Rae Lakes Loop

No self-respecting California backpacking crew can call themselves legit without tackling the iconic Rae Lakes Loop. Clocking in at 42 miles, this gem in Sequoia Kings Canyon National Park was a must-do for Los Boyz. Some of us had tried it before but got snowed out. So, in October 2016, we set our sights on success—and this time, nothing was stopping us.

We kicked things off in Cedar Grove with what might have been the best veggie burger any of us had ever tasted (seriously, it was that good),then hit the trail. Joining us for this one were Doug’s brother, Jeff, and Snyde’s friend, Steve. Everything was going according to plan—until we reached Rae Lakes in the late afternoon and made the bold decision to push over 11,600-foot Glen Pass. The idea was to shave a day off the trip, but Mother Nature had other plans.

As we climbed higher, the winds cranked up and thick fog blanketed the pass.By 4:30, it was clear—we weren’t making it over Glen Pass that day. We turned back, descending to Rae Lakes, and found a campsite in the dark just as snow started to fall. With frozen fingers, we got our tents set up and hunkered down for a chilly night.

But the next morning? Absolute perfection. Clear skies and sunshine greeted us as we made our second attempt at Glen Pass, and this time, we crushed it.From there, it was smooth sailing—one more night of camping, followed by a beautiful trek down Bubb's Creek back to the trailhead. This trip lived up to its legendary status, delivering stunning scenery, tough challenges, and memories to last a lifetime.

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