High Sierra Topix

papercup wrote: ↑Tue Jan 21, 2025 11:27 am One photo from my favorite little corner of Bear Lakes Basin:

papercup I see we have similar tastes! We spotted a water shrew in the creek in that gorgeous little series of slot lakes. It's hard to pick a favorite part of BLB but that little nook is incredible.
OP: Bear Lakes Basin definitely rewards wandering.

This was a great thread to happen across, I popped on here to scour for suggestions for a two-nighter warm-up hike and this thread has great suggestions. We're probably going to do a Pine Creek/Granite Park/Royce Lakes wander for our hike.

To add my own $0.02 - this last summer we did Rush Creek as a two-nighter. Day 1 up the dams, past the ghost of Waugh Lake and up to Weber Lake, then XC up the ridge East of Sullivan Lake and over to the East end of 1000 Island Lake (wack-ass name, it probably doesn't even have 100 islands), camp. Day 2 around 100 Island Lake, over Garnet Pass, down to Garnet Lake, up to Garnet Peak, ridge walking, more lake bagging, camp near Garnet Lake east side. Day 3 out over Agnew Pass. Total ~30 mi +- 7300', and an easy 3rd day out. Probably not the right choice for OP but others reading this thread might appreciate this route. The XC around that area is really fun, and we had lots of solitude on the way in and as soon as we left the trail.

If anyone does this route or really any hike out of Rush Creek, I heartily recommend getting breakfast at the cafe at the Silver Lake resort. A classic diner of first rate as far as I'm concerned.

Far end of not-1000 Island Lake, Banner looming above:

A west side option...follow Skurka's High Route to the Silliman Crest over to the "base" of Pterodactyl Pass. Then exit across the Tablelands past Pear Lake to the Wolverton Trailhead. The Sequoia Shuttles connect you back to Wuksachi.

North Fork Big Pine: You could lose the crowds by hauling in all the way to Sixth Lake. Or Fourth or Fifth Lakes. Any of them have far fewer people than Lakes 1-3. On your middle day, go see Palisade Glacier.

Cottonwood Pass into Miter Basin (although this sets you up for a VERY long drive to the Bay on Day 3). Some folks climb Langley. Or for your "layover" you can just explore around the various sub-basins or the upper basin in Miter.

Sabrina Basin: To get ahead of most dayhiker crowds, get up to Moonlight Lake on the first night. Or Sailor Lake just below. Some folks like to traipse up to one of the cols on the divide on their middle day.

One place we got a lot of solitude was Ashley Lake on the southern end of the Ritter Range. Wander also to Iron Lake and the lakes to the north of Ashley, such as the very nice Holcomb Lake. I think the TH is called Beck Lake TH. All the wonders of the Ritter Range but without the people! (Except you DO have to deal with people while making your way to that trailhead from the town of Mammoth Lakes; if you can't drive in before 7 am, you will need to hop on the bus with the significant day crowds.)

Much as I love the cross-country wandering paradise west of Piute Pass, I find the east approach to Piute Pass my least favorite trail on the east side. Last time I was there, it was extremely ripped-up, dusty, slippery, and unpleasant - perhaps by some combination of too many horse hooves, too many boots, and not enough maintenance. It feels very highly impacted, even moreso than the many other eastside trail approaches. So I personally wouldn't use Piute in-and-out if I intended to do just a 3-day trip into there. 6+ day trip, well that would make it worth it. However, maybe the trail is in better condition these days. [Also, I assume you've figured out that Piute Pass is at 12k and while you can sleep down at 11k on the far side, you'll still need to hike over 12k on Day 1.]

- Oleander

Solitude can be elusive. I chuckle at Ashley Lake suggestion. True, less people go there on the average. I was there in 2010, August, while on Roper's High Route. I was ahead of schedule and decided to loop through Beck Lakes-Ashley-Annona, Fern. Horse packers headed to Ashley. A college group of more than a dozen people sat in the meadow at Annona practicing meditation. At Fern Lake, a large group of women on a horses arrived. They kindly asked me to join them for dinner after they set up. I ended up dropping and camping on King Creek, where I finally found solitude only a few miles from the trailhead.

Guess we got lucky our 2 nights at Ashley Lake...We saw not a soul.

I have a suggestion which would seem to fit the bill, which is to loop out of Dana Meadows (just W of Tioga Pass). You're on the trail a smidge then veering off and heading off trail over Kuna Col then this wonderful off trail traverse to the saddle above Lost Lakes then down to Lost Lakes for night 1. There is then an off trail "wrap around" to Alger Lakes (night 2) then you can head back on the trail going past Koip and Kuna Peaks (decent peak bagging, particularly the latter). There are plenty of other peak targets, depending on your tastes. I did that back in 2014 and it is my all-time favorite 3-day trip (I had an extra off trail detour to Crest Lake--don't bother it's fishless--on day 2). This was a 3-day trip that had enough highlights, especially in scenery and nifty off trail hiking, to fill a much longer trip. A trip report is here: viewtopic.php?p=87015

Thanks so much for the help!!

We managed to snag an Italy Pass permit for our 2 nights in August to explore the Bears per papercup's suggestion. Those slot lakes and the whole area around look incredible, thanks for the photos and inspiration!

Now hoping to figure out some way to find 2 nights in September sometime to try sneaking in a second trip with one of these ideas. Kuna, Ritter Range xc, Pioneer Basin peakbagging, mini-Glacier Divide traverse, Pine Creek double-fork loop... any one of these would be incredible.

Will be returning to this thread many times in future — these are all perfect jewels of short trips. Thanks again!

sleepydragon wrote: ↑Sat Feb 08, 2025 2:28 pm
We managed to snag an Italy Pass permit for our 2 nights in August to explore the Bears per papercup's suggestion. Those slot lakes and the whole area around look incredible, thanks for the photos and inspiration!

A two-night trip to the Bear Lakes Basin does not seem realistic. But have fun!

FrankPS wrote: ↑Sat Feb 08, 2025 5:54 pm A two-night trip to the Bear Lakes Basin does not seem realistic. But have fun!

You're right — it's definitely a stretch. Since we can't get out for longer we figure we have to at least try, though!

Hoping since it's such a short trip to get pack weight pretty low, and do the on-trail parts fastpack-style. And if we can't manage, just making it to Granite Park/Royce Lakes would be gorgeous. Thanks and will report back!