R03/R01 TR: South Lake to Onion Valley; 9/10/22-9/17/22
Posted: Fri Mar 24, 2023 1:40 pm
Just about when I’d given up hope of a Sierra hike last summer, I received an email from my friend Art. He announced he was going, when, and to join him if I could. Plans to come. That lit the fire. I wasn’t able to join him but did find a way to squeeze in a hike.
I hiked from South Lake to Onion Valley, with various meanderings, to explore new routes and new places. I chickened out a couple times and left some places to another time, received a new definition of beauty, saw my first Sierra Bighorns, and discovered I could stay dry despite 3 days and nights of Hurricane Kay deluge.
The hike started with thunder, lightning, and rain, then a brief reprieve before the heavens opened for a multi-hour deluge followed by strong winds. Not much sleep but woke to a beautiful dry morning.
That evening clouds rolled in to Upper Basin and my first experience of 2-foot visibility while under my tarp.
In the morning I ascended Upper Basin Crossing but couldn’t locate Cameron’s ramp and the way down.
Skipping Amphitheater Lake and my planned route through, Dumbell Lakes and across Lakes Basin, I JMT’d it and picked up my route at Bench Lake. Another rainy night and next day, but for one momentary break.
Yes, it takes your breath away.
Clouds, fog, whatever you want to call it block the route to Colosseum Col, so I skipped that and followed the Sawmill Pass Trail to Woods Lake instead. Next morning the SoSHR Baxter Peak route called,
but Upper Basin Crossing had broken my confidence and I decided, being solo, to take the easy way into Sixty Lakes Basin. The weather changed from wet to cold, but the skies were perfect as I entered Gardiner Basin via Sixty Lakes Col.
About halfway through I encountered these guys.
I exited over Gardiner Pass, spent a night at Charlotte Lake, and finished the next morning.
In all, a much-needed last minute getaway and “handful of new.” Full trip report, pictures, and maps here:
https://vennacher.wordpress.com/2023/03 ... ever-been/.
I hiked from South Lake to Onion Valley, with various meanderings, to explore new routes and new places. I chickened out a couple times and left some places to another time, received a new definition of beauty, saw my first Sierra Bighorns, and discovered I could stay dry despite 3 days and nights of Hurricane Kay deluge.
The hike started with thunder, lightning, and rain, then a brief reprieve before the heavens opened for a multi-hour deluge followed by strong winds. Not much sleep but woke to a beautiful dry morning.
That evening clouds rolled in to Upper Basin and my first experience of 2-foot visibility while under my tarp.
In the morning I ascended Upper Basin Crossing but couldn’t locate Cameron’s ramp and the way down.
Skipping Amphitheater Lake and my planned route through, Dumbell Lakes and across Lakes Basin, I JMT’d it and picked up my route at Bench Lake. Another rainy night and next day, but for one momentary break.
Yes, it takes your breath away.
Clouds, fog, whatever you want to call it block the route to Colosseum Col, so I skipped that and followed the Sawmill Pass Trail to Woods Lake instead. Next morning the SoSHR Baxter Peak route called,
but Upper Basin Crossing had broken my confidence and I decided, being solo, to take the easy way into Sixty Lakes Basin. The weather changed from wet to cold, but the skies were perfect as I entered Gardiner Basin via Sixty Lakes Col.
About halfway through I encountered these guys.
I exited over Gardiner Pass, spent a night at Charlotte Lake, and finished the next morning.
In all, a much-needed last minute getaway and “handful of new.” Full trip report, pictures, and maps here:
https://vennacher.wordpress.com/2023/03 ... ever-been/.