22nd Annual Yokuts Backpack Trip!
The 22nd annual Yokuts backpack trip began on a hot July 30th, as six stalwart hikers boarded the Lake Edison ferry to enjoy only cool moments of the day splashing their way across the lake to the Mono Creek trail head. This year’s crew included Elaine, Jerry, Sandy, Kent, Bob, and Randall.
Declining a reservation for a return boat trip five days later (how were we to know we’d make it back?), we set off up the trail towards the John Muir trail, only to discover there were only five of us. It didn’t take long to find our missing member, Sandy, who was quick to point out that it was more the five of us who had wandered off course and not her. The remainder of day one was spent working our way mostly uphill, with full packs of course, hoping time and again for some amazingly wonderful campsite to materialize before dark. Eventually it did, and apart from a few mosquitoes we enjoyed a pleasant first night camped alongside Mott Creek.
The next day, we easily reached Mott lake within an hour, and spent the rest of that day, exploring some neighboring lakes and streams without the burden of backpacks – all in all a delightful day, capped off at a lovely camp site along Rosy Finch Creek, a mile or so above the mosquitoes at Mott lake. However, we were saddened by the fact that the 7th member of our hike, Susan, who had embarked from the east side of the Sierra, had failed to materialize at the planned Mott lake rendezvous. But as we were relaxing before dinner, refreshed from an afternoon swim in a warm nearby pond, we spotted a lone hiker working her way up the creek. Who responded to our cries of “Susan”! Now we were complete. On day three, we continued upward, off-trail now following the creek to high Rosy Finch Lake, from whence we worked our way slowly up to Bighorn Pass – a section of Steve Roper’s famous high route. The views from the pass were spectacular. While resting, most of us availed ourselves of the snowpack for refreshing, cool drinks before beginning the descent to our destination for that night, lovely and expansive Grinnell Lake. Once again, we enjoyed a spectacular campsite above a pristine lake, with a warm pond nearby for comfortable soaking. A bit of hard-earned leisure time proved a blessing for relaxing, exploring, and other restfulpursuits in this spectacular alpine environment, towered over by Red and White Mountain.And rest proved essential for our fourth day. Expected to be relatively easy, as it was almost all downhill, working our way down the series of hanging valleys towards Mono Creek canyon proved to be quite a demanding endeavor hard on both feet and skin (due to increasing mosquitoes and rising temperatures). Nevertheless, the scenery was extremely pleasant which helped take our minds off of the discomforts. However, upon reaching the trail junction, the overall effect was seven rather worn out, thirsty bodies. While resting up, we discussed our plan for the afternoon which was to climb 2nd recess trail on the south side of the canyon without backpacks, and then return to the creek for dinner and camping that night. All the while fighting off the biting flies, already intent upon their dinner. Not surprising, the poll to climb 2nd recess came up empty. It was then suggested that an alternate could be to hike 6 more miles down the canyon and catch the late afternoon ferry at Lake Edison – an idea that met with a not-so-surprisingly favorable reaction. And so we did…tack on six hard miles, but a swim in the cool waters of Lake Edison, and a brisk, windy ferry ride back to our cars, more than made up for it. And so ended another memorable adventure for Yokuts backpackers in the Sierra high country.
Emigrant Wilderness Adventure 2015
by Elaine Gorman
After dropping off our shuttle car in Kennedy Meadow, we drove up to Sonora Pass to meet the remaining members of our intrepid group. As we headed south on the PCT, we were thrilled by the wildflower gardens we passed through. We also enjoyed views of volcanic peaks and distant mountain ranges. Arriving at Latopie Lake after a few hours of hiking, we set up camp amidst a slight sprinkle. The sky cleared as the full moon rose and smiled down on us.
