TR - NF Big Pine Creek - 9/18-21

[RichardCullip]

Took a short break from fishing SD bay and beaches and headed up into the High Sierra for a short backpacking trip. I joined Charlie and Nancy, friends from NY, on a 4 day, 3 night trip up the North Fork of Big Pine Creek.

Day One was tough on me. I thought that walking about 3 miles a day around my Poway neighborhood with an occasional trip up and down the Gliderport Trail at Torrey Pines would keep me in backpacking shape. Not a chance. I had a hard time hauling my old (61yr) body up the trail towards Third Lake (10,300ft). I made it but the 5.5 miles and 2,650ft elevation change was all that I could do. Not much energy left by the time we staggered into camp. That was a wake-up call and I need to be in much better shape for my next backpacking trip.

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Home sweet home for the next few days

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On day 2 we took a hike up to Fourth Lake (10,790ft) for a bit of fishing. Even though it was only about a mile up the trail and another 500ft of elevation gain, I was still feeling the altitude. I hadn't yet got my trail legs back. It took me a while and I had to take a few rest breaks but I did make it.

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and found a some fish that were willing to take both dry flies and bead-head nymphs

mostly brookies in the 6-8" range

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but I did get one nice rainbow that was photo-shy.

Day 3 went much better. I was finally getting my trail legs back and I was getting used to the altitude. I took a solo trip up to Fifth Lake while Nancy and Charlie headed up towards the Palisade Glacier.

I found some nice brookies and rainbows in Fifth Lake. A little bit bigger (8-10") but not quite as numerous as Fourth lake the day before

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This night (Friday) the wind really blew with gusts up to 50mph. There was a front moving thru and we took it as a sign to head out a day earlier than originally planned.

Saturday morning came with lots of wind but no clouds in the sky.

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We packed up camp and headed back down to civilization.

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It was another fun trip into the High Sierra with Charlie and Nancy. I hope to do it again with them next September. I've got some time to get into better shape.

[mello]

Thanks for sharing!

[larree0]

Great report and pics, I, too ,found that I'm not 30 ( or even 60) anymore, but it's great to BP, just takes a little longer.
Thanks

[kpeter]

I was that territory for the first time in August. It is fun to see it a month later, to get a sense of the changing of the seasons. Although Lon Chaney's cabin looked about the same!

[justm]

Thanks for the TR, nice fish pics !!