High Sierra Topix

I thought the trail from Lodgepole up to Twin Lakes was a drag - mostly in deep forest and a big climb. But I liked Rowell Meadow trailhead as a starting point in August 2013. We actually drove up in the morning and hiked all the way in to Lost Lake in the afternoon. The climb to the first pass is gentle; a little more climbing from Belle Canyon up to Lost Lake. Then on the second day, we hiked over Silliman Pass, past Twin Lakes, up over JO Pass, and then camped at Jennie Lake, which was crowded. The third day was an easy few hours back down to the Rowell Meadow trailhead and then drove home.

-Phil

Well, I scored Twin Lakes out of Lodgepole for an easy 4-day loop. But today checked and saw that the JMT Trailhead N of Devils PostPile had 1 opening for Friday, July 1. So i went ahead and snagged it.

Rough route is something like:

1) Friday July 1: Devils Post North Trailhead -> Gladys or Rosalie Lake
2) Saturday July 2: Gladys or Rosalie Lake to Ediza
3) Sunday July 3: Ediza to 1000 Islands Lake
4) Monday, July 4: High Trail out to Agnews Meadow and find my car somewhere in Mammoth.

I will certainly be spent and then faced with long road home to LA that night.

Wish I could start at Agnews Meadow, but permits are all booked up and this looked like the easiest way to get at what I see is a popular, high traffic, but amazing trekking region - ideal for me solo with little High Sierra's experience. Welcome any thoughts on the potential routing.

1) Friday July 1: Devils Post North Trailhead -> Gladys or Rosalie Lake
2) Saturday July 2: Gladys or Rosalie Lake to Ediza
3) Sunday July 3: Ediza to 1000 Islands Lake
4) Monday, July 4: High Trail out to Agnews Meadow

Both Gladys and Rosalie may have a lot of skeeters, be prepared. At the outlet of Gladys there is a small ridge with great views of Mammoth Crest and SJ Middle Fork, there may be a breeze present in this area that may help with the skeeters.

Make time to hike up to Iceberg Lake from Ediza in the morning.

Don't camp close to the water at 1000 Is Lake, bears hit these campsite frequently at night, camp between the trees, away from everyone else.

and find my car somewhere in Mammoth.

You purchase the shuttle tickets at the Adventure Center and park you car in the indicated parking areas:
ttps://www.nps.gov/depo/planyourvisit/upload/A ... l-JPEG.jpg

Never before have I seen a forum so scared of Skeeters. Apparently they are awful in them Sierras.

We talking serious DEET and Headnet type precautions?

Never before have I seen a forum so scared of Skeeters. Apparently they are awful in them Sierras.

We talking serious DEET and Headnet type precautions?

Not scared, but we like to prepare people for them, some folks have had bad experiences, and do not go till August or later in the season because of them. Some areas, these can change from year to year, but Big Wet Meadow (SEKI) and Tilden Lake (Yosemite) are a few of the skeeter manufacturing sites in the Sierra.
Having thick clouds of these blood sucking vampires can be annoying and dangerous (West Nile, and now Zika).
Here is a good thread to prepare you: viewtopic.php?f=15&t=7828&hilit=mosquit ... nce#p56699
Also read this thread before you go, to get a good idea of the current conditions: viewtopic.php?f=34&t=13937&p=104003&hil ... ts#p104003

sambieni wrote:Never before have I seen a forum so scared of Skeeters. Apparently they are awful in them Sierras.

We talking serious DEET and Headnet type precautions?

I have reversed course and left for lower elevations when it became obvious that the only escape was inside the tent. Starting at 3 in the afternoon, when we arrived, they were dark clouds only escaped by holding your breath and diving into the lake. They mocked the DEET -- they landed on our wet skin, seconds after spraying it. They crowded every inch of a treated long sleeve shirt. The buzzing around the headnet-clad heads was enough to drive anyone buggy within minutes. They coated the tent netting -- it was too hot to put on the fly, so they covered the mesh.

There are times when it's not just the threat of West Nile, but a matter of your sanity.

OK, well, you guys have successfully "scared" me!

Given my track record, my blood tends to be tastier than most so seems I may well be in for a rough time. Yay!

Thank you both for your thoughts and the link to the skeeters' threads. Will definitely prepare for the worst.

maverick wrote:

1) Friday July 1: Devils Post North Trailhead -> Gladys or Rosalie Lake
2) Saturday July 2: Gladys or Rosalie Lake to Ediza
3) Sunday July 3: Ediza to 1000 Islands Lake
4) Monday, July 4: High Trail out to Agnews Meadow

Both Gladys and Rosalie may have a lot of skeeters, be prepared. At the outlet of Gladys there is a small ridge with great views of Mammoth Crest and SJ Middle Fork, there may be a breeze present in this area that may help with the skeeters.

Make time to hike up to Iceberg Lake from Ediza in the morning.

Don't camp close to the water at 1000 Is Lake, bears hit these campsite frequently at night, camp between the trees, away from everyone else.

and find my car somewhere in Mammoth.

You purchase the shuttle tickets at the Adventure Center and park you car in the indicated parking areas:
ttps://www.nps.gov/depo/planyourvisit/upload/A ... l-JPEG.jpg

Maverick - thoughts on snow on trails that time of year?

Maverick - thoughts on snow on trails that time of year?

Not an issue.

maverick wrote:

Maverick - thoughts on snow on trails that time of year?

Not an issue.