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It was 2am & it was blustery in Mammoth Lakes. The guy at the front desk of our cheap motel seemed to want company, taking extra long. Suddenly the morning alarms were ringing, permits were acquired & breakfast was had.
It was 2am & it was blustery in Mammoth Lakes. The guy at the front desk of our cheap motel seemed to want company, taking extra long. Suddenly the morning alarms were ringing, permits were acquired & breakfast was had.
| Collin heading towards Duck Pass |
Second checking all items included, Collin, Carlos & I made sure between the three of us we would have what we needed make it through the next five days & 35+ miles of High Sierra backcountry.
Leaving Duck Pass Trailhead was an easy climb past several smaller lakes & catching glimpses of the pass we would be climbing. After saying Hello to a few day hikers & others angling in the creeks abound, we eventually popping out at Barney Lake for a rest & a chance to marvel at where only 3 miles of trail can take you.
| Duck Lake & two travelers |
We had been eyeing Duck Pass (elv 10,814ft) from the lake below & could see some significant snow fields, but nothing that would obstruct our way. Climbing now higher above the rocky basin we were getting our first grand views & a small taste of what lay ahead.
| The Silver Divide |
Crossing a few snow sections & a steady uphill climb to Duck Pass rewarded us three with our first "accomplishment" of the trip... & hours ahead of what we planned? It wasn't even lunch time & we were over Duck Pass. Decision making time, being ahead of schedule should we press on, or just saunter to Pika Lake & relax all day?
| Off trail towards Ram Lakes |
We waved goodbye to the last person we would see for a couple days at the pass & voted to keep on to Ram Lake, skipping the first nights destination. Moving on now, the trail shows you a stunningly power waterfall connected to the Duck Lake outlet, then skirting the ridge, the trail overflowed with water from all areas of the mountain. It was hiker heaven...
| Ram Lake Sunset |
Moving west now high above Cascade Valley the vistas of the Silver Divide were incredible! I was really in love with our first day of hiking. For about a mile the trail is perched a thousand feet above the valley, allowing hearty travelers views of the snow capped peaks in all directions & rambling Fish Creek far below.
| Ram Lake Sunset |
| Ram Lake Morning |
I had begun to fall behind due to my photography addiction/problem, but also a week or so before this trip I had nursed a sore knee back to health, that was already beginning to come back & give me a bit of agitation... more on that front later.
| Ram Lake Basin |
Now at the junction for Ram Lake & the PCT/JMT, he headed off around the edge of Purple Lake towards the upper granite basin. I knew from last years trip to the Sierra's, this was going to be more work than it looks from afar (didn't hike this trail, just similar). Somewhere around a mile & a half (past Purple Lake) the Ram Lakes trail becomes discernibly harder to follow.
| Smooth granite |
After some time & a few creek crossings we followed a use trail & had a grand ol' time going the wrong direction that many previous travelers obviously had done as well, but still allowing us passage to Ram Lakes (elv. 10,800ft).
| Fish Creek Trail into Cascade Valley |
The magnitude of vast open spaces was really felt at this lake side. As the evening progressed the stars show brightly & our efforts were rewarded for a hard first days work.
| Near junction for Minnow Creek Trail |
The next morning we saddled up & headed back down the the basin to meet Purple Lake. Stopping alongside, granite spires rose high above the lakes edge, enticing Collin to jump in & take a swim. Crossing another junction onto the Fish Creek Trail now, we dropped down into Cascade Valley.
| One of many waterfalls in Cascade Valley (hence name) |
It takes some time to get down the long switchbacks, but the second half is much more enjoyable with views out to the Silver Divide. Landing at the bottom, we stopped for lunch along Fish creek in the middle of a green grassy meadow. Gazing up at the granite shelf we had been walking on the previous day high above.
| Night 2 Sunset |
The morning's downhill stretch had worn on my knee a bit more, so my dear friends were kind enough to opted to pass on the Minnow Creek Trail/Lost Keys Lakes & stay steady down Cascade Valley towards Second Crossing.
