finally dipped below the mountains, and I went down to take my photographs. The middle falls is not very comparable to the huge waterfall downstream (it is only 28 ft. high), but the creek was rushing fast and furious down the granite rock, and it is a very exciting slide. It was a (surprisingly) cold night, but I slept fairly well. I would have to get up very early the next morning.

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