Backpacking in Sequoia National Park - Day 5 (Bearpaw Meadow to Crescent Meadow)

The day had finally come for us to hike back to my car, which was parked at Crescent Meadow. It was going to still be 11.3 miles, but at least we knew it was going to be mostly downhill. When we got up, it was a beautiful morning. The sun was shining, birds chirping, and the meadow was peaceful. We made fairly good time packing up our camp.

We hit the trail around 8:30 if memory serves me (which it may not be since we're about three weeks post trip as I write this). We were about to make record time on this hike, but not for the reasons you might think. The first mile or so of the hike was through the woods that surrounded Bearpaw Meadow. It was quiet and serene, and the sun peaked through the trees with little pools of light all around us.

We made it down to Buck Creek fairly quickly. It was so nice there in the morning, another reason I would highly recommend it as a camping stop for through hikers.

The most difficult part of our day was from Buck Creek to Mehrten Creek, so we naturally coined the hashtag #makeittomehrten. However, I don't think this ever started trending since there was no cell service. The trail between these two creeks would be the only real climbing we would be doing all day.

As we climbed we crossed Nine Mile Creek, which for us marked two miles into our return journey. So in a little over an hour, we had already gone over two miles, which was a good pace! Interestingly enough, the main motivator of the day had not yet arrived, and we were still booking it!

The scenery on the way back was still just as breathtaking as it was on the way in, but we knew we had a four to five hour drive ahead of us once we got off the trail still, so we stopped a little less than we did on the way in. Some vistas still demanded that we stop for a photo though.

As we approached Mehrten Creek, it started sprinkling. Upon surveying the sky, Nate and I decided to break out the ponchos again as the sky to the west did appear threatening. Alex, rightfully so, hated wearing a poncho, so he wasn't ready to put his back on again. After all, it was just a light sprinkle. So with great joy, we #madeittomehrten and took a very brief break.

Not long after we moved on from Mehrten, the High Sierras got really sad about our departure and it started POURING! Complete with thunder and lightning! Our pace quickened, and Alex pulled out his poncho after all. 

Apart from my lower half getting soaked, there was something really refreshing about hiking in the storm. Being from the Midwest, I'm used to thunder storms and kind of miss them living in LA. My shoes got so full of water that every step I took, water would squish out the tops of them. Needless to say, we didn't stop and take a lot of photos, so apologies for the scarcity.

Between Mehrten and Eagle View, there aren't a ton of clear mile markers, but we knew that once we got to Eagle View, we were only one mile from the end of the trail. We just powered through those five miles. I was very grateful for the good tread on my hiking shoes as the rain made rocks and such very slippery. There were also many spots on the trail where the rain had flash flooded the trail with a little stream of water. That made things more interesting as well. We also saw several groups of backpackers heading in as we left. We were very happy that this deluge was taking place on our way out and not on the first day of our journey. We even saw a family with kids heading in, and they were going all the way through to Whitney! #goals Am I right?!

When we finally made to Eagle View, it was very exciting! We knew we were only one mile from the car. I was getting so excited to get back to LA and see my wife and kids and tell them all about the trip! We had made such good time, that I thought we would make it back before the kids went to bed. So we got a few pictures at Eagle View and then entered the Giant Forest once again to head down to Crescent Meadow.

We made it! We arrived back from our trip safe and sound! It was truly an amazing experience, and I cannot wait to get back on the trails again. The beauty and wonder of God's creation has such a cleansing and clarifying effect on the mind, not to mention the lack of things like internet and social media.

I didn't have extra shoes, so I got to drive home barefoot because my shoes were so drenched. It was so funny the things we take for granted in civilized society become amazing when you haven't had them for a few days. We were so excited to see . . . wait for it . . . a trash can! We were like, "What is this ingenious invention?" 

On the way out of the park, we had to make a stop at the main sign. We hadn't stopped on the way in because of the stress of the car overheating.

On the way home, we did stop for food because we were starving! We stopped in the Central Valley at a place called Straw Hat Pizza, and we ate entirely too much pizza. It was so good to eat something that hadn't been dehydrated! 

Well, that's it! That was our trip to Sequoia National Park. It might be dramatic to say it was life-changing, but it was indescribable. This blog only gives a slight taste of the beauty and majesty that we experienced in the High Sierras. If you haven't gone, you need to go. As for me, I can't wait to pack up my gear and hit the trails again. It's safe to say that I love my new hobby!