So just a week after returning from our longer trip to Evolution Basin and Davis Lake (
http://www.highsierratopix.com/communit ... f=1&t=9921" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;) with my twins, we set off on a family trip with my wife and younger son (plus another family and their two sons) to Lake Ediza over Labor Day weekend (having booked permits the moment they became available on March 1). After taking a long time just to get out of the Bay Area because of the Bay Bridge closure, the 120 closure meant we had to go over 108 in what looked like an ash cloud from the Rim Fire, and we finally arrived in Mammoth at 10.30pm on Friday night.
Nevertheless we were up at 6am on Saturday morning so we could take the car down to the trailhead rather than riding the shuttle bus, and after breakfast at Reds Meadow, we were on the trail by around 9.30am. It was a steep climb up to Shadow Lake, and then a long more gradual ascent up the stream to Lake Ediza, which we finally reached around 3.30pm with the smoke obscuring most of the views.
- Heading up to Shadow Lake
- Shadow Lake
- A tiring climb
- Smoke at Lake Ediza
We camped at the far end of the lake along with many other people, and awoke to a much clearer view on Sunday morning. After a leisurely start, we climbed to Iceberg Lake, and then headed back to camp as the clouds became a bit more threatening. However, the forecast thunderstorms never materialized, and although the wind picked up as the day went on, we had the chance for a restful afternoon, with a swim in the extremely cold lake.
Monday morning we were up early for the 7 mile hike out - the last ascent back to Agnew Meadows proved pretty exhausting for my younger son (age 8), but he was pleased to be back in civilization in time for a nice lunch in Mammoth before we headed for home, with much less traffic than I expected for Labor Day weekend - I guess the fire had put many people off going to the Sierra.
- Sunrise on the Minarets
- Lake Ediza sunrise
- First light on Ritter and Banner
- Climbing to Iceberg Lake
- Approaching Iceberg Lake
- At Iceberg Lake
