From August 7-10, 2012 Clara and I backpacked the Rae Lakes Loop in Kings Canyon National Park. The trip took us from the base of the canyon at 5,000 feet in elevation up Woods Creek to the brilliant Rae Lakes Basin and over Glen Pass, just below 12,000 feet. After descending Glen Pass, we looped down Bubbs Creek back to the base of the canyon, following, essentially, an old trail that natives from either side of the Sierras used to cross the great range in order to trade. In the high country above the Woods and Bubbs Creek trails we
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Diamond Peak and Dollar Lake Diamond Peak (13,126) and Baxter Pass (12,300'), along its shoulder,...
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Clara at Camp: Dollar Lake The stars here were among the best we've ever seen. We could see the gas...
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Day 3: Fin Dome and stream Fin Dome rises above the outlet stream of Arrowhead Lake, just below...
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Arrowhead Lake, Mt. Clarence King Mt. Clarence King (12,905') and Arrowhead Lake (10,300') from...
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Clara and Lower Rae Lake
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Fin Dome, Lower Rae Lake and Me
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Middle Rae Lake If we only had another day! This is where I would play. The loop is often...
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Upper Rae Lake and Painted Lady Dragon Peak (12,995') is also visible above Painted Lady's...
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Crossing between Middle and Upper Rae The John Muir Trail crosses a stream between the Upper and Middle Rae Lakes.
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Island in Upper Rae Lake
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Marmot!
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Glen Pass Glen Pass (11,979') is the dark-colored saddle in the middle of...
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Alpine Gentian
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Alpine Sorrel
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Views as we climb the pass From right: Diamond Peak (13,126') and Black Mountain (13,289'), with...
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Unnamed Lakes Northwest of Glen Pass
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Clara on Glen Pass
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South From Glen Pass with Mt. Brewer (13,576') in the distance.
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View from the pass This is a view of the Bubbs Creek, Center Basin and Junction Peak, and Mt....
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Clara on Glen Pass
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North from Glen Pass The three Rae Lakes are in the sun and surrounded by green to the right.
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Switchbacks and Lake South of Pass The extensive switchbacks on the south side of Glen pass descend around a...
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Clara descends from Glen Pass Glen Pass is the dark-colored saddle above, on the shoulders of Mt. Rixford,...
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Glen Pass from the south The trail climbs the wall above the lake to the dark saddle.
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Rock Fringe below Glen Pass The austere alpine country near Glen Pass was not entirely lacking in...
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