Genius or Madness? October Middle Kings

October 17, 2009

By Darin McQuoid

A tropical storm hit California hard in early October, flash flooding the Southern Sierra Nevada and dropping over three feet of snow above 10,000'. While most of the runs dropped as quickly as they rose, the infamous Middle Fork of the Kings is holding water. In a trip that will prove to be either genius or madness, Ben Stookesberry, Chris Korbulic, Rush Sturges and I will start hiking over 12,000' Bishop pass tomorrow morning, and attempt the first fall run of the five day run that has been called a "trip of a lifetime". Attached is a shot of me on Bishop Pass, July 17th 2009. I dread to think of how much snow will be up here three months and a day later!

- Darin McQuoid