MOUNTAINEERING ON THE PACIFIC COAST 

 near Fresno. Near its source it divides into two 

 great branches, the Middle and South Fork. The 

 Middle Fork region is best visited by way of the 

 Mammoth Trail, starting from \\awona, near 

 Yosemite. The finest mountain group in the 

 Yosemite region is on the watershed of the Middle 

 Fork. This consists of Mount Ritter (13,156 feet) 

 and Banner Peak. South of this splendid group the 

 range drops off toward Mammoth Pass, but soon 

 rises again toward Red Slate Peak (13,067 feet). 



The great area drained by the South Fork of 

 the San Joaquin is one of the least frequented por- 

 tions of the range. Along the main crest for a dis- 

 tance of 30 miles there is no gap or pass lower than 

 11,400 feet, and the great peaks such as Mount 

 Abbott (13,736 feet), Seven Gables (13,066 feet), 

 Mount Humphreys (13,972 feet), Mount Darwin 

 (13,841 feet), and Mount Goddard (13,555 feet), are 

 the very finest summits the Sierra affords. The 

 South Fork region is best reached by way of Fresno. 

 An automobile to Shaver or Big Creek brings one 

 to the beginning of the Mono and Red Mountain 

 trails. It may also be reached by way of the Mono 

 or Piute passes from the town of Bishop on the 

 east. At least two weeKs should be allowed for a 

 trip into the San Joaquin Sierra. 



Still southward is the Kings River Basin, the 

 climax of the California High Sierra. This great 

 stream is formed by the junction of a South and 

 Middle Fork. The latter drains a wonderful region 

 from the Goddard Divide to Mount Pinchot. Its 

 basin contains such peaks as North Palisade (14,254 

 feet), Mount Sill (14,128 feet), Split Mountain (14,- 

 067 feet), Mount Pinchot (13,471 feet). The basin 

 of the South Fork is almost as rugged as that of the 

 Middle, particularly the southern portion, where a 

 wonderful group of peaks at the head of Bubb's 

 Creek is easily accessible and comparatively well 

 known. The Kings River Basin is generally reached 

 by way of Fresno from the west; the Middle Fork 

 through Shaver and the Tehipitee Trail, and the 

 South Fork by way of Hume and the Independence 

 Trail. A regular automobile stage runs from Sanger, 

 near Fresno, to Hume, where pack outfits can be 

 obtained for the trip into Kings River Canon. This 

 latter is a good starting point or permanent camp 

 for the South Fork region. Here also is located a 

 public camp, as well as a small supply store. The 

 Kings River Canon is also reached from the town of 

 Independence via the Kearsarge Pass. 



The canons of the Kings River Basin are among 

 the finest in the Sierra. That of the Middle Fork 



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