Woodchuck Country/ Blackcap Basin

[balzaccom]

In contrast to Wildhiker, we hiked the Red Mountain Basin in early July about ten years ago, and the mosquitoes were epic. Big difference between July 7 and August 7. We met people who were leaving early, because they ran out of bug juice.

On the other hand, we had head nets and bug juice, and loved the trip and the area.

[sekihiker]

These trip reports might be helpful:
http://www.sierrahiker.com/BlackcapBasin/index.html
http://www.sierrahiker.com/RedMountainBasin/index.html
http://www.sierrahiker.com/IndianLakes/index.html
http://www.sierrahiker.com/WoodchuckCountry/index.html

[Love the Sierra]

Thank you so much!!!
So now I have studied maps and even more TR and decided that I will go to Red Mountain Basin. I have so few trips and so little time with work and family obligations and it seems like Blackcap will be even more mosquito infested and needs a much longer trip. It also appears the hiking will be slower due to navigation issues.
@kpeter I was there July 22 of 2019, maybe we passed on the trail! We were eaten alive at Fleming Lake! I surely hope things will be better this year. We will be there 7/12. I am afraid to go any later due to fires and extreme heat. This time I will RUN past Fleming and straight to Rae, think there will be less skeeters at the higher altitude?

@balzaccom In my July 2019 trip I still had bug juice and head nets, but I could not stand to watch them devour my dogs so I packed out early.
@wildhiker and @giantbrookie Thank you so much! Maybe we will get a summer again, instead of fire season, and I will get time for a long trip and I will definitely take all of your advice for a Blackcap trip!
@michaelzim and @SSSdave you helped me with this decision-Thank you!
@sekihiker Thank you so much for the links!!! What incredible adventures you have had.

One Last question, please: I was there 6/14/2016 and we could not get across Fleming Creek where it meets the North fork Kings. The water was flowing so high and fast that it looked nearly the same as the Kings! We were so disappointed since we had intended to basecamp on the East side of Fleming Creek and day hike one day to Red Mountain Basin and one day to Bench Lake. However, without enough days left in our trip to go back to Post Coral and get to Red Mountain in the clockwise direction, we had to cut the trip short.

Indeed, that was a high water year and a month earlier in the year. We are leaving 7/12, do you any of you think that crossing would be a problem this year?
Thank you!!!

[SSSdave]

If mosquitoes are bad during mid July, a fair possibility, the 3 lower lakes along Fleming Creek are likely to be worst because those below timberline areas have considerable forest, grassy meadows, and low gradient terrain with ephemeral granitoid snow melt pools. Very obvious on Google Earth. If so, the at and above timberline Red Mountain Basin area above 10.3k would have fewest blood suckers because mosquitoes avoid bedrock rock scapes except at days end on calm days when they will swarm up in swirling clouds to higher elevations. The boomerang shaped lake southeast of Disappointment Lake at 10480+ is most centrally located for a base camp, well away from the trail thus privacy. In any case to reach timberline, requires considerable first day travel through mosquitoey Post Corral Meadow one ought be ready for.

[Wandering Daisy]

My favorite Lakes are those up against the south rim of Red Mountain Basin: 1) Horseshoe- camp on peninsula is very scenic but some tricky x-c to get there, 2) camp at Big Shot or Little Shot for less people and dh to Devils Punchbowl or camp at Devils Punchbowl which can be crowded and day hike to Big and Little Shot. I was at Devils Punchbowl last year and nobody was there. 3) Blackrock- worth doing the x-c route to get to Big Shot. 4) Hell for Sure is worth a short stop on way to Horseshoe but gets very windy for camping. Never stopped at Disappointment Lake, but I hear it is nice.

I have not been fond of any of the lakes in the Flemming Lake drainage. I also have gone x-c to Diamond X and Davis, which was a bit of work and not sure if the lakes were worth the effort. If fishing is your objective, these lakes may be desirable. The view down Mosquito Pass is impressive, but not worth the effort to get there. Agree with SSSDave, that Flemming Lake drainage is very buggy, particularly both Indian Lakes. Never been to Rae Lake- it may be less buggy.

