By Celeste McInerney
A fun time was had by all during the 2023 Eastern Sierra Rock Creek Lake camping trip, September 21st-25th. We had 10 Gay and Lesbian Sierrans (GLS) and Rainbow Sierrans set up their tents alongside this high elevation lake and very secluded group campground. This was the first joint-led trip between our groups in many years.
Although below freezing nighttime temps hit, our two fire pits kept us warm until we turned in. The days were gorgeous as we hiked along the many lakes and next to the Aspen trees just barely beginning to show some autumn color. The potluck dinners were plentiful and the evening chats around the fire were warming. For some, this was their first time to Rock Creek Lake. On Friday morning, we were very fortunate to meet our friend, Wils Cain, a Bishop resident, who is the new Loma Prieta Chapter Communications Specialist. In addition to his Sierra Club work, Wils is on the board of directors for Eastern Sierra Pride, a non-profit organization celebrating and supporting the local and visiting 2SLGBTQIAP+ community. We enjoyed chatting with Wils and planning a possible future outing with Wils's group, Eastern Sierra Pride.
On Friday afternoon, to ease our folks into acclimating for high elevation, Paget led an easy 2 mile hike around Eastern Brook Lakes and then another hike around Rock Creek Lake.
On Saturday, Paget led an approximately 8 mile hike to beautiful Gem Lake in Little Lakes Valley. Several of those hikers climbed up Morgan Pass to view the lakes from high above. I led a shorter 4-5 mile hike to Chicken Foot Lake along the same trail. Our group dabbled in a little botany and some light rock hounding. One hiker braved the freezing Sierra water and took a very short dip in Long lake while the rest of us soaked our feet in the cold water. On the way back to the trailhead, both groups were delighted to met up on the trail! Several hikers stopped at a wading pond and were lucky to view hundreds of very cool little teeny tiny tree frogs and tadpoles in various stages of development!
Sunday brought several of us to nearby Convict Lake where I led a hike around its perimeter. Convict Lake never disappoints. With Mt. Morrison as a backdrop to the aspens and cottonwoods, we were lucky to spot an eagle flying from the tree tops. The views were so very serene and the lake's deep turquoise water was alluring. So alluring, two hikers took a dip in the freezing water! Oddly, we also spotted a couple scuba divers bubbling up from the lake doing who knows what in there. Afterward a morning of picture taking and leaf peeping, we had lunch at the lake's resort cafe and then got back to camp relatively early.
Our final evening was spent sharing pictures and stories of a remarkable long weekend at the lake.
We departed the eastern side to head home Monday morning after a fun weekend of High Sierra camping. We hope to repeat this camping trip in the future. It's surely a very special place.
Participants:
Charlene G, Ann D, Wen M, Eric M, Ken C, Debra R, Eva P, Lorna T, Paget V, and Celeste M. (And a special visit from Wils!)