Sierra Backpack Journal - 9/18/11 - 9/23/2011
Posted: Sun Sep 25, 2011 9:59 amhttp://www5.snapfish.com/snapfish/thumb ... =snapfish/
Blue Lake & Dingleberry Lake: September 18 – 23, 2011
Monday, 09-19, 8:59 AM, Camp above the north end of Blue Lake
My hands are so cold it is difficult to write. The 1st rays of the sun are hitting camp and I’ll be warmed up in minutes.
I met George in Pearsonville and I left my car there.
We left the trailhead yesterday at Lake Sabrina around 2:30 PM and arrived at this campsite at about 5:30. It was a climb of about 1,300 feet carrying a heavy backpack.
Blue Lake is beautiful as always.
Today’s plan is to day-hike to Donkey Lake and from there to Baboon Lake and take the trail from there back down to the Blue Lake trail making it a loop hike back to camp. Then fishing or just watching the sun travel across the sky.
12:59 PM, Sitting above Baboon Lake.
George is fishing. He caught one and others are showing interest. The temperature is perfect with a slight breeze. There are fluffy white clouds in a bright blue sky.
We hiked off-trail to Donkey Lake following the Blue Lake inlet stream. We stopped there for a while and then made our way here. We haven’t seen another person so far today.
2:38 PM, Western end of Baboon Lake
Someone built a crude teepee like structure of driftwood branches. I crawled into it for the shade and took a short nap while George fished. The fluffy white clouds are getting huge and turning to storm grey and the temperature is dropping and a wind is starting to pick up.
4:24 PM, back in camp
I’m holed up in the tent and George is outside. It’s hailing pretty hard and I am enjoying the sound as it hammers the tent.
Tuesday, 9:45 AM, 09-20-11, Blue Lake camp
We are drying out from yesterday’s hail and rain. We are leisurely breaking camp with the plan to hike to Dingleberry Lake basin and spend two nights there.
Right now the sky is clear and the sun is warm. We have three thermometers between us and none are ever in agreement, but the consensus is that the temperature last night got into the low 30s.
Blue Lake is beautiful and there is not a hint of a breeze.
We didn’t see any other person yesterday, but I did catch a glimpse of someone on the other side of the lake this morning.
3:06 PM, Camp at Dingleberry Lake
We are setup in a beautiful site near the inlet stream.
The sun is blotted out by a grey menacing cloud and a cool wind is blowing. The sky to the north over the desert is bright blue with white fluffy clouds. Thunder is sounding and it looks like we might be in for a replay of yesterday’s rain and hail. There is still evidence of yesterday’s hail in shady places on the ground and on some of the high peaks.
Hopefully we are better prepared today than yesterday. When we left on our hike yesterday we didn’t make our gear ready for a possible rain which started before we were able to get back to camp.
George is fishing. I fished the stream in a number of spots with no luck, though some mosquitoes were pretty happy that I spent time with them. The fish were easily visible and it was also clear they had no interest in what I was trying to serve them.
508 PM, Dingleberry Lake camp
A cold wind is blowing with a few rain drops. We managed to cook some soup, but then stowed gear for the rain that may or may not happen.
Wednesday, 12:01 PM, 09-21, Hungry Packer Lake
Sitting next to Hungry Packer Lake situated at about 11,200 feet. The white fluffy clouds in a bright blue sky are with us again. Yesterday’s storm clouds spared us and we had a rain free afternoon. My thermometer put this morning’s temperature in the mid-20s, George’s had us at 32 (I think). There is a waterfall of maybe 400 feet cascading down the ridge across the lake from where I sit. The sound of the falls ebbs and flows with the breezes. We had hiked to Midnight Lake, now here and will go to Moonlight Lake, then Topsy Turvey Lake and then back to camp. We’ve seen some very nice sized trout at these lakes, but neither George nor I brought our fishing gear on this day hike.
4:37 PM, Dingleberry Lake camp
I fished for the last couple of hours. I had enough hits to keep me at it, but no success. It’s frustrating watching the fish ignore my flys. They show no interest in anything I have shown them.
The weather goes from warm sun to cold shade depending on the sun cloud relationships. When there is cloud cover the mosquitoes appear and then they disappear with the sun. Though there are some mosquitoes, when present they are not too bad. Mostly they haven’t been around at all.
7:01 PM, Dingleberry Lake camp
As we were preparing dinner we got hit by about 5 – 10 minutes of hail. It wasn’t bad and it wasn’t nearly as strong the other day.
I’m now watching night close in. The coming night makes the world feel like its shrinking and soon it will be no larger than the inside of the tent. Luckily the weather and mosquitoes have been good enough that we are able to leave the tent door open to the night sky and the Milky Way, also thanks to the late moon rise.
The streams are flowing pretty strong for the season and the lakes are full given that it is mid-September and it was a heavy snow pack this season.
Thursday, 3:22 PM, 09-22, Emerald Lakes
This morning we climbed the western ridge, about 600 feet, next to Dingleberry Lake to see two of the Fishgut Lakes. The views were exceptional, especially looking back toward the Dingleberry Lake and Blue Lake basins. The area is an amazing sea of granite, including multiple 12, 000+ foot peaks all around except to the north where the valley drops to the desert floor and views of the White Mountains beyond.
