Photo: Thomas Meissner Mountains, Meadows, and Marmots of Mineral King, Sequoia National Park Highlights:
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Trip Number: 08128A Price: $575 Deposit: $100 Capacity: 11 Rating: M Leader:
The Trip  Photo: Thomas Meissner Mineral King is a spectacular glacially sculpted valley surrounded by 12,000 foot peaks in the heart of the southern Sierra Nevada . Our 40-mile loop takes us up high to these peaks as we cross the Great Western Divide, traverse lake basins and canyons on its far side, and eventually re-cross the divide to return to our trailhead. We'll camp by sparkling lakes and streams amidst wildflower-laden meadows. Two planned layover days will give us time to savor the wonders of the high country in summer. Named during a mining bust in the 1870s, Mineral King is rich in history and is the site of an important Sierra Club victory. In the 1960s, Walt Disney wanted to build a huge resort in the valley. A lengthy environmental battle eventually was won, and in 1978, Mineral King was added to Sequoia National Park .
Please note: Weather and other factors may necessitate changes to our planned itinerary. As on all Sierra Club outings, the health and safety of trip participants is always the top priority. A flexible, positive approach to these possibilities creates a group dynamic that generally leads to a better experience for all participants.  Photo: Thomas Meissner Day 1: We will meet at 5 p.m. at a campground near the trailhead for dinner, introductions, and pre-trip orientation. Day 2: After driving our cars to the nearby trailhead parking area (7,800 feet), we hoist our packs and head up the trail. The hike will be steep but not too long: 2,200 feet of elevation gain over 5.5 miles. We will camp near timberline, as our bodies adjust to the altitude. Day 3: We reap the rewards of our previous day's effort as we cross Franklin Pass (11,800 feet) and gain spectacular views. It's a different world up there! From the top of the pass, we descend to camp at a hidden gem of a lake. Day 4: This will be a relatively easy day. We'll enjoy the beauty of Little Claire Lake, and camp in Soda Creek canyon.  Photo: Thomas Meissner Day 5: Layover day! The joys of exploring without a full pack cannot be exaggerated. Options range from just plain relaxing, to rambling along gurgling alpine streams and granite benches, to climbing a nearby peak. Day 6: Today will be a fairly long day, as we move to beautiful Big Five Lakes basin, where we will spend two nights camping by an alpine lake. Day 7: Again our efforts of the previous day are rewarded! Another layover day to spend swimming, fishing, rambling the meadows , photographing wildflowers, or ascending nearby granite ridges for panoramic views. Day 8: We re-cross the Great Western Divide at Black Rock Pass (11,700 feet) with packs lightened by many days of good eating. After descending from the pass, we hike cross-country to a wonderful lake ensconced in a granite cirque. Day 9: In the morning we follow an exciting cross-country route to Glacier Pass (11,200 feet). From the pass we begin a steep descent to Mineral King, returning to our cars by approximately 4 p.m. Getting There Our meeting place is the Atwell Mill Campground, situated in the Atwell Grove of giant sequoias. The campground is located along the steep, winding road to Mineral King, on the west side of the Sierra (southeast of Fresno, California).  Photo: Thomas Meissner Driving time to the campground is about five-and-a-half hours from Los Angeles, six-and-a-half hours from San Francisco, and about three hours from Fresno. We will provide a roster of trip participants well in advance of the trip, to assist those wishing to share rides and/or rental cars. Detailed driving directions will be sent at a later date. We expect to return to the trailhead around 4 p.m. on the last day, so make your return travel arrangements accordingly.
 Photo: Thomas Meissner We provide delicious meals that are lightweight and simple to prepare, offering good variety and sufficient quantity. Sometimes that means tortellini with pesto, parmesan, and pine nuts. Typically, we also make rice with ginger-curried vegetables and chicken. Several meals will include chicken or fish, but we can easily accommodate vegetarians by adding these items last. It's likely that you'll learn several new menu ideas you'll want to try on your own trips; we'll be glad to share the recipes. We will provide all meals, from dinner at Atwell Mill campground on day one, through lunch on the final day. This includes a snack bag -- energy bars and salted nuts and raisins -- for each participant. Participants will be expected to assist with meal preparations and cleanup on a rotational basis.
