High Sierra Topix

My original plan was a backpacking trip out of Big Pine last Friday, but I got sick on the drive up. My best guess was food poisoning, it was a strange drive. I decided to bail on the BP trip and got a campsite at North Lake. Saturday I hiked up to Blue Lake, lost the trail to snow about half way up, an easy hike with crampons. Blue lake is still frozen over but starting to breakup along the shore, also found several good dry campsites. Sunday I hiked to Long Lake, I hit snow right away; the trail clears at the Treasure Lakes turn off for a while, then solid snow. The trail is packed down and easy to follow. Long lake is mostly frozen and lots of snow everywhere. I started post-holing around the lake and put on snowshoes. It’s beautiful up there right now, no bugs yet. Here’s some trip pictures:

http://www.photo.net/photodb/folder?folder_id=611381

Wow, I remember backpacking to Treasure Lakes 2 years ago not more than 11-12 days from the date you did this hike, and not hitting snow until the upper Treasure Lakes! Certainly a lot different this year. Makes it a little difficult to decide what equipment to bring. I'm going to be in Seattle at the end of this week, and will be spending a few days at Mt. Rainier, and it's full-on winter conditions above 6-7000 ft, apparently. Not sure what to take because I'm not sure what will be available in terms of permits and trails. Just got back from the Rockies; my bags were heavy enough for that trip!

Hi Doug, up in Bishop Creek again huh! Sounds like the ES snow line is 10k to 11k depending on exposure. I backcountry ski in spring corn occasionally so get to see what the spring melt often looks like above the snow line. With the bright snow, pics after the sun rises up some tend to be contrasty unless one confines shooting to early and late. Since I resort ski a lot during winters, I get to see landscapes after fresh snowfalls which I much prefer as snow scenes especially if it wasn't windy and trees and rocks are laden with snow. Thus never hike with my big camera up into those areas this time of year. In the next couple weeks, wildflowers ought to begin making a show along the foot of the Owens Valley especially atop the rocky morraines. Be nice to hear some reports on when yellow hued balsomroot start making the usual show along the highway north of Crowley below Tobacco Flat. That is a good indicator overall to when early lower elevation wildflowers are coming out. A friend and I are considering making the long road trip over on the east side first week of July but I'm wondering if that will be too early for McGee. Sure to be up in the bristlecone a day or two too. ...David

Those yellow numbers I always called "mule ears" are starting to bloom along the highway--not going off yet (except in my yard on Hilton Creek). Same thing along the beginning of the McGee trail just below Horsetail Falls...lupine and mule ears are about a week/10 days from spectacular.

Mule Ears == TP.

Matilda wrote:Those yellow numbers I always called "mule ears" are starting to bloom along the highway--not going off yet (except in my yard on Hilton Creek). Same thing along the beginning of the McGee trail just below Horsetail Falls...lupine and mule ears are about a week/10 days from spectacular.

Wow, thank you for this info. I already planned my trip for June 24th to 26th, right on time.

Very nice series Doug. Bishop Creek is really moving.

Thankyou Mathilda just what I needed to hear, much appreciated. Both the balsomroot and the mule ears look similar and grow together, though the former come out first and the latter also tend to last longer after blooming. Sounds like the big yellow bloom below Horsetail is right on schedule for the end of the month. I prefer hiking there a bit after the yellow army peaks as that is when during most years castilleja linarifolia show adding a beautiful pinkish red to the mix.

Beautiful up there now! Nice photos! Thanks, Doug!