June 30, 2013 - Trinity Lakes

Title: June 30, 2013 - Trinity Lakes

Hike Info:

Trail: John Muir Trail - Day Six

Starting location: Island Pass

Destination:  Trinity Lakes

Distance:  11.5   miles  ¹

Start Time:  7:20

End Time:  5:30

Travel Time:  10:10 (1.13 mph)

Moving Time:  5:51 (1.97 mph)

Elevation Rise:  1,772   ¹

Maximum Elevation:  10,180'   ¹

Description:

Island Pass at Dawn

Woke up this morning to clear skies, frogs a croaking,  and a coyote howling. What a wonderful way to start the day! Yes there really was howling this morning. It sounded like it was across the pond on the other side of the trail. No sightings-rats!

Camp Chores

Got up at 5:30 and did camp chores. Saw the sun arising. Pretty nice. After eating, we are leaving around 7:20. The first part is descending from Island Pass. Pretty gentle. We get to see lots of low green area. As we approach Thousand Island Lake, there is more volcanic rock. Also we are glad that we have started early as the sun would be really hot through here.

Thousand Island Lake and Banner Peak

We met a couple, just married from Mendocino ². They look like they are enjoying themselves. We play leap frog through Ruby Lake, when we stop for a quick Clif Bar break.  This got stretched a ways. But we did enjoy the lake-nice reflections. 

Just Married

We climb up around 250', then start a descent into Garnet Lake. Glad it is morning when we are coming through this area. Pretty exposed. But the good part is that you are seeing a whole new  set of mountains, with snow covered ravines. Enjoying it. Banner Peak comes into view. I am enjoying Garnet a lot more than Thousand Island Lake. The south side has mountain hemlock for me to enjoy its shade. The trail gently climbs out of the lake's basin. This is about a 350' climb, but it does not feel too bad. Some trail runners pass us at the top.

Thousand Island Lake

When we get to the top of the saddle, we start a long descend into the Shadow Creek drainage. The upper part of the trail, for the first 300' or so is small volcanic rock. While trail is well made, rocks are sore to the feet. But once out of that area, you find a nice little ravine with a meadow in it to enjoy. Then we head down a never ending slope into Shadow Creek. There we stop for our second lunch. We enjoy a nice long break here before another mile down to Shadow Lake.

Garnet Lake

Where we have our lunch break is a trail crew. I go over and asked if they were part of the effort to clear the trail last year after the wind storm? Yes. Thanked them. A few minutes later an Inyo Forest Service ranger came over and asked if we needed any help. No, but could we get her picture go Capture California? Yes. We talked about possible campsites and bear sightings. So far pretty peaceful around here. Johnston Meadow has lots of bugs. Terri F was very helpful. She did ask to see our permit.

After a good climb

Then, it is up, up and up we go-650' up a side of a mountain. While the Forest Service has done a good job of grading the trail, it still is a major effort on our part. Lots of shade, with a pleasant, occasional breeze does really help, along with CytoMax and jelly bellies. We get to the top and have another break. About that time, the newlyweds come up the trail. They had done some fun stuff, like rock scrambling. 

Rocky Road

Shadow Creek

We go past Rosalie  Lake-only a few mosquitoes here. Then to Gladys Lake. It is 4:30 now. To get to Trinity Lakes is about a half an hour. To go to Minarets Creek, about three hours or more. So we decide to stick with the schedule and camp at Trinity. But I have also been thinking that Trinity even in the best of times is a mosquito haven. So we look for something a little bit dryer and away  from the lakes. Found a spot a little off the trail, but about 200 yards from water. (37.67583,-119.11577)

We have dinner and get cleaned up. Then head to the tent to escape the bugs. Listened to a sermon from Red Rocks Church. Then off to sleep around 9.

Garnet Lake

Today's JMT Lesson: Beauty is there. Find it!

