Pear Lake via Lakes Trail, Over the Hump and Out the Watchtower Trail

We left early from Princess Campground for one reason - we wanted to get a permit for Pear Lake for the following night. In all my research about this very coveted backpacking spot, I wasn't exactly sure at what time they would issue it; so we wanted to get to the Lodgepole Visitor Center as early as possible.

You see, the Lakes Trail is so popular and well known that you cannot reserve ahead of time; you can only do it if you are willing to risk getting a walk-up the day before. We had a reservation to camp at the Lodgepole Campground that night (which I only got because I put in an alert for a cancellation months ago and was lucky enough to get one) and then we planned to backpack at Pear Lake the following night. No plan B in place - we needed that permit. 

Ken gazing up at the Watchtower

After my experience trying to get a walk-up for part of the Wonderland Trail, I was fully expecting we may need to wait in line for an hour to insure we had first dibs. I was pretty certain I had read you could get the permit at 10am, so we arrived at 9am after the hour long drive to Sequoia National Park. And wouldn't you know it - somebody was already in line! But turns out he was just picking up his already issued permit for another trail, so when it was my turn the Ranger informed me they give out next day permits at 1pm...10am is for same day. Those are ones they release because somebody was a no show. 

Thankfully we didn't need to worry about trying to get a same day, because the "quota chart" looked to have plenty of spots open - so we just needed to think of what to do until 1pm. Time to be tourists again!

General Grant was a big tree, but General Sherman is the BIGGEST tree. We were skeptical and expecting a mad house; I mean how many people can they fit around a tree, even if it is largest in the world? Though I must say, the experience turned out to be surprisingly enjoyable. It's a half mile of beautifully paved trail down to the tree, so everyone gets nicely dispersed.  Plus a bear sighting on our drive out was a fun surprise. (Again, all the videos are stuck together on my YouTube) 

Perspective

So once we had permit in hand and camp set up, we decided to check out Tokopah Falls Hike (four miles long and just 600 ft gain) which was only a 5 minute walk from our site. This is where we figure we must have lost Sammy, because we haven't seen him since.

Did he just decide he liked California better? Was he mad at me because I almost got him killed? (That video is also included in the YouTube mash up.)  Did our camping neighbors abduct him to be a pet for their dolls? I guess we'll never know. I'm pretty bummed of course, but I have to believe he's living his best life and hasn't been disemboweled by a sloth hungry dog.

Hopefully he is making the dolls happy, and they got him his own tent

Next day we were all packed up and ready to go at 9:30am. It's only a 10 minute drive to the Wolverton parking lot where you begin, so we were getting a pretty early start for a mere 6 mile day. Except I knew almost all the 3K gain for this hike would happen going in, so it was not going to be easy. 

Top of the Hump

I'm glad we saved the Watchtower for the next day, but in hindsight I understand that that way in is not as hard. Turns out the "hump" is named that for a reason. I know it's bad when I have to start counting my steps to keep moving; though totally worth it for this... 

Heather Lake

Aster Lake

Emerald Lake

And the grand finale: Pear Lake!!

No wonder these permits are so desirable! How lucky are we? I'll try to finish this whole thing up next post. Until then, happy "some places are worth waiting in line for" trails!