High Sierra Topix

I was not expecting great fishing. I have been to most of the lower lakes a few years ago from Crabtree TH and wanted this time to go out of Gianelli, and see the upper lakes. I also avoided the lower lakes because I figured the warmer temperatures would mean more mosquitoes. The loop through Lewis Lakes and Summit Creek worked out because I had done extensive looking at this route but left it out because it involved too many miles. Ha, ha - ended up doing it anyway! Years ago I dragged my poor husband up to Emigrant Lake, from Kennedy Meadows, via Iceland Lake and over the shoulder of Granite Dome, in one day! He was about to kill me by the time we were trudging up the switchbacks to Emigrant Lake! I think Buck Lake is one of the prettiest lakes with so many little nooks and crannies to explore. I had planned on camping here and spending half a day, but by the time I got there I was worried about time. One of these days I will spend several days at Buck Lake! One thing I really like about going early season, is that the air so clear- no lingering smoke and cool enough in the Valley so that smog does not float up into the wilderness. No haze to deal with when photographing.

Great trip report!
I will be heading this way next weekend for a fly by the seat of my pants trip.
Nice to have some idea of what to expect.

Wandering Daisy wrote:...Years ago I dragged my poor husband up to Emigrant Lake, from Kennedy Meadows, via Iceland Lake and over the shoulder of Granite Dome, in one day! He was about to kill me by the time we were trudging up the switchbacks to Emigrant Lake! I think Buck Lake is one of the prettiest lakes with so many little nooks and crannies to explore. I had planned on camping here and spending half a day, but by the time I got there I was worried about time. One of these days I will spend several days at Buck Lake! One thing I really like about going early season, is that the air so clear- no lingering smoke and cool enough in the Valley so that smog does not float up into the wilderness. No haze to deal with when photographing.

Well we share that in common. Not knowing better as twentysomething I did just that and by time I reached the other side of Granite Dome about 9pm was an absolutely quivering blob ended up with sleeping bag (no tent those days) atop some bumpy rocks. Agreed about the Buck Lakes beauty and yes I have that on a fully spreadsheet planned Emigrant trip. Also want to camp at Lertora and Shallow Lakes a couple days each. Emigrant is arguable in bad years the worst zone in the Sierra for mosquitoes because it probably has more small stagnant ponds than anywhere else which the topo readily shows. Probably the ideal year to visit is one with slightly below average snowpack then a dry warm May followed by an unusual snowy cold front which I've seen a few times over the years that kills most of them. Then backpack a month later in early July. Still would be more mosquitoes than many places but at that level with usual DEET I can easily cope rarely getting bit without having an unpleasant time. Above a certain level mosquitoes get so thick that they easily get inside my view camera when changing lenses or are just a general nuisance when dozens are continually in a cloud over one's head because some are continually landing then taking off after getting a taste.

SSSDave wrote:
Emigrant is arguable in bad years the worst zone in the Sierra for mosquitoes because
it probably has more small stagnant ponds than anywhere else which the topo readily
shows.

Very true, though also one of the better places for wildflowers, unfortunately at about
the same time the mosquitoes are peaking.

Great pics, so nice to see some water anyway. Oh the bugs...that's why I always have gone pretty late in the year. But then one doesn't get the flowers or the freshness.