2015, Wilderness, Hume Lake RD, Sequoia NF Jennie Lakes & Monarch Wilderness Detailed Trail Reports and Information (trailhead names are in bold type) By: Jeff Duneman, Wilderness Ranger Hume Lake Ranger District, Sequoia National Forest Last updated: August 3rd, 2015 *NOTES: “How long will it take?! Is it a hard hike?!” Difficulty and time required depends on you, the hiker, and your condition. An experienced, strong hiker will cover 3-4 miles (or more!) an hour carrying a full pack, without stopping. Someone who doesn’t hike much (or walk much, for that matter) will cover 1-2 miles (or less!) an hour, without a big pack, with frequent stops. Know your abilities! Always carry water, always check weather conditions, always tell people where you are going, and always familiarize yourself with the area (real maps recommended, not GPS). Pay attention to your surroundings, and enjoy your wilderness! *LEAVE NO TRACE: Please take a look at the seven Leave No Trace wilderness ethics before you head out to the trail – https://lnt.org/learn/7-principles *Never leave trash or toilet paper behind! Pack it all in, pack it all out. *When campfires are allowed (check with the forest service on current fire status), always completely drown your campfire so that it is completely out! Jennie Lakes Wilderness (JLW) 1) Big Meadows Trail (#?)/Weaver Lake Trail (#30E09) Big Meadows trailhead up to Weaver Lake: At about 3.5 miles one-way, this is one of the easiest and most popular hikes in the JLW. The trail winds through Lodgepole Pines near the trailhead, climbs slowly (with a nice view into Kings Canyon) into Red and White Firs, with another slight ascent once you are getting closer to the lake. A few minutes past the first junction (with the “Leave No Trace” sign) with Fox Meadow, pay attention to the next junction between this trail and the Jennie Lake trail heading south, and make sure to follow the path east to Weaver Lake. The trail sign at this junction was recently stolen so pay attention! (currently there is a only laminated paper sign directing you to the lakes) The trail has been cleared of all downed trees and the tread and most of the water bars are in good condition. Once up at the lake, please camp only in established campsites and do not build any new fire rings! There are over 15 sites located all around the lake, most on the north and west sides. Please do not camp on the east side of the lake and try to camp at least 100-200’ off of the lakeshore. Trout fishing is generally very good at the lake. 2015, Wilderness, Hume Lake RD, Sequoia NF 2) Big Meadow Trail(#?)/Jennie Lake Trail (#29E05) Big Meadow trailhead up to Jennie Lake: Beginning the same as the hike up to Weaver Lake, this very popular trail turns south/southeast at the junction with the Weaver Lake Trail. It is about 6.5 miles to Jennie Lake cutting slowly around Shell Mountain and then up and down either side of Poop Out Pass. It is a bit of a climb up to the pass but once there it flattens out for a bit, before descending on the other side. A final small ascent and descent leads past some great views into the northern section of the JLW and Kings Canyon as you get close to the lake. There are primarily Lodgepole Pines and White and Red Fir trees along the trail, with some Jeffrey Pines on the way as well as Mountain Pines higher up. The trail has been cleared and there are only a couple of very old downed trees remain along the route, but all have well- worn user trails around them. There are some rock and water bar issues coming up and down either side of Poop Out Pass with some rocky wash out on small sections of the trail, but in general the tread and most of the water bars are also in very good condition. Once up at the lake, please camp only in established campsites and do not build any new fire rings! There are about 20 sites located all around the lake, most on the north and west sides. Please try to camp at least 100-200’ off of the lakeshore. Trout fishing is also generally very good at the lake. 3) Rowell Meadow Trail (#30E08) Rowell Meadow trailhead up to Rowell Meadow: Another relatively easy hike, it is about 2.5 miles up to the meadow and the old snow survey cabin. Please drive slowly as you pass the Horse Corral camp on the way in; the trailhead is about 2 miles up a decent dirt road. Once on the trail there is a ½ mile ascent up a rocky section to the Wilderness Boundary sign, and this provides some excellent views west and south into the heart of the Jennie Lakes Wilderness. From the wilderness boundary, the trail flattens out most of the way to the meadow and is a smooth hike. Just before the meadow, watch for the new trail sign at the junction that directs you south towards JO Pass and the Weaver Lake Trail junction. The old cabin is just east beyond the trail junction. The Rowell Trail itself winds through mostly White and Red Fir trees with a few Jeffrey Pines on the rocky slope, and then turns into thick Lodgepole Pine groves near the meadow. The trail has been cleared of all downed trees. The rocky section of the trail has some minor rock and water bar issues, and is heavily used by stock, so be careful of loose rocks. In general the tread and trail condition is also very good here. On the east side of the meadow, there is a trail junction for four different trails, two of which head into Kings Canyon NP. One sign points out three of the trails, and across the path there is a signpost (missing the sign) pointing the way up to Marvin Pass and Mitchell Peak to the north. Please check the signs and your map and make sure to take the correct path. If camping near the meadow, look for one of the three established campsites near the wooden bridge and please do not build new fire rings. Note: in dry seasons and late in the Summer, there is very little water near the meadow. The closest reliable water sources are a) about ½ mile south up the JO Pass Trail, and b) about a ½ mile north up the trail towards Marvin Pass. 4) JO Pass Trail (#30E11) Rowell Meadow junction up to JO Pass: This trail leads you into the heart of the Jennie Lakes Wilderness, linking you to the Weaver Lake Trail, Jennie Lake, and south into Sequoia NP towards Lodgepole. It is about 4 2015, Wilderness, Hume Lake RD, Sequoia NF quick miles from the junction up to the pass. There is some slight up and down along the trail, with a little climb before you reach the junction with the Weaver Lake Trail, and then again as you approach JO Pass you ascend a clear, rocky section. Watch for the trail sign at the junction which leads west towards Weaver Lake. Once you continue past the Weaver Lake Trail junction heading south, just to the east off the trail you can cut over to the “Profile View” (see your map) for a great view over the boundary and down into the Park. From the Rowell Meadow area, the trail winds through a thick Lodgepole Pine forest and then starts ascending up towards JO Pass, where it becomes White and Red Fir, with Mountain Pines appearing higher up. Once on the clear rocky section, to the west you get a nice view of Jennie Peak in the distance. There are only a couple of very old, very large downed trees on the trail, but all with good user trails around them. There are also some minor rock and water bar issues with some washout on small sections of the trail up and down the rocky sections towards JO Pass, but in general the tread and trail is in good condition. If you want to camp at JO Pass, there are several good campsites established by the creek below the pass, as well as above it near the small pond. Please do not build any new fire rings. Just to the south and west of the JO Pass Trail junction there are some great views into Sequoia National Park. 4) Weaver Lake Trail (#30E09) Weaver Lake over to JO Pass junction: Finally cleared of most of the dozens of downed trees that were here for several years, this trail is in the best shape it’s been in quite a while. There are a couple of very old trees (near the junction with JO Pass Trail), but with good user trails around them. It’s about 4.5 up and down miles from Weaver Lake heading east to the junction with the JO Pass Trail. Past Weaver Lake, the trail remains relatively flat until you descend into the valley where you will cross several streams (a great water source late in the Summer) that all become Boulder Creek. After the streams you begin a somewhat steep ascent on a rocky section up towards the JO Pass Trail junction with some spectacular views north, south and west into the JLW. Past the rocky face, heading up towards the JO Pass trail junction, the trail can be a little difficult to follow, so pay attention.