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dirt claud
Social climber
san diego,ca
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Topic Author's Original Post - May 10, 2017 - 10:41am PT
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The better half and I are planning a trip to Kern River area at the end of the month and we were looking for things to do "besides climb of course" and came across this 7 Teacups spot on Google maps.
I investigated and saw that the hike to get here starts at the Kern River bridge as shown in the blue line on the image.
I was looking at a hiking site and someone had posted that the Kern river was too high to cross as of 4/17/17 and you could not cross and get to the other side of the river and get to the 7 Teacups without a Tyroline traverse, if that is even possible.
Does anyone here who lives in the area or has visited have any info on how to get this location besides the normal 7 Teacups trail that follows the Kern River and starts at the bridge. Or if we still can get to other side of the river if we take the normal trail.
I read and saw that there may be another trail if you drive north about 1.5 miles and this will take you to the top of the Teacups. But it also says it is easy to get lost.
We were hoping to make it out to this spot during our time there and was wondering if any Supertopo peeps have any info on the hike into this place and any other possible ways of getting there if the normal trail does not work.
Any info would be appreciated and if you have any other suggestions for good hikes or things to do in the area please let us know.
Thanks,
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micronut
Trad climber
Fresno/Clovis, ca
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May 10, 2017 - 11:16am PT
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Looks magical!
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G_Gnome
Trad climber
Cali
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May 10, 2017 - 11:29am PT
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Two things. By the end of the month the Kern will be raging and you will never cross it. And don't expect to 'play' in the teacups because they will have raging water in them too. The giant snow pack will start melting soon and when it does all the rivers will get big.
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micronut
Trad climber
Fresno/Clovis, ca
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May 10, 2017 - 11:55am PT
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Some pretty technical terrain down in there!
Death on a stick with this runoff coming!
[Click to View YouTube Video]
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dirt claud
Social climber
san diego,ca
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Topic Author's Reply - May 10, 2017 - 12:39pm PT
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I thought that might be the case Gnome.
I think we will hike the trail if we can anyways just for some awesome views. Will have to visit the actual Teacups when the river flow is lower
Thanks for the heads up.
Nice video Micro, thanks, place looks awesome doesn't it? It's a good thing it takes some work to hike there or it would be a zoo.
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guyman
Social climber
Moorpark, CA.
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May 10, 2017 - 12:53pm PT
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dirt claud...... on your map there is a place marked Brush Creek CG... there is a stream that can be seen. That has some really fine plunge pools also.
Drive up Sherman Pass rd for just a bit and you will be able to look down into parts of the pools.... that's some good swimming down there. If you wish to continue and go there keep going up Sherman Pass Rd till a sign marks a dirt road that drops down into the canyon above the pools..... park and go down stream.
Another way cool thing in the Kern Canyon is this thing named "Pack Saddle Cave" ..... you start hiking by McNalleys on the "Pack Saddle Trail" and after about 2 miles you get to the cave... it's a big limestone deal with several layers. Completely unregulated no gate barring the entrance....
I bet if you looked online you could find directions because its not straight forward.... RINCON took me there on a rainy day once and I can't exactly recall the way ... except it was all on a trail, no bushwacking.
Have fun.
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dirt claud
Social climber
san diego,ca
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Topic Author's Reply - May 10, 2017 - 01:23pm PT
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Great info Guyman, thanks a lot.
Will check out the pools you are talking about and also the cave if we can.
Really like this area a lot the more we visit it, wish the fam and I could move there someday.
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youngharz
Boulder climber
Santa Barbara
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May 10, 2017 - 01:37pm PT
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I've done the teacups thing approaching via the blue path in your map. It was a springtime during a low snowpack year, we swam across the river with PFD's and then hiked up to the top of the Teacups and descended via swimming jumping and rapping. Even though it was a warm day, I wished I had brought a wetsuit. That water is cold!
If you are going to actually descend the Teacups this year, I'd wait until late September.
If you are looking for something else to do in the Kern River area besides climbing, this is a historic year for whitewater rafting. The Kern is already huge and is growing. It would be a damn fun day to go on an upper or lower Kern River run with Kern River Outfitters or Whitewater Voyages.
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mooch
Trad climber
Tribal Base Camp (Kernville Annex)
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May 10, 2017 - 02:41pm PT
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By the end of the month the Kern will be raging and you will never cross it.
Has been since early March. The Upper was 7700 cfs this past weekend. There is a cairned trail just north of the bridge. One can easily mistake it for a game trail. Hiked it last year and had to backtrack several times. Keep your eyes peeled for the cairns. Canyoneering the Tea Cups right now would be absolutely dangerous! Lots of slick rock up and around those bowls.
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dirt claud
Social climber
san diego,ca
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Topic Author's Reply - May 10, 2017 - 02:48pm PT
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Thanks Youngharz, I think we will just try to go up the normal 7 Teacups trail along the Kern river and just check out the scenery, looks like visiting the teacups will have to wait for now. Hope the pools of Sherman pass Guyman was talking about will be accessible.
Definitely planning on getting some river rafting in, will check out the companies you recommended.
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Matt Sarad
climber
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May 10, 2017 - 02:49pm PT
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The Saddleback Cave hike is worth the effort. A hike to Valhalla is also rewarding.
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Batrock
Trad climber
Burbank
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May 10, 2017 - 03:02pm PT
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We used to kayak that back in the mid 90's. That and Brush Creek are loads of fun to kayak.
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G_Gnome
Trad climber
Cali
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May 10, 2017 - 04:23pm PT
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Did the Forks of the Kern with Whitewater Voyages quite a few years back and had a blast.
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Gary
Social climber
Desolation Basin, Calif.
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May 10, 2017 - 04:35pm PT
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Another nice hike is up the Rincon Trail north of Sherman Pass Road. Nice views of the Needles and if you feel like a short backpack it takes you to the Forks of the Kern on the opposite side of where they start the raft trips. Nice camping there.
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Fat Dad
Trad climber
Los Angeles, CA
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May 11, 2017 - 10:45am PT
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Since we're up in that neck of the woods quite a bit, I've been wanting to check out that place for a while, but the river crossing has always seemed worrisome, particularly early season when the temps aren't too bad. It'd be hot there in the summer. Spectacular looking place though.
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camm-it-up
Trad climber
Los Angeles, CA
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May 11, 2017 - 11:05am PT
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It has already been said but end of May is probably a REALLY bad time to do the cups. I'd park at the bridge and hike down river to where you can see the termination of that canyon into the Kern so you can get a clear visual of the water level. I wouldn't worry about getting lost if you know how to, you know, follow a canyon in the direction it is going (hehe), but I would not think it will be very safe for you guys.
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dirt claud
Social climber
san diego,ca
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Topic Author's Reply - May 13, 2017 - 09:27am PT
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Thanks everyone for the great suggestions. Appreciate it and hope to use them in the future. Unfortunately this trip will have to wait. My wife was getting really bad headaches for a couple days. As a precaution we went to the ER Wednesday night and they did some scans and then an MRI and found a small tumor. Dr. says it appears benign and on the surface so he is confident about the surgery. Just thankful we found it and praying it is not a bad tumor and surgery goes well on Monday.
Thanks again for the input and we will use these in the future. So many great and beautiful things to see in this area, hope to be there at the end of summer after my wife recovers. :)
If anyone you know is talking about bad headaches or abnormally painful ones tell them to make sure they get it checked out. You never know, really glad we did.
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ec
climber
ca
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May 13, 2017 - 05:11pm PT
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Yeah, best wait 'till later...I recall driving in from the FS road to the NW, then hiking and camping out there. Use a map and compass or GPS to find your way...
 ec
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