TR: Sierra South -Green Lake

[scottg1178]

Some friends and I took a trip up to Green Lake which passes through Brown Lake over the weekend. I hope you enjoy the report.

Green Lake is located at 11,054 feet in the South Lake Backcountry in the Southern Sierras. The lake is called "Green" lake because of its unique green tint. There are two different trail heads, one of which leaves from Parchers Resort, the other takes off from the South Lake Parking lot. In order to save some time we took the more direct route out of the South Lake parking lot which starts with an easy climb on a large drainage pipe that meets up with the trail out of Parchers.

We hit the trail at 7:00am and within just a few minutes we saw a nice size deer that scattered upon seeing us. About a mile later we had another encounter.....this time with a bear. We had just turned a corner of a switchback and as I looked up a bear was jogging down our Trail path right towards us about 30 yards away! Knowing the dangers of running from a bear, I froze in my tracks and shouted "Bear" to the guys with me. The bear hearing me took one look at us and ran directly off the trail and into the woods....Scary moment for a second.

As we continued on the some moderate switch backs we made it up to a beautiful meadow with small creeks running out of Brown lake and some local mountain run off.

Green Lake.jpg

Through the meadow we ended up at Brown Lake. which was a good looking small lake. Since it was early the lake was very still and you could see a few fish jumping here and there.

Brown Lake 2.jpg

After Brown Lake the trail was washed out in some sections due to the heavy snow season and run off. Instead of walking through water we opted to take a detour over some rocks that lead back to the trail

Green Lake Rocks.jpg

After the rocks we had a short hike to Green Lake which has its name for a reason

Green Lake Hike.jpg

Green Lake 3.jpg

We hiked around to the inlet

Green Lake Inlet.jpg

After spending a couple hours fishing we headed down the mountain but not before my freind caught a nice looking trout

IMG953955.jpg

Fairly easy hike on the way down

Brown Lake above.jpg

Hiking the pipeline back with South Lake in the back ground

Green Lake Pipe.jpg

[Big Hitter]

Thanks for the great report and including the pictures.

That is an epic backcountry bow!!

[maverick]

Thanks Scott for taking the time to post your TR.
Would have loved to see a photo of the bear.
Nice size rainbow!

[DriveFly44]

Thanks for the report Scott. Looks like you guys had a blast and your buddy did well I see!!!


ladd

[texan]

Thats a nice rainbow. I haven't fished that lake for 20 years and the rainbows back then were 10-12 inches. Thanks for the report.

Texan

[scottg1178]

Thanks guys.....wish I had a picture of the bear, if he wouldn't have been so close I might have been able to sneak a shot without him looking. If it was Yosemite I probably could have pet him!

Texan...if you were catching 10-12 inchers 20 years ago....I wonder what they look like now!! I hope you released them for me next year.

Scott

[texan]

Thanks guys.....wish I had a picture of the bear, if he wouldn't have been so close I might have been able to sneak a shot without him looking. If it was Yosemite I probably could have pet him!

Texan...if you were catching 10-12 inchers 20 years ago....I wonder what they look like now!! I hope you released them for me next year.

Scott

I have fished green lake about 4 times and released all the trout I caught. The last time I was there was in 1990.

Texan

[windknot]

Great pictures and nice fish. Thanks for the report!

[richlong8]

Very nice rainbow- never been to that neck of the woods.