First hike in the South Sierras! This was my first multi-night outing in the Sierras since Yosemite in my youth! One of the most popular hikes in the S. Sierras was relatively uncrowded yet still sported sunny skies and warm, mosquito-free nights.

Follows South Fork Kings River up Paradise Valley then along Woods Creek past Castle Domes. Continues upvalley along South Fork of the creek past Dollar Lake to Rae Lakes. Finally one last steep climb to Glen Pass then mostly downhill to Junction Meadow and down lovely Bubbs Creek past The Sphinx back to Roads End.

Fun facts

Bit by bee on hand on first day - painful! Same thing would happen one year later on a hike from Roads End.

Whether from heat or actual sickness, first day was v tough - sweated it out in hammock all night.

At Rae Lakes only one other group there but they still chose to park their tent within spitting distance from me :-o

First close black bear encounter where the bears didn't run away! Got some good videos.