A round trip of four nights, starting at Clark Fork trailhead off California highway 108. I made a counter clockwise circuit, going up Disaster Creek Trail to Paradise Valley. From there, over the divide to join the Pacific Crest Trail for a day. Then descending past Boulder Lake to the confluence of Boulder Creek and Clark Fork before returning to the trailhead.
The first day ascended through a forest fire burn scar and then into the narrow valley of Disaster Creek. I camped on a hill overlooking where an unnamed creek from Paradise Valley joins Disaster Creek. The second day was a solid climb up pas Paradise Valley. I made my camp in the forest at 9000 feet before the afternoon skies opened to a raucous thunderstorm. The third day I climbed and looked out to Lightning Mountain from the bare rocks of a lava cone before cresting the Pacific divide and joining the Pacific Crest Trail going south. I spent the night in a small valley near Boulder Peak and climbed the hill behind my tent to watch the sunset. The fourth day I continued south above White Canyon, turning west to drop into a small valley going to Boulder Lake. I ate my lunch there, but went on down Boulder creek to where Clark Fork joins, taking a pleasant dip in some mountain stream pools. On the last day I took my time and quietly went down the Clark Fork Trail, back to the Iceberg and the trailhead.
The Iceberg from just below
Wildflowers in Disaster Creek Valley
Sunset through the trees
Lupine wildflowers
Early evening light
Stanislaus Peak in the golden hour
Illuminated clouds and Stanislaus Peak
Sentinels on the Pacific Crest Trail
Boulder Lake
Evening light through the trees
Clark Fork waterfall
