The 2nd time I went to Gardner (solo) I started from Roads end at 4:30PM up Bubbs Creek and camped on the creek at a place that had a bear cable. The 2nd day I hiked cross country up Charlote Creek and arrived at my destination - the small lake just above the largest lake and by 2:30 was fishing the lake in my chair. I thought this was really cool that I could be fishing in Gardner Basin less than 24 hours after starting my trip. I hurt my arm in a fall hiking up Charlote Creek. It's not an easy hike. Just before I was going to leave (1 day early) 3 women arrived and I stayed another day. They were pleasent and good company. "Saint" Diane was at home taking care of the little ones. I missed her on that trip as I always did when our kids were too young to backpack with me.
Thanks for the great trip report and taking the time to post the GPS track. Gardiner Basin is on my short list too. If only I can convince the group that the XC isn't beyond their abilities.
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I — I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference. Robert Frost
If it helps, we were also nervous about tackling Gardiner and it turned out to be much more tame than we anticipated. The experience and views were as spectacular (and moreso) than we imagined, but the route finding was very straightforward, the terrain was very manageable and there was much more trail to be found than we were expecting. That being said, we did take a very interesting and bushwhacky course to Gardiner Creek that I wouldn't recommend following in the footsteps of
Gardiner Basin was spectacular - I highly recommend it! Also, there is something really neat about knowing all of the activity that is happening on the Rae Lakes Loop just outside the basin, while you are there in Gardiner likely enjoying your solitude. Good stuff!
oldhikerQ wrote:
If only I can convince the group that the XC isn't beyond their abilities.
Try introducing your group to some easy cross country trips like Humphrey's Basin, and
once they gain confidence, they will be ready to tackle the more remote places
in the Sierra.
Professional Sierra Landscape Photographer
I don't give out specific route information, my belief is that it takes away from the whole adventure spirit of a trip, if you need every inch planned out, you'll have to get that from someone else.
Have a safer backcountry experience by using the HST ReConn Form 2.0, named after Larry Conn, a HST member:http://reconn.org
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