TR: Emigrant Wilderness June 23-29, 2013
Posted: Mon Jul 14, 2014 4:55 pm
My 14-year-old son and I flew into Reno from Phoenix, stopped by REI to pick up some stove fuel (though we have always used white gas in the Sierra, we decided to try canister fuel with an MSR Pocket Rocket stove this time), then headed south towards Sonora Pass. We were headed to the trailhead at Kennedy Meadows. We had not hiked out of there before, but had car camped at Baker Campground years earlier when the kids were young, so knew the general area.
Once we arrived at Kennedy Meadows resort, we stopped by the store to pick up some trash bags and see if we could get any G2 from returning hikers. Since it was late in the day (around 4:00 PM) we met a few guys that had just exited. One guy and his son had evacuated from Emigrant Lake having been chased away by extreme mosquitos. He said it takes a lot for him to come out early from a trip, but the bugs were so bad he caved. He did not look like a happy camper!
We parked the car back at the trailhead parking lot and headed back through the resort area on the way to the trail. We noticed the historical sign just before heading up the dirt road that eventually takes you to the trail. I was looking forward to hiking this terrain and imagining how those settlers came through it!
After a mile or so of walking on the road and watching the fishermen angle the river, we came to the first bridge and started to get excited about the terrain we we’re headed towards.
Farther up the trail we came to the second bridge. Really spectacular views from here!
After ascending from the second bridge we came across the old equipment, reportedly abandoned after the construction of the dam that creates Relief Reservoir.
Then, a few minutes later, we spotted the man made water feature itself. It presented a great view, but we could also see the clouds headed our way. Based on the weather forecast, we knew we were in for a wet night.
We camped the first night just beyond the reservoir near where the stream crosses the trail. We knew we were in for some rain over the next 48 hours, so pitched the tent taught and settled in for the night.
The next day was pretty soggy. The rain was not heavy, but it was constant and cold. After doing a little fishing and exploring in the morning, we went a few more miles up the trail to explore the creek past Sherphard’s Camp. Still pretty wet out, and not knowing exactly when we would pass the last sheltered spot, we decided to camp the second night just at the tree line and shortly before the trail forks off the Emigrant Lake. We were luck to have a beautiful view of a little waterfall coming down the south slope and a good source of water in the stream below.
With no signs of a break in the weather, we headed out mid morning towards Brown Bear pass, with Emigrant Meadows Lake out destination for that evening. Brown Bear pass was cloaked in clouds as we came through it.
-- continued --
Once we arrived at Kennedy Meadows resort, we stopped by the store to pick up some trash bags and see if we could get any G2 from returning hikers. Since it was late in the day (around 4:00 PM) we met a few guys that had just exited. One guy and his son had evacuated from Emigrant Lake having been chased away by extreme mosquitos. He said it takes a lot for him to come out early from a trip, but the bugs were so bad he caved. He did not look like a happy camper!
We parked the car back at the trailhead parking lot and headed back through the resort area on the way to the trail. We noticed the historical sign just before heading up the dirt road that eventually takes you to the trail. I was looking forward to hiking this terrain and imagining how those settlers came through it!
After a mile or so of walking on the road and watching the fishermen angle the river, we came to the first bridge and started to get excited about the terrain we we’re headed towards.
Farther up the trail we came to the second bridge. Really spectacular views from here!
After ascending from the second bridge we came across the old equipment, reportedly abandoned after the construction of the dam that creates Relief Reservoir.
Then, a few minutes later, we spotted the man made water feature itself. It presented a great view, but we could also see the clouds headed our way. Based on the weather forecast, we knew we were in for a wet night.
We camped the first night just beyond the reservoir near where the stream crosses the trail. We knew we were in for some rain over the next 48 hours, so pitched the tent taught and settled in for the night.
The next day was pretty soggy. The rain was not heavy, but it was constant and cold. After doing a little fishing and exploring in the morning, we went a few more miles up the trail to explore the creek past Sherphard’s Camp. Still pretty wet out, and not knowing exactly when we would pass the last sheltered spot, we decided to camp the second night just at the tree line and shortly before the trail forks off the Emigrant Lake. We were luck to have a beautiful view of a little waterfall coming down the south slope and a good source of water in the stream below.
With no signs of a break in the weather, we headed out mid morning towards Brown Bear pass, with Emigrant Meadows Lake out destination for that evening. Brown Bear pass was cloaked in clouds as we came through it.
-- continued --