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Trip Advice: Convict Creek Camping, Dorothy, Bighorn, Wit-So-Nah-Pah?
Posted: Thu Jul 14, 2022 8:41 am
by Hagbeard
I'm heading up Convict Creek for two nights next month with a summit of Red Slate planned as a day trip out of camp. The original plan is to camp at Bighorn Lake, with an option the first night to camp at Dorothy depending on how the group does on the ascent. The question is, between Bighorn and Wit-So-Nah-Pah, are either of them substantially less appealing than the other as a camp site? Constance looks nice, but that will require backtracking to ascend the west slope of Red Slate so I think that's out.
Re: Trip Advice: Convict Creek Camping, Dorothy, Bighorn, Wit-So-Nah-Pah?
Posted: Thu Jul 14, 2022 2:11 pm
by scerny
We did a loop around Red Slate last week crossing Corridor, Gemini, and McGree passes and climbed the peak as well. Here's my trip report on the Sierra Nevada Trip Reports & Current Conditions facebook group if you want to check it out:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/sierrat ... 669654849/
There are a couple of ok campsites on the south side of Wit-So-Nah-Pah. We didn't make it over to Bighorn. There really aren't any campsites on Constance. The harder climb won't be up Red Slate but up the north/east side of Gemini Pass. Will be a good workout.

Re: Trip Advice: Convict Creek Camping, Dorothy, Bighorn, Wit-So-Nah-Pah?
Posted: Thu Jul 14, 2022 7:58 pm
by Wandering Daisy
Dorothy has good camping about half way down the trail, just before it goes up. Bighorn Lake was not that scenic. Wit-So=Nah-Pah sites are tight by the lake, but upstream (across for the confluence of the creek from Constance) there is a big grassy valley with scenic but open sites. Smallish fish in lake.

- camp upstream of Wit-So-Nah-Pah Lake
Re: Trip Advice: Convict Creek Camping, Dorothy, Bighorn, Wit-So-Nah-Pah?
Posted: Fri Jul 15, 2022 9:31 am
by Hagbeard
Excellent, thank you both! I think we'll shoot for Dorothy and continue to Wit-So-Nah-Pa if everyone is still good to go. If we stop at Dorothy, maybe we'll move camp to Wit-So-Nah-Pa and shorten the return from Red Slate on Day 2.
Great pics, Sam! I hope it stays that clear for us, August so often brings the smoke haze.
Re: Trip Advice: Convict Creek Camping, Dorothy, Bighorn, Wit-So-Nah-Pah?
Posted: Sun Jun 23, 2024 8:06 am
by jrad
Wandering Daisy wrote: ↑Thu Jul 14, 2022 7:58 pm
Dorothy has good camping about half way down the trail, just before it goes up. Bighorn Lake was not that scenic. Wit-So=Nah-Pah sites are tight by the lake, but upstream (across for the confluence of the creek from Constance) there is a big grassy valley with scenic but open sites. Smallish fish in lake.
28-2756_Camp.jpg
Beautiful photo. One of my favorite areas in Eastern Sierra.
Re: Trip Advice: Convict Creek Camping, Dorothy, Bighorn, Wit-So-Nah-Pah?
Posted: Sun Jun 23, 2024 11:31 am
by SSSdave
Bighorn Lake is the last area with many trees and shade. The better areas are not along the cramped shore but rather east and a bit down hill of the outlet.
https://www.davidsenesac.com/2020_Trip_ ... html#jul20