This part of Mike’s backpack followed a trail through the relatively abundant forest of the west side of the Sierra Nevada. In spite of their funereal names, both Lower and Upper Graveyard Meadows are pleasant-enough places. In fact, Mike heard from one backpacking couple that they had attended a wedding there!
He encountered cattle at one point near the beginning, managing to circumspectly detour around them since they seemed disinclined to relinquish the trail.
Mike dislikes water crossings, so wouldn’t you know, there were three, as the trail crossed back and forth over Cold Creek. And they weren’t easy: no nice stepping stones or plank bridges. At the first two crossings Mike relied on the old put-on-your-boots-without-socks-and-wade-through routine; which worked well enough the first time, but at the second the stream was so deep that water flowed over the top of his boots. Luckily Mike was ready to stop for the day, because a lengthy drying-out period was in order for both boots and socks (which had become soaked after putting the boots back on.) Items were moved from granite to tree to shrub to catch the precious sun. Next day he used his Tevas for the third crossing, which turned out to be a piece ‘o cake.
Photos: Branches & Granite—Sierra Nevada, 2008; Cattle—Sierra Nevada, 2008; Boots & Sox—Sierra Nevada, 2008
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