R04 TR: 9/19-25,2005 Edison Lake Loop

[giantbrookie]

What a great vintage report of a great area. This post brings back memories of trips made in different eras. I have never combined all of these destinations into one trip, but have visited many of them in trips spread across three decades. I like the image of the little blue Corolla v the Hummers on the Edison Rd. In an earlier era (80s to early(?) 90s) my car was a yellow '79 Corolla.

Some of the views brought back some fond memories of trips of the past such as the little bit of snow on Red Slate, which reminded me of the hail-dusted Red Slate on the much shorter 5-day Edison loop I did with Dawn in 2018. The campsite at Virginia reminded me of where I camped with Judy in Sept 1995 (my only visit to Virginia). The view looking down on Bighorn brings back fond memories of the 2018 trip. That was Dawn's first major off trail backpack and I remember exchanging high fives at the top of the pass. I like the view of the snow-dusted Gabb. I've never seen that exact view, because I haven't been to Lower Mills Creek L., but it made me think of Upper Mills Creek L. in 2020 with Dawn; Upper Mills is Dawn's favorite lake.

Anyhow, reading this post is a terrific way to relax after stuffing myself with turkey and all. It reminds me that a few hours ago, as we drove back to the Bay Area from Fresno (where we had an extended family Thanksgiving lunch instead of dinner). Lee was saying. "So were going to some giant brookie lake, a possible home run golden lake, and a cutty lake we've never been to, but then you got COVID and we couldn't go. So this means we are going to check those places out next year, right?" Yes I plan to, and in the meantime, off season daydreaming, reminiscing, and scheming, is in full swing. This post really sets the tone.

[balzaccom]

These are great reports, Daisy. I am embarassed to admit that I completely related to you about the water taxi--just the kind of thing that I would do. My wofe often has to talk me back into a more reasonable, if less emotional, response.

We were up at Grinnel lakes over 4th of July years ago---and had some crazy fishing. The stream was so high that none of the fish were holdingi n the creek---they were all hiding out in the grass beyond the creek bed. I only discovered that by mis-casting a couple of times, and catching fish. Once I figured it out, I caught quite a few--always by casting outside the streambed!

[jrad]

Day6. 9/24/05: Mills Creek Lk to 7770 on NF Mono Creek (7.7 miles, 6.5 hours, 1570 feet gain/2890 loss)

In the morning I was faced with deciding what to do next. My original plan was, when I got back down to the Second Recess, to climb into the First Recess, camp and descend it the next morning. My food was getting low. Well, first order of business was to get down.

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1138_First Recess.jpg

1141_First Recess.jpg
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I was searching for info on Tully Lake and SOMEHOW stumbled upon your TR here and nice photos. BUT I instantly saw you had made a mistake in identifying a cliffy slope next to First Recess as that feature. From below it is so easy to mistake that because one cannot quite see enough from the trail below to be sure.

You were right about using First Recess as a way back down but the photos you took later were of the wrong feature.

I've been exploring all around First Recess from the top, bottom and side the last two years and more and was just on Mono Creek last week looking up the slope you identify as First Recess, thinking I might be able to scale that area by going up vegetated cracks on the West side and edging across above the slick rock outcrop (real climbing) - maybe too exposed.

Anyway, the exposed rock is NOT in First Recess. It is the outlet of 3 little "lost lakes" below and between Volcanic Knob and First Recess. I hiked down from Mono Divide through First Recess to Mono Creek in September 2022. It's quite safe and easy - Class 2, maybe a little 3. But at the top, if you find the right chute (easy to find), it is totally safe and comfortable to drop down into First Recess.

Here's the view at the start of the chute which leads to the nicely forested First recess below:

Here's my entire trip, FYI. Volcanic Knob is a great camping area at the top (not the actual Knob but the extension to Mono Divide).
I should do a TR for that trip. Pretty cool route, IMHO:

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/ ... drive_link