The next day had us hiking on the slopes and ridges above Kennedy Lake. We were sad to see the algae in the lake due to cattle grazing. After lunch we began the serious hike on the old Tungsten mine road built in the 1940s, switchbacking up Big Sam. As we approached the summit, it began to storm — rain, hail, thunder, lightning. Good motivation to hike fast! We praised the brilliant penstemons and tall ranger buttons as we quickly headed toward High Emigrant Lake. The vanguard fetched water and got the soup going as the rest of the group straggled into camp. That evening we were treated to a magnificent display of clouds — mammato-cumulus.
Day 3 turned out to be a relatively short day on the trail to Blackbird Lake, then a 1.5 mile cross country detour to Shallow Lake. We had plenty of time for swimming, hiking to Fraser Lake, drying out wet gear, reading and relaxing. After a delicious dinner, our Yokuts Chorus belted out our favorite songs accompanied by the ukulele.
On the next day, our group split into 2 teams. One team helped a hiker with foot/ankle problems make a beeline toward Kennedy Meadow. The rest of us spent the next 2 1/2 days hiking mainly cross-country via Granite Dome. This was a very challenging hike, and Randy did an admirable job finding good routes. We passed many beautiful ponds and lakes, had amazing views, discovered a quartz outcrop, sniffed more wildflowers, saw bald eagles, tortured our leg muscles.
Our last night at Iceland Lake was extremely windy, with noisy tent flaps waking us up. We had an early departure, and after a ramble down to Relief Valley, we roamed around the meadow a bit, dodging cow flops. We then hopped on the dusty trail and met the rest of the group at Kennedy Meadow. Sharing our last meal at the Kennedy Meadow Cafe, we told a few more stories and jokes before hugs and departure.
Thanks to Randy and Jerry for organizing this memorable adventure.
Gorge Scrambling on the North Fork of the American (July 20–21)
by Elaine Gorman, Tuolumne Group
I had some trepidation as we began hiking down the Mumford Bar trail, on the way to my first overnight gorge scramble. Gorge scrambling is a strenuous combination of a hike and float trip. Add a backpack. Plus slippery rocks. Throw in poison oak and possible rattlesnakes. What makes everything worthwhile is a wild canyon devoid of trails and people.habitatcover
After Delta-Sierra outings leader Paul Plathe gave an introduction to our group of 8, we hit the trail. On our way to the river, we hiked through an area burned by the American River Complex Fire of 2008. There was quite a bit of blowdown, so dodging poison oak, scratchy brush, and logs became quite a challenge. After 3.8 miles and 2700 feet of elevation loss, we arrived at the river. We checked out the Mumford Bar cabin and contemplated life there during the gold rush.
After inflating our air mattresses, we belly-flopped onto them and headed downstream. The water was refreshingly cool after our hot hike into the canyon. Veteran gorge scramblers Russ, Ron, and John expertly navigated the boulders and shallows. Ted was the “king of the river” on his inflatable twin mattress cum throne, and was able to sit up quite royally with his pack wedged behind his back. Newbies Jens and Diggy soon got the hang of ‘scrambling after some instruction by Paul. I just tried to keep up.
As we floated, we saw several garter snakes -- one swam next to us with a small fish in its mouth. Frogs and tadpoles were abundant. We enjoyed watching the antics of water ouzels. The canyon that the river poured through was like a 3-mile long rock- and water-blasted sculpture. Pines clung to the steep canyon walls, defying gravity and wind as best they could. After about 90 min. of floating and rock hopping, we set up camp on a sand and gravel bar. We had a small campfire for cooking and ambience. Later, the gentle sound of the river eased us into our dreams.
Back on the river by 9 AM the next morning, we floated another few hours until we reached the Marrs mine and a 3-stamp stamp mill ruin at Italian Bar. The mine extends for a couple hundred feet into the canyon wall. We walked along the old ore cart rails, marveling at the work the miners endured as they dug and blasted through the rock.
We couldn’t delay our hike out of the canyon any longer. The 2.5-mile Italian Bar trail, with almost 2500 feet elevation gain, seemed much longer and steeper with our bruises and aching muscles. The vehicles were a welcome sight. Many thanks to Paul for leading such a fun, interesting and wild adventure.
To find out more about gorge scrambling, go to: This Site.