By
Robert & Juli LaMont
My family used to go to Kennedy Meadows for the 4th
of July weekend, and ride the trails between our camp at Fish Creek and Monache
Meadows. You can imagine my surprise to hear Sherman Pass and Monache Meadows
were still closed in August.
We had been looking forward to this run since the
run-planning meeting last December. We made sure we had Friday and Monday off
well in advance so we could make it a four-day weekend. So, with our fingers
crossed, Juli, her daughter Katie, and I (along with Katie’s cousin Taylor)
headed out early Friday morning and hoped for the best.
By the time we hit Four Corners (Kramer Junction) it was
almost 100 degrees. The little F150 had its job cut out for it. There was no way
I was going to try to pull the Jeep up a 9 mile canyon, so it was disconnected
and Juli drove it from there. At the top, we found cool temperatures and clear
skies. The last 15 miles was a nice mountain drive
Saturday morning we headed out for Monache Meadows with a
stop at the ranger Station. They informed us, to our great pleasure, that all
trails were open! The trail to the meadows is an easy trail meanders through the
forest, and some smaller meadows. Its open to all 4WD vehicles, and ends at the
most beautiful alpine meadow I’ve ever seen. Once there, we had lunch and
tried our luck in the south fork of the Kern River. We didn’t catch anything
but who cares? Look where we were!
The closest entrance to Sherman Pass is a 13-mile drive on
pavement. We decided to go to the far end and work our way back. This is a trail
the rangers say require expert driving skills, and is only open to short wheel
base vehicles, but is probably only a 3 on the Dirt Devil scale. What a drive! I
can’t say enough about this area!
Our nights were filled with BBQ-ing and roasting marshmallows
over an open campfire. One day between baiting the kid’s hooks, and untangling
their lines, I almost caught one!
In our humble opinion, these are two of the best trails ever.
And hope that they make the roster next year, and even if they don’t that we
will have the pleasure of your company.
|
