Title: June 18, 2018 - Vanderburg Lake to Lillian Lake
Hike Info : Description : Background : Menu : Extra Photo's : Animals : Flowers and Plants
Hike Info:
Type: Backpacking
Trail: Lillian Lake Loop
Destination: Lillian Lake
Distance: 4.01 miles 1
Start Time: 11:05
End Time: 4:53
Travel Time: 5:47 (0.69 mph)
Moving Time: 3:21 (1.20 mph)
Elevation Rise: 777'
Descent: 756‘
Maximum Elevation: 9,030'
1We lost the trail-see below. I went looking for it.
The data below includes my wanders when we were off the trail.
The data below includes my wanders when we were off the trail.
Distance: 4.38 miles
Travel Time: 5:47 (0.76 mph)
Moving Time: 3:41 (1.19 mph)
Elevation Rise: 879'
Descent: 808‘
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| Vanderburg Lake |
I woke up at 6:30 and got up by 7:00. It seems a bit
warmer with no wind, but there is a lot of moisture on the inside of
the tent’s rain fly. Guess we sweat a lot when we sleep.
After doing my morning business, I went for a wander.
The wander took me to the inlet of the lake, on the northern shore.
This is part of Madera
Creek which comes from Lady
Lake. There is a nice big campsite
there-probably a packers site. I had my quiet time there, continuing
in Psalm
119. A place to meditate and
think.
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| Madera Creek |
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| Vanderburg Lake |
When I got back to camp, Rose is up by the lake and
Sherri is getting up. No rush to get going. We have decided to do a
day hike to Lillian
Lake.
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| Mt Ritter |
We get out of camp around 11:15. We head up the same
trail we did yesterday, towards Lady Lake, but instead of turning, we
go straight at the junction. Now about 30 yards from the junction,
we head up what looks like a sandy trail. After awhile it peters out
and we start following false leads. I finally head out, scouting for
the trail. After covering much ground, I do not find the trail, but
get an idea where it is going. So I get Sherri and Rose and we set
out across some granite slabs. It actually is pretty nice walking,
at least I think so. We climb up, taking our time. Shortly after
getting to the spot where I had previously been, we spot the trail.
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| Clouds to the east |
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| Little Dam at Lillian Lake |
Shortly afterwards,we go over a saddle and drop into
Staniford
Lakes. I was calling it Stanford,
but discovered the error while researching the name. The trail
meanders around some of the lakes, making for some pleasant walking,
if it was not for the winged, blood sucking, swamp inhabitants. When
we clear the lakes, and most of the mosquitos, we stop for lunch out
on a small point, and in the shade. A late lunch, but when you start
as late as we did, a late lunch is what we get.
The trail starts up a ridge of about ¾ of a mile. While
an exposed trail and we are in the afternoon sun, there is
compensation-the views. That is we are able to see across to Mt
Ritter and up the San
Joaquin River. But we do not spend
much time view chasing, at present.
After topping the ridge, we descend into the outlet
creek for Lillian. Soon we get to the lake itself. Rose notes a small
retaining wall, probably a small dam to raise the lake level. Was
there mining around here? So easy to only see what is here now and
not the past. I need these reminders that everyplace has its own
history, even if it is not in book form.
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| Lillian Lake |
 |
| One of the Staniford Lakes |
Lillian Lake is pleasant enough to look at. I would not
mind camping here. But yesterday's lakes were more pleasant and
refreshing to me. We stay around for about half an hour, relaxing.
Sherri thinks this is where she, Andrea and Steven put out a fire
several years back.
Coming back, we mostly retrace our steps, with the
exception of our little cross country excursion. Those views which we
did a cursory glance at before? We now spend the time examining. We
can see where the JMT goes and the Red
Cones by Red’s
Meadow. To the south, one of the
small knobs in the distance may be Mt
Goddard, a point I look for
whenever possible. Many pictures are taken, which do not capture the
grandness of what we are seeing.
 |
| Which way would you go? |
We do see a couple people before returning to camp. I
also intentionally lag behind-unlike my normal slowness of late. I am
interested in seeing where I went on the wrong trail this morning. I
cannot say I wouldn’t make the same mistake again.
Once back at camp, we do not disturb a whole lot. Water
is drawn, mosquitoes are swatted and relaxing begins. A group or two
pass us by. Dinner of Beef Stew is cooked and devoured. Rose, Sherri
and I talk for awhile before heading to our tents for another night
of restful sleep.
Background
Andrea says the fire really was at Staniford Lakes.
It was a single tree,which probably had been struck by lightning two weeks before.
Also as a fire note, the Lion's Point fire had been burning since the start of June. This was pretty much in line of sight with the Red Cones area. But looking at the pictures, there was not a sign of smoke. Shortly after we were there, the fire exploded into a multi-thousand acre fire.
Menu
| Breakfast | Lunch | Dinner | Snacks |
Oatmeal
and add-ins, such as dried peaches, strawberries, nuts, granola.
Tang.
. |
Ritz Crackers, Peanut Butter, Nutella |
Clif Bar, GORP, Scratch, Coffee
Candy
|
Extra Photo's
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| Sierra Crest |
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| Southeast along the Crest |
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| Rose and Gary in his Angle of Repose |
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| Lillian Lake |
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| East looking. As a note: The Lion's Point fire happened in the center left of the picture |
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| Lillian Lake |
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| Gary and the Mountains |
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| East towards the Sierra Crest |
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| East towards the Crest |
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| Pine Grosbeak |
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| Pine Grosbeak |
Flowers and Plants
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| Penstonmon |
