Toiyabe NF
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Sardine Falls Toiyabe NF |
July 6, 2012
After a relatively hot hike at Green Lakes yesterday, I am hoping to cool off a little bit at a higher elevation on my way home. My feet have not been too happy lately, but putting on hiking boots invariably tends to calm them down.
On the way up Sonora Pass, I spot Sardine Falls off to the left. It's just a short walk over there, so that seems like a good plan.
The trailhead on SR-108
There is no trail marking on the topo sheet; so I park at the turnoff to an old road, where signs warn against entry by motorized traffic. Perfect.
Entering Sardine Meadow
McKay Creek
Although cross-country travel would be easy around here, finding this road makes the job easier. There are just enough flowers out to make the going interesting.
Scarlet Gilia -aka- Skyrocket
Sierra Stickseed
The two-track gives way to a use trail. At a junction I opt to veer left, toward McKay Creek. Along the way, I run into a couple of attractive little streams.
A bit more water would have been nice
Unnamed creek
As I near the cliff, either the trail peters out or I lose track of it. It hardly matters though, because I am nearly there.
The waterfall is hiding behind the trees
It's not far now
Oh, my! The first view of the falls compels me to pause and celebrate my good fortune.
Sardine Falls
Obviously, the falls would have been more spectacular a couple of weeks earlier. Not much snow remains, even at this exalted altitude.
I must get closer. Climbing the steep slope to the left for a better view proves only partially successful. Eventually, it is necessary to go scrambling on the talus itself.
This is why I go hiking
That's more like it! This best photo of the day also is the last one
that would be taken with this camera. As I attempt to cross the stream
for views from the other side, apparently I do something imprudent with my
footing; for I lose my balance and fall backwards into the two-foot-wide
water channel, drowning the camera which now is stashed in my lumbar pack.
Even worse, the back of my head strikes a high rock. Bummer. Being more angry with myself than hurt, however, I remove all the items in my pack, shake out the accumulated water, and plan to make the best of it. My possibles bag seems reasonably dry, so my spare camera ought to be okay.
My little Canon takes over
It's déjà vu. Two years ago, I killed my first
FZ-35 by venturing through a deluge over at Wapama Falls in Yosemite;
that is why I have little hope of resurrecting this one. That also is
why I now carry a backup unit; at least I will be able to take photos during
the remainder of this walk.
Mountain Sorrel
Actually, I do have an identical still-in-the-box Panasonic awaiting me at home. I had expected to get more usage out of the dead one, however. At this rate, camera replacements are costing me about five dollars per hike.
McKay Creek below the falls
Heading back, I keep to the north of the creek to complete a
semi-loop. As I approach the highway, three vehicles pull
up nearby, and ten hikers head out behind me toward the falls. They will
not count in my total, however, because I did not encounter them on the trail.
They will enjoy their little outing
§: Albeit short, my first (published) hike in the Sonora Pass
area was quite pleasant except for my accident. Although plenty of
energy remains, recent events suggest that I not do any more hiking
today. That is a shame, too, because so much remains undone in this
area, 200 miles from home.
Several days later, the lump on the back of my head still hurts; and now a
few chest muscles are complaining as well. Scrapes, bruises, and even
an occasional twisted ankle can be chalked up as normal wear and tear; but
banging one's head on a rock is totally unacceptable. The blow might
have been more severe, and then what? I always could buy a new camera,
but not a new brain — at least, not one that I would want.
| Scenery |  |
| Difficulty |  |
| Personality | |
| Flowers |  |
| Solitude |  |
