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BSquared wrote:So where the h*ll exactly IS Iva Bell? When we did the JMT a number of years ago, we took the detour through Fish Valley from Reds Meadows expressly to visit the hotsprings, and I found some warm-ish streams but despite trekking all over the place one afternoon and the morning on the way out, we never did find anything definitive. Lots of elaborate camps (horse campers, presumably), but no nice granite tubs. How could we have missed it?
Coming up from Island Crossing, you go across the log bridge over the side stream coming down from Lost Keys Lakes then you come into an open meadow/hillside with a strong smell of sulphur. There are faint paths going up that hillside, but its hard to find anything and the pools are much further up than you think (we went this way and were pretty fed up by the time we found the pools).
The trick is to go across the meadow on the main trail that would eventually take you over to Second Crossing, and then as soon as you go back into the trees, you cross a very small stream. There is an obvious side trail going up the hillside alongside that stream. After 100-200 yards or so it goes back across the stream and comes out at a very nice campsite under a big tree (probably the "elaborate camp" you found. The main pool (in my photo above) is level with the campsite following a clear use trail back across a flatter part of the open hillside (say 50 yards from the campsite). The other pools are higher up the hill.
Tom H,
I think I know where your 'secret site' is because it sounds like a place I know of on Bubbs Creek. Throw me a bone if I'm on the right creek.
Bravefanla
You can't go wrong swimming in any alpine lake. My favorites are the ones around Mt. Silliman. Silliman and Crescent Lake both have 20+ ft. jumps. Many creeks and rivers have good spots for a dip as well. Stony Creek has a legendary water slide, and there are nice pools below the slide as well. The Marble Fork is a classic swimming river. The lower part has many easy to get to spots, and the upper has all kinds of gems that are very tricky to get to. In fact, many of the upper swimming holes are pretty unsafe unless there's a drought. Same goes for South Fork Kings. Plenty of good spots on the way to Mist Falls, but super dangerous in high water. Clover Creek above Wuksachi has endless slides and jacuzzi sized holes. The water there is consistently warm, and there's plenty of hot, flat granite to bask on. And of course, the Kern Hot Springs are tough to top.
I don't give out specific route information, my belief is that it takes away from the whole adventure spirit of a trip, if you need every inch planned out, you'll have to get that from someone else.
Have a safer backcountry experience by using the HST ReConn Form 2.0, named after Larry Conn, a HST member:http://reconn.org
I agree with SSSdave and markskor. The water is too cold for "swimming". I got in the water MANY times but not to swim. I like to rinse off. My favorite "activity" was water sliding. I know I've posted water sliding by Mike, my nephew Steve, and me, years ago. I had to swim out of at least one of those water slide water falls - the one in middle Paradise Vally. That's as close to swimming as I ever got. Everyone should do the one in Paradise. It's a serious rush and not dangerous (although it looks like it could be dangerous).
dbogey wrote:Swimming in Lake Marion was "Refreshing" but cold as hell and my hiking buddy probably heard my yelping a 100yds away when I jumped in.
Glacier Lakes are amazing and have beachfront property and I swore if i ever come back I'm bringing a raft with drink holder and parking it right on this lake all day
That spot looks familiar 'bogey:)
I used to pack an inflatable raft to our favorite secret swimming hole years ago. My brother found this spot before the internet by just searching topo maps for wide open granite. A group of us went every summer for 19 years until people starting getting married, having kids etc. We all have been sworn to secrecy regarding the location, although some of the old timers may recognize it.
sierra swimming hole.JPG
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Aha! I love swimming and do it all year in an 80 degree outdoor lap pool in SoCal. This has been a great ocean summer too, with warm weather and water warmer than the last several summers; except for lots of rough wave days from the Baja storms. Those days were like swimming in a berserk washing machine. I also love the mountains (or I wouldn't read this forum). Have a split brain, between the Sierras and the Coast. On day hikes in the Sierras I have swam in June Lake (nice beach, water shallow this year, tolerable temperature); Dardenelles lake near Tahoe (beautiful setting, water warm enough by August); and good old Lake Tahoe (stayed in too long, close to hypothermic). Lots of wading in other lakes. That really cools down the blood!