 

Breakfast	Lunch	Dinner	Snacks
Oatmeal and add-ins, such as dried peaches, strawberries, nuts, granola. Tang.	Peanut Butter and Nutella on crackers	Szechuan Vegetable Noodle	Clif Bar, Jelly Bellies, CytoMax, Propel, GORP

¹The supplied figures come from either the book John Muir Trail: The essential guide to hiking America's most famous trail by Elizabeth Wenk. Also some information comes from topo maps as well. From today's tracks on my Foretex, I got only a partial reading. Below is the readings from today's status on the GPS. I view it as only somewhat accurate.
 Distance:  11.4 

Travel Time: ( mph)

Moving Time: 5:51 ( mph)

Elevation Rise:  1,200

Maximum Elevation:  10,180'

²As a further note, our daughter Andrea who works in the Berkley REI store waited on them a few weeks later. They were able to connect the dots and figure out we were related--not the newly married couple, but Andrea, Sherri and I.

June 29, 2013 - Island Pass

Title: June 29, 2013 - Island Pass

Hike Info:

Trail:  John Muir Trail

Starting location: Pond at 10,185'

Destination: Island Pass

Distance:  6.7 miles  ¹
Start Time:  8:00

End Time:  3:45

Travel Time:   7:45 (0.86 mph)

Moving Time:   4:37 (1.45 mph)

Elevation Rise:    1,440' ¹

Maximum Elevation:    11,060' ¹ 

There are a great many pictures today. Many of them can be found at the bottom of this page.

Description:

Lyell Canyon

Got up at 6 and started to get prepared for the day. Washed clothes from yesterday, and  then did the usual. Sherri  got ready and made breakfast. We crossed the creek, wading across and put our stuff together. This was around 8. It was not too bad of a creek crossing. Only came ankle high, water was cold, but not as bad as we thought it might be. The crossing was about a hundred feet toward our pond from the outlet of the pond.

We immediately start climbing the first of our 1450' up towards Donohue Pass. Today I am not following Sherri because with two bear canisters I need to keep my own pace. But we both do pretty well. Actually, better than either of the other times we hiked this. It takes us 40 minutes or so to get to our other crossing of an outlet. Sherri decides to take off her shoes to cross. I think I can cross on the rocks. Well, I did mostly, that is until a rock rolls and my boot splashes into the water, followed by the other boot. Fortunately, it was only about an ankles worth of water before I recovered. Unfortunately, the water slopped over my boot top, getting the socks a little wet.

Sherri wondering wheres the top?

Gary Charging Up Donohue

At this crossing, a woman, Nicole, came up and crossed the same way as I did, but without getting wet. We would hike with her most of the day. We talked for awhile, then she took off. We followed her shortly, and slowly afterwards. The rest of the climb was of the one foot after the other variety. But there were some very awesome views of Lyell Canyon, Glacier and Peak to help moderate the effort.

We Made IT!

We made it to the top of Donohue Pass around 10:30. This is better than expected. Traditional picture taking and all of that. Nicole was up there as well. Pretty nice pass top time. Not as hot as we expected. In the distance we see thunderclouds forming, but does not look like a problem for today.

Coming down the south slope of Donohue, we do this pretty well. Sherri is taking the rocks much more in stride than into past. She is going down faster than I have seen her do before. Around 11:30 we catch up with Nicole and invite her to have lunch with us, which she accepts. She recently got her MBA from USC and will start work right after the JMT.  This is one of her first backpacking experiences, but she seems to have a good head on her shoulders.

Rush Creek

After lunch we hike together, down towards Rush Creek. The creek we are following is unnamed and is pretty gentle until the descent into Rush Creek. We do cross Rush on logs and stop for a small break. We are now in the drainage which goes to the Great Basin. We see many fields of snow gracing the northern flanks of the mountains.

But now we leave Rush Creek and take off on going up towards Island Pass. This is a trudge up it. It is only a 600' climb, but still the sun is on us. So we climb and rest. We meet some PCT'rs coming down. One is from San Jose. Even more so, she was born in Palo Alto at the same hospital I was born at-about 40 years apart.

