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White Chief in Mineral King is a Steep Hike

White Chief might be the most popular short(ish) hike in Mineral King. It might also be the steepest one. It is always worth the effort, especially when back home again.
Farewell Gap photo by Jana Botkin
This is the first awe-inspring view on the way to White Chief. It is Farewell Gap at around 10 a.m.

 

bridge over Spring Creek
A bridge is a welcome sight when one isn’t that great at rock-hopping.
fireweed photo by Jana Botkin
Nice patch of Fireweed by Spring Creek. Icky name for a gorgeous blossom!
White Chief photo by Jana Botkin
FINALLY at the end of the steep climb to White Chief, about to break into the canyon. I think someone moved the place higher since I last went there. The flat topped peak is White Chief Peak.

 

view from White Chief Canyon photo by Jana Botkin
Walk a little further up canyon, turn around, see this view.

 

creek in White Chief canyon photo by Jana Botkin
The creek in the middle part of White Chief is so cold that the marrow in my foot bones might have frozen a little bit. (It HAD to help plantar fasciitis, right?)

 

Trail Guy having lunch in White Chief canyon
Trail Guy finds great spots to perch for lunch, but the cheese was with me down in the creek. Bummer, Dude, I’m not moving because my feet are frozen.
cloudy view from middle of White Chief canyon
Tut-tut, it looks like rain. Let’s choose a different route home. (No, not a helicopter) Maybe over that ridge ahead, see that bare spot in the trees? 
wildflowers in Mineral King photo by Jana Botkin
Bigelow Sneezeweed, the ubiquitous Indian Paintbrush and Larkspur look like the primary colors I use for oil painting.

 

This is getting to be a bit long. I’ll continue it next Friday. . . same bat time, same bat channel.

5 Comments

  1. Jana, thanks for sharing your photos. My memories of the Tetons and Yellowstone are still so fresh, your pics made me miss being in the mountains. Sure wish we lived closer to some but am so grateful when we get to visit.

  2. Jana your pictures are amazing! For a second I felt like I was there…and then I felt sad that I wasn’t there.

    • Aw, Shannon, that is sweet – but if you were there, you’d be gasping for breath!

  3. Hi Jana,

    Is the Fireweed in the Penstemon family?? They sure look similar to what was in my yard, the leaves especially are the same.

    Love going to Whitechief. It is our first hike for newbies to the area, they always love going through the caves. Did not make it there this year. Oh well! You did, good for you!

    Hugs,
    Mel

    • Melissa, fireweed is way taller and the shape of the flowers is different. But, those wildflower books with their Latin names often surprise me. . .

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