This trip is rated Moderate (M) overall, but several days are fairly strenuous. Backpacking trips at altitude are always demanding, and participants need to be in excellent condition. We will be hiking at altitude over steep terrain. Some of the hiking will be cross-country and there may be short stretches where you will need to use your hands for balance or support.  Photo: Thomas Meissner Daily distances range from 5 to 12 miles. The maximum elevation gain in one day is about 2,300 feet. Most of our campsites will be at or above an elevation of 10,000 feet. Altitude can greatly affect one's energy level, so participants might want to consider arriving a day early in order to start acclimatizing. Participants will be expected to take at least one weekend backpacking trip prior to our outing, carrying at least 35 pounds and wearing the boots you will wear on the trip. This conditioning trip should involve some hills, as flat terrain does not provide sufficient preparation. Your enjoyment of our outing will depend on how physically prepared you are.
Trip members furnish their own backpack, tent, sleeping bag, eating utensils, and other personal gear. The Sierra Club will provide all food and commissary equipment. This will include a bear-proof food canister for each trip participant to carry. In order to accommodate your share of the commissary, including the bear canister, you will need to allow space in your pack equivalent to that of a full bag of groceries. Although we try hard to keep the commissary weight down, each participant's share of the commissary will be about 12-15 pounds at the start of the trip. As soon as you are approved for this trip, the leader will send you a detailed list of personal equipment to bring.
Maps Tom Harrison's “Mineral King Trail Map” shows the entire route. The USGS 7.5-minute topographic map titled “Mineral King, CA” is a highly detailed topographic map that contains most of the route. Books White, Mike, Sequoia National Park: A Complete Hiker's Guide Websites Sequoia National Park 's website about Mineral King: http://www.nps.gov/archive/seki/mkvc.htmConservation
 Photo: Thomas Meissner Although most of our route will be through remote high country, the Mineral King valley where we begin our hike has a fascinating environmental story. It was first settled by European-Americans in the 1860s, initially in search of silver ore, and later for logging and recreation. When Sequoia National Park was established in 1890, local interests managed to keep it from being included. After World War II, the Sierra Club decided to explore the Sierra for areas suitable for development as ski resorts, and they proposed that Mineral King was the best possible site for a new resort in the southern Sierra! Fortunately, no developers were interested at the time. However, in the 1960s, after prodding from Walt Disney, the Forest Service officially proposed that Mineral King be developed as a major ski resort. After extensive internal debate, the Sierra Club decided to oppose the project. The ensuing lengthy environmental battle ended up in the Supreme Court, which ruled against the Sierra Club. However, by then public opinion had changed and the area was protected in October 1978 when Mineral King was added to Sequoia National Park .
See the How to Apply for an Outing section for more details on registering for this trip and details about our Reservation and Cancellation Policy. The payment of a deposit does not confirm you as a member on the trip. Participants must be approved by the trip leader. After signing up for this trip, you will be sent a confirmation packet containing approval materials (Participant Approval Questionnaire, Medical Form, Liability Release Form). Each applicant (including those on the waitlist) must fill out these forms and promptly mail them to the trip leader. The leader will review the approval materials and notify you of your acceptance in a timely manner.
Leader:
General Notes About Sierra Club Trips
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Dan Kozarsky first backpacked in the Sierra in 1990, after moving from the East Coast to the Bay Area. Since then he’s made up for lost time by backpacking extensively in the Sierra and in the Southwest. He participated in his first Sierra Club National Outings backpack trip in 1992. Dan works for NASA, plays soccer, and loves to listen to music and play bass.
John Blaustein has backpacked in the Sierras and the Rockies for the past ten years and participated on a number of Sierra Club hikes in the Alps. When not involved with hiking, John is a pathologist in Santa Barbara. He is an avid downhill skier and enjoys running and cycling.