| Morning's water filtering in Fish Creek |
This afternoon's section was a nice walk downhill playing hide & seek with Fish Creek & it's five or six LARGE cascading waterfalls. A roaring amongst the trees was always a welcome sign. Though many sites/books had said to be weary of Second Crossing being difficult in early season, there are two large trees fallen across that make an easy bridge.
| Saddle: Left side is Cascade Valley (where we came from), right is Iva Bell Hot Springs & Fish Valley for the next two days travel |
Our third day was set up for an easy morning hike right into Iva Bell Hot Springs. This also turned up some of my favorite views on the trip. The saddle between Cascade Valley & Fish Valley was a really unique place. Looking along Sharktooth Ridge & down onto the grassy slopes that make up Iva Bell Hot Springs.
| Iva Bell Meadows are full of life |
The next mile & a half of trail took a page out of the local LA mountain handbook... hot, manzanita, open slopes, period. Still the views towards Devils Top & the waterfall pouring out of the Lost Keys area kept me beaming with natural joy no matter how my knee ached.
| Iva Bell Hot Springs (upper) |
The afternoon sun was a bit warm for hot springs upon arrival so time was spent resting, cleaning clothes & organizing the downsizing of packs. As the sun dipped lower we made our way up several hundred feet up the steep grassy & granite slopes to several pools of rock fed, hot natural spring water. Sitting quietly, the birds called softly while the sun set behind the days accomplishments.
| View of Devils Top from the upper hot springs |
From this night onward, the tent was only dead weight, the weather was nice enough each eve to sleep out under the stars. Smashing now down Fish Valley on day four, we all were moving at our own paces. The trail life had set in a bit more. Having wrapped my knee & ankle in a make-shift ace bandage (see video), I tailed behind the group, enjoying the solitude my disposition had given me.
| Milky Way |
The switchback climb out of Fish Valley, after Island Crossing, onto the bluffs high above is dramatically beautiful, but this is due to the exposure & lack of shade in the mid-afternoon. You get so sweat & have jaw dropping views. Working harder now than at Duck Pass, the apex of the climb seemed to be elusive.
| Day Four: Heading down Fish Valley |
I should have know better, for such a climb we were rewarded with endless meadows of wildflowers, grand views for miles towards Lion Point & beyond. To top this day off, we hiked across a massive granite face, with the trail chipped into the aged hard surface.
| Large bones near Island Crossing |
Stopping the last night a Crater Canyon Camp, we set ourselves up for a some-what easier hike out in the morning. One last night under the stars, with a morning of frost on the sleeping bag. A couple of meal bars later & we were banging out the last miles of the trail with Devil's Postpile in the distance.
| Upper shelf along the exit of Fish Valley, looking into Middle Fork San Jaquin |
Not necessarily on purpose, but we managed to take the long route to get to the Postpile, though beautiful nonetheless, we arrived excited we made it this far. Snapping some photos & chatting with people from Bristol (UK) we walked off in search of the highway, another mile or so away.
| Collin walking a stunning section of trail! |
| Looking east towards Devil's Postpile |
Did I mention we had no way to get back to our car, 30 some odd miles on the other side of Mammoth Mountain? The three of us decided at the beginning of the trip we would only worry about the hitch-hike when it come to it.. so here we were at Reds Meadows awaiting some luck.
| Near our Crater Canyon |
| Views on Day 5 hiking to Devil's Postpile |
Sprinkle some trail magic & the second truck to came along has Norm behind the wheel & 2 PCTers inside. He offers us the back bed of his truck & a ride all the way back to our car! Check that box off the life list. forty minutes later we are dropped back at the car we left five days before. Many thank yous & well wishes were exchange.
| Devil's Postpile Monument |
It was on to Mammoth Brewery for a cold drink & a gentle welcome back to society. The funny downside to the rest of the journey was the fact that we had gone five days without music, then the stereo in the car doesn't work the entire five hour drive home to LA... really a null issue at that point though.
| Hitched a ride back to our car |
