Have any of you here hiked the Muro Blanco in SEKI which follows the South fork of the Kings river to Woods Creek?
It has been on my to do places for many years..so have been researching all I can...But was curious to see if anyone here has actually done it or part of it.
Any info would be appreciated
Thanks everyone!

I don't know how much help my response might provide, but since nobody else seems to be posting

In 1993 I skied from Taboose Pass to Marion and Dougherty Peaks and the east side of Cirque Crest to the Road's End in Kings Canyon NP (closed for winter). I thought this trip with a return via Charlotte Creek and Kearsage Pass to Onion Valley was one of the best, longest and (on the first leg) remotest trips I have ever done in the Sierra (summer or winter). We skied up Marion Peak and might have skied Dougherty Peak as well (I don't remember for sure anymore). The views of Murro Blanco and Arrow Peak were spectacular (I remember that). The ski from Granite Pass into the Kings Canyon was easily the most incredible ski descent (together with George Creek of Williamson) I have ever done, whole afternoon of downhill skiing dodging obsticles. What fun!

The area is still seldom visited, it really has the aroma of a real backcountry experience. If your goal is Arrow Peak, it might(?) be better to approach it via Taboose Pass.

I hiked up the Muro Blanco about 20 years ago. My backpacking partner and I left Cedar Grove in the afternoon and camped the first night at the junction where the Muro Blanco meets the trail. This was in late season (end of Sept) and the stream flows were low. We backpacked up the Muro Blanco and over Cartridge Pass the next day without much problem as I recollect. I would agree with the old (Voge) climbing guide, though. During periods of high water, it would be much more difficult to make the passage. We were able to cross the river whenever we wanted and I bet we crossed 20 times in all. If you were restricted to the east (easier) side it would be a more strenuous hike. Good luck with your trip. We climbed Marion and then returned to Cedar Grove via Granite Pass. Total trip time was 4 days.

I hiked up it once in May, and down it from Marion Pk in late July. July was easier, because we could hike in the creek bed at times. Even so, it is the toughest bush wack in the Sierra; I'll never go back there. Much more unpleasant than George Crk.

Thank you all so very much for your comments..I sure appreciate it...sorry I am so late posting back here.

I have found a few things about this hike on line but not much..so you all posting is awesome!
I don't know when I will be doing this and if it is even going to be this year yet..I am hoping, but not sure....But my route would be to go over Taboose Pass, down to the Bench lake area, from there hike down the Muro Blanco to the Woods Creek trail, hike back to the JMT and out Sawmill Pass..or might just hike back out Taboose..that depends.

Thank you all again for your kind comments!

I hiked to Ruskin and Marion last year via Taboose Pass, and to return, I descended pretty directly from Marion to the South Fork, hiking back upstream to the trail. That was in June, and I didn't cross the river at all, staying on the west side.

I'll probably go back to hike down the Muro Blanco some time, but based on the Ruskin-Marion outing, I've revised my expectations for the future Muro Blanco hike from being an enjoyable wilderness trek to instead a hot, tiring bushwhack that's likely to be more fun in retrospect than it is when I'm doing it. (Like the Enchanted Gorge or Goddard Creek.)

Matthew..Thank you for posting that info! Yes I have heard or read about some of the trek is a bushwhack!....Of all the many beautiful places in the Sierra I want to get to, that I am sure are a lot less involved in this one!....I seem to be always drawn to the more remote out of the way areas that not to many people venture off to...Milestone Basin

Thank you again everyone

I've done a lot of unpleasant bushwhacking in the Sierra but not that one. Brushy routes like Laural to Edyth to Bearup. Blanco always sounded like another Goddard Creek and not to be considered lightly. When bushwhacking I always wear more rugged pants like blue jeans, a nylon shell to keep all the dust and pollen stirred up out of inner clothing, and a good pair of gardening gloves as one will continually be grabbing onto branches, twigs, and leaves Tarzan-like. Sometimes a nightmare with a backpack of course. MB in late August seems much preferred.

Hi David...any big trips planned for you this summer?

Yeah August would probably be a better month to go if I do this...so many beautiful places in the Sierra!
Thank you for posting

madeintahoe wrote:Hi David...any big trips planned for you this summer?

Yeah August would probably be a better month to go if I do this...so many beautiful places in the Sierra!
Thank you for posting

Actually after five years not working this peon will have to go back to real work again soon ( wahhhh! ). So I don't expect to be out in the Sierra much if at all this summer. With all the smoky skies, I haven't missed much. My spring down in the southern deserts was epic so things have gone well. There will be more endless summers in my future. The job search will have to wait just a bit. We may get in a couple trips during the next three weeks as long as more fires don't start up. Another photographer and I may base camp a few days in front of the Minarets. And right after that I've planned out a 6-day visit from Edison up the north fork maybe dropping a day over the pass into Plateau of Ponds.

...now back to studying my old c copy of Kernighan & Richie.

bump! Vaguely considering this for the weekend. Anyone else want to offer some first hand testimony about the greatness (or ugliness) that is the Muro Blanco bushwhack down the South Fork of the Kings RiveR?

Man, one way to make a really slow progress bushwhack worse is to add swarms of blood sucking parasites.

yah- I opted for East Creek/Lake Reflection or maybe the Kid Lakes area. much less torturous!

I know it's late to chime in, but I'm gonna have to give the Muro Blanco two thumbs up. It's a damned spectacular canyon all around. I did it in late September of this year, and the bushwhacking wasn't that bad at all. I've probably spilled more blood stuffing envelopes. Here's a trip report if you're interested:

http://www.lancesimms.com/Hikes/CanyonOfTheMuroBlanco_9_10.html

I think if I had done it in May or June, I'd be agreeing with Robt that it's one of the toughest bushwhacks around. But in late season it's like walking on a lovely granite sidewalk in many parts.