mar25 es trips 2017

Eastern Sierra hikes - 2017

In September, 2016 a group of 16 of us stayed at the Rock Creek Lodge or its nearby campground, at 9,375 ft.

The group consisted of Rich, Linda, Dick F., Geno, Frank, Jean, Bonnie, Rick & Julie, Kathy and John, and myself plus 2 or 3 others whom I don't recognize from the photo at the arrival night dinner at Howdy Hoover's 'heritage' 5th wheel trailer site.

hwy 395 scenery, see note		Frank at Mono Lake visitor center
	a familiar view		395 further south
dinner at Howdy's trailer site

note - this image shows the small but attractive Coleville Valley farming area, some miles south of Lake Topaz, on the way to Walker where we (as usual) ran into other hikers from the group, at the little roadside oasis known as Walker Burger.

The group's first walk to Rock Creek Lakes started uphill from the cabins. This was a familiar acclimation walk for us. The Mosquito Lake trailhead is at 10,000 ft. and the 'Little Lakes Valley to Gem Lakes' trail (per AllTrails) is 7.2 miles rt with 1,033 ft of gain.

Within 90 minutes of uphill walking you behold the entire Lake basin, and above is an impressive display of Sierra Nevada 13'ers.

note - on a pc or laptop you can zoom in & and out, but not on a smartphone.

trailhead				a great walk
	Bonnie & Jean		me, Bonnie, Jean, Rich & Rick at Long Lake
Rich		the hikers are to the left

The most prominent peaks - Mt. Gabb, Bear Creek Spire, Mt. Mills, and Mt. Hilgard - are between 13.2 and 13.8k ft.

On the way to Long Lake we passed Mack, Marsh, Heart, & Box Lakes. I seem to recall accidentally stepping into one of the small lakes, with my left foot, but don't recall any discomfort on the remainder of the walk.

Uphill from Long Lake were Chickenfoot & Glen Lakes, but unfortunately I don't have a photo to go by.

The second hike was at Convict Lake, about a 40 mile drive north from the Cabins. Our walk took us around the Lake to some other trails on far side. There were few people here, mostly fishermen.

I remember the walk along the lake as challenging, which may be why I have no photos. In the first hiking photo below we're on the far side of the lake.

fishing		another look		on the far side
	creek crossing		Jean
		Rich		Frank
	see note		ditto
Howdy & Geno		long time hiker friends

note - Mono Jim Peak (10,670) and Mt Morrison (12,241 ft.).

The third walk was a loop walk to Dorothy Lake. The trail starts at Rock Creek Lake, just uphill from the cabins & campground.

Out on the walk I was messing around with different lenses and fell behind the group, having a solo lunch by a tiny waterfall. On AllTrails this hike is called Tamarack Lakes Trail & Dorothy Lake Loop, 7 miles with 1,066 ft. of gain.

13 of us		starting out
	morning in the Sierras		Dorothy Lake
the others got way ahead of me		where I had lunch		hikers returning
			Linda & Lynda
		on the way back		see note