SEKI Loop

Day 1

Start: Lodgepole – 0.0
End: Twin Lakes – 6.5
Miles: 6.5
Start: 11:58 am
End: 4:16 pm

Day 2

Start: Twin Lakes – 6.5
End: Roaring River – 21.5
Miles: 15.0
Start: 6:53 am
End: 3:44 pm

Day 3

Start: Roaring River – 21.5
End: Colby Lake – 31.5
Miles: 10.0
Start: 7:06 am
End: 2:45 pm

Current elevation: 10,607’

Sierra miles are a lot different than other trail miles. Lots of rocks, steps when going up or down. It took us almost 8 hours to go 10 miles. The last 2 miles took over 2 hours.

Colby lake is beautiful. Water was good for swimming. Wish we had a fishing pole. Lots of decent size trout swimming about.

Day 4

Start: Colby Lake – 31.5
End: Kern Hot Springs – 48.0
Miles: 16.5
Start: 6:51 am
End: 6:25 pm

What a long day. Again, never underestimate the trails in the Sierra! Once over Colby Pass, it took us forever to get to junction meadows. We did about 8.5 miles in 8 hours. It was slow going. Rocky terrain and the last 3 miles the trial was totally overgrown.

Day 5

Start: Kern Hot Springs – 48.0
End: below Kaweah Gap – 65.0
Miles: 17.0
Start: 6:45 am
End: 5:29 pm
Current elevation: 10,348’

We found an epic site. In the middle of the mountains. Below Kaweah Gap and Nine Lakes Basin. Views of Triple Divide peak and the Kaweah range peaks.

Day 6

Start: below Kaweah Gap – 65.0
End: Mehrten Creek – 79.0
Miles: 14.0
Start: 7:24 am
End: 5:49 pm

Long day of downhill hiking. We swam in Hamilton lake.
Crappy campsite to get to, but we had a spot up high with a view of the mountains. Unfortunately, the smog/dust from the valley caused a brown haze above the mountains. We found out later the haze was from two fires west of us.

Day 7

Start: Mehrten Creek – 79.0
End: Lodgepole CG – 86.5
Miles: 7.5
Start: 7:24 am
End: 11:18 am

Enjoy the video of our trip.