TR: Up Mono Creek, Hopkins Pass, Tully Lake, N.F. Mono Creek
Posted: Wed Apr 13, 2016 12:15 am
This was based on a recommendation from SSSdave here: viewtopic.php?f=1&t=12954
8/22/15 -
This was one of the most emotionally difficult trips I have been on. It was my first solo trip, I forgot my fishing pole, and I was dealing with pain the entire time.
Day 1: The drive from San Francisco to Vermilion campground took longer than expected, over 6 hours. I could have gotten to the trailhead on the Eastern side in about the same time (but there were not advance permits available). I missed the shuttle across what was left of Lake Thomas Edison (%12 capacity) and I didn't want to wait until the next morning, so I started out down the trail a mile and then got that funny "I think I forgot something" feeling after about 15 minutes of walking. I realized it was my tenkara rod, and walked back to the car to check. When I realized I had forgotten in in San Francisco, I was beside myself. The first day was spend walking the 6 miles along the empty reservoir. It was ugly, I don't recommend it. Better to take the water taxi in the morning.
Day 2: The following day I worked my way up Mono Creek, which I didn't enjoy. It was thickly wooded without any meadows or views of the creek. I have been battling some metatarsalgia (foot pad pain) which flared up and I only could make it about another 6 miles. I camped at the junction of Hopkins Creek and Mono Creek, and was feeling pretty discouraged. Also the air was full of smoke for the first two days due to a nearby fire.
Day 3: I worked my way up Hopkins Creek, and the forest finally started to thin out as I got above 9,500 feet. Once I got above 10,000 I was reminded why I love this, and my mood brightened. Things opened up and the smoke wasn't as bad. I stopped for lunch at Upper Hopkins Lakes, and then headed for Hopkins Pass. It was a dramatic pass, and the way down wasn't immediately apparrent, but once I found the use trail it was a pretty easy trip down to Big McGee Lake. Big McGee was gorgeous with lots of great campsites around. I didn't see anyone there, and there were large, 12-14 foot fish cruising the lake. I had a nice afternoon, would love to return here, with a fishing pole.
Day 4: I was still managing foot pain and having to stop every mile or so and take off my shoes and massage my feet. Not fun. The route to McGee pass is about 1,400 feet of climbing, much on red and white talus from Red Slate Mountain, up to almost 12,000 foot at the pass. It was beautiful and unique scenery. The lakes are emerald green against the red rock, I haven't seen anything like it in the Sierras before. Amazing place. Then, the descent is long and difficult and ends in some scree covered switchbacks before you drop into an absolutely gorgeous meadow along Fish Creek. This was stunning country, and fish creek lives up to it's name - teeming with 4-7 inch trout. At this point, I had some rapid onset, severe achilles tendon pain creep up on me, likely from the trip over McGee pass. My foot pain had finally receded and now I was dealing with this. I hiked to Tully lake which was stunning, with warm sandy shallow areas, cliffs you could dive off of, grassy areas to lie in. Many options in that basin for a campsite, but you need to work to get 100' from the water. There were also larger fish in Tully lake. Again, I would love to return with a pole. I took my boots off for a couple hours and soaked my feet, but when I put the boots back I was in for some pretty intense pain. I had planned to make a big loop through this country north of Mt Isaak Walton and out past the Graveyard Lakes and down Cold Creek, but I decided I better bail, so I hopped myself up on painkillers and headed due south, cross country over a pass and down past Bighorn and Ross Finch lakes. I camped in a beautiful meadow about 1200 feet up the creek from Mott Lake
Day 5: I planned to take a rest day and see if my foot felt any better, but by early afternoon I realized I was unhappy, I couldn't explore due to pain, and I couldn't fish. I plan to do more solo trips this year, but this first one was way more difficult than I anticipated. I decided to just take a handful of Advil and get home to my girlfriend and come back with a fishing pole and a different pair of boots next time, probably from the East side instead. That day I hiked the 10 miles back to my car in intense pain, getting to the car well after dark. I drove home to San Francisco that night, arriving at about 3am.
- Despite all the discomfort, of course what I remember a year later is the incredible beauty once I got into the alpine country, and all the big fish I saw that "got away"
- For me, on a solo trip I would either have needed to be healthy enough to go climb peaks, or have had my fishing pole. That being said, I am excited to do more solo trips this summer, and I hope to be able to stay out for the full 8-9 day period next time.
- I left a lot of interesting country on the table, I could see returning but taking the shuttle and trying to make Tully lake on the first day, going back in the way I came out. Then I could finish my planned loop. If I came in from the East, I would explore Pioneer lakes basin, and see if there was a way down from the Saddle of Mt. Crocker back over to Big McGee lake, so catch some of those big trout I saw swimming around.
