Emigrant/Yosemite: Mary/Tilden/Otter Lakes

[Odrob]

Hey All You Sierra Adventurers! Long time lurker, long time backpacker in need of backcountry route advice.

I have a week long late summer trip planned, starting in Hoover (Sonora Pass), venturing into Yosemite (Mary/Tilden/Otters), and exiting through the Emigrant (Gianelli).

There is one section of the route that is a bit of an unknown to us. To orientate you: Tower Lake to Mary Lake (should be fine), Mary Lake to Tilden Lake (looks easy enough, perhaps some 'bush wacking'), Tilden Lake to the Otter Lakes (is there a trail that veers off from PCT to this area), and the Otter Lakes to Huckleberry Lake (this is the biggest unknown/concern) in the Emigrant.

I have maps that suggest this is doable with some cross country routes, which I'm no stranger to, but would like to hear from anyone that has ventured these regions in the past and if there are areas of concern in this section, namely Otter Lakes to Huckleberry. If its a little too hairy we have another route planned, but I've always wanted to see Haystack Peak up close. Appreciate anyone's time and input on the matter!

Cheers,
Paul

[BillyBobBurro]

I can't help you for the area close to otter lake but the Kennedy Meadows packers told me that there is an old use/packer trail that goes between Huckleberry lake and below the lower twin lake. But exactly the route it takes is not known to me. If you can get to either of the twin lakes than there is a real trail going to Huckleberry. The north western side of lower twin is fairly easy x-c travel.

And there is a bunch of small ponds south and between the twins that are very pretty. Highly recommend checking this area out.

[Wandering Daisy]

This map shows the route I did in the Fall of 2008. The blue lines are what I did; the red lines are what I think would be a better route down to Huckleberry Lake if you are trying to get on the trail to Latora Lake or up to Horse Meadow. In 2008 I went up the drainage gully from Lower Twin Lake to Peninsula Lake because it is what was shown on the Emigrant guidebook map. It was not good. I went down farther west, and it was better, lots of granite slabs but still some brush lower down. I regret not doing a day-hike up to Big Island Lake, and the red lines show the route I probably would take if I were to do it. Peninsula Lake is really nice.

route map

Peninsula Lake

Route down from Bear Lake

I think this is a pond near Fern Lake

Peninsula lake sunset

[wildhiker]

Tower Pass (Tower Lake to Mary Lake) is basic class 2, with some easy talus on the north side and brushfields on the south side that you can circumvent.

Down canyon from Mary Lake, you are first on open meadow and slabs and then can pick up a good use trail near the creek that takes you all the way around Tilden Lake to its outlet.

I haven't been over to Otter Lakes or Huckleberry Lake - can't help you there.

-Phil

[Odrob]

Wow!! All great info from Bill, Daisy, and Wildhiker (Phil). Thank you, with a shout to Daisy, your trail maps are going to prove very helpful. I'll circle back and post some photos mid Sept when I'm back in the saddle. Truly appreciate the feedback, I'll pay it forward.

[BillyBobBurro]

Hi Daisy,

I noticed that bear lake has a fish symbol on it. By chance, did you confirm this when you visited?

-Bill

[Wandering Daisy]

No, I did not fish the lake. But even if I did, my fishing is not good enough to verify the presence of fish. I may have put the fish symbol there based on the Emigrant guidebook, or from the CA F&G fish map. A lot of lakes that had fish when the Emigrant Guidebook was written no longer have fish. You should check the most current CA F&G map.