Topo and GPS tracks of todays route. (Clockwise). The tree cover on the Nightcap Trail was dense enough to block GPS signal, but suprisingly the reception was decent along the canyon bottom on the return leg.
05/20/2004 08:23 PM
Viewed: 221 times.
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Lots of water in the Middle Fork of the Stanislaus River as it passed by the trailhead.
05/19/2004 08:18 AM
Viewed: 109 times.
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The turnoff for the Nightcap trail is only a minute or two from the parking lot. It used to be signed (as recently as last fall), but only the signpost is left- making the turn somewhat easy to miss.
05/19/2004 08:21 AM
Viewed: 107 times.
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The nightcap trail climbed steeply over a ridge to enter the Deadman creek Canyon. The creek itself wasn't visible from the trail (the angle of the canyon was too deep), but you could hear the water.
05/19/2004 08:37 AM
Viewed: 78 times.
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Route 108 climbed along the opposite side of the canyon. There was a bicyclist (not in the picture) heading up the slope as I was hiking.
05/19/2004 08:43 AM
Viewed: 105 times.
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The trail (still climbing steadily) headed south into the pines. There were a number of seasonal snowmelt streams along the way.
05/19/2004 08:51 AM
Viewed: 77 times.
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The trail soon cleared a ridge to the south and I got my first view of the snow covered Relief Reservoir basin. I think that is Granite Dome poking over the ridge on the left.
05/19/2004 09:04 AM
Viewed: 63 times.
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Switching back over to the northern side of the ridge, now looking down on Route 108 as it climbs up from Kennedy Meadow.
05/19/2004 09:07 AM
Viewed: 81 times.
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First patch of snow at about 7500ft. Not much snow was left up here.
05/19/2004 09:11 AM
Viewed: 88 times.
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