High Sierra Topix

tomba wrote: ↑Fri Jun 28, 2024 3:22 pm I saw what looked like a water flow gauge in that area.

https://mywaterway.epa.gov/community/18 ... 1/overview
found from
https://water.usgs.gov/lookup/getwbd?180400080101

Thank you. This seems to be a water quality monitoring station. I just saw some equipment with a solar panel without knowing what that was.

July 12 at approx 4PM, I crossed Mono Creek between Mills Creek Trail and Laurel Lake Trail. Water level was at my lower thigh (I'm 6'2"), so it was a little more than 2 feet high, but of course, that's dependent on where one crosses. The creek bed where I crossed was visible through the water, but the rocks were slick, so it took a bit more attention to stay upright with the flow pushing my legs. I wore my shoes and used a trekking pole.

I saw several places where one could try rock hopping, but I didn't want to risk it because the gaps between rocks were too distant for my level of comfort. Also, closer to the Mills Creek Trail, there was a giant log spanning the creek, but it had broken apart in the middle, and again, the gap was too wide for my comfort level. If that log was crossing a dry ditch, I'd have hopped the gap, but I wasn't going to risk doing that over the creek.

Meadow at Virginia Lake easy wet crossing to my knees.

All dry crossings.
If looking for a place to drink or filter, Piute creek is not flowing, stagnant and yucky.
Lilly Creek lovely flowing water.
North Fork Cherry Creek between Cow Meadow Lake and Buck Lakes, lovely water.

JMT SOBO

All rock-hoppable with the exception of Virginia Lake meadow crossing, where we took boots off.

Gianelli trailhead to Granite Lake, then over to Leopold Lake and back out again.

Saw one or two stagnant ponds of water in creeks or streams but otherwise the only water on this route was in lakes and a few tarns.