Just got back from five days over Mono pass to Pioneer Basin. a similar trip to what Harlen just posted.
Day 1 LLV to Trail Lakes: We took out time getting over the pass as we were both feeling the altitude. The weather was perfect and surprisingly there were no mosquitoes. Jack and I go way back. We reminisced on the the views of Abbot and Bear Creek Spire which we had climbed in a long weekend decades ago.
- Abbot and Bear Creek Spire
We only made it as far as Trail lakes this first day. Old age is catching up to us! The fishing was fun for small brook trout at the first lake. An easy place to work on rusty casting skills.
Day 2: We decided to day hike down to Golden Creek and then hike up to Golden lake to fish. The creek lived up to it's name. It was full of hungry fish. You had to sneak up on them, but that was part of the fun! At the lake, we saw many larger fish in front of the outlet. They seemed to be spawning and were not interested in our offerings. We left them alone and scrambled to the inlet. It proved to windy to fish, so we made our way up to the trail just below Summit Lake and then back to camp
- Jack fishing Golden Lake
Day 3; We decided to hike over to Pioneer Basin on this third day. We found the first lake to be full of hungry Brook trout. We fished for a while and then headed up the lovely meadow to the second set of lakes. This lake had larger fish, maybe 10 inches, but they were skinny. Mostly Brook, but I did catch one Rainbow. Anyways, fun to catch.
- Overlooking Pioneer Basin
Day 4: We broke camp and retraced our steps along the outlet creek form the lakes. This creek flows through a beautiful classic High Sierra meadow. It too was full of fish mostly Brook, but I did catch one Golden. We stayed a few hours and fishing in this enchanted place before making our way back to Trail lakes.
- Golden?
Day 5: We broke camp fairly early and were back at Mosquito Flats by 11:30. What a zoo! There were cars and people everywhere. After a quick rinse in the stream, I headed South on 395 to the LBC. The car thermometer at one time read 111 degrees, just south of Lone Pine!
- Jack and I at Mono Pass
- Heading down
Takeaways: There weren't that many people in the backcountry! Maybe the permit situation caused people to stay home.
Even though Mosquito Flats was mobbed, it was good to see so many people enjoying the Sierra. Hopefully this will help preserve this beautiful place for future generations
