windknot wrote: ↑Wed Jul 07, 2021 1:29 pm
Thanks for the great report and photos! Now I see why you use that Sony camera -- those zoomed-in shots are impressive.
Also impressive is how much off-trail ground you both covered during your trip. Like LMBSGV, I'll probably never get to the Pinnacles Creek drainages (at least, not while fishing seems to be uninspiring) so I'll be content to live vicariously through reports like yours and others previously instead. Thanks for sharing!
Well Matt, I have a confession to make. The best zoom pictures were from Gary's camera, not mine.
Gary uses a Canon Power shot SX60HS. It weighs 1.4 pounds. A couple of the zoom pictures were mine though. I am pleased with my new Canon
SX620HS..point and shoot only.
And on not getting to Pinnacles Creek, I would say, why not? When we rounded the corner from east to west, we had a good view of the route that you have taken, from Ramona Lake around the corner into Evolution country. That is one of the remotest cross country backpacks I have seen done.
If you do that one, surely Pinnacles Creek is on some future agenda!
cgundersen wrote: ↑Wed Jul 07, 2021 7:33 pm
Hi Robert,
I'll second the comments about the overall challenge level of that route. Heck, from my experience, there is only one semi-decent route up to Coronet Lake and if you get off track, you'll be cursing cliffs, shrub-choked chutes and backtracking and doing things sane folk should not be doing (without a rope). My wife & I had planned to re-visit east Pinnacles on our recent trip and backed off of Gemini pass, because of weather and post-holing. But your photos sure remind me why we want to get back and spend more time in that canyon. Finally, did you try fishing in Three Island? Back when my wife fished, she caught some very impressive specimens in Three Island, but I guess conditions could have changed. Thanks for the great TR! Cameron
PS. I had a brain cramp the first time before I realized you got to Coronet via Beartrap........good job on that too. Accessing Coronet from the South is not as "easy" as it looks on the map.
Cameron
Wow.. I didnt know of anyone who had actually been to Coronet Lake. You are the first! We did not go direct from Beartrap, although the pass , in Secor's book listed as class 2, looks relatively easy on both sides. Yes, there was some difficulty getting up to Coronet Lake.
We chose a route that started from the upper end of Little Bear Lake. There were a couple of simple class 3 moves on the way up. On the way down, we found a slightly easier way, a little bit further to the east. No class 3 moves that I remember. But to your point, it requires a little bit of route finding to get to Coronet from the south.
On Three Island Lake, I had fished before and found it unremarkable. And this time, we didnt spend much time fishing there..thunderstorm that day.
I am not surprised though if others had better luck.
Harlen wrote: ↑Thu Jul 08, 2021 2:40 pm
Congratulations Robert!
Another stellar performance by you and Gary. We just missed each other (Again!), as me and friends were out there on an almost identical schedule.
At least we overlapped on part of your route in Bear Basin. I envy your much wilder and more remote route through the Pinnacle Creeks, and elsewhere. Great work getting up and over things. Love the look of Turret Lake, and now we are inspired to go there.
Re. the fishing, we had your same average results. Isn't Bear Basin meant to be a bastion of big fish? I fished and fished what I thought might be one of the famed lakes-- "Black Bear," and saw not a single fish circle, let alone a bite or a follower. I was left wondering if there are any fish there at all?! [checked the GB lake log to no avail]. Anyhow, that's a small matter compared to the many great days you guys must've had in those pristine places. Great trip, and sorry we missed you. Ian.
100_5436.JPG Sad little fish, but we ate them gratefully. Note they are carefully placed on smooth granite, with nothing for a size reference.
100_5757.JPG The only large fish was the "Common bearzy trout."
Ian.. well yes we missed each other again.. close though. Someday perhaps we can join up.
On Bear Basin fishing.. I would say that in general there were some glory days in the past (70's and before). I caught my first ever "big" golden in Vee Lake (it was 14 inches, and I was the one who was hooked). Also, Black Bear lake, and Big Bear Lake used to have big goldens. I believe Black Bear is barren now and the others have only small trout. But.. perhaps my favorite area in the Sierra for general cross country backpacking..views and "feel".
At least one of them. And.. you never know on the return of big goldens to some of these places...
Looks like Bearzy having fun, as usual.
And lastly, I thought you would be the one to comment on the cocktail hour piece. Yes, it was Irish Whiskey for cocktail hour, while Gary was fishing.
Priorities, priorities.
And lastly, I thought you would be the one to comment on the cocktail hour piece. Yes, it was Irish Whiskey for cocktail hour, while Gary was fishing.
Priorities, priorities.
I will comment then. Generally, if I don't have anything nice to say .....
Well, as long as one of you (ie. Gary) works to put food on the flat rock, I guess the other is free to consume his priorities. I don't suppose there was enough room in your packs for both store bought food, and cocktail ingredients, was there Robert?
