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Re: Courtright Reservoir to Rae Lake info

Posted: Wed Aug 25, 2010 9:31 am
by Jimr
That's the key!!! Get him hooked first. I spent several years as a divemaster. After many, many beach dives in questionable conditions, I learned that the question is not "can I do it?", it's "will I have fun?". With this in mind, I always consider my hiking partner(s) with respect to their abilities and fashion the trip with their limitations in mind. I want everyone with me to have fun.

Once you see the fire in his eyes, you can take him to the top of Hell For Sure Pass and let him look over the top. I did that with my wife many years ago. It took two seasons of day hikes, overnighters, and a prior year trip over Piute pass to Muriel lake to bring her to the place where she could do multi-day pack movements. We stayed at Post Corral Meadow in an open packer's camp. Next day to Rae Lake, then next day a day hike to the top of HFS pass and back to Rae Lake. Returning to Post Corral the next day, we decided it was too crowded (July 4th weekend had arrived), so we headed out. She started to cry the last mile, but all of the wonderful stuff had already happened and she was getting used to the fact that the longest mile is always the last one, just yesterday, she was reminiscing (sp) the view from HFS pass. My roll of film got lost in the mail, so there were never any pics from that trip, but the view down is permanently etched in her minds eye.

Re: Courtright Reservoir to Rae Lake info

Posted: Mon Aug 30, 2010 10:04 pm
by mtn.horhe
I am pretty sure that i am going to take him to Dinkey lakes like many of you suggested because it does seem like it would be a lot more fun for both of us. I have never been there before and i was wondering if anyone could tell me where the trail head is at. (just like in the general area)

Re: Courtright Reservoir to Rae Lake info

Posted: Mon Aug 30, 2010 10:10 pm
by AlmostThere
The paved way to a trailhead is to drive all the way to Courtright and start at Cliff Lake trailhead. This is a long hike in, but you can camp the first night at Cliff Lake, or Bullfrog, before popping over the ridge - there is a side trip to Dogtooth Peak from the ridge if you want to go before dropping into Rock Lake.

The easier walk-in trail is at Willow Meadow, at the end of a semi-paved road (the last two miles will test your ability to drive rough roads - high clearance vehicle highly recommended if you are not already comfortable driving a two wheel drive, low clearance car on rocky, oil-pan-bashing roads).

There are other trailheads but those are more distant and even longer to get to the main lakes basin.

Re: Courtright Reservoir to Rae Lake info

Posted: Mon Aug 30, 2010 10:17 pm
by mtn.horhe
I think i will go the Willow Meadow route. I don't have a ton of clearance but i think it should be OK. I have a little 93 s10 by the way. Is there a designated parking spot there?

Re: Courtright Reservoir to Rae Lake info

Posted: Mon Aug 30, 2010 10:23 pm
by AlmostThere
I think you will see where to park. BTW, when you pass the turnoff to the jeep trail, stay to the left and follow the road, it will go another 1/4 mile to the (large, full of cars every weekend) parking area for the trailhead. Since it is in national forest and that trailhead is a 3 hour drive from Fresno, people often go up the day before their permit starts and camp around the trailhead before starting their backpack trip.

Re: Courtright Reservoir to Rae Lake info

Posted: Mon Aug 30, 2010 10:26 pm
by mtn.horhe
ok thanks :thumbsup: