Sphinx Creek, Charlotte Creek, Lower Junction Meadow, Junction Meadow and East Creek, East Lake, at 9,900 feet in elevation (JMT), Vidette Meadows, and at the junction of the Center Basin Trail and JMT; Woods Creek (canisters required, lockers reserved for JMT and PCT thru-hikers), including Lower Paradise Valley, Middle Paradise Valley, Upper Paradise Valley, Woods Creek crossing (JMT), Arrowhead Lake, and Middle Rae Lake; Kearsarge area, including Kearsarge Lakes and Charlotte Lake.
Cougars (Mountain Lions)
The chances of seeing a big cat in the backcountry are extremely small since they are typically shy, avoiding human contact at nearly all costs. They are much more likely to see you, especially while you are hiking in the western foothills area. Unlike omnivorous black bears, cougars are strictly carnivorous, with mule deer as the main staple of their diet. When hunting for deer is poor, they supplement with smaller animals. A typical mountain lion is estimated to kill 36 deer per year, and the overall health of the deer herd is directly linked to the predatory nature of the cats, since the cats cull the weaker members. Experts recommend you do the following to avoid running into a cougar or react to an encounter with one:
Don’t hike alone, especially in the foothills zone.
Don’t leave small children unattended; pick them up if a cat approaches.
Don’t run since flight indicates you are prey.
Make yourself appear as large as possible—don’t crouch or try to hide.
Hold your ground, or back away slowly while facing the cat.
If the cat is aggressive, make noise, wave your arms, and throw rocks.
If the animal attacks, fight back.
Report any encounters or injuries to the appropriate agency.
Marmots
The largest member of the squirrel family, chirping marmots hardly seem threatening to humans. However, these herbivores have been known to wreak havoc on radiator hoses and wiring in cars parked at Mineral King trailheads, especially in spring (this hankering seems to taper off by midsummer). Many a vehicle has been disabled by their rare proclivity for dining on automobile parts, leaving drivers stranded until they can arrange for repair services. Unsuspecting drivers have transported these furry creatures to other parts of the park and as far away as Southern California! Check with the rangers at the Mineral King Ranger Station for the current conditions. Some backpackers surround their vehicles with wire to keep them safe.
Marmots in other parts of the High Sierra, particularly near popular campsites, have been known to chew through backpack straps, hiking boots, and rubber grips on trekking poles. Once they associate humans with food, they will often tear through backpacks in search of treats. In marmot-infested areas, store your food in canisters or bear lockers, or hang it from a tree.
Rattlesnakes
Although rattlesnakes are common to the foothills community on the west side of the Sierra and the pinyon-sagebrush zone on the east side, human encounters with them are relatively rare. Actual bites are even less frequent, and fatalities are almost nonexistent in adults. While rattlers live in a wide range of environments, pay close attention when hiking near creeks below 6,000 feet in elevation. These reptiles seek sun when temperatures are cool and retreat into the shade when temperatures are warm. During the summer months, they are often nocturnal.
Rattlesnakes are not aggressive and will seek escape unless cornered. Never provoke a rattlesnake. If you happen to encounter one, back away quickly. On the rare occasion you or someone in your party is bitten, seek medical attention immediately.
Ticks
Very uncommon in the High Sierra, ticks are most prevalent in the foothills zone, especially in spring following particularly wet winters. These blood-sucking pests would be a mere nuisance if they weren’t also carriers of debilitating diseases, such as Lyme disease or Rocky Mountain spotted fever. Although rare in the southern Sierra, these tick-borne conditions can be serious if left untreated. If you are bitten by a tick, especially one that may have been attached for 24 hours or more, watch for a bull’s-eye rash, flulike symptoms, headache, rash, fever, or joint pain. Consult a physician if any of these symptoms persist.
Myths, old wives tales, and urban legends abound regarding the removal of a tick from human flesh. The medically accepted method advises the use of a pair of tweezers to gain a solid hold and the application of gentle traction to back the tick out. After you have removed it, thoroughly wash the area with antibacterial soap, completely dry the skin, and then apply an antibiotic ointment. Monitor your health for the next several days. Prevention is the best medicine; observe the following guidelines when traveling in tick country:
Apply an effective repellent on skin and clothing, and reapply often.
Wear long-sleeved shirts and long pants, and tuck your pant legs into the top of your socks.
Inspect your entire body regularly (at least a couple times a day). Check your clothing thoroughly.
Mosquitoes
While they are not a major health concern, nothing can ruin a backcountry trip faster than a horde of pesky mosquitoes. Fortunately, the mosquito cycle in the Sierra Nevada builds for a short time in early summer, peaks for about two weeks, and then steadily diminishes; the peak of mosquito season varies from year to year, but unfortunately climaxes during the height of wildflower season.
Mosquitoes seem to prefer some people to others. For those who are so cursed, supposed deterrents seem to be the modern era’s equivalent of snake oil, including sleeping under a pyramid, ingesting a boatload of vitamin B, bathing yourself in a vat of hand lotion, or using some high-frequency device to drive the bugs away. Although the only surefire method of avoiding these ubiquitous pests is to stay away, most outdoor recreationists find this alternative justifiably unacceptable. The following guidelines may help to minimize the aggravation of mosquito season:
Use an effective repellent containing a high concentration of DEET. Lemon-eucalyptus oil may also work, but it never hurts to bring a repellent with DEET just in case.
Wear long-sleeved shirts, long pants, and a head net when necessary.
Select wind-prone campsites, bring a tent, and avoid camping near marshy areas.
Maps
Hikers and backpackers can choose from a number of recreational maps for the popular Sequoia and Kings Canyon region, including the maps provided in this guide.
USGS Topographic Maps
The 7.5-minute quadrangles, published by the US Geological Survey, are the most accurate and detailed maps available. You can purchase the USGS maps ($8 per sheet in 2012) directly from the USGS website (www.store.usgs.gov) and at Park Service or Forest Service visitor centers. Some outdoor retailers offer customers the ability to customize and print maps using the 7.5-minute maps as a base. Long-distance backpackers may favor maps at a smaller scale since the 1:24,000 scale of the 7.5-minute quads may require them to carry numerous maps.
Hikers study the map above Palisade Basin (Trip 113).
