Smoke chased me to Emigrant Meadow. Turned out great.
Posted: Sat Sep 05, 2015 2:41 pm
Kennedy Meadows into Emigrant Wilderness.
On Saturday morning Aug. 23 bright and early, I was at the Bishop Ranger station to get a wilderness permit for Lamarck Col. No luck. Too much smoke. Drove up to Mammoth. Smoke.
On to Bridgeport. Local fire had closed a campground. Smoke. 
Not giving up though. Checking the prevailing winds, I continued North over the Sonora Pass to Kennedy Meadows. Spent two nights at the little backpackers camp while some light haze cleared. Then six perfectly clear days in Emigrant Lake, Emigrant Meadow Lake, High Emigrant Meadow Lake. Please note: The "trail" from EL to EML runs through a beautiful, isolated alpine valley. Be prepared for cross country navigation, as the trail often completely disappears. I don't use GPS in summer, so it was interesting. Then up over the saddle to HEML. The only two people I saw up there was a father and son who had just pulled a four pound Brook trout out of EML.
Not exactly Eastern Sierra high country, but great nevertheless. Topped it off with a hot shower and excellent dinner with the friendly people at the Kennedy Meadows Resort.
Looking to dodge all the smoke? You might check to see if it's still clear up there, but it saved the day for me. Peace.
On Saturday morning Aug. 23 bright and early, I was at the Bishop Ranger station to get a wilderness permit for Lamarck Col. No luck. Too much smoke. Drove up to Mammoth. Smoke.
On to Bridgeport. Local fire had closed a campground. Smoke. Not giving up though. Checking the prevailing winds, I continued North over the Sonora Pass to Kennedy Meadows. Spent two nights at the little backpackers camp while some light haze cleared. Then six perfectly clear days in Emigrant Lake, Emigrant Meadow Lake, High Emigrant Meadow Lake. Please note: The "trail" from EL to EML runs through a beautiful, isolated alpine valley. Be prepared for cross country navigation, as the trail often completely disappears. I don't use GPS in summer, so it was interesting. Then up over the saddle to HEML. The only two people I saw up there was a father and son who had just pulled a four pound Brook trout out of EML.
Not exactly Eastern Sierra high country, but great nevertheless. Topped it off with a hot shower and excellent dinner with the friendly people at the Kennedy Meadows Resort.
Looking to dodge all the smoke? You might check to see if it's still clear up there, but it saved the day for me. Peace.