“With beauty before me, may I walk,
With beauty behind me, may I walk,
With beauty above me, may I walk,
With beauty below me, may I walk,
With beauty all me, may I walk,
Wandering on the trail of beauty, may I walk”
– Navajo: Walking Meditation
September 30
Simpson Meadow to Hay Meadow (AKA gnat meadow) – 15.5 miles
Crossing of the Middle Fork of the Kings River by the Goddard confluence took more time and energy than anticipated. The river bed was littered with debris and the access to the trail downriver was overgrown. We ended up crossing the river several times to navigate the mess. Perhaps a better and easier way to cross late season is to cross downriver close to the original crossing on the map.
The tread 12 miles down to Tehipite Valley was easy to follow and had recent logs that were cleared. Unfortunately many knats joined our hike diving into our eyes and hovering as we walked. Bad.
This area is a huge bear community with lots of evidence of scat and prints. Arrow and I talked loud and often.
Tehipite Valley lived up to the hype with towering granite walls rising in every direction. It was the perfect setting to take Arrow’s 67th birthday photo.
Next up was the ascent up to Poop Out Point. This is no joke! 3,000 feet of elevation gain in 1 1/2 miles. Intense it is and takes some time. It is a joyous occasion to reach the point.
We are camped at a nice campsite above Hay Meadow (Knat Meadow) that has a wonderful spring flowing over the trail down trail from the camp.
Happy Happy Birthday to one gorgeous, courageous, smart, and strong hiker and friend. Here is to many more adventures ahead.
Back in 2015 when I did this section I was surprised to see the relative good condition in which the trail between Tehipite Valley and Simpson Meadows was. Up to that point, most reports I found online were from folks coming from the west into Tehipite Valley and going back the same way they came or Folks visiting Simpson Meadows in their way from Roads End to JMT (or viceversa). I did not find any recent report of anybody connecting Tehipite Valley and Simpson Meadows. I do believe most of the “traffic” on that section of trail is from bears…. but that is starting to change as more folks are starting to thread the TST.
Rats!! Gnats!!
Nice clouds.
More gorgeous photos with green trees and rivers. Keep up the good hiking and continue to be safe.
Knats! Arggghhh.
Hope you didn’t take in any of them in your “Gnats arrived in full force!!!!!!!” photo above!