The Kern River Outing of ipi6 



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to bring the climax of the outing. Swinging up a gradual rise 

 toward Shepard's Pass, we paused often to admire the wild 

 majestic beauty of the Great Western Divide — Table Mountain, 

 with its mesa-like summit. Thunder Mountain, dark and sulky, 

 then farther southward that unique shaft of granite, Milestone, 

 Suddenly, rounding a rocky crag, we were almost overwhelmed 

 by the glorious spectacle before us — dazzling snow-fields with 

 the trail descending in zigzags across their gleaming surface on 

 toward a retreating canon whose walls were hung with pur- 

 ple shadows. Farther down this rugged gorge opened out into 

 Owens Valley, a shimmering desert, whose farther margin 

 merged into the foothills of the Inyo Mountains, broken and 

 undulating. Slowly we clambered down this slippery way to a 

 pyramid of rocks which bore this significant message, written 

 on a slip of paper : "Sierra Club, turn here and work toward 

 the plateau covered with trees." Now the route became rock- 

 work. Scrambling and jumping from boulder to boulder, we 

 eventually reached the storm-beaten stunted pines cowering on 

 the upper edge of the timber-line. Here we found ourselves on 

 the recently completed portion of the John Muir Trail, one of 

 the most worthy results of the Sierra Club's concerted efforts. 

 At such an easy grade is the trail built that the ascent to the 

 highest point. Junction Pass (13,200 feet), was surprisingly 

 comfortable. This route from the Kern River basin over 

 Shepard's and Junction passes into the Kings River watershed 

 is through one of the most impressive and utterly wild regions 

 of the High Sierra. 



At the summit of the pass, where all were to await informa- 

 tion concerning the safety of the pack-train before advancing 

 farther, we snuggled down among wind-breaking rocks and with 

 the satisfaction that comes after such a climb serenely enjoyed 

 the elemental wonder of it all. Spread before us in splendid di- 

 versity were alpine lakes, sparkling streams, glacial slopes, som- 

 ber canons, precipitous crags, grassy meadows, wind-swept for- 

 ests, and silent peaks. On the left Mount Stanford loomed bold- 

 ly, while to the right was a sharply serrated ridge culminating at 

 intervals in peaks — Mount Keith, a few hundred feet higher 

 than the pass. Mount Bradley, and finally University Peak. 

 Above timber-line one is submitted to direct actinic rays and 



