High Sierra Topix

Great spot for a rendezvous Maverick. Laurel Creek, with the stunning Red and White Mountain, was the highlight of our favorite hike two summers ago. The photo above is of Bear perched up on Silver Divide. I would imagine that these "meet-ups' are perfect for creative car trading between folks like we've pulled off a few times, i.e., meet in Bishop, or ??, exchange cars, make a plan where to leave each others keys, and then drive off and hike in from your respective trailheads. Meet up in Laurel Creek, and then hike off to your own cars. Have you used this trick before Karl? Anybody? Best of luck.

I've never done it. I'm 99% solo, but sounds cool if it would work.

Hey Karl,

.... re. the "car swapping," you get to maintain your solo travel all the way into Laurel Creek, and then away back to your car; it's just a matter of saying hello at the "meet-up" spot, exchanging car keys, (though we recommend stashing them under the car tires instead) and then going solo on your respective merry ways- back toward your own car, which was parked by your friend at McGee or Convict Creek, while your friend is hiking toward their car, that you parked for them at Pine Creek, or wherever.

We once swapped cars and keys with a good friend in Laguna, and drove their car up to Crescent Meadow, and they drove ours to Shepherd's TH on the east side. The meeting place in the center was Kaweah Basin, which we hit via Pyra Queen Col. It became a debacle, which had nothing to do with the original plan, so I'll save that crazy story for another day.

I did a car exchange with my son's scout troop years ago. I planned a one-way 50 miler for them from Giannelli Cabin trailhead on the west side of Emigrant Wilderness, over the crest to Leavitt Meadows on the east side of the Hoover Wilderness. Then my wife and I did the same trip in reverse. We left our car at Giannelli Cabin and drove the two cars of the scout masters over to Leavitt Meadows. But in our case, they gave us extra keys which we just locked in the cars after we parked them at Leavitt Meadow and started our backpack. They took their own set of keys with them (and of course, we had our own keys to our car). That way, although we planned to meet up with them in the middle, if we missed, we each still had our own car keys to drive home.
-Phil

That is a beautiful area, but I have been through there twice in the last few years. I was looking forward to Bear Lakes Basin. . .

It's definitely a beautiful spot!

Hi Andy,

Aren't you one of the masters of the Long Distance Grind sort of trip? "Bear" once led Lizzie and me into Bear Basin via Lake Ed., up and over White Bear Pass, over "Gabbot Pass," down to Mono and out. A young, "Ultra-light Man" such as yourself could easily pull off the additional jaunt up Laurel Creek, and on up Red and White Mountain too! Well why not?

p.s There's an interesting and direct line straight up the south face.

Hi Harlen,

It is tempting to revisit the area possibly as part of a Silver Divide east/west "traverse", and I've never climbed Red and White Mountain. I have been through along the SHR route via Gabbot Pass, Mills Creek Lakes (one of my favorite spots), up Laurel Creek then over Bighorn (once in either direction). It would be a first for Candy and she would love to meet the HST crew, so it's starting to look more likely. . .

Harlen,

Are you, Lizzie, and Bear attending?

Jeez, this might turn into a couple's retreat. Mav, what have you wrought?

Jeez, this might turn into a couple's retreat. Mav, what have you wrought?

Who needs Match.com!

Would really like a few folks with dogs to attend, it will be a while before we have another Meet-up location where dogs allowed.