TR Reflection-Longley-Sphinx Loop July 6-13 Part 1
Posted: Fri Aug 07, 2015 9:22 pm
This is a glorious region that I've been to numerous times, but never connected the dots via Longley Pass. The route circumnavigates Mt. Brewer clockwise and takes you thru some of the most stunning off-trail scenery in the So. Sierras. If you have never been to Lake Reflection, put it on your bucket list -- it is one of the jewels in the crown of the Sierras. There are other lakes just as beautiful and spectacular, but none surpass it.
Day 1-
We left Roads End late around noon and got up the Bubbs Ck. switchbacks around 2pm. Nice views of the Sphinx and the big walls. The view back west toward Zumwalt Mdws revealed some swaths of forest that have the pine bark beetle infestation -- very unsettling, I don't want to see what this looks like in another 5 yrs. Another climate change prediction coming true... We took a lunch break at the Sphinx Ck. trail bridge and headed toward Junction Mdw. A rainstorm came in and soaked everything for about an hour, but we made camp and fought off mosquitos to keep us on our toes. The area along Bubbs Creek that burned 35 years ago is revegetating with a vengeance. Day 2-
We crossed Bubbs Ck. without event and started working our way up toward East Lake. It's a well-graded trail with great views in all directions. Getting up out of the valleys and into the high stuff was exhiliarating. This is a beautiful trail that is a joy to hike with views of Mt. Bago and the glaciated chutes from the Mt. Brewer divide draining into East Creek are dramatic. East Lake, even tho being a 15 mi. hike, is a beautiful destination all by itself. The views west toward Mt. Brewer are sublime. Even tho East lake is such a worthy camp spot, we left the maintained trail and continued on to Lake Reflection. And of course, Lake Reflection never disappoints with either the setting or the fishing. Day 3 - The next morning at Lake Reflection... We had a layover day here and fished to our heart's content. We didn't really care if we caught anything it was just so magically beautiful at every turn of the eye. Day 4 - We awoke to gathering clouds as we prepared to head to the SW end of the lake and climb toward Longley Pass. It looked ominous.
Day 1-
We left Roads End late around noon and got up the Bubbs Ck. switchbacks around 2pm. Nice views of the Sphinx and the big walls. The view back west toward Zumwalt Mdws revealed some swaths of forest that have the pine bark beetle infestation -- very unsettling, I don't want to see what this looks like in another 5 yrs. Another climate change prediction coming true... We took a lunch break at the Sphinx Ck. trail bridge and headed toward Junction Mdw. A rainstorm came in and soaked everything for about an hour, but we made camp and fought off mosquitos to keep us on our toes. The area along Bubbs Creek that burned 35 years ago is revegetating with a vengeance. Day 2-
We crossed Bubbs Ck. without event and started working our way up toward East Lake. It's a well-graded trail with great views in all directions. Getting up out of the valleys and into the high stuff was exhiliarating. This is a beautiful trail that is a joy to hike with views of Mt. Bago and the glaciated chutes from the Mt. Brewer divide draining into East Creek are dramatic. East Lake, even tho being a 15 mi. hike, is a beautiful destination all by itself. The views west toward Mt. Brewer are sublime. Even tho East lake is such a worthy camp spot, we left the maintained trail and continued on to Lake Reflection. And of course, Lake Reflection never disappoints with either the setting or the fishing. Day 3 - The next morning at Lake Reflection... We had a layover day here and fished to our heart's content. We didn't really care if we caught anything it was just so magically beautiful at every turn of the eye. Day 4 - We awoke to gathering clouds as we prepared to head to the SW end of the lake and climb toward Longley Pass. It looked ominous.