TR: 5/25/13-5/27/13 Kearsarge Pass to Kearsarge Lakes
Posted: Thu May 30, 2013 10:08 pm
Hi everyone, this is my first trip report here. I am fairly new to backpacking. I started backpacking in the spring of last year with my wife in places around Southern California, and I instantly fell in love with it. I did not make it up to the Sierras until last September when I did two trips-one in Yosemite (Cathedral Lakes down to Clouds Rest and Half Dome and then out Tenaya Lake) and one to Big Pine Lakes. I quickly realized what I mistake I made, waiting until the Fall to make it to the Sierras. So, this year I plan to correct that mistake and backpack primarily in the Sierras. Here is my first trip of the summer.
I headed up the trail from Onion Valley at about 10:00 a.m on Saturday morning. I took my time heading up the trail because I slept at sea level the night before. I made stops along the way at Gilbert Lake and Flower Lake to check out the scenery.
Looking Up At Independence Peak
Looking Down At Gilbert Lake
Flower Lake
I made it to Kearsarge Pass at about 1:45 p.m. The climb up was not as bad as I was expecting, the gain was steady and moderate the whole way up with no particularly steep sections. For some reasons there was no sign marking the top of the pass even though I have seen the sign in other people's pictures.
Me At Kearsarge Pass
Panorama Of The View From Kearsarge Pass
After enjoying the views at the pass, I headed down to Kearsarge Lakes to make camp for the night. I set up camp on a small hill above where the second lake meets the third lake.
Kearsarge Pinnacles and Kearsarge Lakes
I then wandered around the lakes and found a good place to watch the sunset. There is a bend in the third lake, so that you can watch the sunset over the lake in one direction, and then turn around and walk a few feet in the other direction to see the peaks above the lake light up.
Kearsarge Lakes Sunset
University Peak From The Lakes
It was pretty cold that night, my tent completely froze on one side, but my feathered friends sleeping bag was up to the challenge and kept me warm. In the morning, I took a few more pictures while waiting for my tent to thaw. Once dry, I headed back on the trail and hiked down to Bullfrog Lake.
Kearsarge Pinnacles At Dawn
Bullfrog Lake
From Bullfrog Lake, I hike to the JMT and started making my way up to the junction with the trail down to Charlotte Lake. On the way up to the junction, I was treated to a pretty good albeit brief view up Bubbs Creek. I then hiked down to Charlotte Lake, took a short break, and then started the uphill climb back to Kearsarge Pass.
Charlotte Lake
About halfway up the pass, the trail offered some great views down at Bullfrog Lake and the surrounding area. I made it back to Kearsarge Pass around 2:00 p.m., about the same time as the day before although I was a lot more tired this time.
Me Above Bullfrog Lake
University Peak, Kearsarge Pinnacles, and Mt Brewer
Independence From Kearsarge Pass
I then headed down to Flower Lake and start hiking up the trail to Matlock Lake. I was hoping to sleep at Matlock Lake, so I could have more solitude, but there was a decent amount of snow on the trail to Matlock Lake that required postholing and/or rock hopping. I made it about halfway to Matlock Lake, but decided I was too tired, and I just went back to Flower Lake to set up camp.
Monday morning, I woke up, took some sunrise pictures and then headed back down the trailhead. I made it back to the car by 7:30 a.m. Good Memorial Day weekend.
Flower Lake Morning Reflection
Gilbert Lake In The Morning
I headed up the trail from Onion Valley at about 10:00 a.m on Saturday morning. I took my time heading up the trail because I slept at sea level the night before. I made stops along the way at Gilbert Lake and Flower Lake to check out the scenery.
Looking Up At Independence PeakLooking Down At Gilbert LakeFlower Lake I made it to Kearsarge Pass at about 1:45 p.m. The climb up was not as bad as I was expecting, the gain was steady and moderate the whole way up with no particularly steep sections. For some reasons there was no sign marking the top of the pass even though I have seen the sign in other people's pictures.
Me At Kearsarge Pass Panorama Of The View From Kearsarge Pass After enjoying the views at the pass, I headed down to Kearsarge Lakes to make camp for the night. I set up camp on a small hill above where the second lake meets the third lake.
Kearsarge Pinnacles and Kearsarge Lakes I then wandered around the lakes and found a good place to watch the sunset. There is a bend in the third lake, so that you can watch the sunset over the lake in one direction, and then turn around and walk a few feet in the other direction to see the peaks above the lake light up.
Kearsarge Lakes Sunset University Peak From The Lakes It was pretty cold that night, my tent completely froze on one side, but my feathered friends sleeping bag was up to the challenge and kept me warm. In the morning, I took a few more pictures while waiting for my tent to thaw. Once dry, I headed back on the trail and hiked down to Bullfrog Lake.
Kearsarge Pinnacles At Dawn Bullfrog Lake From Bullfrog Lake, I hike to the JMT and started making my way up to the junction with the trail down to Charlotte Lake. On the way up to the junction, I was treated to a pretty good albeit brief view up Bubbs Creek. I then hiked down to Charlotte Lake, took a short break, and then started the uphill climb back to Kearsarge Pass.
Charlotte Lake About halfway up the pass, the trail offered some great views down at Bullfrog Lake and the surrounding area. I made it back to Kearsarge Pass around 2:00 p.m., about the same time as the day before although I was a lot more tired this time.
Me Above Bullfrog Lake University Peak, Kearsarge Pinnacles, and Mt Brewer Independence From Kearsarge Pass I then headed down to Flower Lake and start hiking up the trail to Matlock Lake. I was hoping to sleep at Matlock Lake, so I could have more solitude, but there was a decent amount of snow on the trail to Matlock Lake that required postholing and/or rock hopping. I made it about halfway to Matlock Lake, but decided I was too tired, and I just went back to Flower Lake to set up camp.
Monday morning, I woke up, took some sunrise pictures and then headed back down the trailhead. I made it back to the car by 7:30 a.m. Good Memorial Day weekend.
Flower Lake Morning Reflection Gilbert Lake In The Morning
