R04 TR: Fantastic trip Red Mtn. Basin Aug 2013

[Alpine high]

We just got back from a fantastic 9 day trip into Red Mtn. Basin and cross country over to Bench Valley and I wanted to thank everyone for their valuable input on where to go and what to bring. I also wanted to thank all the people who responded about Lucifer's saddle 1 & 2. Your input was greatly appreciated. The trek over Lucifer's saddle #1 was certainly steep and very rocky but at only one point was it nerve racking for me to watch my daughter reach for a finger hold and pull herself up away from danger. The danger lasted maybe 5 seconds but she felt comfortable the whole time. Several days later on our way out we met a group of scouts and their leaders and they were completely shell shocked that we had gone over Lucifer's saddle. They looked at it from the lake above Big and Little Shot Lake and decided they could not possibly do it. They felt a bit embarrassed as my daughter walked by them. A blessing of this incredibly dry year were the total absence of mosquitoes, yes total and absolute zero mosquitoes. I was prepared for an onslaught but it was so incredibly dry that they were already gone by August 1. The lakes were all swimmable, hard for me to believe. We did not see a molecule of snow. We had several days of seeing absolutely no one. Yes, the lake and river levels were way down, but the fishing was decent (albeit small fish) and the fire restrictions were a drag but the trip was a total success, thanks in part to this site. I cannot wait to plan my next trip to the high sierra.

[rlown]

Sounds like a great trip. any pics?

[SweetSierra]

Alpine high, I'm glad you and your daughter had such a great trip and that you found Lucifer's Saddle to not be that much of an impediment. It is beautiful there and on that route you're likely not see very many others.

[maverick]

Congratulations on your successful trip with your daughter, always a treat to read
about parents taking their kids out in to the wilderness and having a fun time.