High Sierra Topix

Would highly advise backpackers become familiar with Google Earth that is of enormous help looking over potential camping zones and crosscountry routes before trips. So opened GE and changed to the 9/14/2013 imagery date as the current imagery is too snowy.

Also at a minimum OP's ought link to an online topo map as:

http://mapper.acme.com/?ll=37.44811,-118.76527&z=15&t=T

And using one's Windows Snipping Tool has obvious use as: Cgundersen obviously has it right about camping zones. Potential level ground at the outlet area is much smaller probably too close to water sources. The southeast inlet area also has considerable shading whitebark pines to camp beneath and the inlet stream and meadow are obvious lake zones fish would feed near.

As for the route from Mono Pass and Summit Lake that also becomes obvious looking at topo plus GE. The route wanders north gradually down an open treeless alpine landscape with sand, rocks, and scattered boulders, then where that funnels into a constrained ravine is a choice to descend to the inlet stream zone down the ravine or take a use trail across steep sandy slopes shown as red t's above. And note the GE view shows this all in better magnified detail. Those that take the use trail don't get to visit the inlet areas. If at the inlet area, GE shows the route along the small talus lined west shore preferable to that of the steeper est shore.[/color]

I remember a LOT of wind there. The reason I suggested camping near the outlet is because there are large rocks as well, and some break from the wind.

Just got back today. Skipped Golden lake, lots of things changed a bit as they sometimes will. I'll try to get a report and some pics up soon.

SSSDave, thanks for your input. I have Nat Geo software that I use for mapping and also use Acme alot because I like the satellite images plus it's fast to pull up. Too much snow in the images was a big problem when I was looking at the lake and I didn't even think to try and use Google and change the dates. I'll try to remember to do that in the future.

Thanks for the update Gary, looking forward to your report!