We make it to Island Pass (37.73581, -119.19275) around 3:45. After talking about options, Sherri and I decide we will stay here rather than going on to Ruby Lake. So we  say goodbye to Nicole who is ready to make some miles today. We then set up camp, battling mosquitoes. After awhile we give up and crawl into the tent and just relax-reading and listening.

Sunset

Sierra Spectacular

Dinner was beef stroganoff. Not as filling as usual. Guess I will live off of my fat. We take a walk around a pond after dinner, waiting for the sun to set. Clouds have filled up the sky. On the plus side, it is making for a gorgeous sunset with the thunderheads rising majestically in the darling sky. On the other side, will it rain? We decide that we will compromise. Cover the packs, but leave the rain tarp off the tent. When we wake up at night, if there are no stars, we will put on the tarp. We watch an episode of Dr Who-Rose, and then go to sleep.

Today's JMT Lesson:  If it looks like you are at the top, you're not.

Breakfast	Lunch	Dinner	Snacks
Oatmeal and add-ins, such as dried peaches, strawberries, nuts, granola. Tang.	Peanut Butter and Nutella on crackers	Beef Stroganoff	Clif Bar, Jelly Bellies, CytoMax, Propel, GORP

¹The supplied figures come from either the book John Muir Trail: The essential guide to hiking America's most famous trail by Elizabeth Wenk. Also some information comes from topo maps as well.The tracks from my Foretex did not get saved. This will become a problem for the rest of the trip. Getting either no or incomplete set of tracks. Below is the readings from today's status on the GPS. I view it as only somewhat accurate.

Distance:  7.3 miles

Moving Time:   4:37 (1.58 mph). 

Elevation Rise:    920'

Maximum Elevation:    11,190' 

Pictures:

 

Outlet from last water before Donohue Pass

 

Closing in on the top of Donohue Pass

Rush Creek Basin

Nicole and Sherri Crossing an Unnamed Creek

Sherri and Nicole Marching Toward Banner Peak

Nice Clouds

Waugh Lake

Donohue Peak with Sherri and Nicole

Mountain Heather

June 28, 2013 - Lyell Canyon and beyond

Title: June 28, 2013 - Lyell Canyon and beyond

 (Preliminary)

Trail:JMT-Lyell Canyon

Starting location:  Tuolumne Meadows

Destination: above the Lyell Footbridge

Actual Destination: pond at 10,185'

Distance: 10.6 miles ²

Start Time: 7:30

End Time: 5:00

Travel Time: 9:30 (1.12 mph)

Moving Time: 5:07 ( 2.07 mph) ²

Elevation Rise: 1,506' ²

Maximum Elevation: 10,185'

Description:

Steven

Slept OK at Murphy's Inn in Lee Vining. Even though we had the A/C running last night I thought it was a bit stuffy. Woke up several times, but feel asleep. Sherri was up some also. Finally turned on the iPad around 5:30and read my devotions before getting up around 6. Got the last minute items put away, then off into the car at 6:30 and stopped at the Whoa Nellie Deli for breakfast on the way out. Steven and I had a breakfast burrito-which I did not finish, and Sherri had a eggs and ham croissant. Good eats with lots of food. Nice combination. Got to the trail head at 7:30.  Pretty good for us.

Morning Start

Our third instance of doing a little bit of cheating. There are two places where we could pick up the Trail. The first is the wilderness ranger station, where Steven picked us up.  Then there is the long term parking about a mile down the trail-see the purple line on the map. We opted for the mile down the trail-it cuts off a mile of walking beside the road, particularly since we have done this section of the trail several times and so far it had not added anything, except being tired.

So off we went, waving goodbye to Steven, thanking him for driving us around and the food drop off. We hiked this first piece three weeks ago with Betty. Not much has changed, except some of the mud has dried up. The Lyell Fork still is running strong and the grass is green. Before hitting Rafferty Creek, we see a buck and five deer. Nice sight. 

