Lower Franklin Lake to Sawtooth Trailhead
(6 miles, +600/-3,100 feet).

Today was an easy day, but that’s just alright with me given the last two days and my impending 7 hour drive back to San Diego.

Last night was peaceful and calm again. You’d think I would have slept well, but I kept having dreams about falling. I guess my subconscious is a little freaked out about these crazy passes!

So I was a little sleepy but the trail was mostly downhill and not too hard to manage.

At the crossing of Franklin Creek I stopped for breakfast and then crossed 100 feet upstream from the ford on two little jumps across the two streams that join just above the ford.

Shortly after the ford I encountered two snow fields on trail below Lady Franklin Mine but it wasn’t too difficult. I decided not to put on my crampons at either one, but I did scramble off trail at the lower field so I could walk across a less steep part.

After that it was pure duffy deliciousness as the trail wound around to Farewell Canyon.

I surprised a family of deer on the way down.

And then the trail headed back to Franklin Creek.

The Franklin Creek ford was safe, but I couldn’t quite rock hop it. The water came up to my ankles on one rock in the middle.

I could have kept my feet dry at Crystal Creek, but since I was already wet I just walked straight through. I loaded up one more liter of delicious Sierra water for the trip home.

The view of Timber Gap welcomed me back to Mineral King

And just to make things official, a car-eating marmot watched me head back to my rental.