[Love the Sierra]

Thank you @Wandering Daisy and @SSSdave
WD.
I plan on spending the first driving day in the forest well before the Post Coral ford. I have been there on 2 trips, 4 nights coming and going, and even when Post Coral was a swarm of mosquitos worthy of a Hitchcock movie, the forest was buggy but quite manageable with repellent.
Then, the intention is to go as fast as we can through bugland up to Disappointment Lake or further, if we can.
Can either of you tell me about the Fleming crossing west of the junction where the Meadow brook trail meets he Kings? I was not exaggerating when I said that in June 2016 it was ROARING.
It would be awful, on the last day of the trip, with no food, to have to backtrack back up to Red Mountain basin and out the way we came. If chances are good that Fleming Creek will not be a problem, then I would do a clockwise loop.
Thanks again! Now I am really getting excited.

[michaelzim]

LTS...I second Daisy's last post re choice of lakes and camping, etc. Funnily enough when we were at Devil's Punchbowl there was no-one there either but I reckon that must be a rare fluke as it's a very pretty lake and readily accessed.
Disappointment Lake has a special memory place for me as my daughter and I camped there on her last trip to the Sierras. We found a 'quasi legal' site (re water distance) to get some shade on the south side. It was very private and quiet even though the Hell For Sure trail goes past just beyond the north shore. It was a great morning and evening site as has open views in most directions.
Blackrock Lake is really pretty but the big cliff face to the south and east does block it in a lot more. More woods for shade though.

Mmmmmmmmmm...the south side of Hell for Sure Lake between it and Horseshoe Lake might be a good spot if any nice sites with not too distant hike for water. I did not pay enough attention at the time, but maybe something could be there well above the lakes with a great view and less mosquitoes if they are a pain nearer the water.

For day hikes, we went up Red Mountain coming at it from the west. Very easy and a good view. (So far it is also my "altitude ceiling" as the highest I have been in the Sierras - though hope to get to 13,000 ft. this summer!). Also, we did a day hike to Lower Indian Lake and both thought it was green, verdant and unique, contrary other reports I have read of it being dull and so-so.

As for Fleming Creek crossing...golly, I cannot even remember it on any of my trips there so was clearly not an issue. However, always in August. My guess is that it will be fine for you this year as the snow should be melting out really fast right now in this current heat wave.

Hope the bugs are OK, and I'm sure you know that scoop = head for the high granite!

Best ~ Michaelzim

[mkbgdns]

Rae Lake much nicer than Fleming--but I was there early season, no bugs, no other people. arrived on the magic day when there was ice on the lake the morning I arrived, ice free the following morning. explained to my daughter space/time--the same location is a different place at a different time.

[Love the Sierra]

Thanks @michaelzim I was going to go up Hell For Sure Pass but it never occurred to me to go up Red Mountain. I think that we may do that instead of Hell for Sure Pass. Were the views outstanding? Also, thanks for the camping ideas.
@mkbgdns I am shooting for either Rae or Disappointment that second night.

[kpeter]

Thanks @michaelzim I was going to go up Hell For Sure Pass but it never occurred to me to go up Red Mountain. I think that we may do that instead of Hell for Sure Pass. Were the views outstanding? Also, thanks for the camping ideas.
@mkbgdns I am shooting for either Rae or Disappointment that second night.

Disappointment has excellent camping on its north shore. The shore is about 500 feet south of the main trail, so there is a buffer. But as MichaelZim points out there is camping on the other side too.

I have not been up Red Mountain, but when I was in Hell For Sure Pass it seemed that it would not be too difficult to go up to the peak from the pass. Does the standard walk-up go through the pass?

We also had Devil's Punchbowl to ourselves. Be sure to spend a sunset on the NW ridge of Punchbowl. Phenomenal views.