If you've been searching for the best source of information and stimulating discussion related to Spring/Summer/Fall backpacking, hiking and camping in the Sierra Nevada...look no further!
I'm heading up there tomorrow morning. Taking a friend and her kid, booth of whom have never been to the Sierras before. Looking at those photos of yours is going to get them very excited.
Were there any mosquitos? Also, are there any decent camp spots near Donkey or Baboon lakes? We had thought to spend one night in that area and another near hungry packer...
Thanks Dave - I hope you all enjoy a wonderful trip. There were a few mosquitoes, and lots of midges it seemed, but I did not use any repellent, and came away with no bites. Most of the time I was covered except hands and face. That is one of the great benefits of backpacking/hiking in September. Around Donkey Lake, I saw plenty of good spots to make camp. At Baboon Lake (the lowest and largest), I walked around for maybe 5 minutes, then got down to the serious business of fishing. There may be some good spots to camp, I just didn't bother seeking them out. Especially on a weekend, you will probably find the Hungry Packer Lake arm of the basin to be much more crowded, but good luck on that anyway.
Cheers,
Herm
herm >>>"...Still closer to the trailhead, I found this sign that summer is coming to an end, and autumn is fast approaching..."
Yep those talus aspen on the east side of South Lake a bit above 10k are often among the first trees to begin changing to yellows. I'm expecting there will be quite a lot more to look a very shortly.
Dave;
I wish I could say that I "know" about the South Fork Bishop Creek drainage - unfortunately, I know little from actually having my boots on the ground - in fact, I know nothing. But that area is mighty close to where I was. Note that the little aspen in my photo is on the west side of the trail. As memory serves, I think the trees on the east side of the trail had more color, including some golds and reds, but the southern exposure would not have allowed for photos.
Thaniks for taking the time to chime in. As always, I anticipate some good photos from your future excursions.
Herm
Thanks for the report! Looks like you had a great trip. I had a chance to peek into Sabrina Basin for the first time yesterday and the brief preview had me wanting to come back for a proper trip soon.
Very nice report and photos that bring back many memories. Baboon Lakes are lovely and enough off the beaten track that they can feel more isolated than the rest of the highly used Sabrina Basin.
No other place in the Sierra outside the Sabrina basin calls me back so often.
Great TR and lovely pictures to a very pretty area Herm. Blue, Midnight, Sailor, Hungry
Packer Lakes or maybe just should say that whole area are all worth while destinations
for backpackers, fishing persons, and photographers alike.
Richlong8 wrote: Baboon Lakes? Is there a regular trail into the Baboons now? It used
to be cross country up some slabs, as I recall.
Last time visiting this area I recall the official trail going up about a 1/3 of the way
from the Donkey Lake junction than turning into a unmaintained use trail.
Professional Sierra Landscape Photographer
I don't give out specific route information, my belief is that it takes away from the whole adventure spirit of a trip, if you need every inch planned out, you'll have to get that from someone else.
Have a safer backcountry experience by using the HST ReConn Form 2.0, named after Larry Conn, a HST member:http://reconn.org
Many thanks to all for posting your comments, it really is a lovely area worth visiting!
Regarding the trail to Baboon Lakes - until the nice neighbor lady told me of the good trail, I presumed the better path was to follow the outlet creek from the Baboons on the west side of Donkey Lake. But my neighbor pointed me in the better direction. The trail, which is pointed to by the sign in one of my photos, was well used, clear and easy to follow. Someone had even made an arrow with small rocks to point to the correct direction of travel. It starts a few minutes walk south of the Dingleberry Lake trail fork, and ascends west and south to a point a few hundred feet above the northwest corner of the lowest and largest lake of the group.
Cheers,
Herm
