by Pilgrim » Sat Aug 12, 2006 9:35 am
If keeping it easy is important, then you want to head south to Willow Creek in the federal wilderness. From there it is slightly uphill to Saddle Junction as you pass Skunk Cabbage Meadow and then down hill to Idylwild. This is a an enjoyable hike. The only miserable part is the hike down devil's slide trail as it is mercilessly exposed to the sun in the afternoon.
A slightly harder way(several hundred feet of additional elevation gain) is to go to Round Valley and up to Wellmen's divide and then down to Saddle Junction. Other then Round Valley itself or the view from Wellmen's Divide, the hike down to Willow Creek and over to Saddle Junction is far more enjoyable.
What ever you do, make sure you get a wilderness permit. There is usually a ranger at Saddle Junction who checks them.
"So we are probably about where this pebble is, 2 inches off the edge of the map."