View From the Trail

Even though the pack is heavy on Sherri, mine is only a little more than the first days, we make good time, averaging about 2.5 mph. We meet the father of the PCTer which we talked with at Sunrise Meadow a couple of days ago. The opening comment he made was that this was the second JMTer who was carrying a Kelty which he had met, before realizing the first and the second were the same person. His daughter, Jessica-trail name Night Crawler¹, because she traveled at night in the desert, is with him. We chatted for a few minutes, then headed our separate ways.

We pass the Evelyn Lake trail junction and continue on. A little bit later, we stop and have lunch. Thanks Steven for making our peanut butter and Nutella sandwich. Tasted good. A little bit later, we came across the hidden campsite which Andrea, Sherri and I found.   This is the one which Zander stumbled across while we were there.

Campsite from six years ago

We keep going up Lyell Canyon, it is slowly rising, about a hundred feet in a mile. At the end of the level part, we stop for a Clif Bar and a break before a climb. There was a bit of frustration with some miscommunication. Also with the iPod not working how we thought it should. But when we started walking again, that gets shoved aside and our energy is concentrated on climbing 600' in the next mile to the footbridge which crosses Lyell Creek.  It is hot and dry, so we walk a bit then breath a lot. But step by step we get up it.

Lyell Glacier

Along the way, we talk with a guy who will be going up to Lyell Glacier. We then see him by the footbridge. We talk for a time, getting rested.  Clouds are gathering, cooling the air. So we decide to go another mile and 500' up to a pond. This will help out tomorrow when we go over Donohue Pass. This climb was a lot better than the first one. Being rested and cooler really helped.

Our Bedroom View

We have a spot  to camp (37.95887, -119.12091) at with a view, you would pay big bucks to have-we only needed to perspire.  This is at an unnamed lake, only known by its elevation-10,185'.  We watched several people cross the creek we will be crossing tomorrow. We do take some interest in observing peoples styles of crossing-some decide quickly to plunge right in and wade across, others try to keep dry and go across some marginal rocks-only one person was successful. Most decide to wade. One of the people is Lucy who is writing her blog. We exchanged cards. it was informative watching various groups crossing the outlet to our pond. Dinner was tamale freestyle-filling and tasty. We resolve some of the iPod problems. Then it is time to go to bed, around 9. The sunset was pretty good off of the snow above us.

 Today's JMT Lesson: Known and own^* your equipment.

^*The owning is not so much possession, but mastery of what you bring.

Breakfast	Lunch	Dinner	Snacks
Oatmeal and add-ins, such as dried peaches, strawberries, nuts, granola. Tang.	Peanut Butter and Nutella on crackers	Tamale Pie Freestyle	Clif Bar, Jelly Bellies, CytoMax, Propel, GORP

Notes:
¹We have a strange world which we live in. After reading a draft of this blog, Lindy, a PCTer and a person who is doing the JMT this year, met Night Crawler's Dad up in Seattle. Also Night Crawler gets mentioned in several blogs: PJG and Guy on a Buffalo.

²The supplied figures come from either the book John Muir Trail: The essential guide to hiking America's most famous trail by Elizabeth Wenk. Also some information comes from topo maps as well.The tracks from my Foretex did not get saved. This will become a problem for the rest of the trip. Getting either no or incomplete set of tracks. Below is the readings from today's status on the GPS. I view it as only somewhat accurate.
Distance: 11.3 miles

Moving Time: 5:07 ( 2.2 mph)

Elevation Rise: 996'

Maximum Elevation: 10,185'

June 27, 2013 - Cathedral Area and Tuolume Meadows

Title: June 27, 2013 - Cathedral Area and Tuolume Meadows

Hike Info:

Trail: JMT between Long Meadow and Tuolumne Meadows Wilderness Ranger Station 

Starting location: Long Meadow

Destination: Tuolumne Meadows Wilderness Ranger Station

Distance:   9.25 miles

Start Time:  8:01

End Time:    3:34

Travel Time:  7:33 (1.23 mph)

Moving Time: 5:02 (1.84 mph). 

