R04 TR: Bear Basin HST Meetup, to Lake Italy via White Bear Pass 7/23 - 7/29/2024

[giantbrookie]

giantbrokie writes:

Of course as nice as the peaks are in the Bear Basin region, I think we know how I'd spend my "spare time". Yes there are some big fish to be had somewhere around there....

Nope, not a one. And what about Brown Bear Lake, outside of the basin? I am pretty sure I read that robertfishkiller spent the night there-- there wasn't even a single fish circle to be seen, let alone a strike at our lures. Has he taken out every fish?! We were left with little "Teddy Bear" Lake, and its baby-sized guppies for dinner.

To maintain the Code of Silence, my "area" definition is not restricted to the main basin itself. Beartrap, by the way, is also outside of the main basin, and although the fish don't get as big as those in the fickle place so that it is Code Exempt, still featured a pretty nice top end for me and Dawn in 2020. We caught quite a few in the 12-12.5" range and were pretty sure that we saw fish (or had fish throw our hooks) that may have reached 14". Vee, as well as some of the other lakes in the main basin, are classic examples of how natural reproduction in some lakes is a bit too good, so that the population density increases as the years go by. I recall the old editions of Sierra South put the top end at Vee in the 15" or 16" range. Legendary west-slope (then CDFG) fisheries biologist Phil Bartholomew rated Vee very highly for large fish. The big fish lake in that area is noted in both the 2020 (loop out of Pine Creek) and the 2015 Gold at the end of the Rainbow (Little Lakes Valley-North Lake shuttle trip) trip reports.

[windknot]

Hey Ian, thanks so much for this terrific report and wonderful photos! I wish I could have made it to the meet up, but being able to read your report is a pretty darn close second. Also very impressed at how quickly you are able to turn out a quality report replete with pictures so soon after your return.

[shawnterustic]

Fantastic trip report (complete with adorable doggos!!!!) - and fantastic job instilling within me a deep sense of FOMO!

[BardoPond]

Great TR, it almost feels like I was there... And those dawn colors are incredible. Looks like I need to get up earlier.

Yes, Vee Lake is around 14 miles from Bear Diversion, assuming one already knows the route.

[Rockyroad]

Thanks for the terrific trip report and photos! I especially enjoyed the pre-dawn photos you took during your ridge traverse. It is so true that we share an esoteric language and passion. I never know how to respond when people ask me where I am backpacking, since they wouldn’t have heard of Bear Lakes Basin, Vee Lake, Granite Park… Tomba said he just responds “the Sierra” each time so people think he goes to the same place everytime!

[oddtiger]

Wonderful trip! Thanks for sharing. My kids are so distracted by other activities nowadays. Really hope we can make at a meetup in the future. I visited the basin and surrounding lakes earlier this year. The big fish (15+) is still there but quite picky. Out of my 2 hours there I got only one bite/fish.

[Love the Sierra]

I looked again...
That morning climb you made was spectacular!!! Thank you for posting!!!

[tomba]

Thank you for the great trip report. It was very nice to meet you, Lizzie and Wolfie. Learned from you some about fishing that nudged me closer towards taking on fishing in the future.

Nowadays I try to be more specific describing my trips to non-backpackers than just saying "Sierra". Fortunately most people know the major national parks (Yosemite, Kings Canyon, Sequioa), so I would use them as reference points.

[LMBSGV]

This report provided a wonderful vicarious experience of the meet-up. That's great it was so special. Thank you for sharing it all.

[CAchief]

Wonderful trip report and photos. Thank you for sharing. I'm not sure if I'm more impressed by your climb of "gruff", Wolfies backcountry travel prowess, or the fact you took a 2wd van to Bear Diversion! I drove the trail for the first time in my High Clearance 4X4 during a stay at Mono Hot springs a few weeks ago, such a beautiful launchpad into the High Sierra.