Silver Creek Trail 27E63

I rated this trail as extremely difficult because of the navigational skills required. Switchbacks climb steep slopes from 6400 to 8000 feet, but while the trail is narrow because of erosion, the switchbacks are well constructed, well graded, and not dangerous. However, when you are not on the switchbacks, there is generally no obvious trail created by foot or stock traffic. There are an enormous number of ducks (cairns) marking the way, and sometimes you can easily see your way from one to the next. However, I often couldn't find the next one, and I lost the trail a number of times. This hike requires a detailed topo map, and you must be capable of finding your way to the switchbacks, because they are the only way up or down the steep slopes above Fish Creek. The northern end starts from the Fish Creek Trail just before that trail crosses the bridge over Fish Creek. There was no trail sign and I could find no obvious trail. I finally just climbed up through the brush as best I could until I found the switchbacks. I might have given up, except I previously met someone who came down trail that day. At about 6800 feet, the trail crosses an unnamed stream with good water. Fill up here, because this is the last water before Silver Creek. The first half of the switchbacks climb rocky slopes. The second half climbs steep dirt slopes, where there are a few downed trees across the trail that force very steep climbs up the dirt. However, this is not dangerous. At 8000 the trail goes over a ridge with a great view of the San Joaquin River canyon and the surrounding peaks to the north and northwest. The trail continues up the ridge and then becomes more obscure as it contours south across meadows towards Silver Creek. At about 4.6 miles, I was surprised to see an old trail sign marking the junction of the Silver Creek trail with the String Meadow Trail #26E04 from the west and the Sharktooth Lake Trail #27E01 headed east. Considering its length, Silver Creek has a low water flow. Our trail/route keeps climbing, never straying too far from Silver Creek until it reaches 8900 feet at about 7 miles. Then it veers left to climb up the rocks and back right again to cross over a saddle south of a steep dome that is 200 feet higher. The trail/route then wanders almost level through meadows for 3/4ths of a mile and finally climbs up to its end at the signed junction with the Big Margaret Lake trail #27E63 and the Coyote Cutoff Trail #27E19.