Elevation Rise: 1,168'

Maximum Elevation:  10,082'

 





Description:

Tent above Long Meadow

I watched the morning glow through slotted eyes, then had my quiet time. By the time I escaped from the tent's protected cocoon it was 6. That protected cocoon is against those pests called mosquitoes. Evidently some joined us during the night and sucked some of our blood-at least I am finding blood on my sleeping bag and pad. Went for a little walk around, probably about a mile. When I got back, Sherri was stuffing the bags, again-meaning she did the same thing yesterday. We had our breakfast, then broke camp. Got on the trail at 8.

Snowballs in June

We are on a short, 400' ascent up to Cathedral Pass, about a mile and a half.

Sherri climbing our peak

Not too bad of walking, plus you get to enjoy the peaks beyond the Merced for the last time. Cathedral Pass is one of those passes which you may never know that you went over it, it is so gentle. We stop here (N 37.49.243, W 119.24.98) for a break and then decide to climb this 100' outcropping. Last year I made it about 70% of the way to the top. This year with Sherri beside me, we made it all the way. Maybe this is symbolic for the rest of our journey?
    (As a note, later on looking at the map and Cathedral Pass-N 37.50.24, W 119.24.81-is about a mile further on. )

Gary and the mountains

The view from here is a 360 DDG! We can see from the Columbia Finger, south to the mountains beyond the Merced (but not Half Dome), then around to the east where Emeric Lake resides, where we were a couple of weeks ago. Then the  Matthes Crest, around to Echo And Cathedral Peaks, swinging back around to Tressidder Peak and the Columbia Finger. What a view! And we are the only ones up here!

Successful climb

We then start the long walk down to Tuolumne Meadows. First we pass Cathedral Meadows, lush, green with a nice pool in the middle of it (Note: this is where Cathedral Pass really is). Then we come to our first lake of the trail-Upper Cathedral Lake. This lake is becoming another meadow, but probably not during my lifetime. The park service has rerouted the JMT so that the meadow above the lake is not being impacted by us hikers.

Cathedral Peak

Upper Cathedral Lake

We continue down and just below the Lower Cathedral Lake junction, we meet a series of four pack trains going to Sunrise.  Three of the pack train wranglers we saw yesterday.  We then met ranger Cliff A, riding on his  horse. Even got a picture of him. We would meet him again-he even gave a recommendation on Lee Vining eateries. Friendly fellow.

We stopped for lunch around 11:30 at one of my favorite spots along the trail-the spring (N 37.51.61, S 119.24.36) . Mountain spring water. That is something which will carry you home. So fresh tasting, so invigorating. We spent some time here, even got out a text to Steven to bring some things.

We keep going down the trail. We both think it is better going down this than coming up it. There is another stop we make by Budd Creek to have a  Clif Bar. Then over to the visitor center to enjoy the bathroom. Cliff passes us on our way. We go on to the meadow itself and take. In a couple of the historical places in the area:  Parsons Lodge, Soda Springs, and Tuolumne Meadow itself. We eventually make it over to the  Wilderness Office (N 37.52.62, W 119.20.74), where we wait for Steven's arrival.

Tuolumne Meadows and Lembert Dome

He gets there around four and we take off for Lee Vining and Murphy's Inn. This may not be proper JMT etiquette, but we enjoy the  time off the Trail. We eat at the Whoa Nellie Deli, often known as Mobil, then pack for tomorrow and the next six or seven days.

Today's JMT Lesson: The beauty you see, words do not describe its fullness, pictures only show  shadow.  (Words from Sherri)

June 26, 2013 - Long Meadow

Title: June 26, 2013 - Long Meadow

Hike Info:

Trail:    JMT Day 02 from above Sunrise Creek to above Long Meadow

Starting location: Sunrise Creek

Destination: Sunrise Meadow

Actual Destination: above Long Meadow

Distance:   7.33 miles.