We broke camp and now are on our way back to Blue Lake. We’ve stopped at the Emerald Lakes and George is fishing. We are at the same spot where I brought my son and grandson, Brendyn, a couple of years ago. Then Brendyn caught over 20 fish in a short amount of time. Today the fish aren’t cooperating, though George has caught a few small ones.
I’m tired, my feet are tired, but right now there is no place I’d rather be. This is the second of the four days we have been in the back country that we have not seen another person. I’m sure that will change once we get back to Blue Lake.
5:22 PM, Blue Lake camp
We’ve set up camp near the main trail and next to the outlet stream of Blue Lake. It looks like the afternoon weather is going to remain nice today. The sun is still shining and there are no storm clouds in sight.
The cooking stove is all set to go. This trip we are using my old Svea. Normally we use George’s MSR, but he has it in for repairs. It’s been years since I last used this stove, but it is functioning perfectly.
We saw eight people since we got to Blue Lake, a group of five from the Bay area on their way to Dingleberry Lake and beyond and three day hikers on their way out.
George is fishing the stream next to camp. He is not having any luck. As usual we can see the fish and they are not interested.
Friday, 9:40 AM, 09-23, Blue Lake camp
We have broken camp. George is topping off the water bottles for our hike out. We are about to walk down the mountain and re-enter the world we actually live in. We are only visitors here.
The sun is warm with white fluffy clouds in a bright blue sky. This morning’s temp showed at 40, the warmest since we have been here.
Saturday, 09-24, Home again, reflections on the trip highlights
We spent two nights at Blue Lake, two nights at Dingleberry Lake and the last night at Blue Lake. Each campsite had the ongoing music of a fast flowing stream next to us. We were able to explore this region pretty well, but not so completely that we wouldn’t want to come back. This was George’s first visit here. Blue Lake is where I gave each of my kids their first taste of backpacking the Sierra and I have been here other times as well. It is a beautiful area, as is the whole of the Sierra, but because there are no trails over the crest to join the Muir Trail, it doesn’t get much backcountry traffic as do many of the eastern trailheads. Dealing with the afternoon hail and rain and chances of the hail and rain added an interesting dimension, which we survived quite nicely with only minor discomfort.
My drive home, usually pretty boring once I get south of the Randsburg-Red Mountain area, was spectacular. There were thunderstorms visible all across the desert, many with virga and one that I drove through with large lightning strikes. The drive through the storm was complete with a hard rain and blowing sand… an interesting combination.
Looking forward to next year….
Blue Lake & Dingleberry Lake: September 18 – 23, 2011
Monday, 09-19, 8:59 AM, Camp above the north end of Blue Lake
My hands are so cold it is difficult to write. The 1st rays of the sun are hitting camp and I’ll be warmed up in minutes.
I met George in Pearsonville and I left my car there.
We left the trailhead yesterday at Lake Sabrina around 2:30 PM and arrived at this campsite at about 5:30. It was a climb of about 1,300 feet carrying a heavy backpack.
Blue Lake is beautiful as always.
Today’s plan is to day-hike to Donkey Lake and from there to Baboon Lake and take the trail from there back down to the Blue Lake trail making it a loop hike back to camp. Then fishing or just watching the sun travel across the sky.
12:59 PM, Sitting above Baboon Lake.
George is fishing. He caught one and others are showing interest. The temperature is perfect with a slight breeze. There are fluffy white clouds in a bright blue sky.
We hiked off-trail to Donkey Lake following the Blue Lake inlet stream. We stopped there for a while and then made our way here. We haven’t seen another person so far today.
2:38 PM, Western end of Baboon Lake
Someone built a crude teepee like structure of driftwood branches. I crawled into it for the shade and took a short nap while George fished. The fluffy white clouds are getting huge and turning to storm grey and the temperature is dropping and a wind is starting to pick up.
4:24 PM, back in camp
I’m holed up in the tent and George is outside. It’s hailing pretty hard and I am enjoying the sound as it hammers the tent.
Tuesday, 9:45 AM, 09-20-11, Blue Lake camp
We are drying out from yesterday’s hail and rain. We are leisurely breaking camp with the plan to hike to Dingleberry Lake basin and spend two nights there.
Right now the sky is clear and the sun is warm. We have three thermometers between us and none are ever in agreement, but the consensus is that the temperature last night got into the low 30s.
Blue Lake is beautiful and there is not a hint of a breeze.
We didn’t see any other person yesterday, but I did catch a glimpse of someone on the other side of the lake this morning.
3:06 PM, Camp at Dingleberry Lake
We are setup in a beautiful site near the inlet stream.
The sun is blotted out by a grey menacing cloud and a cool wind is blowing. The sky to the north over the desert is bright blue with white fluffy clouds. Thunder is sounding and it looks like we might be in for a replay of yesterday’s rain and hail. There is still evidence of yesterday’s hail in shady places on the ground and on some of the high peaks.