Photos https://goo.gl/photos/r1grcANXAMFvyfxo8
8/22/15 -
This was one of the most emotionally difficult trips I have been on. It was my first solo trip, I forgot my fishing pole, and I was dealing with pain the entire time.
Day 1: The drive from San Francisco to Vermilion campground took longer than expected, over 6 hours. I could have gotten to the trailhead on the Eastern side in about the same time (but there were not advance permits available). I missed the shuttle across what was left of Lake Thomas Edison (%12 capacity) and I didn't want to wait until the next morning, so I started out down the trail a mile and then got that funny "I think I forgot something" feeling after about 15 minutes of walking. I realized it was my tenkara rod, and walked back to the car to check. When I realized I had forgotten in in San Francisco, I was beside myself. The first day was spend walking the 6 miles along the empty reservoir. It was ugly, I don't recommend it. Better to take the water taxi in the morning.
Day 2: The following day I worked my way up Mono Creek, which I didn't enjoy. It was thickly wooded without any meadows or views of the creek. I have been battling some metatarsalgia (foot pad pain) which flared up and I only could make it about another 6 miles. I camped at the junction of Hopkins Creek and Mono Creek, and was feeling pretty discouraged. Also the air was full of smoke for the first two days due to a nearby fire.
Day 3: I worked my way up Hopkins Creek, and the forest finally started to thin out as I got above 9,500 feet. Once I got above 10,000 I was reminded why I love this, and my mood brightened. Things opened up and the smoke wasn't as bad. I stopped for lunch at Upper Hopkins Lakes, and then headed for Hopkins Pass. It was a dramatic pass, and the way down wasn't immediately apparrent, but once I found the use trail it was a pretty easy trip down to Big McGee Lake. Big McGee was gorgeous with lots of great campsites around. I didn't see anyone there, and there were large, 12-14 foot fish cruising the lake. I had a nice afternoon, would love to return here, with a fishing pole.
Day 4: I was still managing foot pain and having to stop every mile or so and take off my shoes and massage my feet. Not fun. The route to McGee pass is about 1,400 feet of climbing, much on red and white talus from Red Slate Mountain, up to almost 12,000 foot at the pass. It was beautiful and unique scenery. The lakes are emerald green against the red rock, I haven't seen anything like it in the Sierras before. Amazing place. Then, the descent is long and difficult and ends in some scree covered switchbacks before you drop into an absolutely gorgeous meadow along Fish Creek. This was stunning country, and fish creek lives up to it's name - teeming with 4-7 inch trout. At this point, I had some rapid onset, severe achilles tendon pain creep up on me, likely from the trip over McGee pass. My foot pain had finally receded and now I was dealing with this. I hiked to Tully lake which was stunning, with warm sandy shallow areas, cliffs you could dive off of, grassy areas to lie in. Many options in that basin for a campsite, but you need to work to get 100' from the water. There were also larger fish in Tully lake. Again, I would love to return with a pole. I took my boots off for a couple hours and soaked my feet, but when I put the boots back I was in for some pretty intense pain. I had planned to make a big loop through this country north of Mt Isaak Walton and out past the Graveyard Lakes and down Cold Creek, but I decided I better bail, so I hopped myself up on painkillers and headed due south, cross country over a pass and down past Bighorn and Ross Finch lakes. I camped in a beautiful meadow about 1200 feet up the creek from Mott Lake
Day 5: I planned to take a rest day and see if my foot felt any better, but by early afternoon I realized I was unhappy, I couldn't explore due to pain, and I couldn't fish. I plan to do more solo trips this year, but this first one was way more difficult than I anticipated. I decided to just take a handful of Advil and get home to my girlfriend and come back with a fishing pole and a different pair of boots next time, probably from the East side instead. That day I hiked the 10 miles back to my car in intense pain, getting to the car well after dark. I drove home to San Francisco that night, arriving at about 3am.
- Despite all the discomfort, of course what I remember a year later is the incredible beauty once I got into the alpine country, and all the big fish I saw that "got away"
- For me, on a solo trip I would either have needed to be healthy enough to go climb peaks, or have had my fishing pole. That being said, I am excited to do more solo trips this summer, and I hope to be able to stay out for the full 8-9 day period next time.
- I left a lot of interesting country on the table, I could see returning but taking the shuttle and trying to make Tully lake on the first day, going back in the way I came out. Then I could finish my planned loop. If I came in from the East, I would explore Pioneer lakes basin, and see if there was a way down from the Saddle of Mt. Crocker back over to Big McGee lake, so catch some of those big trout I saw swimming around.
Photos https://goo.gl/photos/r1grcANXAMFvyfxo8