Took a trip out to Washburn Lake (the gorge just past Washburn actually) and then down to SEKI over Thanksgiving.
Weather was fantastic, lows in the low 30s each night. I had originally planned to head up to the Triple Peak Fork, but was out for 5 days and was unsure about a low % forecasted storm so I turned around past Washburn Lake.
The switchbacks at Bunell were pretty much ice free. The only thing that sucked is my camera batteries had severe problems and even using tactics to warm them one died outright on the first night and the other died soon after. After spending 5 days in the park I headed down to SEKI and hiked the Middle Fork of the Kaweah for a night without the camera or tripod.
I take the photo gear out there to specifically take landscape photos that I don't feel like I can get with a point and shoot, so I was a bit apprehensive about leaving them behind, but man was it pleasant to hike without them. I did also drop a bunch of other junk I didn't need. It was the also first time backpacking in SEKI too and I enjoyed the middle fork trail a lot, definitely going back.
I ran into a bear on the trail just prior to reaching Panther Creek. He bolted as I fished around in my pocket for my cell phone. Argh!
So without further ado, the only shots I got....
I'll head back out before new years somewhere hopefully.