Hopefully we are better prepared today than yesterday. When we left on our hike yesterday we didn’t make our gear ready for a possible rain which started before we were able to get back to camp.
George is fishing. I fished the stream in a number of spots with no luck, though some mosquitoes were pretty happy that I spent time with them. The fish were easily visible and it was also clear they had no interest in what I was trying to serve them.
508 PM, Dingleberry Lake camp
A cold wind is blowing with a few rain drops. We managed to cook some soup, but then stowed gear for the rain that may or may not happen.
Wednesday, 12:01 PM, 09-21, Hungry Packer Lake
Sitting next to Hungry Packer Lake situated at about 11,200 feet. The white fluffy clouds in a bright blue sky are with us again. Yesterday’s storm clouds spared us and we had a rain free afternoon. My thermometer put this morning’s temperature in the mid-20s, George’s had us at 32 (I think). There is a waterfall of maybe 400 feet cascading down the ridge across the lake from where I sit. The sound of the falls ebbs and flows with the breezes. We had hiked to Midnight Lake, now here and will go to Moonlight Lake, then Topsy Turvey Lake and then back to camp. We’ve seen some very nice sized trout at these lakes, but neither George nor I brought our fishing gear on this day hike.
4:37 PM, Dingleberry Lake camp
I fished for the last couple of hours. I had enough hits to keep me at it, but no success. It’s frustrating watching the fish ignore my flys. They show no interest in anything I have shown them.
The weather goes from warm sun to cold shade depending on the sun cloud relationships. When there is cloud cover the mosquitoes appear and then they disappear with the sun. Though there are some mosquitoes, when present they are not too bad. Mostly they haven’t been around at all.
7:01 PM, Dingleberry Lake camp
As we were preparing dinner we got hit by about 5 – 10 minutes of hail. It wasn’t bad and it wasn’t nearly as strong the other day.
I’m now watching night close in. The coming night makes the world feel like its shrinking and soon it will be no larger than the inside of the tent. Luckily the weather and mosquitoes have been good enough that we are able to leave the tent door open to the night sky and the Milky Way, also thanks to the late moon rise.
The streams are flowing pretty strong for the season and the lakes are full given that it is mid-September and it was a heavy snow pack this season.
Thursday, 3:22 PM, 09-22, Emerald Lakes
This morning we climbed the western ridge, about 600 feet, next to Dingleberry Lake to see two of the Fishgut Lakes. The views were exceptional, especially looking back toward the Dingleberry Lake and Blue Lake basins. The area is an amazing sea of granite, including multiple 12, 000+ foot peaks all around except to the north where the valley drops to the desert floor and views of the White Mountains beyond.
We broke camp and now are on our way back to Blue Lake. We’ve stopped at the Emerald Lakes and George is fishing. We are at the same spot where I brought my son and grandson, Brendyn, a couple of years ago. Then Brendyn caught over 20 fish in a short amount of time. Today the fish aren’t cooperating, though George has caught a few small ones.
I’m tired, my feet are tired, but right now there is no place I’d rather be. This is the second of the four days we have been in the back country that we have not seen another person. I’m sure that will change once we get back to Blue Lake.
5:22 PM, Blue Lake camp
We’ve set up camp near the main trail and next to the outlet stream of Blue Lake. It looks like the afternoon weather is going to remain nice today. The sun is still shining and there are no storm clouds in sight.
The cooking stove is all set to go. This trip we are using my old Svea. Normally we use George’s MSR, but he has it in for repairs. It’s been years since I last used this stove, but it is functioning perfectly.
We saw eight people since we got to Blue Lake, a group of five from the Bay area on their way to Dingleberry Lake and beyond and three day hikers on their way out.
George is fishing the stream next to camp. He is not having any luck. As usual we can see the fish and they are not interested.
Friday, 9:40 AM, 09-23, Blue Lake camp
We have broken camp. George is topping off the water bottles for our hike out. We are about to walk down the mountain and re-enter the world we actually live in. We are only visitors here.
The sun is warm with white fluffy clouds in a bright blue sky. This morning’s temp showed at 40, the warmest since we have been here.
Saturday, 09-24, Home again, reflections on the trip highlights
We spent two nights at Blue Lake, two nights at Dingleberry Lake and the last night at Blue Lake. Each campsite had the ongoing music of a fast flowing stream next to us. We were able to explore this region pretty well, but not so completely that we wouldn’t want to come back. This was George’s first visit here. Blue Lake is where I gave each of my kids their first taste of backpacking the Sierra and I have been here other times as well. It is a beautiful area, as is the whole of the Sierra, but because there are no trails over the crest to join the Muir Trail, it doesn’t get much backcountry traffic as do many of the eastern trailheads. Dealing with the afternoon hail and rain and chances of the hail and rain added an interesting dimension, which we survived quite nicely with only minor discomfort.
My drive home, usually pretty boring once I get south of the Randsburg-Red Mountain area, was spectacular. There were thunderstorms visible all across the desert, many with virga and one that I drove through with large lightning strikes. The drive through the storm was complete with a hard rain and blowing sand… an interesting combination.
Looking forward to next year….