Start Time: 7:57

End Time: 3:17

Travel Time: 7:20  (1.00  mph)

Moving Time: 5:26  (1.35 mph).

Elevation Rise:   2,250'

Maximum Elevation:  9757'

Description:

Got up a little before 6. Sky is a clear blue. Last night the clouds gave way to a clear sky so we could see the moon, just past full, at its closest to the sun. Went for a short walk to cross the creek and sing a few hymns. Along the way, I was looking at the topography and think we are above where we thought we were last night, closer to the 7800' the GPS says we are at than the Sunset Creek where I thought we were (37.75117, -119.48248).

When I got back, Sherri was up, stuffing sleeping bags. We eat our oatmeal breakfast and are off by 7:50. While the first part of the trail is moderate, we are huffing and puffing. Guess yesterday took more out of us than we thought. But we do pretty good. Along this section, there are some almost great views. One of those times when you wonder if a tree could have grown a few feet lower or over. But you do catch a lot of really good partial views.

East of Merced Lake

We stop for a small break when we cross Sunrise Creek. A Clif bar is partially consumed, water drunk and bodily functions are taken care of. Now it is off to the steep part of the trail for the day. It is a real struggle to go up this 1200' climb from our break at Sunrise Creek. We do stop after climbing 500' just have some more of a Clif Bar and a bank ball. But it is not long. We do stop to breath on our way up. Even though it is putting one foot in front of the other, we are doing well. Until reaching the last 200', the trees block many  places which have fine vistas. Now do not get me wrong, I also love the oxygen trees give us, the shade which cools the to hikers, and the protection from the wind and rain. But sometimes you also want to see across the big expansive canyon you know what is there, or the looming domes, and the cathedral spires. I will take just being here.

Half Dome's back side

We get to the top of the ridge-it is off of Sunrise Mountain. Lunch is served peanut butter and Nutella on a mini-bagel. We could not eat better in a five star restaurant. While we were resting met a couple JMTers. Michelle sounds like she will be walking only a little faster than us. She is 40 and from Riverside. 'Narly has hiked the PCT before and is doing this for  the fun. He probably will take a couple weeks. Before long a couple of young men passed us up-projected completion time in less than a week.

Cathedral Peak and Friends

Sunrise Meadow

After lunch we start our descent into Sunrise Meadow. It is only about 600' down. Pretty enjoyable after what we came up this morning. When we get to Sunrise Meadow, we talk with another backpacker who is going down to Merced Lake then over to the JMT to meet up with his daughter who is hiking the PCT. if they are coming down Lyell Canyon Friday, we will see them.

Up we go, hiking the length of Sunrise Meadow. A couple trains of horses pass us by to stock the High Sierra Camp here.   When we cross the unnamed creek coming out of Long Meadow, we stop for a break. But the mosquitoes are out in full force. So we have an abbreviate break, leaving a decision about where to stop tonight until later.

Columbia Finger

When we get to Long Meadow, we see Columbia Finger there, standing over us, guiding travelers-we will go under it, and guarding the way. Even though the rise is gentle, this morning has taken a lot out of us. So as we ascend out of Long Meadow, we decide this is a nice stopping place for tonight (37.81469, -119.42650). Maybe we are high enough to be out of the way of the mosquitoes.

Relaxing after hiking

We find a nice area, with some shade and some sun to pitch our tent. Water is a bit of a walk, about a quarter of a mile away and a hundred feet vertical. but the Base Camp filter makes it easier to haul large amounts of water. After drawing the water, the mosquitoes drive us inside the tent. We while away the couple hours between 4 and 6, watching the last of MacGyver. Then listening to a Red Rocks Church sermon. We come out for dinner-beef stew, freeze dried from Mountain House. Pretty filling.

Columbia's Finger in the setting sun

We also have wine And the last of the Girl Scout cookies. The sun is going down, highlighting the Finger. Very nice. Then it is time for bed, about 8:15.

Today's JMT Lesson:  It is just part of the journey.   (Said by a fellow hiker)