36 



Sierra Club Bulletin 



Last summer Crabtree Meadow was badly overrun with cattle, 

 but presumably there will be better regulation in the future. 

 There is sufficient feed at Tyndall Creek. The next day's 

 journey crosses the main crest of the Sierra and skirts the 

 source of Shepard Creek, which flows into Owens Valley on 

 the east side of the range. After a short distance Junction 

 Pass (13,400 feet) is reached, and the trail crosses over into 

 the head of Center Basin in the watershed of Kings River. 

 Prior to the opening of this section of the John Muir Trail, in 

 1916, it was practically impossible to cross with animals from 

 the headwaters of the Kern to those of the Kings. Harrison 

 Pass, a little farther to the west, had been negotiated by a few 

 parties, but only at great risk, and it was never considered a 

 practicable route for ordinary travel. The Junction Pass route, 

 therefore, may be regarded as one of the most important con- 

 tributions of the John Muir Trail toward freedom of travel in 

 the Sierra. 



An excellent camp-site is to be found at Vidette Meadows. 

 Here the prospect is full of charm, the fishing is good, and the 

 animals may recuperate in good pasturage. At this point one 

 must for the present diverge from the high mountain route that 

 we hope will soon be constructed. It is possible to cross Glenn 

 Pass and camp at Rae Lake ; but this is a hazardous route for 

 animals even under the most favorable snow conditions. More- 

 over, one is compelled in the end to swing back by way of 

 Woods Creek to Paradise Valley and eventually cross to the 

 Middle Fork by Granite Pass. So, as there is a long journey 

 ahead, it is perhaps best to go down Bubbs Creek from Vidette 

 Meadows to the main canon of the South Fork of Kings River. 



The meadows in Kings River Canon are privately owned, but 

 feed privileges can be obtained at an established price per head. 

 Camping is free. There is a small store at the place formerly 

 known as Kanawyer's, where as time goes on one may be more 

 and more likely to find supplies in desired quantities. From 

 here one may telephone to Giant Forest or General Grant Na- 

 tional Park and send telegrams and mail. It is the last possi- 

 bility of the sort to be found for many a mile on the northward 

 journey. It is well to overhaul the outfit thoroughly under the 

 favorable circumstances of Kings Canon and to give every at- 



