TR: Isberg Trail, 7/26 - 7/27

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sheperd80
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TR: Isberg Trail, 7/26 - 7/27

Post by sheperd80 »

Last weekend was supposed to be our family vacation to Universal Studios. The last-minute planning committee couldnt see eye to eye on a few things so we rescheduled it for next month. So I decided to use the day off for a solo overnighter.

I really enjoyed my last trip to Ansel Adams Wilderness so I thought id continue combing my way east which led me to Isberg Trail, target Joe Crane Lake. I figured it was a realistic goal for a short trip. I wasnt going to try and shoot for Isberg Lakes or Pass in one day. I wouldve had to skip the many other beautiful lakes along the way.

I got a really late start, didnt hit the trailhead until noon! And with all the doom and gloom from Oakhurstians and Bass Lakians about the fires, I almost didnt go. But when I get a trip in my sights, well...im sure you all can relate.

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Dont laught at my Avg Speed! I left the app on the entire trip so I think it may have averaged in some fishing, campsite meandering, etc.

Seeing 10 cars at the TH was a little disheartening but I thought with so many junctions on the trail I might get lucky....wrong!
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A fairly easy trail leads to The Niche, a nice gentle pass. I enjoyed this part of the trail. It was the first real climb and the first real scenery.
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Just past the Niche approaching Cora Lakes.
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Granite Creek, my first water stop.
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Lovin the Sawyer Squeeze!
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ID anyone? I think its an edible rumex of some sort (dock or sorrell?). Im pretty clueless on the subject and trying to learn.
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How about this one?
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Stopped at the center Cora Lake for lunch and fishing.
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Got a few throwbacks and a keeper, about 9". Packed him up and took him along for dinner.
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I almost stayed at Cora. It was already 3pm by the time I was done goofin around. Weather was lookin iffy but I decided to carry on anyway.
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From this point on the trail was lush and beautiful.
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Knockblock Meadow with views of the Yosemite/Sierra Divide in the background I think...
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So many wildflowers lined this section of trail.
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Not what you want to see heading down from you're intended campsite...
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The last 2 miles to Joe Crane were relentless, but that first sighting through the trees is always so rewarding!
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The Mule train had dropped off a loud obnoxious group of guys. I camped opposite them but could still hear them laughing and talking as loud as possible until shortly after dark....sigh.



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Last edited by sheperd80 on Wed Jul 31, 2013 6:01 am, edited 14 times in total.
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Post by sheperd80 »

I slept great that night. I got a new air mattress (rei stratus) which helped a lot but that Koppen tent is going back to dicks. Its too short and i prefer a freestanding option.


Had coffee and breakfast and hit the trail by about 730. When i reached the junction i decided i wanted to see more of this trail. So I stashed my pack off trail a ways, grabbed my pole and whatever I could stuff in my pockets and headed up towards Sadler and Mcclure.
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Despite the considerable elevation gain, hiking packless up to Sadler was great. It made me think that the ultralighters may be on to something.

After a few miles of beautiful trail I reached the suprisingly large Sadler Lake. It was breathtaking.
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I decided to continue on to Mcclure then fish on the way back. I lost the trail for a bit but it was easy enough following the stream up.
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Mcclure was much smaller but still interesting. A lone hiker sat at the end of the peninsula reading a book.
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I decided to let her be even though she was at what looked like the best fishing spot on the lake. Every cast into the shallow waters yielded a fish. Most under 8" but i got a few legals. Eventually I was reeling in as fast as I could to avoid the little ones.
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Back down to Sadler. I fished the inlet for a minute then briefly along the shallow edge of the lake.
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Like McClure, the far side of Sadler looked much deeper and id bet it was full of bigger browns and rainbows. But the shallows where I fished were full of hungry, energetic little fish. I c&r'd a few and decided to get going back down the trail.
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I made it back to the junction in about 25 minutes, practically running down the steep trail. It was fun and certainly fast but I payed for it later in my knees, feet and ankles.

I powered through the rest of the return hike, stopping only briefly at Cora for lunch.

All in all it was a great hike, and my first true solo overnighter. I feel like I kind of rushed through a trail that is worthy of atleast 2 nights if not more. Ill probably go back some day and do some real fishing instead of quick pass-through fishing, and hit isberg lakes and maybe go over the pass.

This is one of the prettiest trails ive seen as far as greenery, granite, and wildflowers. I highly recommend it to anyone who hasnt been. The climbs to each lake are short and strenuous but thats pretty typical. The trail is clear and well marked. I came home with only one mosquito bite!!! There were very few at the lakes and picaridin kept them at bay. The swampy parts of the trail were where I ran into quite a few. Flies however were everywhere. One of my many gripes about pack trails!





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Re: TR: Isberg Trail, 7/26 - 7/27

Post by Wandering Daisy »

McClure Lake was dammed at one time - still a dammed lake to some degree. When I was there a few years back, later season, it was really low and a big disappointment. The "shoreline" was nothing but swaths of mud. Sounds like it had more water when you visited.
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Re: TR: Isberg Trail, 7/26 - 7/27

Post by balzaccom »

Nice report. When we camped at Sadler two years ago, there was a large campsite for horse packers...but it was empty, happily.

And I agree---that trail from Cora Lakes up the canyon is just beautiful. We stopped for lunch and I pulled two nice trout out of a pool in the creek in five minutes.
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Re: TR: Isberg Trail, 7/26 - 7/27

Post by maverick »

Congratulations on you first solo overnighter! Thanks for the TR and pretty pictures. :thumbsup:
I unfortuntely to have experinced some obnoxitous individuals while passing by Cora
Lakes several years back, they were taking a bath with soap in the lake, even had
suds all over their horses, yelling at the top of their lungs. :(
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Re: TR: Isberg Trail, 7/26 - 7/27

Post by TehipiteTom »

Excellent report. Surprised at how lush it still is in some areas.

I think that first mystery plant is Pine Drops (Pterospora andromedea).
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Re: TR: Isberg Trail, 7/26 - 7/27

Post by d.a.sklansky »

Great trip report! How bad was the smoke? (Aside from some haziness, did you even notice it?) We have a trip planned out of Florence Lake starting this weekend, and we're trying to decide whether to relocate further south.
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Re: TR: Isberg Trail, 7/26 - 7/27

Post by maverick »

Hi D. A. Sklansky,

Welcome to HST! Please read this thread: http://highsierratopix.com/community/vi ... 715#p72842" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
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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
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Re: TR: Isberg Trail, 7/26 - 7/27

Post by sheperd80 »

d.a.sklansky wrote:Great trip report! How bad was the smoke? (Aside from some haziness, did you even notice it?) We have a trip planned out of Florence Lake starting this weekend, and we're trying to decide whether to relocate further south.
Where I was the smoke wasnt bad at all, just a distant haze. Florence may be another story.

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Re: TR: Isberg Trail, 7/26 - 7/27

Post by sheperd80 »

TehipiteTom wrote:Excellent report. Surprised at how lush it still is in some areas.

I think that first mystery plant is Pine Drops (Pterospora andromedea).
Yeah the pic in your link certainly looks right. Glad I didnt take a bite!

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